Field Trip Tuesday

The weather was awful. It rained buckets but it did not stop NDs class from going to a horse farm for a field trip.

I was reluctant..but it was actually a pretty
cool place. Three huge barns with horses, goats, rabbits and chickens. And two turkeys.
Yes my son asked if they were going to be dinner on Thursday. The nice lady said no, she raised them and they are pets. I was surprised at how docile they were around the kids.

Rain is moving  north and cold weather is due to move in. We got lots going on this week so if I dont find the time to do a post. Then I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving.

-Jugm

Its been a busy weekend

Sorry for the little silence. Just absolutely been bogged down with things.
My brother which we all ready knew was coming to town this past Friday, decided to pop in our place around 9pm to crash.
He closed up one of his houses and brought every thing down to his storage unit. Well, he has been making home brewed beer, and brought us a case. OMG !  It was good, the fire pit was lit, and we all stayed up well past 1:30 am  Saturday morning.
Saturday by the way was our garage sale. We were awoken by my brother at 645 am by him setting off our home alarm...yes again!  Poor Senior ! 
While here my brother planned a vacation for he and my parents, he rented an RV and took them camping on the beach. Gosh what a son!

Garage sell went okay, but you know people want something for nothing. I had a box of old shorts that were the boys, they were marked 1.00 a pair, and some lady told me that was too much to pay.
Then I had a pair of ladies jeans marked 2.00 and a lady said she would give me 1.00. 
Geez Louise People!
Senior had for sale an  Alice pack with frame, and a two man tent..neither sold.

After that, we had to get busy on NW 3rd grade science fair project. He chose "Magnets, and linear acceleration" so we did a Gauss Rifle. Finally got it done last night.
Then today ( Monday) Senior I had to lay down 98 bales of pine straw, along a tree line in one of our communities... *SIGH*  now you see why I have been MIA. 

Then tomorrow ND has a field trip planned to a farm..only it is supposed to be rainy and windy..I am chaperoning..can't you tell I hope it gets cancelled?

During my absence our good buddy ROB became a grandpa.. A big congratulations to his daughter and family.  What a wonderful thing to be blessed with this Thanksgiving.

Now, the boys are ready for bed, and I am going to soak in a hot tub of water, with an ice cold REDDS Apple Ale...   Yay me!

-JUGM

Remembering JFK

I just wanted to take a time out in remembrance of John F. Kennedy. I like to think about what the future would have held for him. I was not born then, but  I grew up learning about John Kennedys legacy as President, and the great things he envisioned for this country. Definantly one who was taken too early from this earth.
President Kennedy along with Reagan are probably the last two really good Presidents this country has had, His famous quotes are well remembered and I would like to share some of them with you today :

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them”

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable”

 “The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission”

“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all”

 “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

HealthCare Update ..And Other things..

Basically "It is what It Is" and we have to deal with it. Our local tricare office under no circumstance's will allow us to go to a civilian Orthopedic Doctor.
So now I am calling the specialties clinic every day, to see if we can get Senior an earlier appointment then Mid- December. Today he is taking MAMA BEARS advice and picking up some of that Blue-Emu sore pain rub.  I hope that helps him a bit.

So please" "fingers crossed" and lots of prayers for us.
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Two kids, two different schools...two days of Thanksgiving Luncheons. Which I thought both were on the same day so therefore I missed one of the luncheons. Little ND got in the car with tears in his eyes because his mommy and daddy were not at the luncheon.
OMG---"Was that today? I thought it was tomorrow the same day as your brothers" ?
"Nooooooo !!!!   Every other parent was there"
" Oh holy cow! "
Now I am the worst mother in the world!

This is what happens when schools don't keep proper communication with parents. I was not the only one thinking both lunches were on the same day.

So, Today Senior and I are making it up to him, we are bringing him lunch at school....   : )
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Another community wide garage sale is tomorrow. I am going through every thing. And what does not get sold, gets donated !   I do and don't like garage sales, the economic times trickles down and people want you to just give your stuff away.  It does get frustrating....
We are doing something different with the boys though, we are letting them take charge of what they want to sale and they can keep the money they make.
And kids are funny because now that  I am putting stuff in a staging area, it suddenly becomes important..even though it has not been played with for a year.

Now I must get back to going through closets, and cleaning out toy boxes...  Even Senior is going through his stuff.....

Happy Friday All! 
-JUGM

Healthcare Rant..Part 1

This country wants to go to government run health care ? As Fantabulous as that may sound I am here today to go on rant, about government run health care and the issues I am having getting Senior an appointment for the torn tendon in his wrist.
He was referred out to an orthopedic specialist. The referral was picked up by The local Tricare office who said "No"  he is retired we want him to go to the base.
That is all well and good, however the first opening they have is not until Mid December.
Senior is in extreme pain. It will most likely need surgery.
Now the run around begins, and multiple voice mails are being left for a representative from my local tricare office to call us back so we can initiate a "Right of Refusal"
Should this be granted, then he will be able to go to the civilian and much more competent specialist.
When I had my carpal tunnel surgery, I was sent to a civilian...why can't Senior? 

And please don't tell us that because  he is veteran that he "HAS" to go the base, because for five years Tricare has been preaching this : " If you live more then 30 miles from the nearest naval hospital you can be seen by a civilian".
 His MRI was done at a civilian facility, his primary care doctor - a civilian...so, why should this be different?

I am pulling my hair out, what is left is going gray. It is nonsense that no one can answer a blooming phone !  Leave a message please, we will get back to you within 24 hours.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!!!!!

And this is the sort of thing the uniformed voters wanted...the military has government health care. It is not all it is cracked up to be!  TRUST ME.
You  need to be seen by a specialist....sorry you got to wait a month! You broke your leg and it is fallen off...Sorry, You got to wait a month! . Senior is before having me cut off his hand.. And if I did, he would have to wait a month to get it re-attached.  Oh and while you wait take this prescription of good ole Vitamin M (motrin the military cure all) to ease your pain.

Just suffer is the message being sent, sorry you are in excruciating pain, but you are non-urgent..

Stay tuned for updates- I am sure some time soon there will be a part two

-JUGM

The Waiting Game...

There was a recall ordered for my car. Something about the door panels, and a potential safety hazard. So I made the appointment for bright and early this morning. And then I was told the work would take three hours, and that specific recall did not warrant a loaner car.  grrrrr

I brought my tablet to play games on, sat down and the waiting game began.
Okay, I could have taken the courtesy shuttle some where, but where is there to go at 8:15am? Then I would have to wait for them to pick me back up. So, I chose to stay at the dealership. Chairs were comfy, they had snack and drink machines, hot coffee, and free Wi-Fi. It couldn't be all that bad.

In my three hours, I saw elderly people, young people, really people of all walks of life. They were in and out, I literally out lasted them all.
A mother who did not know how to discipline her two year old son, let him play on her cell phone, and run around crazy.-Mine never did that.
I got quasi indoctrinated by the endless  cycle of CNN, over and over and over, the same stories..
Rush Limbaugh was right, the MSM will focus on the Illinois tornadoes and get the public off Obamacare. 
But then the next story was of the woman who Obama highlighted as a Obamacare success, only to find out she really was not a success.

CNN also reported that today is the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, and why is Obama not attending when he touted himself to be just like Lincoln...  well they did report he is part of the growing community that wants all citizens to memorize the Gettysburg Address
I think it is more important that we learn the Pledge of Allegiance first and keep it in schools.

They showed the serial killer who shot Larry Flynn the Penthouse Magazine publisher, and how the guy is scheduled to die. Good! Another person that the tax payers no longer have to pay for. But Ole Larry feels sorry for him and does not believe in the death penalty so he is petitioning the CA Governor to halt the execution.

Then the stories played all over again-That is why I Like Fox News, they don't do that.

Finally after my three hour wait "Ma'am your car is ready, but it looks like you will need a new battery"
"well how much is it" ?
" $123.00"
" ummm I will pass my husband can take care of it"

I know how dealerships work, they get you coming and going.  I paid, was up and outta that place. Stopped and got lunch for Senior and I.

Enjoy the rest of your day folks, and please tell me no more CNN!  : )

-JUGM

Sunday Wake Up

The dogs woke me up whining to go out. I stumbled out of bed, checked on the sleeping children. let Libby out of her kennel, and went to the back door..  Opened it..

I forgot  to disarm the home alarm system.
All Heck broke out on this quiet Sunday morning...
I ran back to the keypad to turn it off.
Saw Senior standing there shaking his head, hands on hips.
Kids slept through it.
Alarm company called to verify....

Later this morning while I was cleaning up the breakfast dishes Senior said : " You just had to set the alarm off at 7am"

ME:  "yup! It was a test"
Senior: "a test ? "
ME: " Yup ! You know crime never sleeps, need to make sure the family is prepared"
Senior: " OMG, But did you have to do it at 7am" ?
ME: " Yup! that bad guys aren't in bed! "
Senior: " OMG"

Kids last ball game for this season is today.. yay!  Happy Sunday!

-JUGM

Why We Prep

The other day, I read comments on another blog. The post was originally on Veterans Day, but some how  and for some reason the comments went negative and preppers was brought in to the subject. One person commenting referred to us as "cockroaches" the blogger who admins. the site went on to call us "DumbA--, and too cocky to survive"  Really?
I actually take being mentioned in the same circle as a cockroach a compliment. They have figured out how to survive for millions of years, so they must be doing some thing right.

About that time the Philippines were hit with a major typhoon. Massive destruction, and thousands dead and or missing. In the aftermath, people are doing desperate things to survive, especially in hard to reach areas. Supplies and aid is slowly flowing in. But more is needed. An entire country as been devastated, towns and villages completely wiped off the map. 

And people ask why I prep?  I, and others like me prep because we don't want to rely on our government for aid in case of the same disaster that hit the Philippines. I prep because I refuse to be a victim. I did stand in line ONCE  after the 2004 Tropical Storm outbreak in Florida for a bag of ice and  peanut butter jelly sandwiches...I didn't get those items because I was the wrong color. I will never do that again. It woke me and Senior up to a lot of things and we will never depend on government ever again for help.
Has this country gotten so complacent that we have forgotten the effects of Katrina and Super Storm Sandy, numerous earthquakes, floods, and wildfires?

So, for people like these bloggers, and others like them who think it is comical to be prepared-
This is still a quasi free country and you are currently free to express your opinions.
But, when the lights go out, you lose power and your oxygen cuts off- remember your jokes and comments... Karma sucks !

-JUGM

Mulch and More Mulch

Day four of the mulch job from hades. Senior and I have now shoveled and spread about 35 yards with about another 8-10 to go.. In comparison think of shoveling  half a semi load of mulch. Now add in the raging sinus headache I have had for two days and you can imagine.
 Yep !  Let no person ever say I am a lazy round blob with no estrogen. Unlike others, I don't have time to sit around and collect frog figurines and write  a non NY Times best selling book that you can find in a dollar tree. I did read the reviews over on Amazon, there were only five, and they sounded the same, it was at that time that I learned from a reliable source that the author went on to Amazon and wrote the  reviews herself- no wonder the book was at dollar tree.

Tomorrow is a weather day, extrememly high winds and cold so we are taking the day off. I am happy for the break, got lots to do around our house. And I am working on the cards I have donated to our buddy Robs fundraiser.

This is the last week of fall baseball, and tonight NW hit a in the park grand slam, and ND had a few RBIs and scored several times. I was thrilled they had such a good game, my sister and neice showed up and it was a real joy for the boys to have extended family there to watch them play.

Must tell you all good night, and go take care of this headache...  have a good evening

-JUGM

Veterans Day: A True Story

We spent the past weekend up at the Country Estate. Knowing Veterans Day was coming up, Senior wanted to put American Flags on the graves of our family who had served, including his Dad.
So, yesterday I was a woman on a mission, searching high and low for  four small flags.
I was of the thinking that it was Veterans day, it would be a no brainer and every one out there would have them.

But, I soon found that idea to be very wrong. I am sad to say that not one of the stores I was in was recognizing the reason behind todays holiday.
Walmart did have flags, but only one the size I was looking for, and that was perched up high, I had to climb on the display to get it down. A snotty walmart employee looked at another shopper and said " She must be desperate for a flag"  I gave her  "The Look" .
I walked up to the check out, every one in front of me had carts full. A nice elderly lady in front of me, turned and smiled and asked if the small flag was all that I had. I said "yes ma'am" and she allowed me to go in front of her.
I thanked her repeatedly for her kindess. And it was then that she and I began a conversation about our Flag, and the countries veterans. I told her about how hard it had been for me to find a small flag and what it would be used for.

She then said to me :
" It was not until I saw you with the flag that I remembered tomorrow is Veterans Day.  I can remember how as a child, every thing shut down, people would line the streets for the local parade. Us girls got giggly over the boys in uniform, and I married a soldier who served in Korea. Our country has lost what our Flag means, and what our veterans sacrificed to keep America Free, Now this blame Obamacare is threatening the weak and elderly, If I get cancer, I will have no coverage, it is like they just want us to die. I don't recognize my country anymore, and tomorrow...it is a day to celebrate and thank our vets, and no one really remembers that anymore"
 She smiled remembering days gone by and then her eyes teared up.

I completely agreed with her,smiled and expressed my sentiments as well. The line started moving, and I told her to thank her husband for his service, She blessed me with a good day. I then thanked her for the conversation. And I was on my way.
It is always remarkable about the people you meet, You never know about them, or what insight they can bring you. I got in the truck, with my one little flag. I told Senior about the little elderly lady and our conversation. And then I knew I had to share it with all of you.

I Want to Thank all the Veterans for their service, And Thank You to the families for sacrificing your loved ones to fight for America, and to keep our Country free....

-JUGM

No Freaking Way!

Not in a 100 million trillion years would I ever be stressed out enough that I would need this to
de-stress...  Apparently in Jarkata, Indonesia this is the new thing to do..  I screamed the other day when a lizard fell on to me, no way would I set still for this......

Indonesian De-Stress Therapy

American Blackout...

Last night Senior and I finally sat down and watched "American Blackout"  on National Geographic.We recorded it on the DVR over a week ago at the suggestion of Harry Flashman.
Holy cow !
It was every thing Harry said it was and more. It was very realistic, and made Senior and I both stop and think that this scenario could be reality, and about how our own preps are going.
While I knew they were actors, you got in to the lives of the characters and the scenarios that they faced. I found myself rooting for the good guys, and wanting to slap the faces of the stupid people.
Since I recorded it, I fast forwarded through commercials, just so I could see what happened next.

During and after the show we talked about how as a country we are so dependent with our electronics, that is almost like a love affair. The computer age was all ready in the making with the very first IBMs and APPLEs, but along came the mid 90s and that is when technology really began its upward climb.   The public has things like Facebook, twitter and instagram to where they can post every thing they do in their lives. I can't get over how much people are dependent on these things. I' ve looked at friends Twitter accounts, and it amazes me how they are just so addicted to it all.  Then there is how much electricity and water we as a nation use every day, it  is simply mind blowing..  And when all those things are suddenly just cut off...the reaction of the people is chaos.

I went to bed with it all on my mind, and I woke up with it on my mind, All day I have thought about it. And the lingering question of "Could you imagine" ? has been there. That is a question  though I all ready know the answer too because it has happened with the 2003 Northeast Blackout, Katrina, and Super Storm Sandy- it is only a matter of time before it happens again.

I suggest if you have not seen the show..then it will be re-aired on  Wednesday November 13 @ 9pm. 

-JUGM

Sunday

Clocks were set back last night and we got our hour of sleep back as well. Gosh I love Fall !

Senior brought home the open trailer today he did some much needed maintenance as this week is our "mulch job from hades"...   We have to move around 40 yards of it throughout one of our communities. We stick to doing it ourselves so we can net more money.

While Senior was doing the work on the trailer, I was in the back cutting collard greens, and un-beknownst to me the "IT " Happened..  I came in the house and opened the laundry room door, some how, in some way a large bottle of bleach had fallen, and half of it leaked out on to the floor. A laundry bag with a few shirts in it got wet. So, I had to break it to Senior that his favorite "Carolina Gamecocks" t-shirt was ruined, but to smooth it over I showed him my "Glock Girl" shirt. Both are now rags in the garage.   *Sigh* I promise to purchase him a new shirt on our next visit to the SC Estate.
The  bleach cleanup was a nightmare, the mop head I was using got bleached out, I smell like bleach, and it was my neighbor who said it best :" well at least your laundry room floor is good and disinfected"  uggggh

Senior felt after that incident we just needed to get out of the house, so we all headed down to our favorite gun shop to see what was on sale, I can tell you that not much was on sale. He is looking to sell his CETME and get a AR Pistol. We were also sizing up ND for his first little rifle, he is hoping Santa will drop one off for him this year.
 I am of the firm belief that not only should some people be parents, but those same folks should not be allowed to own a firearm..  I  like going in to gun stores, and people watch..very amusing.

Sun is now going down on this Sunday, the clock reads 6pm  but it looks like 7:30 outside...   We are grilling chicken and it is about ready....  Enjoy your evening everyone!


-JUGM