Happy May Day !!!

 

Well, here it is the 1st of May.  Has been quite nice weather around the NASCAR valley area, for the most part.  Have been having some severe weather around the area, but not so much right in this area; we have been very lucky compared to other parts of the state and country.

I just signed another year lease at my apartment; hard to believe I am coming to the end of my second year in Concord.  I am not a big fan of moving, (unlike my off-spring seem to be) so I will stay put as long as I can.  Besides, Blossom knows all the squirrels in the neighborhood and would miss them.

Getting cataract surgery on my right eye tomorrow.  I can’t say that I am really looking forward to it, but I do think it will be nice to see again.  I do have tomorrow off of work and do not need to go in until Tuesday afternoon.  Doctor thought that would be doable as long as I am able to see him before.  I don’t know just when my left eye will be done; just see how things go, I guess.

 

I am changing business lines at work and will be on a variable schedule,  won’t have any set days-off.  Doesn’t really matter to me, I just hope I can get two days off in a row most of the time.  Just have to see how things work out

TTFN

 

March is here-spring is closer !!!

 

Glad to see spring just around the corner.  The trees are starting to bud out in the spring colors; although I guess that will not be enjoyable for those with allergies.  I got Blossom spayed last week, (hence the cartoon above) and she is doing well this week.  The vet clinic said to give it 2 weeks before resuming all normalcy, so I’m holding off on “Kick the Cow” and “Boot the Bunny” for another week.  But she does seem a little perkier each day.

Glad to have the NASCAR warriors back running.  I really think the Ford engine is going to make it very interesting this year.  I like what NASCAR did to change the 11th and 12th spot to get into the Cup Chase; should make more teams realistically eligible to get into the Chase right up to Richmond.  Also very happy to have opening day of MLB season less than a month away.  Let’s enjoy baseball more this year; we might not have NFL for us this fall.  Oh well, I can live without if that is the case.  I am getting more than a little resentful that it seems like all that the owners and players are concerned about is how the fan’s dollar is carved up.  I guess it is assumed the dollar will always be there and we should fall on the ground thanking them for the opportunity to watch.  MLB, NBA and NHL once had the same idea.  Oh ya, you can now catch the NHL on the VS Network.

I’ve been using a few vacation days from work that I carried over and have to get used up by the end of March.  Haven’t been doing anything, but I sure don’t want to loose an opportunity to take a day or two off from work.  I’ve got planned for vacation in May to visit the Kids, but we’ll have to see.  I’ve been seeing my doctor for my annual tune-up, and have an appointment to see an eye doctor to see about my cataract.(No, that’s not a car I’m buying !!)

TTFN

 

The Pack is Back !!!…with the Lombardi Trophy

 

 

The end of another NFL season with what may have been the greatest Superbowl ever; although I may be a little prejudice.  Congrats to the Packers and especially Aaron for his MVP performance.  I know it is now 6 months to the next season (hopefully not longer), but it is now less than 2 weeks to Daytona 500 and the start of the ‘11 NASCAR season.  I am excited about the new season and will be interesting to see how the changes in the points determination will play out.  I like the the change to set the 11th and 12th place for the chase.  Most likely any team can still qualify as we approach Richmond by stringing together a couple of wins.  And while I’m not much of a basketball fan, it is nice to the round ballers giving us Longhorn fans something to be excited about after a dismal football season.

The weather around here is hopefully straightening out.  While still getting pretty chilly at night, the temp has been getting quite nice during the day.  I’m ready for the winter blah’s to be over and spring to get here.  I don’t think I could live in the North anymore.  With the short winters we have here, I still get antsy before the end.

 

TTFN

 

Happy New Year !!!

 

Well, it is the start of a brand new year.  Hard to believe that we are in 2011.  Hope all are having a happy holiday season.  I had the great pleasure of spending Christmas with Jennifer, Jake and THE Mouse at Disney World.  Had a wonderful time; although it is is much, much larger than I remember it being.  At least I got worn out quicker than what I did 15 years ago !!!  It was a lot of fun seeing WDW thru the eyes of Jake as we went around.  I don’t believe he was quite sure of what to make of all the characters that were everywhere.   Disney World at Christmas is very special.  Huge Christmas trees everywhere.  Jen had gotten us tickets for a special program called the “Candlelight Processional” at EPCOT.  A huge choir comes to the stage carrying candles and joins the orchestra for Christmas music.  The Christmas Story is also narrated by a special narrator; for our evening it was Brad Garrett (the brother from “Everyone Loves Raymond”).  It was very moving and lovely.  All in all, Disney World was very nice, but very crowded.  I am working on my pictures and will post to an album on Shutterfly.

I left Orlando on Sunday morning, the 26th.  The weather was excellent while I was there, although Sunday I left with cool temps and the promise of even colder for the area.  Heading back home at about 9:00 AM, I ran into snow falling shortly after crossing into South Carolina from Georgia.  After getting on I-26 and heading west, I ran out of the falling snow, but when I hit Columbia, snow was on the ground, although the roads were fine, and the scenery was a winter wonderland all the way home.  The pictures above are what I found when I got to the house and it hung around until yesterday when it finally got warm enough to go away.  I think that is enough for this year !!

I’m writing this on New Year’s morning, very foggy out, but at least the temp is at least 20 degrees warmer than what it has been for this time of day.  What a relief.  I think this past December was the coldest ever for this area.  I hope spring is just around the corner.

Waiting on the Bowl games to start for the day.  I fell asleep before the Chick Fil-A Bowl last night; I’m such a party animal !!  I hope I can at least stay awake for the Rose today to pull for the Badgers; I have to try to overcome Matt and Mark; I’m sure they’ll be pulling for the Frogs.  BTW, I’ll also be rooting for the Pack tomorrow to beat Da’ Bears to make the play offs

Nothing much else happening.  I will be changing days off in a couple of weeks: I will be off Tuesday and Wednesday.  Be good to have some week days off for a change.

TTFN

 

December coming in

Bring in the last month of 2010, so very hard to believe !!  Thanksgiving passed us by and the Christmas buying frenzy in full swing.

December 7 is on the doorstep as I write this.  Pearl Harbor Day and the start of WWII always makes me pause to reflect upon “America’s greatest generation".  Although dwindling in number we are blessed to still have with us, I will always be grateful for the determination and sacrifices shown by all to help rid the world of evil.  I always say and fully believe that if a later generation were asked to do do the same, we would be speaking German.

Now at the weekend for college football conference championships and the hiatus until the start of the myriad of bowl games.  I always enjoy conference championships and think all conferences should have a championship between divisions.  With what happened in the Big 10 this year with 3 champions, it’s like having no champion.

The Christmas season is indeed in full swing as McAdenville (Christmastown, USA) turned on their lights this week.  The speedway also has something new this year as a huge light display is set up until January for cars to drive thru.  Have not seen it, but have read and heard a lot of good things about it.  Lights are starting to pop up around the neighborhood as well.  I’m starting to get really excited about my trip to WDW over Christmas with Jennifer and Jake; I think it will really be fun and special.

Wrap up the year carefully and be safe !!

TTFN

 

Fall is in the air

 

 

Fall is definitely in the air.  As I sit here, the area is getting the first hard freeze of the year.  That’s a good thing to help the colors of the trees in changing.  I just hope we can enjoy the fall weather here before winter arrives.

The arrival of November is one of the best times of the year:  the “Boys of Summer” have just wrapped things up; football, both college and pro is getting sorted out; NBA and NHL are getting started, and of course NASCAR is getting down to crunch time.  First and foremost, congrats to the Texas Rangers on their first World Series appearance.  I was sure pulling for them, but the Giants pitching was definitely the better pitching.  Sad to see the Longhorns faltering for the first time in the Mack era.  I have no doubt the will be back next year with talent they have and are getting.  Seems to be little doubt that TCU has the best football team in Texas after beating Utah yesterday in convincing fashion.  Oregon seems to be for real, the Big 12 and SEC seem to be beating up on themselves, so I think we will see yet if Auburn can come out on top.

Nascar is definitely concluding the year in exciting fashion.  With the top three in points so close, it is fun to see if a team has the know-how to take the championship away from the #48 team.  I think the best chance goes to the Richard Childress #29 team.  I have gotten the feeling from all of Richard’s teams that the have nothing but respect for what Jimmie has accomplished and feel it is their job to take it away from him instead of Whining that they don’t want him to win again.  I think Kevin Harvick has the best sense of the 2 of what will accomplish this.  Whether he does it or not, we will see;  Jimmie knows pretty well what it takes as well !!

This year was quite a significant election.  It’s always fun and interesting to have them duke it out.  Happy Thanksgiving to all and hope all have a great Holiday season.

TTFN

 

Good-by Summer

Well, fall is definitely in the air.  Nights have been down in the lower 40’s several times; trees should be changing shortly.  Had a nice drive to the Chattanooga area last week-end, very nice weather for driving thru the mountains.  I-40 on the border getting pretty well fixed up after the rock slide.

I had jury duty last week, so I got off work work Monday and Tuesday.  I did not have to serve, but I did have to go to the courthouse the two days, so I was able to watch the Pack on Monday Night Football.  So even though the outcome wasn’t to my liking, I was glad to get to watch it; I would not have if I would have been working.  God Bless America !!!

Kudos to the #48 Lowes Racing Team; really making a strong run for #5.  I think this is really an exciting Chase this year as a lot of nameplates and race shops are all in strong contention this year

Tough year for the ‘Horns;  I still hope they can get the offense on track to be respectable.  Too much stress being put on a really good defense and they are giving up more points than they should be.  This too shall pass.

TTFN

 

Fall is in the air

 Woke up this morning and took Blossom out and almost had to go back in and put my long-handles on.  Got down to the lower 50’s last night and sure is a nice change.  I won’t go as far as saying I’m glad winter is coming, but getting closer to fall is nice.

Had a great trip to Texas.  Had wonderful time and great weather followed me all the way.  Can read my blog of my trip at:  http://www.triptotexas2010.blogspot.com/

My schedule at work will be a little mixed up for the next couple of weeks.  Have a training class that will be requiring me to go there in the afternoon.  Will be a little taxing, but I guess I can get thru it.

Hope to make make a short trip to visit Ron in Tennessee next month as Rita and Jim are coming from Wisconsin to visit them a few days.  Hoping as of now to get up to spend the Sunday visiting.  Will see.

TTFN

 

Getting ready for my trip

Well, starting a new month, again.  Thanks to all for the birthday wishes.  I didn’t do anything to celebrate; just spent my time and money to get ready for my Texas trip.  I’m really excited to get going; only 2 more weeks and I will be on my way.  I am driving so I can take Blossom along.  My plans are to head south route to I-10 and take in the USS Alabama at Mobile and the USS Kidd at Baton Rouge.  I don’t plan on pushing too hard; between Blossom and me, we will probably need quite a few potty breaks along the way.

Bought myself a little netbook a couple of weeks ago for a birthday present.  Best Buy had the HP 110 on sale, so I decided to break down and buy it.  I don’t use it a lot, but I do sometimes like to have it available when I am watching tv, (like log in to NASCAR.com during a race) and I figure I can use it while traveling. Nice little unit for so far for what I intend to use it for.

Weather today is quite nice; overcast and a little rainy.  Temp is not even into the 60’s yet so it is a nice break.  Seems like it has been extra hot so far this year; but I heard on the news that July wasn’t that much warmer than usual.  Oh well, I’ll soon be complaining about the cold and snow !!

  

TTFN

 

Happy Fourth of July

Happy to say that we have finally had a break in the hot weather we have been having here.  After 18 days of getting over 90 degrees, we finally are missing it for a few days.  As a matter of fact, it almost felt cool when I went out before the sun came up; a nice break.  I guess it won’t last to long, however, to be back to the 90’s by midweek.

Enjoyed watching the races this weekend.  I was actually looking forward to the Nationwide the most.  Did not disappoint with the new cars and Jr’s  #3 Wrangler Impala; really nice to have him pull out a win as well

Planning my trip to Texas for August.  Really looking forward to it.  Blossom and I plan on renting a car for the trip.  I don’t think she will be doing any driving, however.

TTFN