Truly a ramble around the back porch

Here is the game plan - all day I am going to add to this blug (blog, bloggy, bluggy,et al) as the mood hits.  There will be no main theme song; just a ramble as this long day continues.  I will number each new thought.  Why?  Cause I like to number things and it is my blug.   If you would like to write a guest blog on my place, send it to me.  I could send you my email so you can send it to the house.  I wouldn't do that for everyone.  But, you are special.
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1.   Just used my ice tea maker and made a rather large cup of hot tea.  Tea really needs to be sweetened in my opinion.  Since this diabetes thing has crept upon me, sugar is out - so we use sweetener.  I am using the yellow pkgs now in my life.  I heard the yellow sweetener might send you running for the bathroom - make that "running for the reading room."  I do some of my best reading in there.  My tea is not nearly as sweet as I wish for.  From the musical Bye Bye Birdie,  "Suf-fa"  I do suffer.  Poor me.
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2.  I had a conversation with a young band director this week.  He is not really young, YOUNG.  But to me, everyone is getting younger daily.  It all started by me being a bit of a smart aleck - yes, believe it or nay - I made a smart remark.  I even called him a young pup band director (I thought that was cute & he showed no resentment).  I advised him to start saving his money because Texas Teacher's Retirement System does not give you enough. They have piles of cash in reserve, and they pay their top dogs enormous salaries; but, we retired teachers don't get a bunch.
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It is my own fault.  I could have gone looking for better paying gigs instead of staying where I thought I could do some good.  And I liked my students, usually.  The retirement system pays "X" dollars based upon a formula.  The amount is "X" now and it has been "X" since I retired 10 years ago.  It will be "X" in another 10 years.  Nothing is based upon inflation.  You get what you get no matter how many years you have been retired.  My fault.  I could have been a brain surgeon...no I couldn't.  
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Even Social Security has payments that increase with inflation.   I worked 10 years in Okla. and earned my 40 quarters.   I get a bit of a S.S.# check monthly.  It is better than a kick in the head.  $7.   $7.  It increased this year by $7  That is 7 big gulps or a couple jars of mustard.  Again, it beats a kick in the head.  Don't expect teacher's retirement to pay for a new car yearly or a cruise to the Bahamas.  You'd better save extra.
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3.    As I type it is about 5:10.  We dogs have all been outside barking at birds and squirrels.  Greta barks only at birds in the sky.  Can't say what her hangup is with birds floating way up there.  She barks.   The other three have no preference.  If Greta barks, they will too.  No prejudices here.   
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I threw the ball for Oscar as Bruno explored the same backyard that was explored this morning.  Nothing new was found.  Liesl likes to look under the bird feeders for spent food.  So little nutrition there for a dog; she cares not.  The bird feeders were empty.  I made the trek to the garage and brought out bird food and sunflower seeds.   I think squirrels would kill for sunflower seeds.   We dogs reloaded all the feeders and included a few whol peanuts for the SQ.  It is apparently appreciated.
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After much ball playing - barking at the squirrel who found the new food to his liking, we returned to the house.  
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4.  Now I practiced my horn.   The Corsicana Swing Orchestra is playing next Saturday for some type of a benefit for the local Palace Theatre - if I misunderstood it right.  Where else could you hire a big jazz swing band to play a benefit in someone's back yard?  We are hoping they bring in some heaters to keep the mouthpieces warm.  Cold weather has not left us lately
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In a previous post I wrote something about us using high school kids in the band.  I may have stated that too harshly.  These boys have talent.  A smart college band program should come looking for them.  I think all three would / could become excellent band directors if that is what the mean spirit gods have in mind.  For youngsters from a small H.S., I admire their talent.  More than once I would have loved to have them sit in my bands - even some of the big school groups I fronted.
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5.   And now it is past time to feed the kids.  Normally they eat at 5 - 'Tis 5:20 now.  Bruno is hungry...I mean really hungry - no, I mean R E A L L Y    H U N G R Y !!!
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6.  Tonight, Greta almost ate her whole dish of food.  That is remarkable considering she ate all of her breakfast.  Most of you don't know what this means.  Greta normally eats every other day if she thinks about it.  You'd think she would lose weight.
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7.    After sup, the wife and I sat and watch a netflix - Miss Fisher's Mysteries.  We are on Season 2, episode 12.   Fisher is almost fun because the music is fun - early 30s in Australia.   The other Netflix we are working through is  Midsomer Murders.  We're in season 11 of that series.  I really enjoy the music of this show.  Good, really good woodwind players.  It is worth watching the series to hear the music.  Sometimes they will utilize a local brass band or community band / orchestra.  It is enjoyable to a poor defenseless retired band director.
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That is enough for today.  As I tried to say when I began, this episode was not meant to be a great learning experience.  It does demonstrate my exciting life.  Now as I close, Bruno is in the distance telling me it is time to outside and = well, you know what dogs do outside.
me
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