found the culprit

 quickie:

see previous blog:

found the person messing with my yard decorations blow up timers 

He is Me.

It seems I plugged my 2 timers into this black box.  That's okay.

But, the black box turned out to be a timer too.  Guess I had forgotten.

So, I was right.  Someone was changing the settings or unplugging the machines.  It was the little black box.  I plugged the decors directly into the box and set it properly.  Now all is fine.

problem solved and I didn't even have to sit out in the flower bed all night.,

m

Be sure to go vote.

If you are a Republican, I believe the election is Tues.

If you are a devoted democrat, I read in the paper that all democrats are suppose to vote on Friday, November 8th --  some new law, I hear ....

(chuckle chuckle)

A Ghost per chance?

 I know.  I know.  Sophisticated people don't do this.  But then half of the word "sophisticated" and  the word "Sophomore" seem to come from the same derivative = soph.  What does that (wrongly) say about sophisticated individuals?  Moving on.

 I am not one of those (sophisticate - not soph).  At certain times of the year I collect plastic blowup creatures off the Walmart shelves and put them in my yard.  For Halloween this year I have 3 different cartoon critters and a tall ghost like thing...plus 3 tiny ghost that line my sidewalk.

Each of these is plugged into a timer for the on-off.   On about 9 in the morning and off about 8:30.  I'll leave them on much longer for actual Halloween Day proper OF COURSE.  Two are on the east side of the sidewalk - two are on the west side.  The west side ones are hooked to a timer that is plugged in just beside my front door and our door camera.  The east side is plugged into 2 different timers with the electric cord going up to a plug near my roof.  Follow?  These 2 timers are on the ground beside the blow ups.

Now here is the problem.  3 of the past 4 nights, the timers have been changed during the night.  Changed.  At Night.  Or --- that plug in the roof area has a problem that shuts the electricity off in the middle of the night for just a few hours - then, back on.   Hmmmmm  Not likely.

MORE likely is that some "kid" in the neighborhood is sneaking up and rotating the timers so the blow ups work at different times than I have set.  I'm not changing them in the middle of the night.  Nobody else who lives here is changing them.  Hmmmmmm  (notice the extra  mmm ).  This might be a pretty funny trick for a kid ... (not a goat)   

On the first night this happened, our door camera alerted us that someone was at the front about 10 p.m.  But, the camera is not pointed at the blow ups.  Some Kid is having fun.

If I were not such a lazy doofest, I would go sit in the front flower bed tonight about 9:45 with a water hose and sprayer at the ready.  It would make such a good video.  Or I will let "him" continue to have his joke.   What a tale to be told when he gets to be 65.   I've thought about attaching a network of dark strings across my yard about 2-3" off the ground.  Someone might get hurt....me....bending over to attach the strings.  Maybe better would be a large bear trap  or  one those holes in the ground with wooden stakes in the bottom  or  where do I get those exploding blue bags the bankers put in bags of money that are taken in bank robberies  or   a trip wire that turns on flood lights - loud music - and releases a full grown lion  or  or  the list could be endless.

----for those who read previous blog about finger -----

my wife is healing slowly.  We have an appointment with a finger surgeon this next week.  The finger is twisted a bit inside the skin.  It won't heal correctly without some help.  

good bye - Happy Halloween - Look out for the trip wires - see ya soon

mtz

  f

Finger play

 I have different types of readers.  There are those who actually know me and have a true interest in my being.   There are those who actually know me and read because they are curious or whatever.   There are some who read because they are just reading whatever they land on.  And so forth so forth.  You can add other examples if you wish.

Today was one of those days which wasn't bad - but, BOY, I'd just as soon forget the day.

This morning, first thing out of the box I fired up the motorhome  (FOR SALE if you are interested).

I drove to a local place and had the creature inspected.  Inspection had to be done before I could register it by the end of the month.  That is $7 I'll never get back.  The lady inspected it, took my money honey, and sent me on my with paperwork grasped in my paws.  Over.  Done.  What a deal  Popular rumor is that getting inspections done ends January 1st unless  you live in one of those really big counties.  I don't.

I came inside and swore under my breath.  over & done

My wife, bless her heart, decided she wanted to mop the floor.  We have one of those mops with the spinner thingy.  It was all going okay.  I grabbed some leftover chili and started eating lunch.  My wife said something in the other room.  I looked up and said something like - you talkin' to me?  She said yes and asked me to come into the room.

I got up and walked that way.  There she was on the floor.  I asked her what she was doing on the floor.  She responded that she slipped and fell.  Accurate for sure.    I walked around to help her get up off the floor.  That's when I saw the pinkie of the right hand.  It wasn't normal - broken pinkie.  

Long story short - went to local BS&W clinic - saw a couple of PA-C.  X-ray, wrapped the finger properly, and set up an appointment with a hand specialist for the near future - I refer to him as the Hand Man.  Time will go on.  We will see if the finger needs and operation.  these next couple of weeks won't be pleasant as the finger heals.  

Life goes on from one major/minor disaster to another.  As the horizon comes into view, I can't help wonder what comes next.  I need a time machine...

mtz

Rats!!

 This is a quickie having to do with my dogs.

Two or our three dogs have had a mission since last spring.  They never give it up.  In the beginning I thought they were hunting rabbits in our backyard.   We've had a couple of cute rabbits who use to hang out in our backyard gaining access under the wood fence.  Then we had a garden.  I thought the dogs were hunting rabbits in our garden.

I was so wrong.  My daughter moved some chicken wire and pallets from the side of the shed.  All of a sudden, I find my little Sadie on her cushion  chomping down on a 4 " rat.  A Rat.  In the trash.  Sadie didn't seem to care.   A 2nd dead rat came into our world soon after.  

Now the dogs switched over to a bushy area of the garden.  The dogs have been working this area since July.  TODAY, Sadie walks into the house, plops herself down in front of my wife, and drops a rat on the floor.   Gadz.  I don't know if this is the last of the rats or not.

I've gone my whole life without having to deal with Rats.  Little Sadie, I believe, brought the rat to us to show how good she is as a hunter.  Cats and Dogs do that.  They catch a critter and bring it to you - as a gift, I suppose.

Rat #3.  gone.

Sidebar:  in the front yard under a bush we have found a dead rabbit - head ripped off - fuzzy little tail torn off - Some other hunter has killed that rabbit in our front yard.  There is  a beautiful white cat that hangs out in our neighbor at times.  I suppose....

Do you have a great rat story?  I'd love to hear it.  (that what the comment area is for)

over & out --

m

Staying with the month

 I just blinked and it's October 14th.   Really must have missed some really good days there.  I know, Friday the 13th came on Sunday this month.  Bet ya didn't notice.

This is not going to be a political rant.  Bear with me.  I do rant and rave in my own mind, but I'm a tad shy about vocalizing my preferences - and let me tell you - I DO HAVE PREFERENCES.  But that is not the point of this paragraph or two.

One day I was working outside during the summer, y'know, mending the fence, digging a post hole, pulling a weed -whatever. I had my little black portable radio with me, looking for something to occupy my mind.  I really cannot tolerate the music on the radio.  Country is just too much; rock n roll has digressed to mostly noise; rap is just nonsense raving over someone who recites simple poetry thinking he is a great thinker; female singers think that if it goes high N loud or if you can hold a super high C for 15 seconds, you somehow have mastered the art of singing.  I just can't stand it.  So I turn the radio dial looking for anything.

I happened upon a talk show.  The talker was fun to hear.  I can't stand some of them..  I heard a guy on a Saturday morning swear that all gasoline mowers would be gone in 5 years.  He ranted and ranted.  That was in the 90s and my mower is still as fine as it ever was.  But, this guy was funny.  It was near lunch time.  I remember going into the house and turning on that radio to finish the show, showing the station to my wife.   That was the first time I heard Rush Limbaugh.  yes, I became a regular listener and suppose I heard him for over 20 some years.  Hannity (sp) followed.  He wasn't as much fun.  He has a tendency to reiterate what he is saying several times in his hour.  You get to know what he is saying over and over.  But, that's okay.  I really enjoyed Rush.

Then, we went through that period where Rush lost his hearing and relearned to hear.  Then, the lung cancer from  his formerly nicotine stained fingers.  When Rush died, I turned off the radio and quit listening to the political news - slanted in my favor.  I suppose I have gone 5 - 6 plus years not hearing what I think.  It was good for me.  I quit listening to the TV news - especially Network News.  Local news is much better with the weather, local events, and sometimes sports.

Then, a while back, gosh I guess it has been a couple months or so, I was in this here computer room and turn on the TV later at night.  Channel 360,  There was this fellow, Gutfeld or field ??.  He was fun.  His guest were funny. And it evolved into a different show The Five and then more news that was tainted my direction.  I started to enjoy listening to them.  

Here is the deal.  I'm still not hooked.  I hear a bit of a show and move on.  But, I can feel my blood rising.  I am getting - make that starting to get more upset about the political scene.  Constantly I ask myself, "How can anyone believe that kind of trash?  Don't they ever pay attention?"  It is apparent.  I am going to have to stop watching those shows.

And, thus, we reach the middle of the month.  Eyes open.  Mouth shut.  Hunger in the belly (for pecan pie).  All you sweethearts take care.  

Wait!  In this morning's paper, there was a photo of a line of 21 former Homecoming Queens (football sweethearts) from Academy h.s. all gathered together at a recent ballgame.   What fun I bet they had at that football game.  

I noticed that a few of my steady readers have been having medical problems:  my advice:  do what the doctor say; stay away from broccoli; and spit off a bridge the first chance you get.  It'll do ya good.

mtz

October begins

When a door closes, another opens up.

When an opportunity ends, another opens up.

When a window closes, your air conditioning performs better.

======

Looking forward to Halloween.  I have no reason to look forward to it.  I put my two Halloween blow up decorations in the front yard this morning.  One is working fine.  The other (my favorite one - yoda kid) seems to have to have the little motor struck in order to work.  Then, after a while with the wind blowing, it must be hit again.  Sad really.  As the past two days continue, the blow up works sometimes then stops.  Then, starts again on its own.  go figure.

Our neighborhood has trick & treaters followed by parents.  It is a busy evening.  And, the locals like to talk and respond to what's happening.  It really has been a nice neighborhood.  Oct. 1st is the National night out.  Our neighborhood does that too with a fire truck and games and food trucks and folks just sitting around chatting.  Nice.

Oooooo Oooooo  Last year, little kids would walk up on our yard just to look at the young Yoda.  Cute.

====

Last year (keeping a theme going), a school bus came by the house about 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.  Little kids would board or "get off" at our corner.  This was great for our dogs because it gave them a chance to bark and snort.  Not this year.  I don't know where the Yellow bus went.  😉 You might say, "I wonder where the Yellow went, when you brush your...."  I know the dogs miss their afternoon romp and bark.  Now, we have to wait for stay-at-home moms to push their babies by the house in the strollers so we can bark.  Sad days for barking dogs.

=====

We did go to the Natl Night Out.  We rode our 2 little scooters and drove the Marauder to the event.  It was nice.  There was big ole fire truck - about 4 or 5 volunteer firemen - 3 or 4 policemen from the sheriff's office.   The bounce house was popular and so was the cornhole tournament.  3 food trucks were available along with one of "icee" trucks.   Daughter and wife had nachos - big - covered in cheese and pulled pork.  I had a brisket sandwich.  Both were okay.   Next time I'll bring a wash cloth in a plastic bag.  As it was I washed my BBQ hands with a diet coke and a napkin.  It worked.

We left just before dark with battery powered lights strung across the backs.  I don't know if it is legal to drive a scooter on the roads.  But, we did.  The wife seemed to have a very nice time.  It was a nice night out.  Looking forward to next year's.

and I close.  October hopes to be a nice month.  I hope it is for you too.

mtz