IT'S A BRAND NEW DAY

Well it has been one week since we got the news that we may in fact be becoming forster parents for five of our grand children---yup---five. I told my wife well---so much for retiring and riding off into the sunset.

OK It's been a week and we still don't know what we have to do to get things straight so we can get the kids. DCFS is too busy to get us the information or to deal with us except when they want too---so tomorrow we find out when we can meet with them---yeah that's right the first time we have been able to meet with them to figure out what we need to do to get started on getting the kids.

I am just a wee bit concerned with taking them but feel like it is the only thing we can do---I love them and don't want anyone else having them so here we go. Buckle up the ride will be tough and long and all the things we need to do, including getting a different car, will be causing bad pains in the stomach and head. Guess we'll get through this---just don't know how right now.

LOVELY DAY

Today was a National Holiday so I had the day off---we decided at the office a couple of weeks ago that we would go rabbit hunting today---so at 9:00 am we set out to find the wiley rabbit. We found hundreds of them---shot a lot of bullets (and I do mean a lot of bullets)---got a few rabbits and got accused of shooting down a large power line right next to where we were hunting. We didn't do it but it was interesting to see that the people thought we did and wouldn't let it go. We finally convinced them when we told them the time we left the town we live in---we also told them they could check the time we got gas---the power line had been down since approximately that same time.

It was a beautiful day---sunny and bright---37 degrees---winds 5-7 mph out of the southwest---snow approximately 18 inches deep. The snow made the going difficult and I have a leg that is still nearly cramping and has been since about 3:00 pm but guess that is what I get for being in such poor shape. I could tell you lots of stories about the great hunters we were but that will have to wait a few days---right now I don't feel like telling lies. Just know we had a ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even better than shooting Christmas tree decorations.

Just SO's Ya Know

It has been brought to my attention that there is a misunderstanding by my daughters of exactly why I live where I live and don't move North closer to them.
1. I will never work in that town again---never---it is too hateful.
2. I hate the traffic---all of it.
3. I never lost anything there.
4. I would be willing to live there without a job but that debate won't take place until I retire,
5. I enjoy my job here.
6. I like being able to drive to my Mother's house in an hour.
7. I like it here.
8. I love not having to shovel snow.
9. I like sunny skies.
10. I love my house and yard.
11. It has nothing to do with not wanting to be around any of you---I love you all and you are welcome at my house anytime---ANYTIME!!!

Awwww Winter----SUCKS

We are at the heart of winter---it really isn't too bad here but I hate it. We have about an inch of snow melted down from about four inches. It is still white and not gray so we have had some decent air quality with this winter.

I spent most of the day yesterday stuck. We took a truck and trailer in to a stackyard to try to get some hay for the horses---made it most of the way in then broke through the frozen layer that we didn't know was there. About three hours later we were back on the road loaded with hay and with a new appreciation for the snow depths across the mountain.

I don't remember if I blogged about losing a horse on Christmas day but if I did here is a repeat. One of our best fox trotter horses stepped into a cattle guard on the road into the pasture---all four legs---and killed himself hitting his head on the guard---now that he is gone we can clearly say he was the best we ever had---right---yeah we can say and think it but he probably wasn't---he was a great horse though. We'll miss him on the trails.

I have returned to work and things are going OK there but I keep thinking it may be time to get out of the rat race. Every time I decide to do that something happens that kind of forces me to stay for a while longer---next Tuesday I cross 37 years working---I keep telling folks I have a really bad eye disease---I just can't see me being here.

What The ????

I guess the Iowa caucus didn't really turn up any great surprises. Now the race will really be interesting---things are a little tougher in New Hampshire so it should be fgn to watch that one---then life gets tough for the rest of the year---

Native Minnow---just for the record the only difference in the two parties is that one is IN and the other WANTS TO BE IN---it is truly amazing to me that this country has survived by 51% of the people being right 51% of the time---where would that grade get you in any of the classes you teach---scary huh!!!!!!!!!!!

IOWEIGH

I will be so glad to have the Iowa caucuses over I can hardly stand it---this has been the political season from HELL---I am so sick of election stuff I could just leave the news off so I don't have to see anymore. Yeah I know this is just the beginning---I also know it is the biggest reason democracy is great---but damn man there has been a lot of crap out there---not one of the candidates running for president is qualified to lead the country---no--not one---no one that runs for that job is qualified---they all earn their qualifications in the job and are there a max. of 8 years---history will judge their learning process---not all are good but I am sure tired of the election process this go round.