Thank Goodness, the Weekend is Over...

 Saturday went as expected. Had enough 50/50 raffle sells to do a decent profit. Turns out my Brother won, and he said to turn it all back in to the fund, so NYE is got a nice fund going for decor, etc.

My brother also turns 50 yrs old this week. On Wednesday. There is a meeting at the VFW I am going to, and I admitted to him Saturday night, that MAYBE I would go to his house after, since I am halfway there distance-wise. But I never committed. After all, his wife (notice the lower-case) is not my favorite person. I have not made up my mind as of yet. It is my Brother, turning 50, but....sigh.

Last night added several other things to my 'calendar', and some I am not sure I will actually meet. Several older ladies from the Post want to give gifts to those they like (which I am one) and want me there that night, but I am trying to find something else to do. One gal in particular, has asked me to help to do a "theme" that night. Sigh. I'm not into this. I don't want weird gifts from old ladies, even if it makes them wonderful. 

I apathetic that way. Probably shows in my real life.

So my Team lost today, another team I beat the over/under on won me some money, and the other bet... yeah, another loss. I'm still playing on "free" money, as I only started with $100, and my balance is above that. I'm not much of a gambler, but my bets this year are not giving the wins I expected. Perils of the gamble I guess. At least it is not out of my pocket.

I asked the Wife tonight, where would she like to eat dinner. I said I wanted salad, so in my opinion it narrowed to three places: Red Robin, Olive Garden, or Seafood Harbor (Chinese buffet). I asked her and Youngest to decide. I just want unlimited salad...and wings if we go to the buffet. Wife mentioned she had propositioned Youngest, but he had not made a decision, and she felt if we were to dinner, it would be without him. (shrug) his loss.

So I need to go to dinner.

PeacE

Getting Stuff Done

 Another Saturday has come upon us, and mine is getting filled up fairly quickly. I'm up at the 'butt-crack of dawn' it feels like, though it truly was only 7am. I haven't been up this early on a Saturday in quite awhile. But, duty calls. My Vikings game I play started their battle at 7am my time, so I have gotten on to do a morning assist.

Did my first pill of the day. Waiting a few more minutes to swallow the other handful. Then wait about an hour to take the BP and glucose readings.

At 8am, Great Clips opens, and I will jump online and see about setting a time this morning to head up there to get the monthly haircut. I don't know if I had mentioned before, I went to them about 3-4 weeks ago, and they gave the best haircut out of the the last 5 barbers I had gone to. These barbers were charging $30 for a haircut - alleged specialty barbers I guess, as they did 'fades', etc. I don't need that fancy crap. Buzz the sides and back, leave enough on top to gel back, hit the neck, ears and eyebrows. Where are the old-fashioned barbers that they did all this without being told specifically. Great Clips charges $18, and if I come back with my receipt within 4 weeks, I get an additional $2 off.

Then it will be off to the Walgreens to see how many refills I have to pick-up. I never got my regular text message this month from Walgreens, letting me know my refills were ready. So I did the whole 'MyChart' thing for the doctor, and requested a refill on all prescriptions. I got a couple texts yesterday from Walgreens saying I had some ready, so not sure if I will get all 7 refills today. Probably not, meaning an additional trip Tuesday up there. Sigh seems like I have to go there every week for some refill, be it mine or the Wife's. And no, I'm not doing the mail-order prescription thing.

Pick up drugs, get haircut. Should probably eat something in there somewhere, as I know I will be hungry. Then will head to the Post as I usually do of an afternoon. This evening I am running the 50/50 raffle for the NYE committee I am on, so definitely will be there 7p-9p for that. I'm just happy I found out about a month ago that they have tea available. It has helped cut down on my alcohol so much!

Welp, guess I need to start getting things checked off my list...

PeacE

Sunday Morning Happenings

 I'm beat, and it is only 7:30am.

Yesterday, I went down to the Post, as my usual, and the Wife had plans for a work team dinner with co-workers around 4:30p-5p. Around 4, I get the call from her, her car won't start. From the description of accessories working, and the starter just making the 'clicking' noise, I am guessing the battery. It is 3 1/2 years old, and is the original one from when we bought it from the dealership - at least in my recollection. Youngest used his jump-start kit and it started right up so she could go to dinner. After dinner, she said it started right up with no issues.

This morning found me rising before 6am to take the Oldest Son to the airport. He is flying to Atlanta for "training" with his company and will be gone until Wednesday evening. His first time flying solo, and since he was like 4 years old. I got him down there a couple hours early to allow time to get through security (he was through before I made it home) and to find his gate, etc. The company is providing shuttles/drivers from airport, hotel, and the training classes so he won't have to worry about driving in a strange city, or dealing with a rental car. I've plans to pick him up on his return.

Now that I am back home, I see Autozone is now open, so I should take up the Wife's car and have them check the battery. If bad will just replace it there. If it is good, then have them test the alternator. I am hoping it is just the battery. I don't want to have to take it to a shop, pay the exorbitant costs for a new one, plus labor. Also, I would have to be available to get the Wife from/to work until her car is done. Sigh. It is what it is. I can only check one thing at a time, and hope for the best, and expect the worst. I'm such a pessimist.

That being said, I should get off here and get that done.

PeacE

Another Week Passes

 Last weekend was 'all right', even though when going to Tucson, they are usually better. Wife, I , Youngest and his girlfriend made it down there with no mishaps, and overall the day went fine. Shared some birthday gifts with Daughter, and a bag full of other "things" that Wife has picked up up to take to her. Youngest had brought his computer down, and much of the afternoon was in working on it. He was getting some upgraded parts from Daughter's old system, and I guess it entailed wiping out some hard drives, and re-installing Windows 11. I don't know, but it was a process that could take several hours. So while it did it's thing, we went to dinner.

With Dad footing the bill, I figured the Daughter would want go somewhere fairly expensive, but instead she picked this place called Grumpy's. Mostly sandwiches there, but the average cost was only about $12.99 a plate. It was fairly good, too, at least the crispy chicken BLT I had was. Back at the house, the computer finished up shortly after arriving back. I wanted to be on the way home by 10pm, as the Son's GF had to work in the morning. I think we made it out the door by 10:30pm. That was the quietest ride I have had with the GF in the car. I know I shouldn't talk about her, but she is a yipper.

Sunday morning, after a couple weeks, was finally able to meet up with a friend that we like to watch our football games together. Lately our two teams Washington and Detroit) have been playing different days/times that meeting up wasn't possible. But he came up for my game, and we have tentative plans for my 10am game this Sunday.

Today is Friday, and like most I will be headed to the Post this afternoon. Tuesday held a couple meetings, one of which I am a committee member. Somehow I volunteered myself to help run the 50/50 raffle on a couple Saturdays here in the next month - I did say I wanted to get myself more involved. This week I believe we only have the regular monthly Aux meeting for me to attend, and the 50/50 on the next Saturday. Which means I need to go this week, so I know where/how to put the tickets, collected money, etc when done, and the procedure for writing out receipt for the winner.

I feel sorta like RM in this aspect - I don't want to learn new stuff, but if I am going to help out more, I gotta.

Welp, it is still fairly a decent hour this morning, but I need to get some other things done before heading to the Post.

PeacE

What Have We Got This Week ...?

 It has been nearly a week since I last wrote in here. Seems like some days I feel worn down and ragged, even though there just isn't much going on in my life. I think I have mentioned before that I am trying to get more involved int he VFW Post I am at (Auxiliary). Last Sunday we had our second VFW Riders Group meeting and cleared up some basic information. Still waiting the patch approval from National offices, so no sense in going out and buying my 'cut' just yet. Also need to talk to another rider, about patch placements, and about some other issues that may not be included with the main patch - like since I am 'support', per the SOP for National and State, it has to be on my cut that I am support. But where does the patch go, since it shouldn't be on the back, I'm guessing under my name on the right side front? Little things like that. One that I am sure I will sound sort of stupid about, is how do you put the patches on? Are they iron-on, need to be sewn on, and what about the Velcro ones, how is the Velcro attached.

Against my better judgement, I also joined the New Years Eve party committee. We are in charge of the event for NYE, and the theme, food(s), drink specials - all aspects basically. There are nine of us I believe, and most of them I know fairly well, and we get along good. So it will be sort of like hanging with friends planning a party. I donated a little bit to help start our fund, and we are doing 50/50 raffles each Saturday to help raise money. Food is going to be a pot-luck, and has a sign-up sheet online for once the Post approves the flyer, and that it truly is an 'open to the public event'. Nice part, is we are observing the EST ball drop of 10:00PM, allowing everyone to not have to be out until midnight, unless they choose to.

So only two things I have joined, but am able to get to more meetings to find out what things are going on around the Post, etc. I can observe, ask questions, voice opposition if needed, but cannot vote on those meetings. In fact, Tuesday I have three such meetings going on that evening.

Saturday is the Daughter's birthday, and our plan is to head to Tucson for the day. We will also be picking up Youngest's girlfriend. It will be nice to see my Doodad again, as it feels like it has been too long. The Daughter did find out the sex of the baby that is due in late January, but I have not seen here publicly share yet, so I guess I shouldn't here yet. The plan was to have Youngest drive to/from, as it gives him more freeway driving practice, but with his girlfriend going, the Wife and I decided that may be too much distraction, so I will be driving instead. 

Tomorrow (today) is Friday, and I will be spending a good part of the afternoon down at the Post. Got a book that needs reading for a review. Plus that evening there is a raffle drawing for a gift basket. I had bought like $20 worth of tickets back in the beginning of September, and last I knew, still had the majority of ticket sales. Good chance for me to win it!

Haven't seen/heard from the two older sons, so I am guessing things are going okay for them. I did hear some upsetting news last night I believe it was, about a niece. I am sure the family don't need me sharing more about it, so I won't.

So, the Doctor's (rather Nurse Practioner's) office called me the other day. I had lab work done a couple weeks following the appointment I had back in early August. They were just now calling to see if I would schedule an appointment, just for the NP to go over the results with me. I asked if I had any appt set at this time, and they said yes, the follow-up in early November. I said it could wait until then. I haven't gone into the MyChart they use to even look at the results, but I pretty sure I know what they will basically read as. I'm sure she will want to increase the cholesterol pill. She'll moan about my liver, and I will deny getting an ultra-sound done, same with the extra cardiologist crap she wants me to do. I'd also like her to prescribe me something like Ambien to help me sleep better. Every time I bring up sleep issues, she deflects it and goes on to something about my liver or the cardiologist stuff. Might be time to find a new doctor....

Halloween is coming up soon. I don't normally dress-up for it, but last year I almost had. I had got a monk's robe, and some white face paint. Was going to shave my head, and also bought a "magic" lightbulb. Was planning on going as a bearded Fester, but the lightbulb wouldn't work. A couple weeks after the holiday, I was able to take it apart and figured out the short it had, so it works now. But I am not shaving my head... I'll just go to the Spirit of Halloween store, and see if they got something like a wooden cross I can hang around my neck and go as a Friar Tuck figure. Still not 100% I will dress up for sure.

Welp, it's after 2:30AM, and I ain't sleepy yet. Guess I need to find something to do to get that way....

PeacE

I Lived ....

 ... I ate that loaded baked potato salad the Wife had bought, even though it was past the best sold date. It tasted funny. I attribute that to the sour cream (which I don't like in raw form) but the tummy was not a happy camper through the day. Being Friday, I headed to the Post, and shortly after arriving, I had to the trip to the 'head' (I'm sure it was the potato salad) and leave a package to be sent to the President. Nice personal touch, too, if I say so myself. Over the course of the evening, he got a couple more sent as well.... or, would that be her, because I can't tell the sex of the clowns in office right now....

Anyway, I had a good eve at the Post. It was a small crowd, the Regulars, that sing every chance they can, no matter how good they sound or not. I chose to read, and finished 2-3 books tonight. No songs. No one to impress, no new songs to "try", and didn't care. Tomorrow may be a different story. It is 'steak night' where you can get a nice rib-eye, baked potato, beans, salad and a dessert for $20, and I am waiting for the Wife to see if she wants to go this week or not. What she decides, fixes most of my plans for the day.

The Brother is having a party for the 1 year old grandkid he is now 'raising'. He's one. Being still associated through the State, they get an allowance for things needed to help (diapers, bottles, formula, and all the other special stuff because he is supposed allergic to something). So I have no present. The Brother was at the Post tonight, and I admitted I was not sure if I would make it there tomorrow. It's farther than I like to drive, and his spouse's family might be there, and ....yeah. I'm trying to prevent an altercation, versus starting one. RM is planning to be there, and I guess she said she is bringing tea (another story for another time, that we will just forget about). for me. But I dunno. Drive there, home and back to the Post...lotsa miles. I'm leaving it til the morning and asking the Wife what she wants to do.

Depending on what the Wife says in the morn, I may go hunting for a gun tomorrow. I have been looking at some different ones, and asked opinions from other gun owners. I have an idea of what I want, but need to shop around and find the best deal. Then, whilst I wait the 10-day (if feasible in AZ) look into the concealed carry classes. I already know some of the 'cuts'/vest for the VFW Riders have pockets to help with that as well. I'll spend a day to get a CCW. Yes, I'm a good guy, there will be a gun safe bought for the handgun as well, for when I am home, when little ones are around. I'm not that bad....

So, I think I shared enough for this early hour, and all that caffeine from the tea is still working... but we're done. Until next time.....

Peace

I Gotta New Name

 Wednesday, the Youngest and I were going to do another highway/street trip to give him more practice driving. Trying to find purpose in these drives, I chose that we would go to White Castle (I been craving) way over on the east side of town (there's only 3 in the Valley). It's a good jaunt on the highway, then I was going to have him drive the 'streets' back home. Practice, right? Well, Middle Son came by that day, so we both agreed to put it off to the next day. Then yesterday, I woke with a really bad headache, and asked to push to Friday. That's later today, and as of now, I'm still ready.

So it was Thursday, and around 1pm my headache finally started its way of disappearing. The Youngest had plans to go to the HS football game with the girlfriend around 2-3pm, so I said I was going to head out. I went down to the VFW. I had a tablet, I had books, and they had iced tea. I spent a good part of the afternoon and evening there, then headed towards home. One of my regular spots was on the way, so I stopped. My tablet was under 50% battery power, so I didn't even take it inside to try to read.

I got a spot at the bar, ordered my usual, and was just kinda watching sports recaps and whatnot on the television. Someone stops by and says the usual, "Hi. I'm (name)." I respond in kind, "I'm Ralph. How ya doing?" Almost immediately I get this blank look, then they say they have to go over to whatever table with their friends. Weird.

A little time goes by, and someone else stops by me, ordering a drink, and make small talk, I say, "Hey, how ya doing?". They are cool, and respond back they are well. I put out my hand, saying, "I'm Ralph. And you?". The blank look again. I'm trying to figure out what the heck is going on...

At this point, someone I know actually comes in, comes down and sits next to me, and I'm thinking this is good. He and I talk for awhile, just regular guy chit-chat, and talking about sports recaps, etc. A gal come walking up next to me, to order drinks for her table, and again, I offer up a hi, how are you. I get an enthusiastic answer about the good time she is having, so I ask her name. It's Cindy (spelling I don't know). I say I'm Ralph. Again that blank look. She quickly carts the drinks back to her friends, and coming back for the final one, I asked her, "What is going wrong? You are the third person to meet me tonight, and everyone gets this blank look, then goes away". She does the whole over-the-shoulder looking thing, then tells me that there is a "saying", or "rumor", that if you bother Ralph the Reader, it can get ugly. I mention that I am probably the guy, as I know the bartenders tend to tell people to leave me alone when I reading, but I didn't have my book with me that night. Her words... her words... if you mess with Ralph the Reader, and you bother him, he will hurt you.

Sorry RM, but OMFG. Really? You interrupt my reading, I'll hurt you? I mean, if you can't have a decent convo, after interrupting my reading, yeah, I'm not going to be happy. And I will verbally blast you until you leave me alone and run to the other side of the world. But physically hurt someone? Wow.

So, if you are ever in the north side of the Valley, in my 'stomping grounds', watch out. Don't interrupt the fat guy reading at the bar.

On a side note, the Wife got me a 'loaded baked potato salad' from the grocery a couple days ago. It was marked down for clearance sale. I checked the date about 15 minutes ago, it was for 9/14 for best sale. It smelled okay, so I just ate it. Not a fan - too much sour cream for my taste. Just letting someone know in case I die tomorrow from toxins.

PeacE