Ron G.

Yeah...solstice. So how come the very WORST weather typically comes in January and February? Next stop....EQUINOX!!!

Now THAT'S a much happier countdown then "days til Christmas"!!

Merry Christmas from us'ns to you'uns!

Ice sucks! The photos remind me of the ice storm we got here five years ago. Fortunately, we dodged the bullet this time, but winter aint over yet. Prayerfully, you guys won't get any more of that nasty stuff. I know that sound of limbs breaking and trees falling all day and night. It sounds like gunfire in a war zone, and it's just constant. Of course you can hear it real well, since there's no electricity so you can cover the sound with radio or teevee. The first night, a huge old red oak tree that hung over my house came apart landing on the roof, piece by piece. It sounded like the roof was caving in all night long. It was quite unnerving listening to that with a screaming, sobbing and terrified nine year old Andrew crouched in the corner of his room. By mid day the next day, we were pretty used to it and we spent the next two weeks or so playing poker, yahtzee and chess by the light of the woodstove. Andrew now remembers the whole thing fondly like a big adventure. He wants it to happen again. Unlike many of my neighbors, I didn't have any significant damage or loss of property. I kinda saw what was coming and parked my truck out in the open away from any trees and my steel roof may be noisy, but it withstands a lot. I hate that had to happen to all of you and my prayers are with you. One of my trees....lotsa firewood. One of my neighbors yards. Another neighbors yard.

I find this unnerving.

Happy Birthday ((((((EX10)))))))!!! HULLABALLOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo........................ Now I'll be up all night long trying to think of clean Aggie jokes.

53? Is that all? Happy birthday....YOUNGUN!

Thanks for the birthday wishes! It was good and although there was no party yesterday, Andrew and I went to a ceilidh (Scots/Irish dance party featuring bagpipes and fiddles) last Saturday night. Thanks, y'all!!

Yeah, famous Hoosiers...and famous sayings, too...like Hoosier daddy?

This is the writing desk next to the computer which isn't pictured. It generally looks like this all the time.

This reminds me of that recorded conversation between Alec Baldwin and his daughter. As much as I dislike Alec Baldwin, I don't think his private conversations should be held up to public scrutiny, and I'd defend his absolute right to say whatever he pleases in privacy without being held publicly accountable. I've never seen that bounty hunter TV show and don't pay any attention to him and, consequently, know nothing about him. If someone "hates" others or is "racist" or whatever, it really affects no one but them. It certainly doesn't affect me, so I don't care if this guy is "racist" or not. I'm not sure why ANYONE would care. Don't we all have enough things in our lives to occupy us without getting all worked up over what somebody we don't even know says or thinks about anything in privacy?

I really wanted to go, and was planning on it, but a lucrative job came up for Friday night, so I had to stay home and be a responsible adult. Saturday morning, I decided to hit the woods and see what I could do. I was vindicated as I got TWO clean kills and now have close to 250 lbs. of venison in my freezer...and the season's just beginning. While you guys were cavorting in Texas barbecue ecstasy, I was busy cleaning, gutting, skinning and butchering my victual offering for the next get together, which I'll definitely not miss. I have two 15 lb hams and some steaks earmarked just for the occasion, and a pot of deer chili would go well, also. Okay, okay, okay...maybe I didn't go out in the woods, and just sat up in my upstairs bedroom with my coffee looking out the window...and it's muzzleloader season, and they were shot with a .308. They were attacking my garden and it was either me or them, and my muzzleloader wouldn't reach that far. It was self defense, I tell you. Looks like you all had a wonderful time and I'm really looking forward to when we can see what magic Doojable can work with venison and what magic dmiller can work with his fiddle.