dog food

Yesterday I was at Petco, buying a large bag of
Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Charlie,
the Wonder Dog and was in the check-out line when a
woman behind me asked if I had a dog. (What did she think I had, an
elephant?)

So because I'm retired and have little to do, on
impulse, I told her that no, I didn't have a dog,
I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I
probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but
that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward
with  IV's in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a Perfect Diet
and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with
Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry.
The food is nutritionally complete, (certified), so it works well and
I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically
everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive
care, because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I had stopped
to pee on a fire hydrant and a car hit me.

Well, I thought the guy behind her was going to have
a heart attack he was laughing so hard.

Petco won't let me shop there anymore. Better watch
what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the world to
think of crazy things to say.

ocean breezes

You have ocean breezes, I miss them and the smell of the ocean. The closest  I can come is when it's raining and Charley and I go out on the back porch to watch and smell it. The sprinkler doesn't do it for me.

 We were looking to going to the beach this coming week but the cheapest hotel room we can find with a ocean view starts at $250 a night and frankly we don't think it is worth that much. Maybe we can go in October when the rates are cheaper.We will just cool it around the homestead this week.

 I am enjoying life, I don't do much but my mind is at ease, can't ask much more than that I think. I pick a few of my roses and bring them in for Donna and pick a few small green/turning red tomatoes before the birds get them and bring them in to the kitchen for Tomato sandwiches or just watch then turn to goo and go bad before I catch them doing that and they are running juice all over the counter. I think our ghost must do something to them at night when I am not looking.

 I mention going to planet fitness every great once in a while to Donna and that conversation drops like a bowling ball from wet fingers. Oh well, I have started walking as I mentioned, I walk Charley about 1/2 a mile, then coming back we fast jog almost a run about half the way back home. Well ok maybe two blocks in a almost run, well ok it's a good solid one block anyway. Then we each are breathing so hard that we can't drink anything as fast we want because we have to continue breathing fast and hard. I keep thinking of what Daddy told me about joggers dropping dead of heart attacks and he thought we only have so many steps and when you take them all your time is up. So don't push it. Also Bob Harper had a heart attack and he is a fitness nut and drinks all that green nasty stuff from a blender. If it didn't help him, I will stick with my Tea and coffee and daily glass of water. Remember what happened to Euell Gibbons ? nuff said. 

 So Donna told me she saw a report where passing gas actually helps you and the people smelling it have less a chance for dementia. I asked her who volunteered for this in depth study? I can see people lining up to be in the fart smelling room hooked up to mask that connect to other people's butt's while they eat eggs and beans. Oh yeah I can see that. A real life controlled study.

 So where is this leading you ask? Well as she arrived home yesterday and was  getting out of the car she let a little stinker go, So I hugged her real close and acted like I was trying to get by her saying" Quick let me in their, I don't want to get dementia and need to smell that fart. She said quiet! The neighbors can hear you. So I say it again loudly this time, let me smell your fart, it will help me I don't care if the neighbors hear. She then erupts in laughter calling me crazy. 

  Which reminds me of the story Dad told me, when he went into a bar in Boston during the war and ran into a bunch of guys that were fart smeller's  and wanted him to eat a bunch of boiled eggs  they had on the bar and would breath them in very heavily and start shaking all over. I told Dad  he sure went into some strange places and met some weird people. I think I would pass on that. Yes Dear old Dad actually told me that one. About the same time he told me he dated Pasty Cline but she was to homely for him.

As I think I told you, forgive me if I didn't, my caddy starting run very warm, borderline hot . Well two different shops who know cadillacs told me without even seeing the car that it needs for the engine to come out and replace the head gaskets . After being overwhelmed with different things going on my life, including seeing how much my work my cougar is going to take, ( I don't know if I am up to it)and Donna hurt her knee and missed two day work and then the weekend came and she could barley walk, a lot better now. I had to step away from everything for a bit and calm myself down and keep telling myself everything is going to be ok one way or the other. I didn't do anything to caddy or make a decision as to have it fixed or sell it. till Donna said a few days ago, it's been sitting for months, decide to spend $3000 to 4000 to fix it or sell it for maybe 2000. or I will.... So I drove it 1/2 mile and temp hit 3/4 , used my new infrared temp gun , checked all temps on engine, found thermostat housing and block at 240 but hose at 130. Watched youtube videos, removed air cleaner box and supports, computer modules, to remove thermostat, then put it in a pan of boiling water,when it didn't open in pan of boiling water, I was hopeful that that was my whole problem as it will stop the coolant from circulating to the radiator. installed failsafe type thermostat( a few dollars more but what the heck at this point) I  drove the car same distance, only half on temp ga. drove 4 times around same roads to be sure, as I didn't want to get to far from my house. Then I showered, drove to town, (about 8 miles) got me a pizza and Donna a salad, and home with a/c going, temp never got over half. everyone told me northstar engines in cadillacs of my year  needed head gaskets due to bolts pulling threads out of block. It is still hard to believe I fixed it for under $30. So I now have a old $3000 to 4000 thermostat (ha ha) in my garage to remind me. check, troubleshoot, then repair, in that order. I didn't think I could fix northstar  cadillac, I am mack mechanic. but systems are basically all the same to trouble shoot. Now I will fix the cougar , one item at a time, I can fix it all, but not all at once, don't get myself overwhelmed, take my time. Donna was proud of me too. I got my big old great riding caddy back again,  I had to write and tell you.😁     We went to church this morn as I promised God if he helped me fix the caddy I would go,He did and so we did.  Stopped by our local farmers market and learned to show up near closing time because they will mark prices down. I thought of Dad as I was wheeling and dealing , Made some really killer buys , like two for the price of one or half what they already marked down, I asked them do you really want to take this home? Tell you what I will take it off your hands for..... Oh yeah , I had fun.