Wichi Dude

SISTER TRIFECTA

This holiday, I managed to speak to all three of my sisters. That has to be one of the few times that has happened during any one holiday. On Thursday I talked to my sis in Ohio. See MY SISTER CALLED .

Today my oldest sister on the coast called. We talked for over an hour. It was a good call. Shared a few laughs, shared info on the family. Good call.

A couple hours later I called my little sister on the coast. (Same coast as my oldest sister. In fact, they live a couple blocks from each other.) She was doing good also. We discussed a few items for Christmas as she has the knowledge in the area for the items we were looking at. Came away with some good ideas.

It was good talking to all three of them so close together.

Other things are happening in the family I can't talk about at the moment. Gotta wait for the rest of the story before I can say anything. I know, kinda goofy, but until things finish developing, it would make no sense.

I'm just glad everyone is fine. A 1500 miles gap tends to put one out of touch, but this is my home and I won't leave it. I miss them, and I may visit, but that is about all.

UH, OH! I TOUCHED THE COMPUTER.

It is well know in our household; I do hardware, and Dudette does software. And it usually stays that way. We're OK with the arrangement. We do crossover on simple things and life it good.

Over the last couple days, I've been cleaning out some stuff from my computer. Old programs I don't use any more, and never will. Docs and spreadsheets that no longer have any use to anyone went out also.

Simple clean up is good. It frees up space I could use for my next major screw-up.

On Saturday I was cleaning out my old ISP files. You know, do uninstall, then clean up the debris left behind. Life was good, should be able to free up about half a gig.

The uninstall went well, rebooted ok. Then I went after the stragglers. Did search, found the garbage and started deleting all the stuff associated to the old program. Rebooted, Uh...Oh.

Reboot started OK. But at a certain point I got a blue screen with text instead of graphics. "There may be a disk failure...checking files...recommend..." This does not look good.

System restarted...blue screen, more text...,system restarted...blue screen, more text...,system restarted...blue screen, more text. UH, OH!!

Escaped the file check and got into safe mode. Got asked if I wanted to restore to an earlier time. Not just YES. But HELL, YES...RIGHT NOW!

"BRIGHT LIGHTS" PART 6

"Bright Lights" is now up to Part 6. I bet no one, including myself, would have thought this would get so long. It has been an unusual run for a story that originally was only going to go for two parts. It seems, as it developed, it grew. Taking on a life of its own, it, at times, kept me guessing where I was going to take it next. Or, more appropriately, where it was going to take me.

I find I can identify with the Dr. Frankenstien, creating something out of bits and pieces and watching it attain life. Wondering how to guide it. I am not unhappy with the outcome, merely stunned and amazed.

It has been fun so far. I hope I am still holding peoples interest. I still have a few items, thoughts, snippets, lines, what have you, to take care of.

So, let's begin:

Once again, for those who have missed the first five parts, they can be found here:

Part One ,
Part Two ,
Part Three ,
Part Four ,
and Part Five .

DINNER IS DONE

Well, the dinner is over. It turned out nicely. Chew, (Crazy Kids boyfriend), and his mother made it over for the meal. Unforunately, Cop Car, Hunky Husband, Chews brother, and father, didn't make it.

Chews Mom, was a great guest. A pleasure to have over. We sent her home with a bunch of leftovers for Chews dad. He had to work late tonight and couldn't make it. Good for him, good for us, a lot less food to store and try to get rid of.

Now that we are all stuffed, we will probably call it an early night. Busy day, lots of food and drink, and good company. Oh, and let's not forget the cleanup. We're all pretty wiped out. So it will be lights out before long.

MY SISTER CALLED

My sister from Ohio called today, to wish us a Happy Thanksgiving. It was nice hearing from her. It's not like I call anyone on a regular basis, cause I don't. Just one of those things.

I asked for her e-mail address and she doesn't have one yet. She has "Road Runner" but no address. My brother in law is working on it. Has been for months now.

Now, I like and respect my B-I-L. He put up with me when most people would have thrown me out. He taught me a lot of stuff. How to fix my car, do repair work around the house, just a bunch of stuff. He likes to do things by himself, and he's good at it. He is an E-tech and an e-mail account is not going to get the best of him. In the meantime, no e-mail address's.

Like I said, he taught me a lot. Apparently, I learned to call tech support from someone else. I've needed it several times. I am not that proud to call for something I have access to (for free) that will make my like so much better.

Anyway, to my sis. You now know about my site. Feel free to drop in anytime to leave a note to me. You will need to leave an e-mail address for the comments to work. You can use my e-mail address to leave comments. I forgot to tell you you would need that. Sorry. Hope to hear from you soon.

NO CARVER, HE'S OUT OF TOWN

It figures. Cop Car's Hunky Husband is out of town doing the Red Cross thing.

Now I think it is great that he goes all over the place, usually into places most of us would avoid like the plague, to help people out. That he gives so much of his time to help those who truly need it, is wonderful. Most retired people would be more "stay at home-do nothing" types. But not him.

He does more being retired than a LOT of people do actively working.

But, you knew a "but" had to be looming here somewhere, and here it is, HE carves the turkey on Thanksgiving. And he bailed on us.

OH, SURE! There is a disaster somewhere and he just has to be there. Why can't those folks just suffer without him until after he carves the bird. Then he can help them all he wants, and life is good.

I'm sure we'll manage.

Missed you at dinner H.H.

FOOD PREPARATION

Every year, we do the same thing about food. We start cooking the night before, and as stuff is ready for storage, we put it in the garage, (as long as the weather plays along).

We are having the proper weather this year to help us out again. This year though, I do not have a liner in the bed of the truck. (New truck, no bed-liner, long story. I'll have to repeat it for those that missed Bogies telling of the whole incident during Christmas last year. I didn't have a blog then.) So instead of putting the food in the truck, I cleared off a wooden box I have in the garage. The prep food is on top of it. There is even room inside, just in case.

The garage has worked out great as a refrigerator. It stays about 10 degrees (F.) above the outside temp. so we know how cold it will be and nothing goes bad. But Dudette and I were out there putting out food, and she said the silliest thing. She said, we need a "reverse-osmosis heater" in the garage, to make sure it was cold enough. I just looked at her.

Anyone with technological know how, knows why I looked at her. Her next thought was, to get "sticky" traps like they use for mice and bugs, only made for wayward BTU's. This would keep the garage cold and we could take the traps inside and release the BTU's into the house to warm it up.

If you need a technical explaination, e-mail me, and be prepared for a long paper.

DINNER PLANS

Well, the newest update on the number of people joining us for dinner on Thanksgiving, is down to 5, with a late 6th.

Originally, there were supposed to be at least 8. Me, Dudette, CK, Grandma, Chew, Chew's mom, dad, and brother. We got the early no from Chew's brother. Grandma called tonight to say she was too sick to be present. Chew's dad has to work and will be late. If at all.

At this rate, by tomorrow, it will be turkey pot pies and a football game.

Now I ask, what's wrong with this? I'll let you think about that, I'll be here all night.

UPDATE:

I forgot to mention, we even bought, at considerable expense (not including a 25% discount), a bottle of Cuvee Dom Perignon (Vintage 1995), for the occasion. With the reduction of consumers being as it is, all I can do is say what my dad used to say, "More for me."

HOLIDAY CLEAN-UP

Twice a year, I usually do a "deep cleaning" of the house. Not that I wash the walls or anything like that. What I do do, is move the washer and dryer out, and do maintenance and cleaning on them. As well as scrub the floor under them. I do the same with the refrigerator. I also hand scrub (with scrub brush) all the non-carpeted floors.

There are a lot of other, "every six months" projects that I do also.

This is one of those holidays when I have the time off to really get down and do them. I am happy to report that for the most part, they are done. And just in time for the whole thing to get trashed out again. At least the company will be the ones trashing it out. That means they will get a chance to see it in all its glory first.

WHINY AND GRIPEY

For some reason, during the holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Sugar-Plum-Pumpkin Day,...I always get testy, edgy, and snappish. Don't really know why, just do. I can go from "0 to asshole", in 2.3 seconds. Happens every major holiday.

I have been on my usual ranting and grumbling the last couple days. Dudette finally, and firmly, planted both feet in my nose and told me to get over it. I'm OK now. Don't know why, just am.

I know, a lot of studies would say it's the stress of holidays. But I've been like this for as long as a I can remember. About a week before a major holiday and it hits. Couple days of being a jerk and, like turning on a light, I'm over it. Then things mellow out.