CAN'T WE ALL GET ALONG ??

Now days, I almost dread each time I look at my "sources" of local, national & world news.

Be it TV , newspapers or the Internet, it seems as if everywhere & everyone is going to Hell in a handbag. What is it with this planet ??

Countries killing it's people. People wanting new governments. Elected officials who will not govern. Threats to bomb & kill innocents. What's going on ??

The future of this world never looked so bleak.

As that great spokesperson for social awareness -- Rodney King -- once asked ... "Can't we all get along"??

Yes ... maybe Hobbs (above) has it right: maybe we should look to animals for happiness.

Well ... sometimes even the animals will provide their own "demands" ... just like people. One way is with the tried & true version of the "Sit-Down Strike". Occupy an area -- in this case, the kitchen -- & refuse to leave until the demands are met.

"Strike" averted. "Snacks" have been provided as required & all is -- for this moment -- at peace in the household.

Like cats, with food -- Can't we all get along ??

... WITH SNACKS

I have written previously about how I have changed my diet in the past few years. "Healthy eating" & all that.

It just means there are foods I used to eat which are no longer on my menu. Mostly the foods I once loved to eat & ate too much of. Examples would be pizza, burgers, fried foods, etc. Yep ... no booze or beer, too.

Not that I'm ever going to shrivel up & blow away. I could still lose a few pounds. I continue to eat lots of carbs & sweets. Jelly beans are a favorite snack.

When it comes to "My Girls", there are no restrictions on "foodies". I try to provide them with a varied diet of both "wet" & "dry" food ... from several variety's & brands.

As with all cats, they have their favorite food items & will sometimes act hungry, only to refuse what is offered for them to eat. It's then my job to figure out what it is they are hungry for & present that food to them. [All cat owners know here I am coming from.]

All three of My Girls like the cat snack, "Temptations". They don't turn their nose up when offered this tasty, crunchy morsel. [Well, they have, but it's the very rare occasion.]

Temptations come in different package colors, an indication of the various flavors the product is offered in. I've never sampled any of them, so I don't know if the taste of the "beef" is beef, or the "salmon" is salmon, etc. Whatever it tastes like -- no matter what "flavor" -- My Girls eat it.

The advertising circulars which come in the Tuesday mail sometimes have coupons for Temptations & I'm quick with the scissors to cut them out. Anything to save money.

Recently in the mail at home were coupons for $1.00 off when buying two packages of Temptations. That same day, I went to the Post Office, both to get the coupon in my P.O. Box ... and ... to search through the garbage can in the Post Office lobby for coupon circulars people had tossed out. "Junk mail".

I ended up with the two coupons in MY mail & six more I snagged out of the trash.

Actually, these were not the most money saving coupons when it came to Temptations snacks. In January, there were coupons with an offer of "Buy one Temptations ... get one FREE". I did the Post Office "raid" on those too.

But ... I didn't read the fine print on the coupon. The cashier at Kroger did. The disclaimer was on the coupons top dollar value being $2.19. The cashier caught the fine print, so the second package was not "free", but at a cost of $2.96, with the coupon, the package price was 77 cents.

And ... being the resourceful & clever person I am, I used the remaining coupons at Target, where the check-out cashier was all too happy to sell me the second package as "free", without the "maximum value" of $2.19. She didn't read the fine print. I knew she wouldn't.

Whatever the flavor, the packages of Temptations are transferred to a container which sits on the kitchen counter. It's then easy to shake some "snacks" on the paper plates I use for just such feedings. That would be THREE plates, since each cat wants/needs/requires their own dish.

The name of the game in this household is "healthy eating" ... with snacks.

ALL THREE ??

I always seem to deliver mixed messages to myself regarding living in Arkansas. It's not a place I would probably choose to live & yet here I am.

This September will mark my 15th year living in this state. I got here because my long-term job transferred me here. But, now retired, I have had to question myself on more than one occasion; if this isn't a place I would WANT to live ... why am I still here ??

Obviously I have "issues". One of the main ones is that I am a "nester". I settle into my environment & up my comfort level in my personal space, no matter where I live. I make adjustments & -- selfishly -- tune-out whatever it is that I don't want, or care to deal with.

I KNOW I'd love to live in Hawaii. But only if I could afford it, so right off I've got to win a BIG lottery someplace. [I'm having no luck with the Florida lotto.]

I really liked Cost Rica, but that's a different county & really, a whole different world. It's probably just a place I'd visit regularly, traveling from Hawaii. It's that kind of fantasy thought.

No, I see myself staying in Arkansas. The people are friendly. I've got a nice home in the country. The climate regulates to give a sample of all seasons & the living expenses -- for now -- are in line with my money. What would else would I want ??

Well ... that's where my ambivalence about Arkansas seems hit a sticking point. It's the people.

Don't get me wrong. The people are nice & friendly & I have "friends" here, but at the same time, I have never really "connected" with either the people or the state we share.

A lot of times I think I'm on the outside, looking in. And ... I don't really "get" what I see in the people of Arkansas, which seems to be odd ways of living, or habits & mannerisms I can't relate to.

EXAMPLES ... of my disconnect:
** Sports -- University of Arkansas football ... hunting ... NASCAR. All three are BIG in this state & I don't get any of them. I'm sure it's my fault I could give diddly squat about all three.
** Food -- Too many menus with an over abundance of fatty meats & too many items dipped in batter & deep fried. "Salads" are ice berg lettuce. Give me a break.
** Smoking -- WHY ?? [Too many people walking around with butts in their mouth.]
** Motorists -- This is pretty scary, on a regular basis:
++ Turn signals seem to be "optional".
++ Half the drivers don't seem to want to turn on the car lights ... in rain, fog or at night.
++ Red lights & stop signs are observed & followed ... if convenient for the driver.

BUT the biggest disconnect I have with Arkansas people -- in THE NATURAL STATE, as it is called (by who ??) -- is the constant trashing of the roads & highways with whatever garbage can be tossed from a moving vehicle.

And to give the Devil his due ... there are just too many piles of trash where I KNOW someone had to stop their car/truck to unload/dump their trash/eyesores into the public realm. Talk about "extra effort".

Not long ago, I ran into the CLASSIC EXAMPLE of Arkansas people -- to me -- at their worst.

This is a bridge near my home where I pass daily with my morning walk/jog. On this day I was greeted with LARGE corrugated boxes tossed on the edge of the creek. Obviously this was an example of someone having to stop to make their "deposit". This was no "window-toss".

Later in the day, I returned with my truck & loaded up the (heavy ... oof !!) cartons & -- hopefully -- contributed my effort to keep someone else's trash out of the local environment.

Since I live in a Gated Complex, bringing ANYTHING into the area has to be inspected, reviewed & approved before it can be unloaded.

Wobs -- in the truck bed -- & Miss Nibs -- on the ground -- begin the inspection process.

And -- before the comments are sent -- it's a "Gated Complex" because my property is fenced & I have a gate. Deal with it.

The inspection is thorough & detailed.

As if the trashed boxes where not bad enough, this past week -- at the same bridge -- my morning exercise revealed FIVE automobile tires dropped off in the exact same location. [The tires were NOT there the previous day. Another "stop & toss" event.]

As with the boxes, I returned with my truck & loaded up the tires. (Double "oof", this time.)

When I got home, Wobs was quickly on the job, providing a full & complete "inspection" of the truck bed contents.

Precious -- AKA "Momma Kitty" -- was there to "sign-off" on the inspection.

I can't begin to fathom what goes on in people's minds to want to toss their garbage on the roads in Arkansas. Convenience ?? Skipping out on paying a garbage collection fee ?? Freaking, lazy-ass Red Necks ??

I don't know, but after living here all these years, it just may be all three reasons.

HOORAY

Hopefully I have seen the last of the snow for this year. I realize it is just past the mid-point of February, but the weather this past week -- temperatures into the high 60's/low 70's -- gets everyone, including me -- hankering for it to be Spring.

I have a feeling that for once, we WILL have an early Spring.

A few weeks past ... the groundhog was predicting an early Spring. I've never believed all that jive. The movie was fun but no overgrown hamster is going to be able to forecast the weather.

My friend Bubba reported to me that Fox Noise ... ah, News -- I can't believe he watches/believes the stuff they spew -- was also saying there would be an early Spring. Maybe the groundhog is providing Fox the information, since I know they are not going to get anywhere close to tying it into Global Warming or other weather anomalies.

No, my prediction of an early Spring is based on evidence beyond reproach. I base my information on the one source that knows all & is the one entity which controls almost all our daily lives.

I get my information from Wal*Mart !!

A sure prediction of an early Spring is the garden center parking lot at Wal*Mart. The bags of soil, mulch & other Spring planting needs are stacked, priced & ready for sale. No lines. No waiting. Buy NOW.

Now, should anyone think this is just an isolated incident, I can safely convey that I have seen these stacked piles of gardening goodies at several Wal*Mart locations. [Okay ... two stores. North Little Rock & Lonoke, Arkansas.]

Wal*Mart -- the largest retailer in the world -- is NOT going to have inventory sitting around their store parking lots unsold. They are too smart for that. They know it will be an early Spring & that's the BEST prediction source.

Spring is here !!! Wal*Mart says so. Hooray !!

YESTERDAY AND TODAY

The national news TV stations last night had feature segments on the snow which inundated Arkansas yesterday. The Northwest part of the state got it the worst, with up to 24 inches of snow accumulation. Good for sledding. Bad for driving.

Here in central Arkansas, there was seven inches of snow on the ground, arriving & staying, from 7:30 A.M. until it stopped at 4 P.M. Like many people before me, I took a ruler outside with me to make sure my estimate was "official". Yep ... seven inches.

I shoveled my sidewalks despite it still snowing when I did so. I'm old school ... as well as being from upstate New York. So I shovel the snow, knowing it is just that much less snow to shovel ... later. I also shoveled a path down the middle of my driveway, to the road out front.

The snow yesterday was coming down in a steady manner. The photo above is looking North & the road seems to disappear into the snow. The only "tracks" in the road were from Mr. Herman's jeep. He's my mailman.

This photo is looking back down my driveway. Not much to see, as everything is encased in white. This picture was taken before I did my shoveling, as testified by just footprints leading back to the house.

This is at the front road, looking North, today. The few cars that have traveled on the road have made some progress in helping the snow to melt. The exposed blacktop will be warmed by the sun, further melting the snow. The problem is this "slush" will re-freeze tonight & be VERY dangerous in the morning. Ah ... for anyone having to drive to work.

NOTE: Apparently none of the tire tracks were made from the newspapers delivery person. NO newspaper was delivered today.

Where I shoveled snow yesterday, is helping melt the snow today & making the "path" to the road easier to navigate. I can wear my "rubber shoes" to go to the road, rather than having to put on my "big boots". Well, I can go to the road to get the mail when it arrives. Maybe too, in the morning, I'll have two newspapers ... or ... none at all.

This photo was taken of my property to the South of my house. I thought the effect of the snow & evergreens made for a nice Christmas effect. Added to that -- at least I know it to be true -- is the "clumps" in the tall tree in the left of the picture, are those of mistletoe. [Not that I ever find anyone standing under that tree.]

I spent some time today digging the truck out of the snow & getting the snow off it. My "helper" -- Precious, AKA "Momma Kitty" -- can be seen under the truck, to the left of my Parrothead license plate.

The finished result. I also started the engine & ran the motor to use the truck's defroster/heater. All this will make it easier to drive the truck & get it out of the driveway ... if necessary. I'm thinking the roads may be drivable -- for me -- by Saturday. I'm in no hurry.

Precious made some attempts at stalking the hundreds of birds visiting the various feeding stations, all with no success. I think she just found the snow -- patted down by all the little bird feet -- easier to traverse than the deeper parts of the yard.

The weather forecast for next week -- & the predictions have been 100% recently -- call for temperatures to get up into the 60's. Bring it on. After yesterday & today ... I'm ready to to return to a yard of -- rather than snow -- dead leaves & mud.

YA WANNA GO OUT ???

Those fine folks at the Weather Channel were spot on when it came to the prediction of snow for today ... which they have been repeating since late last week. The falling flakes arrived about 7:30 A.M. & in the four-plus hours since, we have about three inches of the white stuff covering everything.

Not only did they correctly predict the day, but it looks as if the accumulation will be as they forecast: 4-6 inches of snow.

When it started snowing this morning, I made it outside to refill those bird feeders needing "topping off". From experience, I know the worst weather -- such as ice/snow -- creates the most demand for the bird feeders.

The utility pole on the North side of my house has three feeders attached to it & is a good place to observe the birds coming & going. Birds will be on the feeders, on the ground -- where I spread extra seeds -- as well as in the branches, making their preparations to fly down.

Cardinals & Finches are the most common birds I have in the yard. I don't count the uninvited Blackbirds, but most of their feeding is confined to the ground, due to the "cages" -- intended mostly for the squirrels -- which surround the tube feeders & prevent the Blackbirds from getting to the seeds.

The house shaped feeder -- in the bottom right corner of the photo above -- prevents larger birds & squirrels from getting to the seeds by shutting off the access to the food due to the bird or squirrels weight on the perch.

It doesn't matter where I buy birdseed, the most expensive is always the Nyjer seed. It also happens to be the favorite seed of the Finches & since so many of the Finches can cling to the screen feeder at one time -- & currently I have three such feeders I am keeping filled -- this type seed gets used quickly.

With all the bird activity right outside the porch, the cats have a major interest in what is going on out in the yard. Of course, in responding to my asking, "Ya wanna go out?" ... Momma Kitty went out the door, discovered there was snow, waited a few minutes to see if conditions would improve & then came scampering back inside.

A PURR-FECT DAY ...

It 's another day, like too many & too recent -- think, yesterday -- where the elements of nature conspire to challenge my efforts to get out of the house & be anything close to "active" outdoors.

The start of this day was not much different from where last night left off; cold & all surfaces covered with either ice, snow or both.

The first omen was the driveway being slick -- & dangerous -- with a fine, thin ice coating as I made my way down to the road to retrieve the morning newspaper, which WAS encased in a yellow plastic bag due to the weather conditions. The delivery guy got it right for a change.

The front road was clear of snow, but the light of my flash light reflected back a shine from many spots on the normally dull surface of the blacktop; a clear indicator the bouts of freezing rain from late yesterday afternoon where still to be considered.

As the morning progressed & it became light outside, the lack of sun shine & the temperature remaining around 30 degrees, conspired to prevent the ice & snow from beginning the melting process. In my mind I confirmed I would NOT be driving to the Hays Center for my -- usual -- Saturday morning work-out.

Still, one needs to exercise. [I keep telling myself that. It's on-going battle I have somewhere deep in my skull.] I did my stretching, lifted some weights & did my 100 sit-ups. All the stuff the winning/losing side of of my brain -- take your pick -- requires I do each A.M.

Layering on some clothing, the next "requirement" was the 2.5 mile course I walk/jog/run six days a week. [Like the movie, Never on Sunday, I only walk on Sundays.]

Well, at the road, right at the end of my ice covered drive way, I learned the road was in only slightly better condition when it came to the the slick spots & patches of ice covering it. No jogging today.

I ended up doing a shortened version of my course; a distance of about 1.3 miles. I kept off the main road as much as possible, which had obviously NOT had much traffic on it to keep the road surface warm & ice free. The shoulder of the road & patches of ice on the surface were too slick for any fast walking pace.
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NOTE: There can be a drastic difference in snow/ice conditions between my road & the main road, all on account of traffic. In the South, road surfaces depend on BOTH the sun & automobile traffic to "clear" them. Obviously, there had NOT been enough traffic on the main road -- & certainly on my dead-end road -- to prevent the ice from forming on it it.
_______________________________________________________________

I made it through my walk, rather chilled -- there was a strong wind as well as the cold temperatures -- & looking forward to the warm shower that was waiting for me. [It felt good.]

As the day has worn on, the sun has started to shine & the melting has begun, now turning everything once covered in ice & snow into dripping water, mush & mud.

The plan developed earlier today remains the same: I'm inside for the day. It's a purr-fect day to finish my tax papers.

CHANGE YOUR MIND ??

Punxsutawney Phil better get his act together & quickly. I'm not happy -- already -- waiting for his "prediction".

How "early" is that "Early Spring" forecast the wood-chucking Woodchuck -- supposedly -- passed along to everyone the other day ?? Not soon enough for ME.

I'm stuck in the house again today. I was outside this A.M. to do my 2.5 miles of jog/walk & I went to the road to get the delivered mail. Both times -- the ONLY times I have been outside --it was snowing on me. That was it for my exposure for the day to the elements.

The radar screen on the computer shows the colors for the different kinds of precipitation we have had across the state today: blue (snow), purple (sleet/freezing rain) & green (rain). We started with snow, then rain, then pellets of ice & freezing rain. Now it is back to snowing outside.

In this weather, I spend too much time in the house, in either the living room -- reading/laying on the couch/85 lb. feline on my chest -- or in the office, at my desk -- or like now -- on the computer, with a 85 lb. feline in my lap.

There's nothing new in the office, except the usual addition of new/different colored pens as I come across them on my retail excursions. About half of my "collection" of writing tools show up in the above photo, with the rest of them in drawers or storage boxes. Those "off-site" would be the "reserves", waiting to get into the game.

Deserving a more detailed look -- in a close-up -- is my darling Wobs, who spends a lot of time with me in the office, "helping" me by lying on the desk directly in front of me as I try to work, or in my lap, either at the desk, or the computer.

Another day, stuck inside. Another bout of Winter weather. The view from all my windows is WHITE.

Ah ... Pauxsutawney Phil. Do you want to revise your prediction ??

CHECK ON BUBBA

As I have written previously, I try to get some form of exercise daily. It can be an effort in weather like what we have been experiencing for the past few days; temperatures in the teens to low twenties & blustery winds making it feel even colder.

I also do TRY to be careful about what food I eat. That can be hard, since I have a very demanding "sweet tooth" ... actually TEETH. Again, the cold weather finds me less active, inside more than normal -- trying to stay warm -- & consuming more calories than I should.

All the attention to exercise & food is in an effort to maintain some sort of healthy life style. I have always been active in sports -- especially when younger -- & have always been a "runner", as well as a believer in long bike rides. (Obviously, this is another area I am lacking in during the cold weather.)

Since having major surgery affecting my heart almost four years ago, I have tried to adhere to my beliefs on nutrition & exercise, as a way of maintaining my own health -- & hopefully -- avoiding the inevitable "permanent alternative" for as long as possible.

As I have written recently, my dear friend in Tennessee -- Bubba, now sometimes called "Earl Pickles" -- spent some time in the hospital this month, after "not feeling well" for several weeks prior to that.

I worry about my friend & hope he will take better care of himself. Still, now I am afraid I have done something drastic -- in his eyes, for sure -- which will effect his health in a negative way. I hope not, but the shock may be too much for his delicate weakened body to handle.

Today I bought the George Bush book.

It was on sale at 30% off. I get an additional "members discount" of 10% AND I received an e-mail from Barnes & Noble with another 10% coupon. The $35.00 book ended up costing me $18.90 before tax.

What the heck. So I bought it. It's not like it was a Sarah Palin book, or that I'm going to go register as a Republican!!

But now I'm worried about Bubba. This news may send him over the edge for sure. I'm concerned what this will do to his health. He's going to be worried too, that I might actually start watching HIS Fox Noise TV shows, or that pigs will fly !!

Somebody check on Bubba !!

HE'S WRONG

The outdoor vegetation color pallet in central Arkansas this time of year is very limited . Mostly just the colors green & brown.

The color green is represented by the numerous pine trees. Brown is the color of the dead/died fields & lawns, along with the leaf-less trees. After all the rain we had yesterday, brown is also the color of all the flooding water everywhere.

We escaped the ice & snow which has engulfed so much of the United States the past few days. Still, we had thunder storms & MAJOR amounts of rain. This area being in the flood plane of the Arkansas River, it does just that; floods.

It rained all night & up until 11 A.M. Tuesday. Then, the wind arrived & the temperatures started dropping rapidly. It was 53 degrees at noon. 32 degrees by 5 P.M.

I did do a limited inspection of my property yesterday once the rain had stopped. LOTS of standing water for sure, but then, that's ... well ... "normal" with any big rain event. I've had worse.

There were no trees or branches on the ground, so that was the good news. Even today, after the constant wind yesterday, my land is devoid of sticks & branches. I am on a winning streak.

I took a few photos while I was outside yesterday & will share them below.

This is certainly NOT my favorite time of year. Way too wet, cold & damp, with much too much effort required to be "comfortably dressed" outside. I prefer shorts & flip-flops.

The color brown is well represented in all the life-less landscape, be it the trees, ground or the flowing brown water in the creek. The bamboo keeps it's green color all year round & adds some hope the the rest of the landscape will shortly follow suit.

My bamboo species 'Robert Young' -- shown in the second & third photos -- adds some nice yellow color, as well as breaks up the monotony of just brown & green every where.

As much as I wish that Spring was soon to start, I think the Groundhog got it all wrong with "his forecast" this morning. We WILL have six more weeks of Winter.

CLEAN-UP CREW

A major weather event is under way all across the USA. Predictions have either snow, ice & rain -- along with possibilities of tornado's in the South -- affecting more than 33 states, some with forecasts of RECORD amounts of precipitation.

It looks -- so far -- as if central Arkansas is only going to have rain & thunder storms today. The really "bad" weather -- ice & snow -- will be on the West & North sides of the state & mostly confined to the Northwest corner of Arkansas. I hope that's true.

Later tonight, the bottom will fall out on the temperatures & we will see lows in the teens. Add to that, increasing high winds, which will take the wind-chill down even lower. Damp, freezing cold; not my favorite conditions.

I'm all settled in for the next few days of whatever weather comes this way. As long as I have utilities -- gas & electric -- me, my critters & cats will be okay. We will be safe & warm inside.

Well ... the majority of us will be.

So far, despite the A.M. rain, both Nibblets & Wobs HAD to go out the front door first thing this morning. It's almost a daily ritual, whatever the weather conditions. At least it is for Miss Nibs.

Wobs was soon back at the side door, crying out to me, as if it was MY FAULT she got wet outside. I held her & comforted her until she was soon purring in my arms. She can just break my heart.

Nibblets is a different story, one that is obviously -- as history shows -- due to play out all day today. Nibs just does not want to stay inside, no matter how wet she gets when she goes out. She will not stay in the shelter of the front porch when it rains.

So, today, I will be faced with Nibblets wanting -- NO -- demanding to go out the door. I'll then keep checking both doors until she returns -- WET -- & comes inside to be dried off with a towel, eats a bit of a snack & starts the process all over again. Inside/out. Inside/out.

On one of Nibblets first sojourns out this morning, when she returned to the porch, she was with a "visitor" ... probably the same one who had been at the door last night. Nibs was keeping her distance from the "guest" & Nibblets jumped in the door as soon as it was opened.

About 8 P.M. last night -- Yes, I was still up & awake -- I heard Precious GROWLING at the front door, a sound she, or any of the cats, doesn't usually make. It was then that I saw the LARGE possum on the porch. Precious was none too pleased to have the intruder on the other side of the glass door.

This possum -- or other possums (who can tell them apart ??) -- was no doubt attracted to the smells associated with the bird "parts" which had been on the porch previously. I had cleaned the latest crime scene earlier in the day.

With the return visit this morning, this possum was probably the final ... "Clean-Up Crew".