GOOD FRIENDS

I found out this past weekend my friend Bubba spent several days last week in the ICU of the hospital in Paris. A bleeding ulcer put him there. Not something anyone wants to have.

Of course, I didn't learn he had been in the hospital, until after the fact. Not that I could have done much to "help" him, with the great distance to travel.

Oh ... wait. He was in the Paris, TENNESSEE hospital. I don't want anyone to think it was that OTHER Paris. In France. Both are long distance for me.

I got in contact with Wemus & Sting to find out why they had not told me about Bubba. Turns out I was telling them.

Bubba always has been a reserved individual & doesn't express, or brag about himself & his life. That's why we are such good friends; opposites attract.

Bubba had been very helpful to me several years ago when I was in the hospital in Little Rock. [There is no Little Rock in France.] I wish I could have returned the favor to Bubba when he was in the hospital.

It just so happens I had lunch this past Friday with several of the other people who helped me out when I was in the hospital with my heart surgery.

I wish I had known then about Bubba & his medical issues when we all were together at lunch. Everyone asked about him & my answer was along the lines of ... "He's fine". Little did I know then.

Everyone in our group -- save one -- are former employees of L'Oreal-Maybelline.

We had lunch at a place called Moe's. It's "Southwestern grill" style food. We've eaten there several times previously, as we get together every 6-8 weeks for lunch.

The above photo has Lori, Sheila & Kenny. It was a beautiful day -- which sometimes happens in the Winter in Arkansas -- so we spent some time enjoying the sun & pleasant temperatures before going inside.

For history, Kenny -- with Bubba -- came to the hospital to visit me there & the first day, when I was informed I was "not leaving ", took my truck back home for me. [When I could drive, 30 days later, I found Kenny had messed with the radio dial, re-adjusted the drivers seat & changed a few other things in the truck cab.] My Buddy !!

Sheila worked with me at MBL. When I ... ah ... "left the company, to pursue other opportunities", she was promoted to my old position. She was always a good, smart, hard worker & the promotion was deserved. Later that year, she quit. Way to go, Sheila !!

Lori is still working at MBL. Actually, she's running just about ALL the distribution area. Too many hours & too much un-rewarded effort. At least that's what I think !!

The above photo is of Kelly, Kenny & Lori's arm. The poor quality of the picture is my fault, as I was trying out the new camera I just purchased.

Kelly & Kenny both worked in the Credit Department at MBL. But, I still like them.

My "hospital connection" with Kelly -- besides her visits -- was that she had/has a friend who was/is in the administration at St. Vincent Hospital, & the lady -- who's name I draw a blank on -- also visited with me & made sure I was being treated well. I was !!

I hope the look on Lori's face above is NOT her thinking about the tasks she had facing her when she went back to work Friday afternoon. We need to find her another job. She's too good for all they put her through right now.

I have been blessed with good friends & I want Bubba to be healthy & feeling well ... so I can continue to keep ALL my good friends.

"PARTS ... IS PARTS"

The Super Bowl is this coming weekend. Big whoop !! I'll probably watch very little of it, if any.

I used to watch the Super Bowl each year -- & lose several hours of my life I would never get back -- just to watch the commercials.

Now days, all the good Super Bowl commercials are on the Internet. Plus, most of them will be repeated over & over again, long after the Super Bowl. That's okay. I never get tired of seeing Betty White get tackled. Classic !!

As one of my degrees is a major in Advertising, Design & Production -- from Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York, (I still call it "Comedy College") -- I have always had an interest in the commercials for the products they try to influence people to buy. So many good ones. So many bad.

I was reminded earlier today of a series of commercials done by Wendy's years ago. In response to McDonald's "Chicken McNuggets", Wendy's was adverting THEIR chicken nuggets as ALL solid meat & not "pieces" melded together to form the nugget.

The Wendy's commercials, similar to their famous ads for "Where's the beef", called out the McDonald's offering, as McDonald's had previously had been forced to divulge their nuggets where made from chicken "parts". The Wendy's ad would mocking ask the question, "What are 'parts'?", with the answer from the fake McDonald's person being: "Parts ... is parts".

I was reminded of the clever -- & informative Wendy's ad -- this A.M. when I looked out the front door to the porch & saw the "parts" that were laying there.

Nibblets is shown "inspecting" what are obviously "parts" of a Blackbird, although I am not sure which one of my Girls is responsible for the bird being on the porch to begin with. I do know it was in one piece -- not "parts" -- when Wobs went outside to investigate the dead bird.

Thus, I am 100% certain it was Wobs who made sure ... "Parts is parts".

WARMTH & FOOD

It's basically two more months until the "official" start of Spring. Right now, with the cold, damp, gray days -- along with the bouts of snow -- it's that time of year when Spring seems a long way off & those past Summer days -- with all the glory of heat & humidity -- are just a memory.

And don't get me started on my long-ago fading tan. I am truly a white male right now.

The cats -- with their nice thick fur -- are "dressed" for the cold. Still, I've noticed a decided lack of enthusiasm on their part to extend their time outside in the current weather. There is a lot of coming & going, in & out the door. Quite different than in the warmer weather when they DO NOT want to come back inside when it gets dark.

With my reptile collection -- mainly turtles & geckos -- I have to consider the weather conditions most of all. Being cold-blooded, I have to be sure their enclosures in the garage provided the necessary warmth for the animals well being.

Feeding reptiles can be another factor to consider at this time of year. Problems can occur if they are fed & then allowed to cool. Their metabolism will not properly digest the food in their stomach.

Despite the conditions of Winter in Arkansas, I find that my animals -- warm or cold blooded -- seem to do okay. In fact, sometimes I have to be careful NOT to overfeed. All animals can become obese if fed too much, especially without the activity & exercise they would normally get in the warmer weather.

The cats do appear to be a bit more "chunky" & I may have been too good in my efforts to keep the reptiles warm, fed & contented this Winter.

I think once it is time for my annual "Spring Cleaning" in the garage this year, I may find I have over done it when it comes to providing the necessary warmth & food for my animals.

For now ... I'd better be sure the garage door is closed, locked & secure.

CAT BELLS

I've lived Southeast of Little Rock proper for the past 14+ years. It's a quiet, rural area, where everyone seems to have more land than you find in "subdivisions". Neighbors are not too close.

The "growth" for Little Rock has mostly gone West. That's where the money is. Fancy homes, nice restaurants, entertainment & all kinds of places to go shopping.

When I first moved here, I often would travel to the town of Lonoke, Arkansas to shop. It was about the same distance to go to Lonoke -- 15 miles -- as it was to go into North Little Rock. West Little Rock is still five-10 miles further than that from me.

Even as the retail options in North Little Rock had advanced & grown, I would still find it convient -- & much less of a hassel -- to travel over to Lonoke to shop.

Lonoke had a small WalMart store I would often shop at. It was probably the size store once considered "big", before WalMart started building "Super Centers", which offer things like groceries, optical centers & fast food places. Nothing like that in Lonoke.

The Lonoke store was so small, I often felt I would see Sam Walton -- the company founder -- walking the narrow isles. Even after he died, I kept my eyes open for him.

They finally did build a newer, bigger WalMart in Lonoke. Still not a giant store, but it has all the basics & it now has a nice grocery section. I wrote a post about the new store last year. I still shop there once or twice(t) a month.

The old store/building stayed closed & unoccupied for almost a year. The grocery store which was located next to it also shut their doors & moved out.

I was pleasantly surprised this past summer that a new business had taken over the space for the old WalMart location.

Atwoods Farm & Home is huge. It's well stocked with all sorts of "goodies". I've been in the store now several times -- always slapping down my Visa card -- & yet I still don't feel I have seen all it has to offer. It's like a toy store for grown-ups.

The new WalMart is just across Interstate-40; about two miles away. It's convenient to shop at both stores when I make the trip over to Lonoke.

This past week I was at the Atwoods store & bought three kinds of birdseed. They have a variety of seeds, all of good quality. I bought black-oil sunflower seeds (40lbs.), mixed seeds (50lbs.) & a 10 lb. bag of a mix called "Nut N' Berry". [The Cardinals have been hitting that pretty good.]

I'm fussy about my birdseed. I don't want dust, dirt & "fillers" in the bag. I stopped buying the seed offered at one "big box" store because of the lack of quality. I have been buying seeds at Tractor Supply, but it now looks like Lonoke is the place to go.

One of the other -- of several -- items I purchased, was a cat collar. Atwoods sells the "Safe Cat" brand, which I like & prefer. I guess The Girls do too. I've got several "back up" collars in a drawer, but I liked the one below because of the Tiger stripes.

All cat collars come with little bells on them. I take the bell off before I put a new collar on any of my cats. Like I really need to hear that noise going on all night long, especially when most nights two or more cats are right in the bed with me.

I don't think the bell on the collar is going to save many birds either.

I see lots of cute "calender type" photos of cats & kittens wearing a bell collar, but in real life, does anyone put a bell on their pets ?? Nobody I know & none that I've seen ... or heard.

I think a bell on their collar would cause any of my three Girls to react the same way the cat in the above cartoon is doing. I wouldn't/couldn't do that to them.

As for the birds in my yard, they can come for all the bird seed they want, but they need to be warned: My Cats Don't Wear Bells !!

DOG BEDS

Anything new brought into the house has to be explored, reviewed & examined by ALL THREE cats. Favorite items are paper grocery bags & corrugated boxes. They check them out & one or more cats will crawl into the new object.

Plastic bags are a no-no. They have no sustaining support & the noise the bags make is not appreciated by The Girls. They avoid plastic bags.

Naturally, being cats, when I spent money on their "furniture" -- the "Kat Kondo" -- they investigated it when it was set up in the living room & then they promptly ignored it for weeks.

Well, the money was NOT wasted, as I first feared. In fact, it is now the daily hang-out for Nibblets.

Ignoring the irritated look Miss Nibs is providing in the above photo, she seems to enjoy sitting in the upper "barrel"; either looking into the room -- where she is provided head scratches -- or staring out the window at all the birds visiting the bird feeders.

One time in Petsmart, I acquired a bed which I figured would be the right size for any of the three thugs. When I brought it home the same scenario occurred: the bed was examined & there after, ignored.

The bed ended up in the corner of my office & after what ever length of "cat time" was necessary for it to be accepted as part of the house, THE WOBBLER took it over as her own. Wobs is the only cat to use the bed. In fact, she's sleeping in it now as I type.

Well, being a person who likes to spend money on his cats, another visit to Petsmart had the same beds on sale. Bed number two came home with me.

I placed the bed on the floor in the living room, with the idea that when it was occupied, I would have another cat sharing the living room with me during TV time & not scattered all over the house. They are my girls & I want to enjoy their companionship.

RIGHT !!

Same story ... ad nauseam. The second bed was investigated, reviewed & ignored.

Finally, while doing some cleaning & rearranging recently, I placed the latest bed on the dining room table, just to get it out of the way, before I put it in storage someplace ... like in a closet.

That's all it took to get it utilized; put the bed some place ... "inconvenient"... but only for humans. Works every time !!

"Momma Kitty" -- Precious -- can usually now be found on the table in "her" bed. Good thing I eat most of my meals at the kitchen counter. I'd hate to be in her way.

Still, now that Wobs & Precious each have their own beds, I get to chuckle each time when I look at them curled up all comfy & serene, since I know ... they are in DOG BEDS !!!

A SPECIAL DAY

It's the start of another new week. But, who can tell ?? Too bad all the days run together & they all seem to start the same.

Today is different. It's unique ... for one "special" reason.

It's not because it is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. That happens only ONCE(t) a year. I don't get the day off today. I guess I need a job first.

Certainly NOT because it's Monday. As written, all the days in my life seem to fall together & sometimes -- well, more often than I want to confess -- I actually have to ask questions of myself first thing in the A.M., to remember what day of the week it is that I am starting.

No ... today is special because it is the 17th of January !! It's one of 12 "special" days, all occurring on the 17th of each month.

And, just in case I forget, I have a note stuck to my computer monitor to remind me of the date.

Today is ... FRONTLINE DAY !! [Actually ... "Frontline-Plus Day".]

On the 17th day of each month, I apply Frontline-Plus flea & tick treatment to each of the cats. Last night I opened the packaging & had the green applicator dosing tubes ready to go first thing this A.M. I like to catch The Girls ... "off-guard".

Note: I don't remember -- more "brain pharts" -- why it is the 17th of each month this event occurs. I guess that was the date I stated "treatments" years ago.

Wobs is usually the hardest to"dose". She doesn't like to have it done. Maybe it "violates" her.

Wobs seems to know what's about to happen, before the other two do. Last month, just the snapping sound -- of breaking the seal on the green applicator -- was enough to send Wobs scurrying.

Note #2: The "treatment" is not painful or long in duration. It's just a matter of controlling the cat & squirting the liquid on the back of their neck; a place they can not lick/"clean". It's the "controlling" part which becomes the issue, especially each month with Wobs.

So far, this A.M., I have already "dosed" Precious & Nibblets. No problems.

Wobs is currently upstairs in the loft, having gone up there -- as she does most every morning --when "we" first got out of bed. I've got the last applicator waiting on the kitchen counter & will "plan" on treating her when she comes downstairs later to have her morning breakfast.

The way to a cat's neck ... is through their stomach !!

Then, once Wobs has had her flea & tick preventive applied, the "monthly project" will be done & I will not have to face the hassle again until next month's ... "special day".

SUNDAY A.M. YUKS

It's almost 5 A.M. on a Sunday morning.

I just heard a dull sound outside, which I recognize as the truck delivering the newspaper. Time to venture out into the FOG -- which is the "weather alert" that has replaced most of the snow we once had -- & retrieve the paper.

The local newspaper usually doesn't take much time to read in full. Most of the "news" is just re-hashed, reviews of the information & stories which were on the Internet & 24-hour TV news shows for the past few days. Nothing of "new" news in the ("news")paper.

The Sunday newspaper at least has the Sunday funnies to read. In color no less, rather than the simple black & white of the "dailies". Not that I'm going to bother with them.

Now days, even the newspaper cartoons are "old" by the time I read them in the paper. I've already looked at most of the funnies which will be in the paper waiting out in the fog for me.

I have web sites I view each A.M. which have the cartoons I like to read. I follow most of the cartoons in the local paper, on-line,as well as a number of ones NOT carried in the paper.

On the Internet, ALL the cartoons are in color ... every day.

One of my favorite cartoons is "The Fusco Brothers" by J.C. Duffy. I've been following it for years. And it is NOT in the local rag.

Yes, it's a bit insipid, but the cartoon today has had me chuckling, no doubt because -- for lack of a better reason -- is to confess it hits close to home.

Been there/done that ... sort of. Which is more information than needs to be shared right now.

Time to go venture down to the road, into the fog -- like a priest in the movie The Exorcist -- & gather today's "old" newspaper from the yellow paper box.

GET ME BACK TO ... "NORMAL"

I am a decent, law abiding person. I've never done anything against the law.

Wait a minute !! Maybe it would be more truthful to change that last sentence in the paragraph above to: "I've broken the law a few times, but THE MAN has never caught me".

No, no, that's way too dramatic.

Let me try: "I've bent the law a few times -- nothing to cause anyone any physical or financial harm -- but I've never been accused with doing anything which was against the law".

That's a bit better, at least as a stretched ... "confession".

I wrote that because I have to state, for a fact ... I WOULDN'T LAST A DAY IN PRISON !!

I am going stir-crazy just being in the house as much as I am right now. I couldn't make it in a jail cell. I can not wait for the snow to melt & warmer temperatures to return.

I want the temperature to be back in the 90's. I want to be outdoors, wearing flip-flops & shorts, with a nice bronze glow of a tan.

I'd even like wasps & mosquitoes to be buzzing around my head.

I miss Summer time.

I hate Winter.

I hate wearing layers of clothes, even while in the house. It's a necessary form of dress when it is 17 degrees outside -- as it was when I went walking at 9 A.M. today -- but I've got sweaters & shirts on, INSIDE the house, just trying to stay ... "comfortable".

I'm "stuck" here at home. It's cold, there is snow all over the ground & the roads are just now becoming free & clear of ice.

I learned back in the Winter of 1967/68 -- when I first arrived in Memphis, Tennessee -- that the cities of the South have no means of removing snow & ice from roads.

The cities & it's people are dependent on two things -- not necessarily working in tandem -- to "remove" the frozen precipitation: the sun, &/or, warmer temperatures.

It snowed Sunday. Today is Wednesday & FINALLY the roads are clearing off. Even my driveway above -- where I shoveled a "path" on Monday -- is almost devoid of snow, thanks to the sun.

When it comes to Mother Earth, however, the actual melting of the snow/ice on the ground takes a bit longer -- meaning, days -- to melt off, especially when the air temperatures are as cold as they have been; below freezing since Monday.

Wherever the sun can shine on the road, the snow has melted away. Still, areas when the trees cast shadows on the roads, can remain slick & treacherous from ice/snow. I've learned that in the past ... the hard way.

I last drove my truck Saturday morning. I ran the engine yesterday for awhile as it remained parked next to the house. I don't plan on driving again until tomorrow at the earliest. By then, most all the roads should be clear & drivable without worries.

For now, I'll stay "locked up" in my "prison", waiting for the weather to warm, UPS to make it's delivery [due this past Monday. (Woops. Just arrived)], reading newspapers two-days old [delivery issues - weather related] & trying not to eat too much, all the while combined with a lack of excerise & activity outdoors.

I just want to get back to ... "normal".

NOW ... MELT !!!

The Weatherman's forecast for snow -- to begin yesterday afternoon -- was right on the money.

About 2 P.M. Sunday, light snow started falling. The snow got heavier as the day progressed & it was still snowing when I went to bed at 8:30 last night.

YES ... I went to bed at 8:30 P.M. Beauty sleep !!

The temperature Sunday was below freezing all day & the snow was accumulating fairly steadily on the ground. The forecast was for 1-3 inches. We had the latter amount by 5 P.M.

With the cold & snow, I get MAJOR activity from the birds coming to visit the feeders in my yard. As soon as it started to snow, I made sure all 11 feeders were topped off with seeds. [I was about to do a refill when the above photo was taken.]

Some birds like to feed off the ground, so I make sure to scatter a scoop of seeds below the feeders as well.

As the afternoon progressed & the snow continued to fall, Nibblets was attracted to all the many birds just outside the porch door. She -- & Wobs, too -- kept wanting to go outside, only to find the snowy conditions not to her liking & wanting to come back in. Repeat ... repeat ... repeat.

_________________________________________________________________

This morning I found there was more than 6 inches of snow covering everything exposed to it. I was also disappointed I didn't have a job to stay home from due to all the snow.

It was a light, powdery snow, probably just what the skiers want. As for me, I don't find ANY snow all that inviting. And with cloudy/cold days in this week's forecast, it will take a few more days for this snow to melt.

After I took this photo of my truck, I brushed all the snow off it & used my snow shovel -- YES ... I have a REAL snow shovel -- to clear away the snow on the sidewalks & clean a path to the road down the middle of the driveway.

Still, even with my dislike for snow, it does look pretty when it first falls on the trees & ground. It sort of reminds me of growing up in central New York State ... where we would have snow like this each year ... FOR MONTHS.

Another "Xmas Card" type photo. Clean, white snow, giving a pristine look to everything & making one forget that it's cold & wet & the slush is just going to freeze into ice at night. Yuck.

Some of the groves of bamboo have clums which are ... "leaning". From my A.M. "inspection" of my property, there does not appear to be any damage to the trees or bamboo caused by the snow, no doubt because this snow fall was "powdery".

Okay. It snowed. It looked nice. Now ... MELT !!!

NO CELL PHONES

I've been thinking of getting a bow & some arrows. Not for hunting, but to have a bit of "deterrent" when stray dogs come on my property. Got to let them know, this is "Cat Country".

Well, to confess, most of the dogs I encounter are not "strays". They belong to neighbors. Still, the dogs -- or their owners -- are not abiding by the local "leash law". I could be "The Enforcer".

Growing up, when we had our weekend cabin in New York State, my Father constructed an area for an archery range. There were targets & a "backstop" to catch the arrows that ... "missed".

I had several bows & arrows which I remember were made by the Ben Pearson Company. I had forgotten that name for many years, when just last week, I learned they were all manufactured at the companies headquarters South of here, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Another example of it being a "small world".

Ben Pearson has a big proponent of archery. Along with finding out he was from Arkansas, I learned he owned land North of here in the Ozark Mountain hamlet of Prim. There he built a unique cabin in a small, rocky valley. Truly one-of-a-kind.

Ben Pearson died in 1971, but his son -- Ben, Jr. -- has upgraded the cabin. He's also built two more cabins & is constructing a fourth.

All the cabins are built into the rocks, some with interior cliff walls. All have lots of glass for spectacular views of the water falls which are a part of the design & architecture.

The cabins are available for renting & truly appear as a place to visit, relax, communicate with Nature & ... "Get away from it all". [It helps that there is no cell phone service.]

The cabins are located at Longbow Resorts & the website offers excellent pictures & descriptions of the cabins & the area, along with information on rentals. There is also an eight minute video as a sort of "walking tour" of everything.

It's not that far from where I live. I'd sure like to go spend a few days there, surrounded by "THE NATURAL STATE", in all it's glory.

And ... no cell phones.

NO THANKS !!

As some people know, I was married -- briefly ... four years worth -- in the late 60's/early 70's. I learned the hard way, marriage was not/is not for me.

Even with girlfriends/significant others/"main squeezes", or whatever title applies to relationship partners I've had in my life, I've never been able to sustain that one-on-one thing for extended periods of time.

I can see as I have gotten older, I'm probably not going to have much of a change in my single status as I get into these ... ah ... "golden years". I'm too comfortable & set in my ways now.

I know too, most women would not put up with my semi-selfish life style. Good for them. Avoid the pain for both of us. I'll stick with my cats.

One positive about my single life: I've never had any children ... at least none I know of. [Not that I've ever been sweating a knock on the door from someone I didn't recognize & being greeted as "Dad".]

I've never had a desire for children of my own. It's not in my blood to have "offspring". I wouldn't want a child who had ME for a Father.

Don't get me wrong. I like kids. I have friends with kids who seem to think being a parent is a good idea. I just never wanted any children of my own.

My friend "Bubba" is certainly proud of his two kids. Both are Dentists with families of their own. Bubba now has five Grandchildren.

Being a Grandparent must be like being raising your kids all over again, but maybe without all the blame being placed on you. I'm sure not as much effort has to be put into the "second batch" of your family. As a Grandparent, you can take "short-cuts".

Whatever it takes, I'm sure my friend Bubba is well up to the task of being a Grandparent. He's done it for years now, so I know he's good at it.

Me ?? A Parent/Grandparent ?? No thanks !!

FRONT PORCH FEATHERS

On the front porch this morning was a large group of bird feathers. Red feathers. Obviously the (remaining) remains of a male Cardinal.

There are three "suspects" as to who killed the bird. Proving guilt may be difficult. I'm also ruling out suicide.

All three possible killers feigned innocence when going out the front door, inspecting the feathers, as if THEY were surprised to find them. They all get a "Not me" look on their faces.

This time of the year is a real conundrum for me. I have three cats who all spend a good part of the day outside. I also have more than a dozen bird feeders in the back yard. I almost feel like I am some sort of "Cat Pimp", drawing in the innocent birds to be "harvested" by the cats.

Actually, many of the bird deaths are accidental. I've seen it happen. There will be literally dozens of birds at the feeders & suddenly something spooks them & they all go flying off in different directions at once.

Sometimes, in all the confusion & turmoil, a bird will fly into one of the windows of the porch on the North side of my house. This will often stun the bird, if not killing it outright by the collision.

Being the smart hunters they are, all "The Girls" recognize & respond to the THUMP sound of bird meeting glass. They will run to the door if inside & run to the accident scene if outdoors. It's NOT to offer first aid, that's for sure.

Dead, alive, or, soon-to-be-dead, the bird is usually transport to the front porch by the cat who gets to the bird first. The other cats become spectators, as if watching from behind some sort of yellow police-tape.

Adding to any "guilt" I may have over this whole bird-cat issue, is the fact I have not yet put out all the remaining bird feeders. Right now I am only using the black-oil sunflower feeders. I still have several feeders to install/set up for offering nyjer seeds.

More feeders = more birds = more "accidents" = more feathers on the front porch.

ARE YOU UP TO IT ??

My darling Wobs -- if she is in the house -- has some sixth-sense ability to know when I am working at my writing desk or at the desk next to it, containing the computer.

She shows UP & jumps UP, to be right UP there, UP on the desk with me, or UP in my lap, usually UP to no good & hanging around until I finish what I am UP to, or, I decide to give UP.

All of which leads UP to introducing the interesting -- & informative -- essay my friend "Bubba" sent to me on the many uses in our lives of the word ... "UP".


UP

This two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is 'UP.' It is listed in the dictionary as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v].

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?

At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP, and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends, brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and fix UP the old car.

At other times this little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.

To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.

And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.
We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!

To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look UP the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions.

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it soaks UP the earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP. One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now . . . my time is UP!

Oh . . . one more thing: What is the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night?

U
P!

Did that one crack you UP?

DAILY VISITS

With all the advances in technology, sometimes it's not necessary to visit friends, or even take time to call them on the phone or send them e-mails. They just show up in your life ... almost by surprise.

It's early in the morning -- just past 5 A.M. -- but already a couple of dear friends over in Springville, Tennessee have come into my life today, to share a laugh.

As with many a morning, in the daily Pickles comic, I find Opal is "Bubbette" & Earl is correctly depicted as being "Bubba", two friends near & dear to my heart & living too many miles away.

Except in the comics ... where they visit me every day.