"THE FOOL ON THE HILL" (published 11-11-2019)

Day after day, alone on a hill

The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still

But nobody wants to know him

They can see that he's just a fool

And he never gives an answer

But the fool on the hill

Sees the sun going down

And the eyes in his head

See the world spinning 'round

Well on the way, head in a cloud

The man of a thousand voices talking perfectly loud

But nobody ever hears him

Or the sound he appears to make

And he never seems to notice

But the fool on the hill

Sees the sun going down

And the eyes in his head

See the world spinning 'round

And nobody seems to like him

They can tell what he wants to do

And he never shows his feelings

But the fool on the hill

Sees the sun going down

And the eyes in his head

See the world spinning 'round

He never listens to them

He knows that they're the fools

They don't like him

The fool on the hill

Sees the sun going down

And the eyes in his head

See the world spinning 'round

It’s time to get serious, folks! (I have a serious side; my right side; no, my left side!) On this Veterans Day, my plan to go to the homeplace was forestalled, by the need to see my chiropractor earlier today. (You don’t want to know the details. Trust me. The right rib is back in place!)

So, as I sit writing, alone, again, as usual, this afternoon, I remember Veterans Day. “The Fool on the Hill,” by the Beatles, is a great song, with a depth of meaning that one can make his own. I am doing so now.

Imagine (a pun on another song) the veteran, who has seen too much in life. He knows what he knows. He has seen and endured what he has seen and endured. He has served his country. Those around him, even closest non-veteran family and friends, do not understand him fully. He understands himself fully. His loud communication, of his own understanding of himself, to others receives incomplete and partial understanding at best. At worst, he receives the standard platitudes that cause him to wonder why he even tried to communicate with those who will never be wise enough to understand. The veteran, if he is wise enough to have taken the Good Lord’s free gift offer, thinks from the everlasting perspective. He does not care much for this space-time continuum. He knows he’s a speck of dust, on a larger speck of dust, in a vast, temporal expanse, which is not everlasting. By the way, I just left voice mail on my veteran brother’s phone. He might call back.

I did not serve in the military. (I wish that I had done so.) My “Fool on the Hill” thoughts do not compare with those of a combat veteran. Still yet, I have my thoughts. My thoughts are based on my life after “bionic” body parts. I had a pre-bionic body parts life. I am in an ongoing after bionic body parts life.

The acquisition of bionic body parts has deepened my thoughts of everlastingness. I had thought that my thoughts on everlastingness were deep. My thoughts were deep, but they were not as deep as they are now. (Did a little deeper in the well, boys!)

The catalyst to this writing is twofold. First, on work-a-day Wednesday of last week, a colleague -- who was present by phone, in the usual Wednesday-meeting-timewaste -- asked, “How is everyone?” My reply was, “I am surviving.” (My meaning was that I am enduring a work-a-day, with bionic body parts, again, as usual.) Her response was, “it’s better than being six feet under.” The others present physically laughed and agreed. I shook my head in silence. My thought was: “take me home, Lord! I’d rather have this body six feet under and be, in my soul, with you and many others!" I will get this body back, glorified, later! Of course, I was talking perfectly loud, while keeping perfectly still, as the “fool” on the hill.

The second catalyst was on 11/9/19, Saturday. I was doing the usual haul trash routine. (Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, by the way, was in her usual Dollar General, IGA, and go see her father routine.) While in my routine, I heard on my new, ‘ol truck’s radio “The Fool on the Hill!” Hey, that was great! (These various stations play their usual rotation, but this which-ever-station-it-was landed a good song at the right time!)

During the song, I thought back to work-a-day Wednesday. I thought in the everlasting perspective. I pitched the trash and the recycling. Then, I mused more to myself, again, as usual.

This “fool on a hill” does not care for the here and now. You know; the here and now is the usual: work-a-day-policywonk-psychobabble, local-national-international-news, weather-alert-day, sports-go-Steelers-Dawgs, let’s-hike, see-family-friends, what’s-the-good-bad-ugly-dear-glad-you’re-still-here-dear, when’s-supper-dear, Molly-doggie, why-do-I-have-a-fine-engine-and-transmission-but-a-busted-up-bionic-frame, every-four-week-deep-tissue-massage-followed-by-chiropractor, etc., etc. Oh, yes, I am about as tired of it as you are. I tired you, by your attempt to figure out what I just wrote!

Despite the previous, do not doubt my stubborn, Irish endurance. As a fine Irish lady once said, “You can always live in hope, even if you die in despair!” There always will be will in my spirit, in body or not. As long as my spirit is in this body, and as long as I have power in this body, busted up such as I am, I WILL endure to the end – of this temporal existence – to be taken HOME! When are you coming, Lord? When will be my turn to go Home, if You don’t come before? Silence, again, as usual.

Well, at least yesterday, after House Mountain hike #161, on niece-in-law’s birthday, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I placed the outdoor thermometer on the front porch. I had bought the $5.59-made-in-China thermometer at Ace Hardware, on 4/16/19. Hey, it takes me a few months (about seven) to get something done now. I’m slowed by my bionic body parts.

This “fool” on the hill is signing off now. Mrs. Appalachian Irishman just came home. My veteran brother has not called back yet. Let’s all take up the Lord’s free gift offer, live by it, and go Home!

So, who is brave enough to comment?

11/10/2019, HOUSE MOUNTAIN #161

Howdy, y’all!

By the way, as a side note, to yesterday’s “11/9/2019, SATURDAY SOLILOQUY,” I had hoped to get up to the homeplace, to do some work, but my “bionic” left shoulder that is ricocheting into my back muscles and, especially, left hip, did NOT agree. So, I let my left shoulder win, this time only!

Today is niece-in-law’s birthday. (If “sister-in-law” is correct, then way don’t we say “niece-in-law?” She is my sister-in-law’s daughter! I digress, of course.) So, for niece-in-law and for all the veterans, both living and having moved Home (especially the veterans in the Fearghail clan), I hiked House Mountain #161, alone, again, as usual!

Of course, it is still too warm, but the day was sunny. Any day in the woods is better than a day not! Enjoy the photos!

The above was all that was left of me! Why did I wear my short sleeve hiking shirt? My T-shirt would have been enough. This is my usual photo on the west bluff. It took me 34 minutes, from start to my rock touch spot. One of these days, maybe, I might get back to the 24-minute time. My “bionic” right foot and right knee still don’t allow me to be anything more than a lame mountain goat.

This photo was my route to my rock-touch-check-my-time spot, earlier. I was on my way down, but I thought I’d take a photo of the way up and down, again, for fun! There were way too many pine beetles attaching themselves to me, on this too warm day.

I forgot to take a photo of my new ol' truck again! Sorry, ol' truck! I was trying to figure out how to get out of our parking spot, with the various vehicles around us! Please forgive me! Thank you! (My ol' truck just said, “you are forgiven!”)

Oh, speaking of pine beetles, look for my future post, regarding my deeper musings, inspired by The Beatles’ song “The Fool On The Hill." You won’t want to miss it! Keep turnin’ right and goin’ straight out there!

11/9/2019, SATURDAY SOLILOQUY

Well, evenin’, y’all! Do you think “them thar” Louisiana Tigers will whop “them thar” Alabama Elephants? We’ll see.

This week involved a technobabble, “interweb” win!

11/4/2019, Monday: Singh, from Jaipur, India, established that my Norton protection and computer speed was as good as it can get, until “Microcrap” gets more money out of my back pocket, to upgrade to “Winders 10.” I like what I have. Why is “Microcrap” stopping support in January? Oh, yeah, they want even more money!

11/6/2019, Wednesday: my Yoder’s Store Tonic that I’d ordered, on 11/1/2019, via the “interweb,” arrived! I “interweb” commented a good note to their “interweb” blog guy’s blog. (See WordPress, below.)

Today, 11/9/2019, Saturday (hence, the “Soliloquy” title; it rhymes): I got on that “thar” “interweb” again! I set up my savings account that Papaw Ferrell started for me when I was a boy (when the bank had another name), to “talk to” our local bank! Hey, now I can transfer money from our local bank to my Papaw Ferrell savings account, without the need to make a deposit in person! That’ll keep my Papaw Ferrell savings account from going dormant again! For years, even decades, I’ve had to send the postal letter, telling the savings account folks not to send my account to the State, as an unclaimed property! No more! Hey, I’m into the last part of the 20^th century, finally! (Oh, by the way, later today, I set up my WordPress account, to bring in even more “millions” of readers to this website!)

Of course, I should have been born in 1860. Then, I could have been “my own grandpaw!” (You know the song!)

Y’all keep turnin’ right and goin’ straight out there!

SUNDAY MUSINGS & 10-27-2019 HOUSE MOUNTAIN #160 (published 11-3-2019)

Well, howdy, y’all! On a great weather for hiking weekend, here I “sot,” not having hiked. Why, you ask? Well, read below on House Mountain #160! Wisdom dictates: let the right heel heal more!

The following is the chronological update, since my last entry. I know that my “millions” of readers have been concerned!

10/8/2019, Yom Kippur at sundown: before sundown, after work-a-day, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I talked with neighbor to our northeast, in his yard. He’s a fine fellow and family. Neighbor to our west was strolling along, with his grandson in a stroller. These two neighbors don’t get along. We get along with each one. We spoke to strolling along neighbor. Northeast neighbor didn’t. Y’all grow up and make friends! Aren’t y’all old enough to do so?

10/9-13/2019: a good cousin of mine, to communicate with me, texts Mrs. Appalachian Irishman a few times. We, as cousins, talked by phone on 10/13/2019, regarding a family get together that good cousin and family have planned for 10/26/2019. Hey, ‘cuz! Just call ME anytime!

10/10/2019: our mower guy mowed for first time since 9/20/2019. (Why he mowed then is a mystery, during the September drought.) I figure that I owe him money, but I called him, and he said no. Ok, I think that my bookkeeping is better than yours, but if you don’t need to be paid, it’s fine.

10/11/2019, Friday: Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I are both off work. She had the airbag recall (from 2016) on the car fixed finally at no cost. She gave Molly puppy a much-needed bath. I had my annual physical exam. My good doctor bragged, in his words, “again, as usual,” on my great blood work! Maybe I’ll see his wife and him, again, hiking My Mountain. (I saw them on 03/4/2018 hike #146)!

Oh, on the same day, the Comcrap fight started and is still ongoing! Take away TCM and make me pay the same money for one less channel? So far, I’ve won a draw. We have a free set of movie channels that we don’t watch, and we did not get the $20 one-time discount promised. Watch me win!

10/12/2019, Saturday: Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I visited youngest brother and his family, in my hometown. We picked up/brought lunch from Green Tomato Grill to them/us. That was a fine visit – except for the very rare Georgia Bulldogs loss and Tennessee “Vowels” win. Argh! Oh, on the way home, I bought another bottle of tonic. The last time I bought the tonic had to have been in the summer of 2015, before “pre-metal” days. Here’s the photo of the 2015 purchase and the 10/12/2019 (not 11/12/2019, incorrectly on the note on the label!) purchase. They went up a couple of dollars. An ounce a day does the body whatever it does!

 

11/1/2019, Friday, update: the Amish Yoder’s are gettin’ fancy! They have an “Interweb” site! I ordered me three, count ‘em, three more bottles, on the “Interweb,” with free shipping!

10/14/2019: Mrs. Appalachian Irishman is still off work-a-day, on “fall break.” That means: I had “cat-dog” surprise, when I finished my work-a-day! Oh, well. Also, the County Animal Control Sheriff unit was at fourth new neighbor’s. Hum, what’s up? 9:19 PM, I took a call from west neighbor (the same that was strolling along). He stated: he and grandson in stroller were strolling along as usual, when “white dog” (not “brown dog”) attacked! He had bite marks on his leg. The grandson was not injured, thankfully! Now, we know what happened! Oh, as of this entry, “white dog” and “brown dog” are still alive. Mrs. Appalachian Irishman saw them outside once. Fourth new neighbor must be keeping them inside mostly now. “White dog” should be dead!

10/19/2019, Saturday: it was my usual once every four weeks haircut and Tractor Supply. Hey, they have plenty of pecan logs now!

10/20/2019, Sunday: rain. When will I get hike #160 on “My Mountain?” Read on!

10/26/2019, Saturday: I had my fifth deep tissue, one-hour, massage, at 12 PM. My youngest brother had to work. Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I had hoped we could attend good cousin’s family get together, in my hometown. We didn’t make it, unfortunately. I voice mailed my good cousin twice, in hope that I could convey my gift of the blarney by phone at least. No reply yet.

10/27/2019, Sunday: finally, I get a hike! It’s my House Mountain hike #160! (That’s eight score, you know?) Even if it was a bit muddy, cloudy, and too warm for this time of year, any day in the woods is better than not! Enjoy the photos! Oh, by the way, the final photo is of my bloody right sock! It seems that the scab on the back of my heal might, after almost three and a half years, be starting to come off all the way! That’s progress! (Don’t look at the sock photo, if you don’t like the sight of blood and a piece of scab!) I tore holes in both socks also! What fun! It was great!

View from west bluff, looking southwest.

View of the valley to the north, on the ridge line.

First view from the middle bluff, looking north toward the valley.

Second view from middle bluff, looking west. The west bluff is visible.

My reliable, new, ol' truck loves to have his photo taken! He reached 169,000 miles, on the dot, a very few tenths of a mile, after we left the parking lot! My House Mountain hike #160. My truck reaches 169,000 miles! Cool!

I told you not to look!

10/29/2019, Tuesday: 3/29/2016 was my I-got-hammered-time (i.e., 25 surgically installed metal pieces in three joints). (Read my 8/26/2016 post, “I’M STILL ALIVE – WHY?”) This was my 3.5-year anniversary of that “fun.” It was also Mrs. Appalachian Irishman’s parents’ wedding anniversary. Of course, my mother-in-law has gone to a better world. (Read my 6/14/2017 post, “5-14-2017: Mother's Day & House Mt. #138.”) We had our every-four-week chiropractic appointment, after work, again, as usual. As usual, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman had her adjustment and left, leaving me with the tab. Good job, dear! After arriving home, I took my first Free Cell (mind numbing) loss on this computer, after however many wins in a row. (What was I thinking? It’s easy!) The Free Cell game loss on this day is fitting!

10/30/2019, Wednesday: while on the way to work-a-day, my new ol' truck attained 170,000 miles! I remember the Ailor Gap Road spot!

10/31/2019, Thursday/Halloween: after my usual hot shower/cold rinse/rubbing alcohol rub (i.e., for “bionic” joints), I found a tick on the back of my right shoulder! Now, where had he been all this time, since House Mountain hike #160? I pulled him off, rubbed the red spot in alcohol, and went on to the insanity of work-a-day “whizzbang” silliness! At work, those women had wanted to dress up in a theme, again. I came as “a hiker,” again, as usual! I wore an old pair of jeans, my short sleeve hiking shirt, my hiking ball cap, and my boots. I had my canteen and knife sheath too. Those women need to grow up! Well, it rained all day, with temperature dropping into a more fall like feel! We had once set, in two cars, of about five trick-or-treaters who were brave enough in the weather, to come hunt candy! Molly doggy loved it! It was Molly doggy’s forth birthday anniversary! She had a great time, for a few moments!

11/2-3/2019 weekend: well, we have great hiking weather. Wisdom dictated that I not hike, since the half gone scab on my right heel is still healing! Oh well, maybe; yes certainly, if there is power in my body, I will hike next weekend! I have will in my spirit!

Hey, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, when’s supper?

Y’all keep turnin’ right and goin’ straight out there, ya hear?

10/6/2019 SUNDAY MUSINGS

Well, “hear I sot,” close to supper time, a ramblin’ on, as usual! Howdy, to all my “millions” of readers, who gave up the “Farcebook” scam to join me here!

I do not want to “hit a lick” at work tomorrow. How many of us, honestly, do?

10/1/2019 was the usual, after work, monthly chiropractor adjustment. It followed my monthly deep tissue massage, on Saturday, 9/28/2019. I may be making s-l-o-w progress. We’ll see.

10/5/2019, Saturday: what do you know? I may have forced the two Internet banking accounts to talk to each other and to transfer the green stuff, when I tell them to! It’s a win, so far! Also, I voice mailed my youngest brother, in Russian, on his landline twice and on his cell phone once. No reply yet. I assume that his family and he are plinking and plunking along okay. (I’m 1.25 hours away, so I don't know.) Oh, how ‘bout my “Dawgs?” They beat them “thar” “Vowels,” into the ground, on their home field! “Dawgs,” you might want to start at full speed, even against a weak opponent, in the future. You’ve started slowly twice now. Get serious! (I have to tell my “Dawgs” a thing or two also!) Lastly, well, what do you know? We had a bit of thunder and some rain over night. Is fall coming? We’ll see. Recently, we broke heat records, from 1884. Papaw Ferrell was four years old then. I wonder what he did to cause “global climate change” back then? I need cool, fall weather, to hike!

10/6/2019, Sunday: since yesterday, I’ve tried to impose myself into an upcoming debate, regarding Christ’s second coming. (See my 10/5/2019 article.) Some people just have too much free time on their hands! Come soon, Lord, come soon! I took a good Epson salts soak this morning, just “for fun!” One of these days, maybe, my muscles and the various muscle tissues will quit their pulling and tugging and leave me alone! Otherwise, I endure, day by day! Let’s go hike a ridge! It ain’t fun, moving about like a fine tuned race car, with a busted suspension. I suppose that I will keep doing so, until I die or the Lord returns. Return, dear Lord, soon!

Hey, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, I’m gettin’ hungry! When’s vitals? Y’all keep turnin’ right and goin’ straight out there, ya hear?

THE COMING OF CHRIST – A DEBATE WON EASILY (published 10-5-2019)

Introduction

Today, Saturday, 10/5/2019, the Appalachian Irishman, very bravely, made a rare venture into his “Farcebook” account. I had to waste time, by ignoring all the reposts of posts, strange third party reposts, advertisements, marketplace advertisements, and “friend” recommendations.

I happened to see a post by a man, with whom I had attended Tennessee Bible College (fall of 1983 to spring of 1984).

The Upcoming Debate

That man will debate another man on 10/11-12/2019, regarding “the second and final coming of Christ took place in the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD” or “is yet future.” I was interested.

My “Intrusion” into the Debate

This article is my “intrusion” into the upcoming debate. Let me see. I just re-read, for who knows how many times, 1 Corinthians chapter 15, the entire chapter.

Of course, many other texts prove that Christ's second coming is in the future, but this chapter is sufficient. The inspired apostle Paul stated, as part of his eloquence, in that chapter:

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:22-26, NIV)

I won!

The second coming of Christ is future – unless y’all have seen:

– that death has been destroyed (from the above quote),
– the visible return of Christ in the clouds (see Rev. 1:7),
– the resurrection of ALL the dead (see 1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Thess. 4:16-17),
– and the “twinkling of an eye” transformation of ALL the still living at his return, “at the last trumpet” (1 Cor. 15:52)!

By the way, aren’t people still dying every day – unfortunately?

Conclusion

Let’s see. The physical remains of Mom, Dad, both sets of my grandparents, my uncle Bobby, all my aunts and uncles, my mother-in-law, and many, many others remain in their graves.

I’m still standing here. I ain’t breathing hard. I have NOT been, “in the twinkling of an eye,” transformed. I certainly would enjoy that transformation, since my “bionic” body parts are “talking to me” today!

Do you see, therefore, how easily that I have won this upcoming debate – by my intrusion? Isn't time supposed to end at Christ’s second coming? What time is it now?

9/29/2019 SUNDAY MUSINGS

Let’s keep the title pattern a goin’ a bit. Reckon? Why not?

Sunday, 9/22/2019, was “cat dog” surprise! Mrs. Appalachian Irishman informed me, without my choice, that she was going to get “cat dog” to stay with us, so that we could “cat dog sit” -- until “favorite” sister-in-law did afternoon errands. Well, Molly (our doggy) and I survived, once again! “Favorite” sister-in-law came, got “cat dog,” and rescued Molly and me!

Monday, 9/23/2019: what do you know? At the end of work, we had a little, puny, pop up shower! The drought it over! Not!

Wednesday, 9/25/2019: Mrs. Appalachian Irishman had a one-year follow up appointment, for one of her several 2018 medical appointments that were “fun.” The 2018 series of medical stuff involved: what happened to you? We don’t know. You may have eaten something that didn't agree with you. You are fine! Come back in a year, if you want to. She wanted to, apparently. What do you know? She’s still fine! That’s the way to get out of a day’s work, dear! Proud of you!

I almost forgot! Also, on 9/25/2019, for some unknown and totally illogical reason, the State of Tennessee bureaucracy, in it’s infinite ability to be completely incapable, send me an e-mail rejection, regarding an application for a state job -- to which I NEVER applied!

It’s state bureaucracy in its finest level! Don’t get me started on federal bureaucracy! The federal “govrmint” folks drone on about nothing, on the 24/7 news channels, which I watch rarely. One of these days, we all had better learn to speak Arabic, Spanish, Mandarin, or Russian! (But wait! I speak Russian.)

Thursday, 9/26/2019: after work insanity, as usual, I drove home in a good little pop up rain. The closer I came to home, however, the less rain was falling. I found one or two rain drops in the yard. We are making rain progress here. I need to continue my evening rain dances in the back yard.

Friday, 9/27/2019: while stuck (at red, three times) by the only Gibbs traffic light, on my way to TGIF work insanity, I happened to notice that my new, ol' truck was at 169,000 miles exactly and at 135 miles on my last 9/21/2019 gas fill up! To this Appalachian Irishman, it’s worthy of a note. Therefore, I have so noted.

Saturday, 9/28/2019: on the way out, for hauling trash, monthly deep tissue massage, and getting gas, I saw two good neighbors, husband and wife, out walking. I was in a hurry, spoke briefly, and called the man after arriving home. That’s a way that we keep in touch, in our good neighborhood.

The monthly deep tissue massage was my fourth. It will be followed by my monthly chiropractic appointment (on 10/1/2019). I don’t know, but maybe, just maybe, in a few or several more months or years, the soft tissue damage that is still recovering will recover fully -- to the way it was before 3/29/2016, when my body had the drastic evil inflicted upon it by the idiot driver. We’ll see.

Y’all keep turnin’ right and goin’ straight out there, ya year? Until next time, WHEN THE HECK IS IT EVER GOING TO RAIN A LOT AND TURN COOLER? I NEED to start my fall hiking! What was going on back decades ago, when it was this hot at the tail end of September, when there was no “global climate change?” Now, that just opened a can of worms!

9/21/2019 SATURDAY MUSINGS

The title to my last article was pretty good! Why not stick with the pattern? Greetings, to my “millions” of readers!

9/17/2019, Tuesday, workday, Dad’s birthday, in 1927: my youngest brother and his wife went to Knoxville, for a follow up appointment, to her left foot surgery, of 9/4/2019 (Papaw Wood’s birthday, in 1901). Here’s a photo that my brother took of his wife’s left foot, at the surgeon’s office. Ain’t it a “purty” foot?

My sister-in-law is allowed to place weight on her surgically repaired, “bionic,” left foot but not walk on it yet.

That’s at least better than my 2016 “fun.” On 3/29/2016, I didn’t die, when the idiot failed to yield to my right of way. I was unaware of what was going on, during my left shoulder and right knee surgeries. I knew what was going on, before my 4/13/2016 right foot surgery. We are making progress here. (I wonder if the Good Lord cares, in the short-term. He cares and knows the long-term.)

9/19/2019, Thursday: it was a workday for me. Mrs. Appalachian Irishman took a day off, to take her father to a medical appointment. I remember when I did that for Mom and Dad, back in the day. Remember these days, dear! You honor your father, as you did your mother before she passed.

9/20/2019, Friday: why did our mower guy mow today? It’s been too hot, too dang hot! It has not rained all month! Why did he mow? Do I need to fire him and start mowing myself? I can do it. I have power in my body, such as it is. I’d rather take the easier route, by paying someone else to mow right now. We’ll see what happens.

By the way, I suppose that “Algore” was right, on the global warming, global climate change -- or bovine excrement (as I call it). Why is Greenland called Greenland, when it is not very green now? I could ramble on with proof, but I won’t, today!

9/21/2019, Saturday, today: for me, it was a usual day -- monthly haircut, good truck wash, and Tractor Supply. (I'd treated my new, ol' truck to a wash last Saturday also.) I found and bought almost everything that we had needed, at the Tractor Supply, for Molly “puppy!” Get the Milkbone “doggys,” in the plastic bottle, while they're in stock!

Thankfully, I also found and bought the last pecan log that the Tractor Supply had in stock! Last month, there were none. I had given the empty box to and informed the clerk! Two months ago, there were none. I had informed the clerk. Today, however, I have my monthly Tractor Supply pecan log! The photograph is below.

How ‘bout them “Vowels” today? They got their backsides handed to them, again, as usual, by Flor-i-Da! I hope that my Georgia Bulldogs do much better, against “them thar” fake Irishmen, at 8 PM, this evening!

As a brief side note, on world disasters and USA politics, crap just keeps happening. That’s why “this world is not my home; I’m just a passin’ through.” Politics? It’s from poli (many) + tics (tics) = many tick suckers! That's my brief side note.

Y’all keep turning right and going straight out there, ya hear?

9/15/2019 SUNDAY MUSINGS

Well, howdy, y’all! (I had me another cold shower, as usual, this morning!) I hope that y’all are okay out there – plunking along in life, such as it is!

9/1/2019, Sunday: it’s the official (for those who have sense enough to know) first day of autumn, but it’s still too (globally warm) hot, dang hot! I need cooler weather! I need to hike! Well, I digress.

That afternoon, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I got together, with three dear friends, for a great time as always! We ate at Chili’s. We got a table upon arrival. We were served our drinks and salads, for those who had ordered salads.

After almost an hour of waiting on our main course orders, I informed the guy who had seated us, that we had seen others arrive, be seated, and get their main course orders, before us. We were still waiting! What do you know? In quick fashion, we had our food! The “server” (aka waitress) did NOT get a tip! Also, a manager came by, apologized profusely, and offered free desserts (which we declined). I thought, “I’ve seen truly hungry people in India and Russia, to whom 'hungry' people in this country cannot compare. This is nothing.” I said, with no acknowledgment of the apology, “We just want to eat.” Despite that bit of “fun,” we, as always, had a great time together!

9/2/2019, Monday, Labor Day: Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I did NOT labor!

9/3/2019 note: Mom and Dad’s wedding was on 9/3/1959. I was born, ten months later, on 7/17/1960.

9/4/2019 note: Papaw Wood’s birthday was on 9/4/1901. On that day, my youngest brother’s wife had outpatient surgery on her right foot, to repair damage. She now has metal in two toes.

Her outpatient surgery was better than my 36-day hospitalization in 2016 (with 25 pieces of metal in three joints) and better than our good friend’s 12/5/2017 left foot surgery (metal stays in), with four-day hospitalization. We are making progress!

My youngest brother's wife has a follow up appointment is 9/17/2019. Dad was born 9/17/1927. Okay, Lord, we understand your sarcastic humor on this! Isn’t this enough?

Also, on 9/4/2019, our good friend’s aged mother broke her right arm. She’s doing well enough, in a nursing home, for now.

9/8/2019, Sunday: I ain’t sayin’ nary a "thang" more about the “Evil Empire” beating my Steelers! My Steelers coffee cup, placed strategically in the living room, was not turned correctly. Their loss is MY FAULT! I’m sorry!

9/11/2019, Wednesday, workday: is the date, 9/11, enough to write?

 

The above photograph was taken on 9/11/2015, as a tribute. I found it on Successful Culture – A 911 Tribute. Apparently, no colleague remembered. I did.

 

On that day, at the office -- during our weekly, “parroting session,” waste of time meeting that requires 10 or 15 minutes of agony -- my colleagues' priority was to plan our too far off to care, annual Christmas eat out shindig.

Everyone wrote down a dining suggestion on paper. (The above image was mine. Yes, I took the photograph.) I had the dubious honor of selecting the dining location. I had a one-in-eight chance to pick my selection. I did so -- McDonald's! That was funny! Of course, I picked another paper, for another choice, to satisfy the women. By the way, the Christmas shindig is set for Friday, December 13^th! This week has a Friday the 13^th – in two more days, on 9/13/2019! What could go wrong? I am not triskaidekaphobic.

9/13/2019, Friday: the full moon occurred just after midnight, on 9/14/2019. Whew! We had a break on that at least. I am not triskaidekaphobic.

9/13 - 9/14/2019: Mrs. Appalachian Irishman was paid on 9/13/2019, for the first time, after her summer vacation, when "School’s Out for the Summer" (YouTube)! I was paid that day also.

On 9/14/2019, what do I find on the kitchen counter? I see her 7/31/2019 Kohl’s card charge receipt, for her $100 and change clothing purchase! She’d told me, in the summer, that she’d need to buy some clothes – to replace, as I suppose, the clothes that she’d bagged up to haul to a donation location. I never did see a receipt, so I'd figured that she hadn't bought clothes.

Also, on the kitchen counter, I found her 9/13/2019 debit card payment receipt to Kohl’s, for her 7/31/2019 charge – with no late fee included! Once again, you tricked me, dear! Kohl’s card charge of 7/31/2019 is paid by debit card on 9/13/2019! A man just doesn’t understand! That’s okay, dear. You shop vacuumed the basement alone this weekend. I’ll keep you!

9/14/2019, Saturday: what do you know? Them "thar" Tennessee “Vowels” won a game finally! It must have been due to Friday the 13^th, followed by full moon the next night! Another bad “Vowels” team has another bad coach. That’s why I’m a GEORGIA BULLDOG fan! Go Dawgs!

9/15/2019, today, Sunday: Mrs. Appalachian Irishman’s youngest sister and our niece (daughter of my wife's middle sister) borrowed my binoculars, to take on a Grand Canyon vacation that starts this coming Friday. Okay, y'all have fun with my binoculars! Do not lose them! I’ve had them for decades.

Now, I’ll make a brief comment on politics and the state of morality and idiocy in this country and in the world. This country and the world continue to degenerate, to the eventual end. Any questions? I’m ready to go Home. Are you?

Oh, by the way, who are the three “trustedinstaller.exe” guys that have been in locations in my “Windows” folder since 7/13/2009 and 11/20/2010? Why do they install stuff? Why should I trust them?

Y’all keep turning right and going straight out there, ya hear?