Sometimes I just can't help it.

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” 
                                                                                                       Ernest Hemingway

Sitting here in a Coffee shop in Port Aransas mulling over the month.  So, I have again resumed my four mile daily walks on the beach.  From when I started they have become much less painful.  My buddy who just died from a HA seems to have lived a pretty sterile life.  No Tobacco, Alcohol or any of the other vices I seem to have, thus once again proving that sometimes it really does not matter.  Our fragile existence can come to an end so swiftly and quiet like. So anyway I push myself sometimes pretty hard during these walks maybe in my own mind proving the adage what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.  Well I'll drink to that.



Not much in the manner of blogging this month mostly because of the busy factor.  To update, Leya, Camron Cody and Danny arrived in South Texas last month.  With two dogs and three cats and Apiphany, our Granddaughter in tow..  Sometimes arriving to a new area can be a bit daunting.   With no permanent address, literally homeless but not homeless, it still makes everything harder.  Just filling out employment applications for one.  Leya decided at some point these past two weeks to acquire Appendicitis.  Why? I don't know.  I guess because her brother had it. 

So I meant to take this short video of the Beach on a clear day and didn't notice the settings were black and white.  Looks like an old movie.

So for now everyone has camped out on the beach.   Rates are reasonable right now and we are going to try to acquire some land.  Us for a haven because I'm just not old enough to get my Guvmint check yet.  And for the rest of the family, well we will see what develops.  Looks like it is legal to boondock on your own land so long  as it is in the county and you are in the process of developing it.   For now the future looks pretty bright considering the number of new large companies coming to this area whose wages seem substantially higher from whence they came.  Blessedly, we are returning to work as well so, so long to the Beach for awhile.  Fishing sucked anyway.

Sunset Pics?

Well now, somebody looks a little Angry.....

And this is my wife at work here is a perspective picture that really is very generous in terms of showing how large our little Castle is.

But nevertheless, Lisa finds a purpose for every square inch.

And now I am forced to comment on a somewhat non rare occurrence that happened the other night.  (Hence the name of this Post)  While browsing FB I came across a politically loaded bomb that I knew was guaranteed to elicit very strong pushback from my Conservative friends.  Which was then guaranteed to draw equally strong pushback from my Liberal friends.  Don't do it I thought.  Doooon't  Doooon't  Ooops,  Clumsy me.  Did I just share that thought.  I meant to share the one below it.  Yknow, the one with the Kittens.  Anyway,  a furious battle raged for more than an hour, give or take.  And it was a lot of the usual stuff.  Talking points that people refer to as you know "talking points"  but usually don't assign a great deal of value to.  Actually, I for one still do.  But my takeaway on the whole experience was that, in reality, I am not alone in my thoughts about some of these issues.  Folks are starting to look past the dummy fronts put on by our leaders.  I learned something from the exchange.  Not just the usual back and forth political snarks.  Maybe as a population we are learning from the past.  How easily we have all been manipulated particularly the past twenty years or so, resulting in a lot of mileage on this Country.   But for now, I'll keep my options, mind and eyes open.  

“There’s no one thing that’s true. It’s all true.”

Ernest Hemingway

Hey, this is Cool

See you in the Patch

Mike n' Lisa's quest blog UA-20271220-1 ga(‘set’, ‘&uid’, {{USER_ID}}); // Set the user ID using signed-in user_id.

Boondocking and other horseshit goings on.

So after an extended period of inactivity, I have again taken up my four mile walks on the Beach.  However, now the kids are here.  The four mile walk for me is a death march.  For Danny it is a casual stroll and for my two year old grand daughter, well, she lost interest after almost two miles.  Running to and fro the entire way probably covering twice that distance looking for seashells. 

 Despite the beautiful scenery, my mind wanders during these hikes. Everything going on and all,  reminded me of a hike I took a couple of years ago.   OK, I'll explain.  See I enjoy listening to podcasts.  Passes the time while I enjoy the scenery. On one occasion, a Hardcore History" by storyteller Dan Carlin  enthralled me by the story of an ancient massive army that passed by a much smaller opposing force holed up in a fort.  Figuring the taking of the fort not worth the effort, the massive army passed by for several days.  As it finally passed, the General of the smaller army sent out a force after the larger invading force. Eventually the smaller force defeated the invaders by chewing them up from the rear.  The Invaders never really realizing what was occurring because their attention was directed to the opposition encountered from the front.  And although it was a significant point of history, what struck me was the the absolute commitment of the smaller force.  The wives and mothers travelling with the men set upon and killed them if they returned in retreat.  Then killing their children and finally themselves rather than letting the enemy degrade and enslave them.  Sorry, try as I might I have been unable to identify the origins of the story.  I'll just have to call them Gall's OK.

Its impossible not to compare and contrast todays world.  See before I really became a bit politically minded, I have always been suspicious of the agenda's of others.  Therefore when I am told that a Terrorist attack is immenent, I am overwhelmed by the desire to sneeze.  Ah ah ah Horseshiiiiiiit.  As well, it seems to me anyway when gas prices are at their lowest when election time comes around, and terror alerts are at RED during the same time, crap, the old spidey sense is just going crazy...

And now because one venerable old Senator screamed "Obama better do something before they come over here and kill us all"  Shortly thereafter the head of Homeland Security issues a statement that "Attack is imminent,  It might come in three days, three months or three years.  But ATTACK IS IMMINENT!

Finally, I recall the news stories of the early naughts following 911 when dumbass local newscasters had nothing better to do with their time but to go to obscure small towns and interrogate the locals about what they would do if "THE TERRORISTS COME HERE"  Of course the responses, though real were quite hilarious.  

So.  Now the Internet flap is full of fear.  Of Ebola.  Of the Mexican Border.  Of the possibility of ski masked ISIL types might come over the border to cut off heads etc.  When credible accounts have been reported for years of paramilitary groups crossing   the borderin the drug smuggling trade.  But then nobody seemed to give a crap about that.  Mostly worried about the Hispanic folks hanging about Home Depot.  Rather than legalize and tax the substance that proved so profitable to the Cartels that would certainly lessen the violence and improve the lives of the Mexican people. 

And my last point on this.  While Saudi Arabia has the fourth largest  expensive military in  the world world and probably have the most to lose in the region, where the hell are they?  It seems to always somehow fall on American shoulders.  Sorry, but the Iraqis, a force of some 200,000 abandoned modern equipment to run and hide.  Used to I suspect the American soldier to lead the fight, while their across border brethren were scrapping out 500 million dollars of high tech aircraft to sell at .06 per pound.  Seriously read news reports of the Battle of Fallujah.  Endless accounts of the bravery of the American soldier who has proved over and over to be the fighting force next to none. So the Iraqis who ran, crap, bad things happened when the ISIS bad guys caught up with them. And now the Iraqi's  are willing to accept an American Base blah blah, which they weren't before because they wanted to loot the country and why the US left in the first place.   Contrast  all of this with the shameful and  easily manipulated chickenshit attitude of the folks at home willing to run around like headless chickens screaming  EBOLA.  ATTACK IMMINENT.  And then the shoddy treatment of the returned veteran.  Particularly the wounded vet.  My deceased buddy said about a former Director where I worked..  "Whatever he says, expect the opposite."  So when he says you are valuable and appreciated, well, not really. And so goes the returned vet.  Fodder for propaganda  And this Administration.  The Democrat majority  No longer needs to trouble itself with Global Warming.  Economic inequality or the trillion dollar debt ripping off the kid just trying to go to college when Germany just announced their upper education is free. Or healthcare or militarization of police.  No, now all we have to worry about is the tried and true formulic plan that has enriched and empowered many before.  The march to another stupid, unnecessary war against a middle east force of what? 30,000?.  One that will kill innocents, empower more to join the opposite side and keep the mind of the American citizen off what is killing the nation.  WHAT IF THE TERRORISTS COME HERE?  HORSESHIT!
.  



Price of Oil is going down.  Plunging actually.  As is the Stock Market.  As is my little stash of rainy day Cash. So in order to hold to our available bucks as there may be a bit of a work slowdown..  And the prospect that we may have to acquire a new vehicle shortly (Which means another payment) the Wife and I have decided to Boondock.  Which means to dry camp actually.   Although we have gotten a bit spoiled by these resort type RV camps, they can be spendy.  Even in Winter.  Plus, like the 85 year old former Port Master (or something like that).  All we knew was he had a bit o' money.  Used to wander by in the AM and start pounding on the side of the Camper and holler with his Dutchman accent "wake up in there yooo tooo".   Which I think he was angling for the awesome coffee my wife makes.  Anyway, Omer travelled ten months of the year.  Had continued to travel even after his wife had died some ten years earlier.  From Florida to Oregon, he had all of the Boondocking locations stored in his head.  Omer said he just hated "paying the man".  Decent sort, I blogged about him earlier.  Omer mixed well with the homeless folks who Boondocked because they had no alternative.  But we have a location to go to and hopefully will run into some of the other Snowbirds we got to know there a few years ago.

Heading to Corpus Christie yesterday Lisa and I spotted a baby Turtle attempting to make it's way across the busy highway.  Because I have been successful twice before saving the little suckers from themselve's I pulled over to give it a try.  The SOB behind me had to have known my intent because in order to run over the Turtle, he had to intentionally drive onto the painted Island.  Which the Scumbag did.  A year ago I watched the same scenario play out when an asshole Duck Hunter in a forty thousand dollar Air Boat swerved to run over a baby Dolphin and it's mother. The Dolphins were quick enough and probably used to the occasional Dirtbag that he didn't present a serious threat luckily.  Seriously I have hunted in my youth and probably been responsible for some dumb ass kid shit but these are grown adults.  It's crap like this that while sitting in Court in my former occupation I'd here the DA (Defense Attorney) go on and on about "poor child hood" and "Drugs and Alcohol" crap after a particularly heinous crime that many time's I secretly hoped the judge would just drop the book on them.  Yes I'm critical of the number of things considered a crime these days and also the number of people who are warehoused.  But there are also a goodly number of folks that if I never heard or seen from them again.  Well, that's Karma.


And Finally, really.  If Red Bull did not give you wings, well that is worth ten bucks.  U just have to be able to prove it with a receipt. Seriously, check Reddit.  

And no I cannot give you the last ten minutes of your life back.

Not retired yet

First off, If anybody has Mom's new phone number would they please give it to me.

October 1, and it's supposed to get to 97 in San Antonio and 90 something here.  Checked earlier and it is 80 something humidiy.  Auuugghh

So our lives are not all Paradise as I have attempted to falsely represent.  Expecting a month off, we were called back to work after a week.  And that was after a full seven week stretch. Fraid not to however,  because of how handy the money is  right now. And me being retired and all that.  Guess this is me learning what retirement is.   More on that later.  Frankly we love the guys we work for so no complaining right now. However thank God, the brutal Texas summer is winding down. I'm not so sure how many of them I'm fit to endure. 


It's a mystery,

Sipping Coffee sitting here on an incredibly hot October afternoon, I'm listening to mysterious sounds that have occurred here almost on a daily basis for the many many months that we have been coming here.  No, not Sky Quakes, but just as mysterious, to me anyway.  Nobody seems to know offhand what it is.  Actually, what it is, is not too much to discern but why.  It is actually the sound of two high power aircraft dogfighting, furiously I might add.  And they will go nonstop for hours.   I have caught a glimpse of them through Binoculars only a very few times as they have slipped into clouds almost as soon as I spot them.  And they are I would guess painted some sort of camoflage   And all of it occurs at quite the altitude   Well, I'm betting more than ten thousand feet.  I suspect I have been listening well over three hours.  I'll find out someday, although I almost expect to see one flaming down to the ground someday.  And I almost, if I listen closely, hear the chatter of machine gun fire.  OK the last part is my imagination buuuttt.






Whats this?

Crap he's about to charge

Naw,  He knows what's good for him

Arrrevederciii

Pretty darn sad that this is the best pic I have been able to take of the wild pigs.  They just disappear so damn fast.  This was about a quarter mile away BTW.  Not a clue why he was by himself.  Mostly they are in small herds, or whatever a bunch of pigs are called.  Pretty skittish lot for the most part but we have heard stories. Actually, what seems to cause me the most anxiety here is not the Cats, Pigs, Snakes or even the nasty Scorpions.  No, I would just hate to be caught in the open with a pissed off hive of Africanized Honey Bees.  Now that scares me. 

And now the whole fam damily is here.  Took a bit to get moved but then they were just taking precautions that paid off in dividends.  Making the 2000 miles plus journey with few difficulties.  We also figured they would like it here just as we do.  After all, Corpus Christi located some scant twenty or so miles from Port A is ranked one of the happiest cities in the Nation. Cody arrived here a few weeks ago because he was offered a job and the rest arrived just two weeks ago. They first spent a couple of highly enjoyable days with the relatives here they previously had no idea existed, at Carl and Loris's.  I guess I am grateful that our actions have resulted in their relocation here, where many many more opportunities exist than where they come from. I'm not sure they are convinced of that now, but after they get settled I think they will  And finally, we are toying on creating a winter haven here. Just have not figured out what form it might take.  For my and Lisa's sake all we require is a place to hook up and park the hopefully soon to be bought boat, whatever it might be. But for them it could be something more.  




                    Danny and the obligatory feet in the FB pic on the Beach.  That's my foot on the right.

And Piff

ABOUT FACEBOOK

I changed the settings in Networked Blogs therefore some might not see it.  I'm not sure many would consider it a loss anyway.     No, my purpose for starting this blog was twofold. One I really do enjoy putting my thoughts on the ethereal  paper, twisted as some might think they be.  As well as documenting our adventures in our little Castle.  I guess I was inspired by many other blogs I have read, many of whom have been written by other gate guards. I think I have provided some helpful information for say, somebody wishing to travel overseas or to take advantage of medical tourism. Something I strongly believe in.  I have morphed a a bit though, because of all the time that has been at my disposal the past year.  To ponder my little role in the world.  And I have begun to build enormous admiration for the courage and amazing ability of those who really do possess the skill to put the finer points of their thoughts to paper.  Both now and in history.  Think Foley, the journalist who recently lost his head in the Middle East at the hands of extremist Nutcakes. Or what I considered an amazing true life article written by a man inspired to change his career midstream but eventually ended up in a psychiatric ward flat broke.   I am incredulous of the courage of some journalists who embedded with the Islamic Army and posted a five part series to VICE News.  As well as learning a little more of the ills that plague our Nation by the outstanding journalism that has taken place in Missouri.  And not just talking points. But to me this is but a Hobby. But as one buddy put it, I probably should not post political views or social points on my blog on a news feed like FB that some might deem offensive.  I guess that puts me in that classification that I have often used. i.e deprioritizing the entries of those I think a little carried away with their cause.  Most folks, myself included like the lighter fare.  And for me to "in your face"  the casual reader, many of them my old high school cohorts who, excuse me have shifted from a left bent to the right hand so far they can finely examine and admire their own hind end (he, being Glenn claimed I could do the same from the left, and maybe thought I was examining a bit too closely).  I have however been shown enormous respect for my occasional rants and from my standpoint  I am greatly appreciative.  Thus, I am committed to showing the same respect for other's views, (albeit, stupid as some may be). And I promise to remain as open minded and respectful as I can muster.  Where was I? Oh yeah it's all about respect, So, in order to avoid yelling at the television, I have channelled my interests into writing and will in the future include my observations on social and political issues as I see fit.  No matter how misguided, or stupid my peers might think it be.  But, I will not be a pest and I will be glad to remove any of my friends from viewing this if the ask.  

"The statistics on sanity are that one out

 of every four Americans are suffering from

 some form of mental illness. Think of your

 three best friends.  If they are OK, then it's

 you."  Rita Mae Brown

Mike n' Lisa's quest blog UA-20271220-1 ga(‘set’, ‘&uid’, {{USER_ID}}); // Set the user ID using signed-in user_id.