Year Is Almost Gone!

Wow, can't believe I haven't posted to this blog since September.  A lot has happened since my last blog post.  First of all the critters have stopped coming around and eating KiKi's food.  Even the stray cats that were coming around have stopped.  Guess the stings in the butt finally clicked in and they decided the food wasn't worth the stings.  KiKi actually has food in her bowl the next morning now when she doesn't eat it all the night before.

Christmas has come and gone without any problems.  Kay and I decided to stay home this year and spend Christmas by ourselves for the first time.  We did go to her nephew and niece's home for Christmas dinner.  Rich fixed the best gumbo either one of us have ever eaten.  It was smoked duck and goose gumbo with sausage.  It was soooooo good!!  Then a little later he took a beef roll; goose and venison that he had on the smoker all morning off and carved it all up.  This was served with a variety of other sides that were prepared and brought by everyone.  Needless to say I was bombed out after eating all that I had on my plate.  Then afterward I headed to the desert table and ended up completely hurting myself.  I was miserable after all that.

I just found a soft chair and sat down to rest the awesome meal I had just devoured.

A little later after some visiting we left and headed out to deliver some presents that we had loaded into the truck.  First stop was to a friend's home where we made a delivery.  I got out and didn't realized the height of the carport was lower than my 6'4" height.  Didn't duck under and ended up with an almost scalped head.  Now know how it felt when the Indians scalped the cowboys back when.  Didn't draw blood but sure felt like it did.  Ouch!!!

Christmas with my beautiful wife was awesome!  Opened my gifts and super excited to find a new GPS unit under the tree from my awesome bride.  Got a new Garmin Nuvi 1350T with lifetime updates on both maps and traffic.  Also got what I have been wanting now for several years, a complete weather station which registers wind speed/direction; rainfall; outside temp and inside temp.  It is the Oregon Pro Weather Station.  I have been reading on it and will try to get the outside modules put out this coming week (after it warms up a bit).  Can't wait to begin to get a complete outline of the weather.  I have had an outside temperature and humidity monitor which registers on the inside unit.  This will be quit an upgrade to that system.  Also received many LSU pj's and sweatshirts (love LSU gear!).  Got some other stocking stuffer items that are awesome.  Rob, Nicole, CJ and Katy sent me an LSU coffee mug and some good Mary Kay smelly stuff and Jeff, Carin, Ashlee, Amberlee and Caleb sent us a new ornament for the tree which is very beautiful.  Thank you all for everything, what a wonderful Christmas!!

Hate it that Kay was not feeling well during the Christmas week and hope she starts feeling better soon and by New Year's Eve.  We are going to have a bottle of bubbly on New Year's Eve and then fire off some awesome fireworks this year.  I didn't do this last year and not really sure why.  But I will make up for it this year and do a double dose.  I know one thing I want to do for sure is get one of those long, and I do mean long, rolls of fire crackers and set them off at midnight.  They last like 15-20 minutes of continued popping action.  Then I also want the professional type of aerial boomers that are also very pretty when they pop.  Have a friend who has a fireworks stand so that will help with the cost as he always gives me a great deal and a very reduced cost.  Only way I would be able to do this!!  The big fireworks though will come in the kiss I plan to give my wife at midnight!!!

Here is hoping that everyone who reads this blog had a very Merry Christmas and will have a very Happy New Year.  This could possibly be my last blog for 2010, so will see everyone on the other side of the beginning of 2011.

Blogs to Ya!!

Deck Hunting........

While watching the Dallas/Washington game tonight, I happened to look out and saw this huge possum coming onto the deck from the corner.  I had already left the patio door cracked and the spots on.  I grabbed my Co2 BB pistol and waited.

I had moved the chairs around on the deck to form a wedge, where there was one way into the feeder and one way out.  I watched and the possum finally figured out how to get to the cat feeder and began eating. I slipped the door open and he stopped turned and looked, I waited until he began eating and then stepped out onto the concrete apron to the deck, he stopped turned and looked directly at me.  I froze and he turned back to eating.  To make a long story short this went on until I was about 4 feet from him and this time he just looked me directly in the face and I was aiming down my pistol.  Had him directly in my sights and fired off 4 quick shots, hitting him I know at least 3 times.  He was trying to find his way out and kept running into the metal chair.  I continued firing and even saw one ricochet off that created a spark.  Needless to say he finally found his way out and I counted and was able to fire off 11 shots before he left the deck in a flash!

Must say we have seen a array of animals that have come up on the deck to eat, of all things, cat food. About the only small animal that I have not seen come up on the deck is an armadilla and that is something that I would expect since they dig all over my yard and flowerbeds. 

Never knew hunting could be so exciting, now I know why people spend so much time at their camps getting ready.  I have one thing up on all of the hunters out there............I live at my camp all the time and do not have to plant food plots!! LOL

Until my next adventure - stay safe out there and be glad you don't live behind me!

To Sleep or Not To Sleep - That Is The Question!

My wife, Kay, finally talked me into going and getting a "sleep study" done.  Received my appointment for the VA Medical Center in Shreveport. 

We left for Shreveport around 5:45pm as I had to check in by 8:00pm.

Well we arrived almost right at 8:00pm and I checked in on the 4th floor.  The nurse on duty showed me to my room and told me to change into my PJs.  I did just that and she proceeded to tell me that I had until 9:00pm which was bed time.  At exactly 9pm she got me and tucked me in.  Of course she had all the wires ready and did all the hair styling with wires and some kind of sticky stuff. 

Kay took a photo with my I-phone and we sent it to my sons.  Received a response back from Rob in Fort Worth area, who said I looked pathetic.  LOL it was terrible and also funny at the same time.

Kay left shortly after my going to bed and headed to the hotel where she was staying the night.  I think I heard her laughing all the way down the hall to the elevators.  Of course she denies it.  Then again it could be the nurse on duty, she had cameras trained on me all night.

Never let it be said that you get "sleep" during a "sleep study".  Because you don't!  I remember turning off my I-phone at 20 minutes after midnight and closing my eyes.  At 12:38am the nurse came in and told me that I needed to put the mask on to sleep with.  She put it on and I thought to myself that there was no way that I would be able to sleep with that contraption on my face.

I guess I finally went to sleep and woke up at 3:22am and had to go to the bathroom.  The nurse had already placed a urinal next to the bed so I didn't have to go far.  I nearly filled that darn thing up. When I finished I laid back down and tried to go to sleep but there was no way.  The air was rushing in to fast that it was blowing into my eyes.  I pulled the mask off and placed it beside me.  Not long after the nurse came in and I refused to wear the mask any longer.  Rolled over on my right side and went back to sleep around 4:00am.

It was not long after that and exactly 5:10am the nurse was waking me up and telling me that I could remove all the wires and once finished that I could leave.  With her help we got all the wires off, I called Kay and she came and picked me up. 

Went back to the hotel with Kay and took me a good shower!  I felt real dirty for some reason and I am not sure why.  But the shower was really good and all I wanted to do was lie down on the bed for a little while. 

Was back at the hospital for my appointment at 8:30am and wasn't seen until almost 11:30am.  Found that I have a mild case of sleep apnea <sp> and will have to wear the mask with an auto record device that will be sent to me.  This will be done for 2 weeks.  So please keep me in your prayers so I won't have to continue to wear it!!!

Thanks and good-night.

Fore Real?

Played golf for the second time this week.  On Tuesday played with 3 friends and didn't come in last but didn't do all that well either.

Presently only playing 9 holes in place of 18.  Want to ease into it again.  Tuesday we played at Timber Trails just north of Pineville.  Nice golf course and they extend a free membership to ALL veterans, which is a very nice gesture for a golf course.  The only fee is for the golf cart rental.  Thank you to the owner of Timber Trails.  Well to make a long story short, I shot an awful 51 and was tied with one of the other players in our group.

Today, (Friday) I went to Marksville to the Casino's golf course.  Wow what a gorgeous golf course!  I have played the front nine twice before and this time requested to play the back nine.  We, my brother-in-law and myself, received permission. 

Guess I was still stiff from bowling yesterday because I bet my drive off the tee was less than 20 yards and for the first hole I had a miserable 7 on a par 5.  Hey this is my normal game, double bogey!  Is that terrible?  Now my next question is, "how many want to golf with me?".  Hey I can make you look good! ;=)

My brother-in-law and I finished the game (9 holes) and believe it or not I actually beat Richard!  First time that I have done that in all the times we have played with each other.  Not going to tell the scores! Hey I want to play with him again and if it gets out that I told what he shot I may not be able to play with him again :=).

It was a beautiful day and the course was in awesome shape.  The fairways were beautiful and the rough, well it was rough!  The greens were great and had a lot of character to them with a great deal of roll and break.  Now the sand traps, they were plenty and guarded the greens really well. I remember one was so guarded that there were 6 traps surrounding the green.  I have to brag that I didn't get in any traps all morning for the first time!  So didn't need my bucket and shovel.

Really can't wait for the next golf game, which should be next Tuesday when I play with my normal foursome. 

If you are out on the course, all I can tell you is.............FORE!!!!!

Saintly Wife!

How many of you have ever "Googled" your own name to see what is out there on the internet about you? 

After watching a segment of Oprah and listening to one of the people on the show talk about just that, my wife went to the computer the other night and Googled her name.  Well what a surprise she got!  But before I go on just a dip into the past........

Many of you will recall that my wife, Kay, won a trip to London, England to see the New Orleans Saints play the San Diego Chargers 2 years ago.  She had been trying to get me to go and register at Hixson Ford in Alexandria as they along with KALB were running a contest.  You register and every Friday they pull a name.  After 5 weeks the finalists would be brought to Channel 5 studios to be aired live and the winner from the 5 finalists named.  Well I didn't do it and the final week and final Friday was upon her and an inner voice (God speaking to her) told her to stop what she was doing and go register.  She did and received a phone call that she was the last person to qualify and when to be at KALB studios.

Excited is an understatement!  She and I go to KALB and we are sitting there and get to meet the other people who will be vying for the winner of the all expense paid trip.  They finally call all out and there are 5 chairs of which each finalists takes a seat.  They go on the air and after introducing everyone and talking a little, draw a number out of a bag that contains 5 numbers, 1-5.  Tell each person to get up look at the number on their chair and the person sitting in seat #3 was the winner.  All I hear is Kay saying, "Thank you Jesus!".  At that moment I knew she had won. 

She took me with her, we went had an awesome time.  Spent 10 days touring England and also I proposed to her at the Top of the London Eye!  The rest is history, as they say.

Now back to current time.  My wife, Googled herself and next thing I know I hear her hollering, "Bob, I think I won something!".  Well I went to the office and this is what she had found.

Computers2Suit | Facebook

Computers2Suit Congratulations to Kay Wieters, winner of the Saints computer! June 16 at 9:12am · Comment · Like · View Feedback (1) Hide Feedback (1) ...
www.facebook.com/pages/Computers2Suit/111993462165649 - Cached

 

Did you notice what type of computer she won?  It was the "Saints Computer"!  We had both taken chances on this computer approximately 5-6 months ago.  I had forgotten about it.

We went and visited Computers2Suit and sure enough there was the computer on the counter.  We walked in and Kay pointed and said, "That's my computer!".  It is a full desk top model with a beautiful Saints helmet painted on the side.  Has a 1TB hard drive; 8GB RAM; DVD read/write drive; card readers; 22" LCD monitor and comes with a Lifetime Warranty.

Now I ask you, "Is my wife a Saintly woman?".  Moral of this story is, if you have anything that is being given away with the Saints, better get my wife to do the registering for you!!

Congratulations to my awesome wife!

Reinforcements Are Coming!

I should have known this was going to happen. 

After several nights of hitting a raccoon with a CO2 BB pistol and missing it with my 380mm pistol, he has now come with reinforcements.

Last night my wife started shouting at me while I was in the kitchen.  Come shoot them!  Come shoot them!  I didn't know what she was talking about so I rushed to the door leading onto the deck.  Picked up the BB pistol as I had been trying to chase off a black and white stray cat that had been coming around eating KiKi's food.  Well when I opened the door I looked out and saw a raccoon hiding under my smoker and as I stepped out onto the deck he retreated around the railing.  When I finally moved to where I could see him he raised up on his hind legs and started to growl at me. Then as I looked behind him and there was another raccoon.  He is now bringing reinforcements!  I pulled the BB pistol up and fired about 5 shots.  Not sure if I hit him or not but I did hear one of them run into my downspouts for the rain gutters.

Checked this morning and found where I hit one of the spindles for the railing twice.  I have got to get to the range and find out why my aim is off so much. (LOL)

Can't wait for tonight to get here to see what comes up on the deck.  Maybe a whole family of coons will be out there to surprise me tonight!

I do know that now every night I find myself looking and searching the deck, for different animals to come and be my target for the night.  Not worrying because they know that as long as they are not the size of a barn they are safe.

Fore!

Back to playing golf again.  Trying to go out at least once a week now and only doing 9 holes as I don't think I can do 18 anymore.  Started doing this last year, but when I fell at the Capital I had not been able to get out.  Started back last week.

Just wish I would improve!  Last week I shot a terrible 9 hole score of 49 and came in last place in the foursome that I was playing.  Well this week I really tried harder to concentrate on my swing, etc.  Well after 9 holes this morning I increased my score to a 50.  Just can't get the short game and putting down. I am keeping my long shots and those off the tee in the middle but when it came to the short game I lost it!

Will play again next week on Tuesday and at a different course.  Was surprised when the group asked me to play again next week.  So guess I am embarrassing them too much ;=).  The course next week will be the course that I have played before and know it better. 

I have finally decided to leave the woods in the bag and only hit the irons.  Now off the tee I am hitting a 2 iron and straight.  With the driver I was slicing the ball terrible and I may not be getting the distance but make up for it by staying in the middle.  Second shots are also straight, so now I have to work on my short irons and approach shots.  Then next will concentrate on my putting.

I really enjoy the game and always look at it as a challenge.  Don't really play the people I am playing with but rather play against the course itself.  So far I am loosing to the course LOL.  But will get better I am sure as I don't think I can continue to get worse.

When I was playing 5-6 days a week I was able to shoot in the lower 80s so I know I can do it.  Maybe I need to play more ;).

If anyone out there reading this would like to have someone they can beat,  just invite me along and it will be a sure thing!

Now I have to think about something to write about tomorrow!!  Bye for now!!