Gout anyone?? I truly believe that is what is attacking my right foot.

Last night proved to be miserable.  I couldn't get my right foot in any position that didn't prove to be painful.  Though the pain is across the top of the foot, if you apply pressure to the joint closest to the ball of your foot it is very tender and at this time sore.

From what I know about it, gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the joint and can be brought on by things in your diet, alcohol seems to be a major contributor but then probably other things as well...

Does anyone know what they test to determine if gout is the ailment... it is the urine or is it a blood test??  I will ask Gareth, and see how they determined that in his case.

As I was hobbling to leave the house for coffee this morning, I passed the main bathroom and heard some suspicious splashing sounds... I opened the door and peered in and there, in a brimming pool of water, sat Omar with this big grin on his face... I asked him just what he thought he was doing and he replied "I'm taking a 'local' cruise".  I almost fell over.

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It broke... really it did !!

About 9:45 last night, just as a show I was watching on the big screen was hitting the apex of excitement... I hear a loud 'Pop' and the screen goes totally black... I watch the led's on the front and they blink in an interesting pattern... I get the book out and discover that this particularly intriguing pattern of blinking means that the projector bulb has imploded and will require replacement... Freaking wonderful I think.  Omar seemed to get some perverse pleasure out of this...

I look around on the internet, fully expecting to pay the price I saw shortly after buying the Toshiba... in excess of $350 for a bulb... as my tummy rolled and my wallet groaned, I happened to find a place called 'Advance Lamps'... they carry the bulb and for a remarkably low price of $132 and $13 shipping.  After looking around for other places and maybe lower prices I settle on this one and order the blasted thing.  It will ship out Monday, coming via pony or perhaps camel express.  Hopefully I will have it by next weekend.

In the mean time, I take the other Toshiba, this one a 20" LCD that I had in the bedroom and put it into service in the living room... Omar states that he maybe needs a magnifying glass... a quick and well aimed boot in his arse changes his tune.

Overcast today but not too bad... I will try to watch the Beav/Duck game if it's on but other than that, nothing special planned.

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'Black Friday'... I actually did shop.

After rising late, really late, I went to McDonalds for coffee and the usual crew had alread come and gone.  I had my coffee and a few familiar faces showed up and some families with really obnoxiously loud squealing brats came in so I knew it was time to move on.

Stopped in at Roths and got some hot chocolate mix as I was out and picked up a small jar of unsweetened applesauce (to replace the oil) in my zucchini bread recipe.  I may make some tomorrow.

The sky was brilliantly blue this morning, but now the fog has taken over a portion of the sky.

Omar came out of the dungeon shortly after I got back home and offered to fix some breakfast... he had a bag and the bag was moving so I declined the breakfast offer and will ponder what may be in the bag and whether he will actually eat it... Fear is a good thing sometimes.

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Brunch with the 'Daughter', should be nice...

The Brunch with Melissa was really nice, she arrived at 9am and from there we went to Roths and got the stuff she wanted to fix.

Back home we worked in harmony in the kitchen preparing the brunch meal which consisted of apple filled sausage patties, memosas, waffles covered in strawberries and scrambled eggs.  We not only shared brunch, but also good conversation and happy thoughts.

Nick called while we were eating so I cut him short and may call him back later today.

The weather is typical 'Fall' weather so nothing particularly new there...

After leaving here, Melissa will go to Hillsboro to have Turkey dinner with her boyfriend Ermine and his family.

Thanks to the Lord, I had a great day and hope you all did too.

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Today, it is my privilege to feed the poor...

Well the weather outside isn't great but not too bad... still some low lying clouds/fog but that's OK.

I will work the 'Soup Kitchen' this afternoon to help feed those less fortunate than myself.  It feels good to give something back to those folks who are less fortunate than yourself.  I've never worked there before so it should be a good experience for me.

The picture I posted is my most sincere wish to all who might view this blog.  I hope you appreciate having your families near, whether it be parents or grandkids or a mixture of both.  It is a time of hope for all of us so look forward with an optimistic heart and remember to love others as you love yourself.

Omar made a brief appearance and mentioned that he was not going to be with me for the Thanksgiving holiday... I can't help but wonder where he might be spending it.

Happy Turkey day to you All !!!

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No Monday and very little Tuesday...

Unfortunately, Comcast, here in Lebanon suffered some problems Monday..  I noticed that after having lunch with Leann, I got home and was unable to log onto the internet...

I won't bother with details but I will tell you that after much effort both on the tech's side and my side, here I am back on and it took a little over 24 hours to do... That included a trip with computer, to Corvallis Mac store where the iMac got a clean bill of health, the deal was to make sure that it didn't have problems and so I felt good about that.

A stop at Comcast in Lebanon and hooking it up to their system yielded negative results too so then back home... I took my time and hooked everything back up and that 'What the hell' and clicked on 'Safari', my web browser and to my astonishment, it hooked right up... I like magic... on a stage or a floor show, but not in my home...

But it's up and running now and seems good so I guess that is all that can be expected.

Omar has been busy with a puzzle... I don't think it helps that he can't read and it's a crossword puzzle... sometimes.

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Grey? or Gray?? either way...

The sky is blanketed in a cloak of misty Grey air, as though the clouds had descended upon the ground.  Dampness prevails, the roads are damp and there is a chill to the air...

Coffee was what it always is, the usual folks show up with the same old stories and attitudes... It amazes me how easily I've fallen into the daily habit of coffee with friends.  The coffee isn't all that good, but it is the extension of myself into a known group that seems comforting.  Part of aging I am certain, especially when one lives alone.

Nothing exciting is on the agenda for today, I think that perhaps I will vacuum as it seems that I've not done that for awhile.

I hope your day is bright and happy.  Mine will be fine, better once the sun appears.

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My dream home...

I don't know where the picture was taken, or from which region of the country, but obviously not the 'Pacific Northwest'.  I love the log cabin appeal and have always dreamed of having one.  Maybe someday.

It is wet this morning, accompanied by some fog... the dampness is not due to rain but rather the fog I believe.

Nothing too pressing is scheduled for today, I am thinking about driving over to Staples in Albany as I need a new mat to put under the desk chair... the one I have has many cracks in it and is no longer serviceable.

I am toying with the idea of a future trip to North Carolina... likely I would drive the Mini.  It would probably be about a month long saga.  The whole plan is fiction at the moment but could transition to fact at some point in the future.

Nothing from Omar this morning...

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Awaking to a beautiful sunrise...

As I drove to McDonalds this morning, I was greeted with a very beautiful sunrise, one that I've deemed to be 'Sky blue pink' a term garnered from my ex-wife and I's early days together.  Often when I see such a beautiful sunrise, I have to take a moment and say a special thank you to our Creator... who else could manifest such beautiful color into a greeting for all humanity??

Not much new outside of that though, the meals deliveries were normal.  I did stop out at walmart to get a new pad for the chair to roll around on but they had nothing.

Stopped on the way back to the tent and got some milk and a couple other minor items.

Tonight is, of course, Friday Night Smackdown so you know where I will be for about 2 hours.  I know, it's fake, but so are many people and it hasn't stopped me from associating with them.

Omar once told me that watching wrestling is how the Terrorists train to subdue the Amerikans who bother them... I chased him for about an hour with a hefty spatula... I'll show him Terrorist... little bugger.

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Rain, wind, rain, wind etc...

Blustery would be the correct description of what the weather was like at 6:30 as I left for coffee.  The leaves have all fallen from the trees in my yard, there are those in the neighborhood that have stayed on for an extended visit, but they too will eventually fall... probably as the frost eventually comes.

McDonalds is experiencing some growth, they are remodeling somewhat, putting in a custom drink counter and a more efficient coffee dispensing area.  The work is supposed to be finished after ThanksGiving but until that, it is in disarray.  

One must wonder where all the dust and dirt goes... especially with the kitchen and food prep areas in such close proximity to the contstruction work.  I am pretty sure we ingest part of it.

Omar told me this morning that he has 'Seen the Light'... of course that piqued my interest so I asked him exactly which 'Light' he had seen and he smiled and said "the one in the closet".  I smacked him and went to coffee.

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A Friend, a visit, another day.

A little fog this morning, drove the mini to coffee.  After coming back home I noticed some scrapes on the mag wheels on the mini so I re-colored them with a magic marker.  I think that the low profile tires make it easier for the rims to contact rocks and other things encountered on the road.  

I have a brunch appointment with a friend today.  It is always good to keep up friendships... sometimes even better than familyships... (neat word eh??)

Omar was reading the Koran this morning when I left.  I looked at it one time and found it to be interesting, but not compelling enough for me to change my religious preferences... Omar, on the other hand, can use all the religious guidance he can get regardless of the source.

Brunch went well, I ordered a cobb salad which unfortunately was par for the course at Sharis... I refused to pay for it and after we went our separate ways, I stopped at Quiznos for a sub... Damn Sharis anyway.

After that, I headed over to Albany to my Sheriff interview and from there to the Regal theaters where I got a ticket to see Saw V...  

I then walked over to Fred Meyer and got another game for the Wii and a special controller holder that makes it more like a pistol type thing.  After that I went back to the theater and sat in the car until showtime...

If you by chance have a queazy tummy... Saw V ain't the ticket for ya.  I loved it but then after all, I live with Omar.  Gave me some great ideas for next time he taxes my patience.

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Once again, the sky is blue... mostly

Although it was chilly while delivering the meals today, it was nice to see some blue sky for a change.  Fog is one thing that I have no appreciation for.

14 clients today, the ones added are close together so that makes it nice and it only added 1 mile to the route.

Tonight is wrestling so that is something I can enjoy.  Although it is fake and for entertainment purposes only, I do still enjoy the story lines.

Nothing special about today, Omar mysteriously re-appeared this morning... when I asked about where he'd been, he mumbled something about mist and lost his way... I saw some suspicious piles, steaming a little in the furthest corners of the back yard.

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Fog and more fog...

It was cold this morning, I heard it got down to 37˚, but don't have an outside thermometer.  It felt cold and of course, the fog didn't help either.

Today is the final Nascar race of the season and I have no doubt that Jimmy Johnson will be the champion, 3 year running... quite the accomplishment but then every dog has it's day.  Hopefully another driver will rise up to be champion next year... I would love it to be Dale Jr.

A friend is coming over to watch the final race.  It will be nice.

I thought I had a fleeting glance of Omar in the fog bank that surrounds the tent but when I looked closer, there was nothing there... except this strange odor.  I wonder?

It would be nice, if you bother to read this post, leave a comment, at least that way I would know you had visited...

Carl Edwards won the race, Jimmy Johnson the Championship and my poor Jr. DNF.

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Is it is or is it ain't???

Illusions... I've always been facinated by the tricks that the mind can play on us.. the picture above is nothing but an illusion.  They tend to defy logic and make your mind laugh.

Del and I went to Shirley Mae's for breakfast this morning.  It is nice to take a friend and do something out of the ordinary now and then.  Tends to break up the monotony of living alone.  They happen to serve an extraordinary 'Spanish Omelette' that I am sure many of you would enjoy.  My recommendation would be to forego the prior evening meal as this breakfast will certainly fill your tank.

The drive over was nice, Del and I took the mini and he was surprised at the amount of room inside.  You see two guys get out of a mini, especially the size of Del and I, you go Huh???

Fog prevails and the sun keeps trying to burn thru but no luck yet.

Omar went out to empty the spittoons this morning and ran slam into a fog bank and I've not seen him since... poor guy.

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The 'End' is often the 'Beginning'

The fog this morning reminded me of winter mornings on the shoreline in Norfolk, Virginia.  Having spent nearly 10 years in that area, I saw just about every kind of weather one would want to experience and some that I would rather have avoided.

The prediction is that the fog will lift this afternoon, but if present conditions are an indication of what's to come... the prediction would be wrong.

I had 12 clients to deliver meals to today and two of them, my Aunt and Uncle, were missing in action.

Starting Monday, I will be up to 15 clients again.  It tends to fluctuate depending on weather other routes get too many new clients or lose too many and the dispersion of clients becomes too uneven.

I will add 1 mile to the distance I travel.

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Lovely day and angry sky

Had coffee with the group this morning then about 8am, Del and I took off in his car for his Dr. appt. in Albany.  This is the day that he has the catarac taken off his right eye.

After dropping him off, I went to the Linn County Courthouse and paid the property taxes for the other tent.  I did it grudgingly and without any degree of elation or happiness... though the property is 100% paid for, I still have to rent the place from the State of Oregon under threat of losing it should I default in payment...  I will be happy to finally sell it some day.

Del did well and was in good spirits as I picked him up.  We stopped at a store in old towne Albany and looked around for a bit then headed back to Lebanon.  I dropped him at McDonalds then got my pickup and came home.

My dear friend Cathy Taylor called shortly after I arrived home to inform me that her daughter, Christy, finally had the baby... a large child by any standard at 9+ lbs and over 21" long... no wonder Christy wanted to get it out.  Congrats to both mother and Grand Mom...

Omar is absent today, there was a trail of chestnut shells leading to the dungeon so who knows what mischief he might be up to...

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Blow baby blow... The wind has arrived.

54˚ outside, but the wind has picked up dramatically.  I am happy though as it is taking care of a task I dislike, mainly, raking leaves... Mine have departed the yard for points unknown...

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I need a new 'hoof', mine's broken

Happy Veterans day to those who served and those who've given the ultimate.

The parade will be wet and probably not too comfortable.  I will be here in the comfort of my home.  I applaud those who attend, your patriotism is appreciated.

My right foot is acting up again and I feel the need to perhaps have it replaced... unfortunately, that would likely make the problem worse.  I don't know where this pain comes from, it gives no warning of it's impending arrival and there is never any trauma involved, no discoloration or swelling or anything.

Omar offered to 'make the pain go away', it is the method that he may employ that bothers me and keeps me from accepting his offer... that and the glint in his one good eye...

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Friends... whence have you gone??

The start of yet another week... the last four posts I put up have garnered '0' comments so I guess my readership has declined to nothing...

Even Omar has noticed the obvious lack of comments... Oh well, others have lives to live and I suppose I should get one too... perhaps it's time to kill the blog and let it slowly die and disappear as have so many other things... OR NOT !!!

Anyway my friends, the innocuous drivel shall continue for awhile until at least I've exhausted my supply.

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Sunday... let us praise the Lord

Wet and a little windy but that's ok.

Raceday today.  Nothing much going on, I did go to Wal★mart and pick up a case for the Nüvi so that is done.

I wonder where Omar put the chestnuts he was counting... I've looked in most of his hiding places but not found them.  I did ask him how many he counted and after a moment, he started to take off his slippers so I knew the number must have been under 20.  Not bad for an Arab.

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The main picture isn't far away...

It is blustery and cold with light rain at the moment, the morning seems to have digressed into a plethora of winter blues...

I had coffee this morning then went to Wal★mart and got some crackers and while there I noticed that they had some good healthy choice soup on sale so I bought 4 cans.

After I got home, I went over and helped Clynton a little bit loading some of their household items into a borrowed trailer.  Alonzo and Clynton's brother were there also.  They've since left to take it out to the other house.

Today will be an inside day, not much good going on outside except the 'Fall' weather which has abundantly made it's presence known.

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Thanks for 'Fridays'

Great day... I cannot say enough for it.  The deliveries went good, spilled bean soup on myself and had a no show for a delivery... I love it when a plan comes together.

Went to Costco this afternoon, drove over in the Mini and damn... that is a fun car to drive.

Finally found a GPS unit that I like and that will pair up with my phone so I bought it... it's a Garmin Nuvi 760 and a dandy unit too.

To use it in the Pickup, I will have to install a cigarette lighter receptacle but that's no big deal.

Tonight is SmackDown so my entertainment is lined up... no females to share time with so might as well drool over the hard bodies... NO you dummy, the Diva's.

Omar has taken up counting chestnuts... I am not sure why, but he's collected a goodly number of them so far.

Enjoy your weekend.

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Hmmmm... what can I say?

Good discussions at coffee this morning, we all have opinions, some that are easily justifiable and others that are simply a gut feeling.

Merkley upset Gordon... a good sign for Oregon I hope.

Melissa came by the house so I could install the replacement tags for her license plates.  I also noticed a low tire so told her to have Les Schwab check it out.  I also signed off on the Title to her car and gave that to her with the advice to put it someplace safe NOT in the car.  She said she would.

Nothing special planned for today as the weather is still wet and although I need to rake the leaves, trying to do so when they are wet is useless.

Leann, Omar says thanks.  He is in the midst of his morning prayer routine after which there are some animal droppings in the yard that need his attention.  Nothing like raining on his parade.

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A Fresh and bold new beginning...

I am a happy camper this morning.  The future, as I see it, looks much brighter and the potential for our wonderful country to regain it's prestigious position in the world looks achievable once again.  

Mr. Bush... it's time to pack your suitcase of disgrace and exit.  Your reign of failure has ended.  I am sorry you failed so miserably.  The American people deserved more.

Mr. Obama, to you sir, I wish safety, good judgment and the support of our Nation.  

It is a time of new beginnings, a time to right the wrongs that have been committed and hopefully a time to regain the prosperity that once adorned our country.  Many perils await our new president, but I for one will be doing what I can to ensure his success.  May God bless him.

Omar asked me about dual citizenship... says he really likes our new president.

I believe that many things are going to undergo massive changes and others will be subtle changes.  The man I will support, Barack Obama, will forever change the face of politics and the perception of America around the world.

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"1" more day... are you ready??

Finally, the end of the electoral process is in sight.  How nerve racking must this be for the candidates and their families??  Can you even fathom the amount of '$$$' that has been spent in this election year??  Could you justify spending that kinda dough on an election??

While an enormous amount of money has been spent to basically change the face of Washington politics, how much change will we, the citizens of America actually see??  We vote 'Hope', and that is all we can do.

The weather is not too bad, a little warmer than I expected and perhaps even a little bit drier too.  Don't expect that to last too long though.

Tonight is 'bonus' night for me, I will be cooking a steak for dinner with some nice boiled potatoes and a fresh salad.  To top it off, my dessert will come in the form of a 3 hour special of WWE Raw... How good is that?? guess what.. no calories in that dessert.

Omar will be watching it along with me, but from a safe distance... he knows I like to practice some good old 'Choke Slams' on him now and then and has taken to watching from afar.  (Some Arabs are pretty smart).

Y'all have a wonderful day... Oh, Alabama, you have a great football team, can't argue that but your political stance is still Civil War era... Oh well... Cathy, can you believe that Hal thinks Obama is a Muslim??? how dumb.

May your wishes be granted  tomorrow...

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Texas Speedway will be my focus today...

Coffee then home to a rainy morning and hopefully a good race in Texas.  I know that Jimmy Johnson will likely win it, but the idiot, 'Kyle Busch' did win the Nationwide race yesterday so he might end up being the wild card.  Can't stand the arrogant little shithead.  He can drive though.

Nothing to exciting here today, but then that is OK too.  I am anxious for the Presidential debacle to be ended so that we can have hopefully new direction and actual 'Leadership' in the USA again... We are a great country, but our past leadership (8 years) has done very little to promote our 'good' image... Hopefully our next leader will turn that around.

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Rain is here... and there... and it would seem, everywhere

The scene in the picture above is one that will likely become quite familiar in the coming months... With that in mind, I've decided to decline my Sisters invitation to come to their house for Thanksgiving and instead will do volunteer work at the Lebanon Soup Kitchen over the holiday.

It was raining when I left for coffee this morning and I am pretty sure the next few days will provide us with more of the same.  Thankfully the grass is growing at a slower rate...

The trees have given up some of their leaves and it colors the grass for now.  Next dry day I will have to mow, just to pick up the leaves.  Seeing them go is like watching an old friend drive away... Nice to see them on their way, but anxious for their return visit.

I've paid the hounds for the first of the month, but their hunger will return on the 15th... they never get full, do they!.

Housework is done and yet there is always something to do.  I would rather visit with company, if I had some.

Omar is busy sweeping up a mess he made in the tent, looked a little bit like tinsel and maybe a christmas bulb but I am not sure.  I was watching CNN last night and he asked me what I was watching... I told him I was catching up on the Presidential race...

He didn't have much to say about that, but I know he is thinking...

Your comments are always welcome so let me know how your life is...

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