March 31st The Memory Will Never Leave My Mind

 Tis the end of March..... which since 2001,... is some what Melancholy for a moment in my daily routine....

It brings me back to my Roots, to The Farm, which has been in my family for the last 147 years... 

It brings me back to the times that since my Daddy's death, 1962, that My Dear Momma ran The Farm with an Iron Fist, 32 caliber Long Colt, and her stern no non-sense approach to Life, Family, etc.... 

When Wilma Ruth Sumrall "Dink" Thompson passed from this Life to the Greater Here After... her Spirit still roams in many ways......... Momma passed today, March 31st 2001....

Memories, lets leave it at that.. Memories....   Momma was a Buck Sergeant, Woman's Air Corp. U.S.Army during WWII... she never forgot that training..!!!!!

One of my fondest photographs of Momma, is during a Fall Round-Up at the Farm.... My sister was off excelling in her military career, she retired a Lt. Colonel...  I was called to come "help" with the Round-Up.....  actually they (Momma and Brother John) wanted to see how I was doing and if I was going to bring a "friend" to tag along....  Nope I didn't........ 

It always amazed me that my dear Brother and Momma's calves losses where less than my dear Sister and My losses....... but who is counting at this point..  Momma ran The Farm... my Brother was the second in command...  Lil Sister was somewhere on the Pacific Rim being the Air Force Major.... and I was building my career in Corrections.

Let us note The Farm was well over 2K acres ... with 400 head of brood cows, numerous elements, etc etc .....  and Momma was Ms. Wilma, Ms. Dink, or if you were so close.... Momma...

I think of her Spirit often ...... but here is the photograph, myself, Momma, and dear Brother John.  I left off the note written in her hand writing, on the back of the photograph,  as too personal for this blog.

Memories.... of a Life.... that has Passed to Eternity...... We, the Siblings, Remember... and a few others..

Notes...One to RJ... One to Jimmy.... and the Recipe to BD

 I usually don't do this ... but RJ and Jimmy see comments on the last post before this one......

Here's to Ya Brain Dump....... 

Maker's Mark Old Fashion.... Mulled Not Stirred 

Toastin' a setting Sun over the Red Bricks in the Lil City by the Red...

First slice an orange .... then half it, lay one half against the other

Four Dashes of Peychaud Bitters

Saizan Juice. ( you can't buy it anywhere but Louisiana) Come get you a small bottle

The Cherries......

Mull It..... One Press, not Twice, Not Stirred .. Press the Mull, make sure it's Wood.

The Ice

Maker's Mark and for the Good Sake of Our Lord... Fill almost ... almost full, leaving about one half of an inch for...... The Soda

Soda

Never Stirred..... All in a 12 to 13 Oz Old Fashion Crystal Glass I did take a few sips out of the glass before the photo was made

Today Today... !!!

 Life continues on.....

I washed the Beast for the first time in  good while.. I had a friend who owns a body shop replace some plastic bumper screws, I did a lil touch up paint on some chips on the car hood, its only has 23K on it, I took it to the new car wash in town, did the vacuum on the inside, worked on the damage to the rims that these high curbs can cause if you get too close. The bricks streets that were laid in 1903, have 14 inch curbs, they were constructed so to step out of your carriage onto the sidewalks.. not good for automobiles of today.. 

I don't want another car note... I sold the 4x4 earlier this year, when you have a truck and a car folks want to always borrow the truck ..... I solved that matter .. sold it.. placed the money in the bank.. 

Since I dont travel as I did .. no need to have two vehicles two insurances etc.. 

and my commute is only six blocks to work ... I could ride my bike or walk. but with the  climate, I'm a lil hesitant to do either until the Police get a better grip on things.. I thought I would never say that.. but good common sense says don't place your self in situations that could lead to some harm. 

The new City Council Person, Chief Lesbian did stop here at the house today we had a long talk about city safety, etc... I think she is on the correct path in her approach... 

I am looking forward to next week, I am back on track with my cpap and feeling much better.. 

The Pollen bloom is in full swing, so we are in the yellow dust at the moment... we need a good rain and it will be all gone... 

Its time for a lil Scotch and Soda... and Sunday Supper.

It was Frustration... Period (Revised)

 Frustration in Government... Frustration in the Community, Here on the Red Bricks in the Lil City by the Red.... . nothing more... nothing less.... 

Covid has certainly made life different to and for Us All.... in ways that are still becoming known..... I can tell in the  places  that I know of .... it has brought folks together... and moved some folks farther apart.....

It seems the later here... when I came home today from the office, after having lunch with our newly appointed City Council Person, who happens to be the Chief Lesbian... I noticed that no one was on their porches.. 

It was a topic at the lunch table with her and her chief counsel.. another lesbian... was the "farther apart" movement,..... the I don't like what you are saying, I don't like you now... ... it was agreed that we must do something to pull these folks but to come Civility ..... Soon....The sense that we have lost "community".. so to speak......

Second Topic ... 

Our lil neck of the woods, here on the Red Bricks, in the Lil City by the Red has been provoked/scarred by violence in our young African American Community... from the age of 16 to 29, this is the age range of the Murderers.. the ones that pull the trigger, 15 have fallen to the pavement.. .. Dead since January 1st,...

All of the Murderers are behind bars, taken from the streets. The Cost on both sides is insurmountable!!!

No reason can be obtained.....  Isolation, Poverty, No Work Ethic, Drugs, Covid, Let the BabyMomma Work... I have heard it all as I sit in my office .... 

I know that we will overcome this pattern, this social dilemma, this counter point to a violent young society, .... maybe  at some point in time, can we learn... can we be taught.... can these young men listen and hear ...  I hope so.... until Then...... ...we will all persevere and hopefully  be better for it... somewhere down the road... 

Not A Damn Thing Has Changed

 Nope.... we are still the way we where....... Period.... No Change........

Red Necks are Still Red Necks.....

Every one has an Damn Asshole and No one is wiping it........

Time to Move On..... Period....

Spring Arrived

 Yep, Spring is here.... The pollen on the Beast says it all.... 

If you travel across the river to P'ville, with its tall Pole Pine Trees (Long Leaf Pines), as they catch a breeze, the yellowish green dust is like a fog drifting across a meadow... 

Crawfish markets are harkening their prices, nope I am not paying $4.75 a pound for boiled... the price should come down later in the year as we move to the month of May.....

You can see the effects of the Winter Storm on most greenery here... the damage is very severe... however, the Hostas are coming out as the early Spring begins here... 

Re-Birth, Renewed Vigor..... and Cold Beer .. naw .. a Nice Old Fashion with good cherries, Marker's Mark, Oranges, and Not Mulled.. Not Stirred.... Layered Only... and don't forget the Bitters 

It's Going

 This past week I settled into the new 17.5 hour work week, they are paying quite nice at $XX an hour, however it is still not like going to work at 830am leaving at 430pm five days a week. 

The routine of working five days a week for the last 37 years is engrained in my mind, how to spread the work week around to accomplish my task of managing the Corrections end of the Office is challenging and getting into a 17.5 hour routine.