My Friends, Please Be Careful...!

Today is Halloween. This means that a lot of little trick or treaters will be out and about on the streets and the sidewalks!

You know and I know that children can get all caught up in the excitement of the candy, the costumes, and the company of friends...not to mention the constant wonder of how much loot is in the bag!

The point is...please watch out for all the ghosts and goblins out there because on nights like this, they often don't watch out for themselves!

I know it sounds like I'm preaching a bit here...and the truth is, I probably am! I just don't want the mood and the laughter of the evening turning into a sad, avoidable night of sadness!

Just one more thing...and I hope that I'm not out of line here, but please be careful with the alcohol! I know there will be parties going on, and sometimes the booze flows a little freely! All I ask is for a small favor, OK?

Be very, very careful and please...whatever you do, KEEP ALL THE BOOZE AWAY FROM THE PUMPKINS!!



They are a sorry sight when they get under the spell, don't ya know? Not to mention how messy they are! Bad enough to have to clean up the candy wrappers and pieces of costumes and lost sneakers...without having to clean up after a bunch of drunk Pumpkin-heads!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for just a bit, OK? Don't worry, I'll help you clean up later!

Maybe...Just Maybe !!

Sometimes something comes along that just needs to be passed on and shared.

This is one of those things!

1. Maybe . . . We were supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

2. Maybe . . . when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don't even see the new one which has been opened for us.

3. Maybe . . it is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.

4. Maybe . . . the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

5. Maybe . . . the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can't go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.

6. Maybe . . . You should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.

7. Maybe . . . there are moments in life when you miss someone -- a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child -- so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more.

8. Maybe . . . The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

9. Maybe . . You should always try to put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.

10. Maybe . . You should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone. Profound!

11. Maybe . . Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn't, be content that it grew in yours.

12. Maybe . . . happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.

13. Maybe . . . you shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive; don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

14. Maybe . . . you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy

15. Maybe . . . you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.

Maybe ...I could send this message to those people who mean something to me, to those who have touched my life, to those who can and do make me smile when I really need it, to those who make me see the brighter side of things when I am really down, and to all those whom I want to know that I appreciate them.

That, my friends, is why I'm sharing this with you! Maybe...it will be able to say just how special all of my readers are to me! Thank you just for being here!

Now, what do you say to a fresh cup of coffee? We can sit outside for a bit and enjoy the cool...!

Let Us Never Forget...!

I don't know if this is a true story as I cannot find anything, good or bad, on Snopes!

However, if it's NOT true...it should be. Either way, it's a very good lesson and should be taught in a similar fashion in every classroom everywhere! That's my opinion, anyway!

Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock , did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom.

When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks.

'Ms. Cothren, where's our desks?'

She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.'

They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.'

'No,' she said.

'Maybe it's our behavior.'

She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom.

By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms.Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the desk-less classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it.

Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the
first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned..

Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'

None of us should ever forget...and we should take the responsibility to make sure that our children and grand children never be allowed to forget either!

Don't count on the schools, don't count on the history books, don't count on the media...don't count on ANYTHING or ANYONE but yourself to pass on the truth!

Look...we all know that "Freedom is NOT free!' We all understand that! We believe that! We support that with our hearts, our actions, and our minds! We, as Preppers, as PATRIOTS...must be sure that we pass this single, most important lesson on to each and every one of those that we are responsible for! Remember, if we don't learn from history then we are bound to repeat it!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for a bit, OK?

Big Brass Ones...!

What does it mean to have "Big Brass Ones?"

Maybe these few clips will answer that question for us! These guys, both the pilots and the spectators have my respect, that's for sure!



Have I got your attention yet? If not, let me throw in another one! Are ya ready?



Are you believing this stuff? How brave are you...? Could you do what this guy is doing?



Yeah...me either! THAT'S what I call having Big Brass Stones, for sure! Don't mind a bit having these guys on our side...and I certainly hope that's where they stay when IT does HTF, if you know what I mean!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside in the coolness! Oh, and let me know if we need to duck, OK?

Why I Don't Fly...!

I don't like to fly! Never have, never will!

I just don't like the idea of not being the one in charge of my fate when traveling. Oh, I know how all the statistics show how safe flying is, how it's safer to fly than drive, how much faster you get there...I know all that!

But I'm a Hermit, remember? As a Hermit, I have very firm hermit-like attributes, like not liking crowds! What's a crowd? The answer depends on who you ask, but for this hermit any gathering of more than 3 people constitutes a crowd. I avoid crowds every chance I get, especially here in the big city.

In general, I don't like the public, especially those that are rude and loud and angry! Believe me, if you want to go to a place that's crowded with loud, rude, and angry people...then take a trip down to the local airport!

On top of that, you are putting yourself in the hands of pilots you don't know, and trusting them to be professional enough to get you from point A to point B in a safe manner! Then along comes a story like this one from the Houston Chronicle!

By JOAN LOWY Associated Press Writer © 2009 The Associated Press
Oct. 26, 2009, 3:24PM

WASHINGTON — Two Northwest Airlines pilots have told federal investigators that they were going over schedules using their laptop computers in violation of company policy while their plane overflew their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles, the National Transportation Safety Board said Monday.

The pilots — Richard Cole of Salem, Ore., the first officer, and Timothy Cheney of Gig Harbor, Wash., the captain — said in interviews conducted over the weekend that they were not fatigued and didn't fall asleep, the board said in a statement.

Instead, Cole and Cheney told investigators that they both had their laptops out while the first officer, who had more experience with scheduling, instructed the captain on monthly flight crew scheduling. The pilots were out of communication with air traffic controllers and their airline for more than an hour and didn't realize their mistake until contacted by a flight attendant, the board said.

Many aviation safety experts had said it was more plausible that the pilots had fallen asleep during the cruise phase of their flight than that they had become so focused on a conversation that they lost awareness of their surroundings for more than an hour. Air traffic controllers in Denver and Minneapolis repeatedly tried without success to raise the pilots by radio. Other pilots in the vicinity tried reaching the plane on other radio frequencies. Their airline tried contacting them using a radio text message that chimes.

Authorities became so alarmed that National Guard jets were readied for takeoff at two locations and the White House Situation Room alerted senior White House officials, who monitored the airliner carrying 144 passenger and five crew members as it flew across a broad swath of the mid-continent completely out of contact with anyone on the ground.

"It's inexcusable," said former NTSB Chairman Jim Hall. "I feel sorry for the individuals involved, but this was certainly not an innocuous event — this was a significant breach of aviation safety and aviation security."

So, in spite of the facts and figures presented to convince me of how safe it is and how silly I am NOT to fly, I'll continue to just keep my feet on the ground or at least, no higher than the floorboard of my truck! I think I can survive a fall out of my truck or out of a car much easier than a fall out of the sky in a crowded aluminum tube, tanks full of high explosive fuel, and flown by two guys either asleep or playing with their laptops while we are flying at several thousand feet in the air! Call me silly!

Now, let's get some coffee and sit around the table...raining outside again!

On The Road Again...!

Well, as many of you may or may not know...I've been looking for another truck or van since I sold my Chevy S-10 and the camper to my nephew!

I've spent countless hours on Craigslist and on the couple of other sites that usually have what I want.

Saturday, I finally found one from an individual right here in the neighborhood! So I called him and made arrangements to go look at it.

What he had was a 1989 Dodge Ram that had some small problems, and the pictures looked fine. At $750, it wasn't priced too bad, so I went over and looked it over. The only thing was...he couldn't find the title. Now, I know it's not that big a deal to get another title...but I didn't want to go through all that! That little voice in my head said "Wait, wait" so I told him if and when he found it to give me a call!

Later, on another site, I found a 1993 Dodge truck and went across town to look at it. Once again, the picture looked better than the truck. Listening again to the little voice, I told them I passed...and then started looking at some others on the lot!

That's when I saw this 1992 Ford F150, with two gas tanks, heavy rear suspension...hell, the radio, the heater and A/C even work! I don't remember ever owning a Ford (except the 2 mustangs I had) so I thought about it, asked some appropriate questions, took a test drive...didn't hear from the little voice, so I talked a deal with the guy!

Ended up spending a little more than I started out to spend, but I think it's a wiser choice in the long run. Guess the "Little Voice" agrees, 'cause I haven't heard from it today! Here are a couple of pics...







Well, I'm satisfied, the Little Voice seems satisfied, I have transportation again, and life is good! If my dad were still here, he would probably kick my butt for not getting a Chevy! However, he was a pretty understanding type...so maybe he would cut me a little slack! He was pretty good about doing just that when I was younger, ya know?

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for a bit...the Little Voice in my head says that's a good idea!

Talk About Talent...!

We all have some sort of talent...some of us just have more than others!

This guy is an amazing combination of talent and patience, that's for sure! This is a simple hobby! All you have to do is imagine what you want to create, get a handful of nails, and grab your hammer! Then you proceed to hammer in the nails into the board, until a picture appears...!

Take a look...!







See how easy that was? Probably wouldn't take me more than 3 or 4 years, ya know? This is about as amazing as any work of art that I've seen, up until now!

Now, my friend, let's get some coffee and sit outside while this cool weather holds...OK?

It's A Dog's Life...!

Here's a little something to make your Saturday a better day!

I hope you get a grin out of this...!



A guy is driving around the back woods of Montana and he sees a sign in front of a broken down shanty-style house: 'Talking Dog For Sale ' He rings the bell and the owner appears and tells him the dog is in the backyard.

The guy goes into the backyard and sees a nice looking Labrador retriever sitting there.

'You talk?' he asks.

'Yep,' the Lab replies.

After the guy recovers from the shock of hearing a dog talk, he says 'So, what's your story?'

The Lab looks up and says, 'Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA. In no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping.'

'I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running. But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn't getting any younger so I decided to settle down.

I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security, wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals.' 'I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I'm just retired.'

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.

'Ten dollars,' the guy says..

'Ten dollars? This dog is amazing! Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?'

'Because he's a liar. He never did any of that shit.



Now, let's get some coffee...OK, my friend?

Everybody Needs This Book...!

Just think of it as an early Christmas gift for yourself!

The really nice thing about this particular one, is that it is cheaper than the hard copy in the stores! Same book, lower price! What a deal...!

I don't get anything for telling you about this...but I figured that some folks might like to have it! One thing about it, the price is right!

Digital, Downloadable, Printable!

Get the complete contents of The 2010 Old Farmer's Almanac online!

Our new 2010 Digital Edition is an exact replica of the printed Premium Edition, and includes the Almanac’s timeless blend of facts and fun with the most accurate astronomical data under the Sun, plus 32 extra pages of reference material!

The Digital Edition also features . . .

• The general weather forecast from November 2009 through October 2010
• Seasonal weather maps (in full color!)
• Detailed forecasts for 16 U.S. weather regions
• All-new stories guaranteed to entertain, enthuse, and educate

Only $6.95 (no shipping needed!)

• The Digital Edition is formatted identically to the print version of the Almanac. You’re just accessing it from the Internet. At home? At work? You can read the Almanac any time, anywhere, 24 hours a day.
• You can also download the entire digital Almanac (as a PDF) to your own computer if you wish to save it for years to come.
• Reading our digital edition is fun, easy, and offers many useful, interactive features:
  • Print any of the content
  • Enlarge the page size for easy reading
  • E-mail favorite pages to friends
  • Search for content with ease by just entering key words
  • Flip through pages with the click of a mouse, or jump to a particular page
  • Click on hyperlinks to visit relevant Almanac.com pages and interesting outside web sites.

Only $6.95 (no shipping needed!)

This is one of the most useful books I have, and it makes for some fun reading! Just think, you can print it out and then you'll have something to occupy your cold Winter nights while sitting around your fire!

Anyway, I just thought I would pass this on to ya...being the nice person that I am!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit around the kitchen table...we can smell the bread as it bakes, OK?

Let's Cook Some Grain...!

As Preppers, many of our stores should consist of grains. However, there's no use in storing something unless you are familiar with the best way to cook or prepare it!

This list from Farmer's Almanac may be a help in that regard!

To cook the grains listed below, use a heavy saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Rinse the grains thoroughly. Bring the water to a boil, add the grain, and return to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for the indicated time. Once all the water is absorbed, fluff the grain with a fork, replace the cover, remove from the heat, and let sit for about 15 minutes. When cooking grains for salads, reduce the cooking times slightly so they retain a chewy texture.

Amaranth

Caution: This grain becomes sticky when cooked. Mix it with corn, scallions, and cooked pinto beans. Do not salt until thoroughly cooked.

1 cup amaranth to 3 cups water; simmer 25 to 30 minutes.

Barley, pearled (pot)

Lightly milled to retain all of the germ and at least 2/3 of the bran, barley can be used in salads with red onions, cucumber, and feta and in soups, stews, and chilies. Try barley as a stuffing for peppers, tomatoes, or poultry and in low-fat "meat" loaf

1 cup barley to 3–1/2 cups water; simmer 45 to 60 minutes.

Buckwheat groats (kasha)

Not part of the wheat family, buckwheat can be eaten by many on a wheat-free diet. It can be roasted in a skillet with an egg for extra flavor. Cook with noodles as a stuffing for cabbage, or serve with squash.

1 cup groats to 2 cups water; simmer 20 minutes.

Bulgur (quick-cooking)

This is cracked wheat that has been partially cooked and dehydrated. It is most often combined with olive oil, garlic, mint, parsley, paprika, and lemon to make tabbouleh. Try it with pine nuts, cinnamon, and lemon as a stuffing for tomatoes or green peppers.

1 cup bulgur to 2 cups water; simmer 5 minutes. Or combine 1 cup bulgur with 1-1/2 cups boiling water and let stand for 20 minutes.

Couscous

These quick-cooking wheat berries have been ground, steamed, and dried to form tiny pellets. Use as a light bed for spicy vegetables and stews or in a risotto with curried vegetables.

1 cup couscous to 1–1/2 cups water; simmer 5 minutes.

Millet

This is a mild, digestible grain often used by people on wheat-free diets. Serve as a bed for sauteed vegetables and chickpeas, as a stuffing with applesauce, or sprinkled into soups, stews, or risotto.

1 cup millet to 3 cups water; simmer 20 to 25 minutes.

Oats, rolled

Eat as cereal (try adding currants and toasted nuts), or use in grain burgers, in cookies and quick breads, and as a thickener in soups.

1 cup oats to 3 cups water; simmer 10 to 15 minutes.

Quinoa

Light, nutty flavor and higher in protein than other grains, quinoa (actually the fruit of an herb) is excellent in grain salads, as a stuffing for zucchini or tomatoes, or in enchiladas or fajitas. It is also great with salsas and chutneys.

1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water; rinse several times before cooking; simmer 20 minutes.

Rice

Rice is a wonderfully versatile grain, good plain, added to vegetable casseroles, and used to stuff peppers and tomatoes. Use short-grain, which is sticky, for puddings and layered vegetable dishes; use medium-grain as a side dish and in Korean, Japanese, and Italian dishes; use long-grain for stews, curries, paellas, and salads.

1 cup rice to 2 cups water; simmer 15 to 20 minutes for white rice; 40 to 60 minutes for brown rice.

Rice, wild

This seed of aquatic grass is high in B vitamins. Combine with other grains, use with smoked turkey as a salad, or serve with apples and squash.

1 cup wild rice to 3-1/2 cups water; simmer 60 minutes.

Wheat berries

Combine cooked, hard red winter wheat berries with bean sprouts, carrots, tamari, sesame oil, and scallions for salad; or blend into stuffings with celery, mushrooms, thyme, and sage; or serve as a side dish with butter, salt, pepper, and chopped fresh parsley

1 cup wheat berries to 3 cups water; simmer 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Do not salt.

Now, I might suggest here that the time to try and get used to cooking whole grains and using them in recipes, is now before you have to. It's also a good idea to get the family used to having different grains in their diet by introducing them slowly. Whole grains can play havoc with the digestion if not worked in a little at a time.

Now, my friends, let's have our coffee on the patio and enjoy the cooler weather, OK?

Just A Part Of Living...!

Have you ever noticed that babies learn very early to laugh and giggle? Of course, they don't have any trouble crying a lot either!

The point is, for babies this is the only form of communication they know! Somewhere along the way, as we become older and wiser...we seem to think that some form of laughing and crying is wrong. We start thinking that one is a shallow emotion, and the other is a sign of weakness. Sort of makes you wonder about the "wiser" part, doesn't it?

I personally think that men have the biggest problem with shedding a tear or two from time to time, but I'll be honest with you...I wouldn't give you two cents for a man that couldn't cry once in a while! I'm not talking about a whiner or cry-baby, but someone that doesn't get embarrassed for having his eyes tear up with the playing of the National Anthem or seeing the sadness in another person's face or hearing the wailing cry of a hungry child!

By the same token, I would not have any respect for someone that couldn't grin a bit at the humor in some of the things life throws our way. One of nature's most precious gifts is the ability to laugh out loud, especially at ourselves from time to time!

Wiser men than I have said it so much better. I wanted to pass on some of the quotes that touch on this emotion!

Humor is something that thrives between man's aspirations and his limitations. There is more logic in humor than in anything else. Because, you see, humor is truth.
Victor Borge

Humor is the affectionate communication of insight.
Leo Rosten

Humor is the instinct for taking pain playfully.
Max Eastman

I have a fine sense of the ridiculous, but no sense of humor.
Edward Albee

I think the next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humor in it.
Frank Howard Clark

If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide.
Mohandas Gandhi

If you could choose one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Jennifer Jones

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.
Francis Bacon

One doesn't have a sense of humor. It has you.
Larry Gelbart

The more I live, the more I think that humor is the saving sense.
Jacob August Riis

There is no defense against adverse fortune which is so effectual as an habitual sense of humor.
Thomas W. Higginson

When humor goes, there goes civilization.
Erma Bombeck

You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything, even poverty, you can survive it.
Bill Cosby

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road.
Henry Ward Beecher

A sense of humor is a major defense against minor troubles.
Mignon McLaughlin

A sense of humor... is needed armor. Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life.
Hugh Sidey

A taste for irony has kept more hearts from breaking than a sense of humor, for it takes irony to appreciate the joke which is on oneself.
Jessamyn West

A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.
William Arthur Ward

Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it.
E. B. White

Comedy has to be based on truth. You take the truth and you put a little curlicue at the end.
Sid Caesar

Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious.
Peter Ustinov

Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.
William James

Humor brings insight and tolerance. Irony brings a deeper and less friendly understanding.
Agnes Repplier

Humor distorts nothing, and only false gods are laughed off their earthly pedestals.
Agnes Repplier

Humor is just another defense against the universe.
Mel Brooks

Humor is mankind's greatest blessing.
Mark Twain

Humor is merely tragedy standing on its head with its pants torn.
Irvin S. Cobb

Humor is reason gone mad.
Groucho Marx

Try and find a little time in your day to smile at something, but whatever you do...don't forget that it's only human to cry when you need to! Ater all tears help to water the flower beds of life!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside before the rain get here, OK?

The Struggle To Persevere...!

There are times that we all have a feeling that we should give up, give in, or just stop trying!

This should help everyone to realize that giving up is not the right way. Perseverance, inner strength, and Faith can guide the way and smooth the path.

When you watch this video, you will know that with these three attributes, you can accomplish more than you believed possible!



In our everyday life and in our ongoing struggle to deal with all that may come our way...it becomes more and more important than ever to call on all that is positive around us. The positive energy we attract can, indeed, bolster our inner strength and make stronger our resolve to stay the course!

Nature will allow us to be as strong as we need to be, and will help if we only allow it! Some call it good fortune, some call it fate...whatever you want to call it, it needs only one thing to help make things better! FAITH!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside...and just remember, keep the faith!

Hey, You Want This Thing Back Or Not...?

This is what happens when you try and do the right thing!

This story came right out of the Houston Chronicle...believe me, I couldn't make this stuff up!

By JOHN TEDESCO San Antonio Express-News

Oct. 15, 2009, 9:24AM

John Tedesco San Antonio Express-News

Jarrette Schule found an old missile launcher on his rural property in Comal County near San Antonio.

Jarrette Schule was cutting down trees on his rural property Tuesday in Comal County north of San Antonio when he noticed a green metallic tube on the muddy ground.

“I had never seen it before,” said Schule, a 34-year-old Web developer. “I looked at it, and it kind of looked like a missile launcher.”

Schule took a closer look. It was a long, forest-green metal tube. A decal on it read: “Guided Missile and Launcher, Surface Attack.”

The discovery was the start of a surreal journey for Schule. Somehow, an unarmed anti-tank weapon — or a very good fake — wound up on his land at Beck Road and Kirk Lane in the Hill Country, miles away from a military installation.

The launcher was deep in the wooded property far from the road, in an area he was familiar with.

“I don't know if it fell out of something or if somebody just dumped it,” Schule said. “There's some crazy whitetail hunters around here. Maybe they're going overboard?”

Schule's property in Comal County is vacant, and he didn't want to leave a missile launcher unattended. So he loaded it in his truck and took it to his house in the North Side neighborhood of the Ridge at Lookout Canyon.

Touching and moving the launcher was a mistake, even if it was unarmed, a spokesman for Fort Sam Houston said. Old military ordnance can be dangerous.

But Schule spent Tuesday afternoon calling the FBI, Homeland Security, the Sheriff's Department — every agency he could think of. He was stuck in a bureaucratic limbo.

“Everyone was handing it off to everybody else,” Schule said.

He was surprised at the amount of work it took to get the military to pick up its lost missile launcher.

Schule initially was nervous when he found the weapon. But as the hours passed, he did what most guys would do — marvel at the mind-blowing awesomeness of finding a missile launcher. He posted photos on Facebook and called his buddies, saying: “Guess what I found?”

Schule called the military police at Fort Sam. But their jurisdiction doesn't extend off the post. Schule's information was passed along to an Army criminal investigator, who visited Schule on Wednesday morning — about 19 hours after he started making phone calls.

The special agent walked into the house and saw the launcher sitting on the dining room table.

“She said this is the first time she ever encountered anything like this,” Schule said. “I got the impression it was kind of a big deal. Doesn't happen every day, I guess.”

The decal on the launcher has a 13-digit “National Stock Number,” which is used to identify military equipment. The stock number is a match for launchers that fire Dragon surface-to-surface missiles, according to a database maintained by the U.S. Defense Logistics Information Service.

The launcher was built in December 1996. The Dragons, first manufactured in the 1960s, last were used in combat in 1991's Operation Desert Storm. They were replaced by the Javelin missile system and finally discontinued in 2006.

Military officials were unable to say Wednesday who last had the launcher and when it was lost. The launcher has a serial number that can be used to track the chain of custody. That will be part of the military's investigation, said Phil Reidinger, spokesman for Fort Sam.

At Schule's house, he and the Army investigator had to wait for about three more hours for an ordnance disposal team from Lackland AFB to confiscate the weapon.

The team arrived at about 1 p.m. Wednesday and retrieved the device, ending a crazy experience for Schule.

“I thought just driving down the road, someone would just know that I had a missile launcher in my truck,” Schule said, laughing. “You think that way about the government.

“But really, you have to make an effort for them to come get their missile launcher.”

Now, probably what's going to happen is that this poor guy will be found to be one of those "domestic terrorists" we keep hearing about! At the very least, you just KNOW he made every major watch list the government has!

Maybe he should have just kept it and sold it on Ebay, ya reckon?

Now, let's get some coffee and sit outside in the cooler weather, my friend...we can discuss how the military can manage to lose one of these things! Gee, I feel secure...don't you?

Sunday Trivia Tidbits...!

My sister Beth sent me these little tidbits of information and I thought I had better pass them on to you!

You know how much I love all the little bits of trivia I find around, and since I had not seen some of these...I figured that some of them may be new to you as well!

If you have not seen them, enjoy! If you already knew them, then why didn't you tell me about them, huh?

Anyway, a few little fun facts for a Sunday! OK? OK!

Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little 'stringy things' off of it.

That's how the primates do it.

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.


For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.

Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.

Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simply chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Yummm!

Reheating pizza...

Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

Easy Deviled Eggs ...

Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

Expanding Frosting...

When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

Reheating refrigerated bread ...

To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

Newspaper weeds away...

Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.

Broken Glass...

Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

No More Mosquitoes...

Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

Squirrel Away!

To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper.

The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

Flexible vacuum...

To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

Reducing Static Cling...

Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... ta da! ... static is gone.

Measuring Cups...

Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Foggy Windshield?

Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car . When the window s fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

Reopening envelope...

If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

Conditioner ...

Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.

Goodbye Fruit Flies...

To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

Get Rid of Ants...

Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!


INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS...

The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.)

He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material ... I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. Well ... the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all!

He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free ... that nice fragrance too.

You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box ... well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?!

Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that. So, I thought I'd share!

Note: I went to my dryer and tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water and a nylon brush and I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it ... the water ran right through the screen! There wasn't any puddling at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about!

Well, there you have it! Just a few more bits of almost useful trivia from the Hermit! Thanks go out to my big sis (Beth) for sharing these with us today!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit...I'll furnish the dryer sheets for the 'skeeters, OK?

A Chocolate Fantasy...!

I'm going to warn you here...if you like chocolate, this may make your mouth water!

Even if you don't like chocolate, you can just enjoy the beauty of the creation! See, something for everyone...just because I'm such a nice guy!

There were actually more pictures, but just as a matter of safety...I ate them! Didn't want to subject you to any bad stuff, ya know?



Just think, after eating the chocolate inside...you can eat the box! How cool is that?



It just gets better and better! Someone put a lot of thought and time into these creations, don't you think?



What do you want to bet, these won't be one of those gifts that never gets used! They probably wouldn't last the night!



I'm sure that if the grown-ups don't finish them off right away, the kids around will be more than happy to chip in and do their part! Might take a few raps on the knuckles to prevent this from happening anyway!



Boy, my tummy is growling already! I hope someone brought donuts for the coffee today! No donuts? How about some cookies or cake or rolls or turnovers or...ANYTHING?

Well, let's at least get some fresh coffee, my friends, and sit outside for a bit...we can listen to the growling of our tummies in harmony!

A Hermit's View Of The Stimulus....!

You may have heard me say this before...my sisters are very talented ladies!

My baby sis is pretty smart about financial stuff as well. Smarter than me, anyway! Of course, that ain't saying a lot...but she is pretty savvy in this stuff!

Anyway, she sent me this little bit o information and it made so much sense to me, I wanted to share it with all my friends. Hope it helps you like it did me...!

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?
A. Shut up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:

. If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China .
. If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the Arabs.
. If you purchase a computer, it will go to India .
. If you purchase fruit or vegetables, it will go to Mexico , Honduras and Guatemala .
. If you buy a car, it will go to Japan .
. If you purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan.
. If you pay off your credit cards, or buy stock, it will go to management bonuses, and they will hide it offshore.

Instead, keep the money in America by:
1. Spending it at yard sales, or
2. Going to ball games, or
3. Spending it on prostitutes, or
4. Beer, or
5. Tattoos.
(These seem to be the only American businesses still operating in the US .)

It would be best if you went to a ball game with a tattooed prostitute that you met at a yard sale and then drank American beer all day.

See what I mean? When explained this manor, it all makes perfect sense...in a twisted sort of way!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside for a bit! That's another thing that makes a lot of sense!

How About A Pumpkin Soup Recipe...?

I know that some of you either have some pumpkins, or have access to a lot of fresh out of the garden pumpkins.

I thought you might enjoy this slightly different recipe using pumpkins and potatoes. It sounds like an ideal recipe for the cooler weather of Fall...for those of you that actually have a Fall, that is! With the weather here in the high 80s yet again...it's hard to remember that it is Autumn even here in Texas!

Anyway, I thought that you might enjoy this slightly spicy addition to your Fall menu...

Spicy Pumpkin and Potato Soup

This recipe, from Roxanne E. Chan of Albany, California, won third prize in The 2001 Old Farmer's Almanac Recipe Contest: "Best Soups and Chowders."

Yield: Makes 6 servings

• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
• 1 cup solid-pack canned pumpkin
• 1/4 cup half-and-half or light cream, heated
• 6 fresh cilantro sprigs, for garnish

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, potatoes, chili powder, and cumin and sauté for 5 minutes. Stir in the broth and cook for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Process the soup in a blender, along with the chopped cilantro and jalapeno. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, half-and-half, and remaining tablespoon of oil. Ladle the potato soup into six bowls. Swirl 1/6 of the pumpkin mixture into each bowl, creating a marbling effect, and garnish with a cilantro sprig.

I hope that this soup makes the cool Fall days a lot more endurable! If nothing else, it should warm you up on the inside...ya know?

Now, let's get some fresh, hot coffee, my friend, and sit outside for a bit...that's also good for a cool Fall type day!

This Is A Great Tire For The Homestead...!

I'm impressed by the fact tht these tires are virtually carefree!

Imagine, having a set of these on your BOV or your day to day ride around the retreat. No more having to worry about air compressors, spares, flats, repair kits...all the fun stuff.

If these perform as intended, it would be a definite improvement over the tires we depend on now...don't you think?


I think that the ride could also help to increase gas milage, since the pressure is always the same! I don't know this for sure, but to me it only makes sense! You have to admit, they look pretty cool going down the road!


After looking at this unique design where the ribs replace the air chamber on regular tires, I really have to wonder how the ride feels.

I can see so many times where this design and this tire could really help to keep us from harms way, and assist in the need to get out of Dodge with very few stops or delays due to tire problems!



These tires are airless and are scheduled to be out on the market very soon. The bad news for law enforcement is that spike strips will not work on these.
Just think of the impact on existing technology:
A. No more air valves...
B. No more air compressors at gas stations....
C. No more repair kits...
D. No more flats...
These are actual pictures taken in the South Carolina plant of Michelin.

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for a bit...OK?

What A Way To Start The Day...!

You ever have one of those days? I can only imagine what these guys thought when they showed up for work!



We all have 'em, but this has to be one of the best I've seen!

Let's get some coffee, my friend!

Happy Monday Everyone...!

No post today, my friends! I'm going to take the day off...

Instead of a regular post, let me just ask you to do me a favor if you will! It's just a couple of small things that I guarantee will make your week seem a lot more fulfilled!

Find someone to hug! Doesn't have to be for any particular reason, you don't even have to say anything...just give someone a heartfelt hug!



Next, find some time today to gather with some of your friends! You know, just like we have coffee together in the mornings. Nothing can make you feel better than to know that your friends are there to help give you support if you need it! But remember, you need to be there to support your friends as well...after all, friends offering support to one another is what life's all about, isn't it?



Lastly, look around and see if your special friend, the one you don't ever have to doubt, the one who just knows when you need some closeness, the one who accepts you just the way you are...is anywhere close. If they are, then take the time to take their hand, smile a bit, and silently take a peaceful walk together!

That, my friend, is tonic for the soul!



Now, let's get some coffee and sit together for a bit...OK?

My Thoughts Exactly...!

I could not agree more with this discourse on women over 40!

“As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, 'What are you thinking?' She doesn't care what you think.

If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting.

Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress. Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say, 'Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? Here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!”

Whoever said this is a smart cookie, I'll tell ya! Being well over 40 myself, this makes more than a little sense to me!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for a bit...we can enjoy the nice, cool weather!

You Gave The Prize To WHO...??

Well, the announcement of the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize was announced yesterday.

I was, to say the least, surprised! Many others were as well...what was my reaction? Well, let's put it this way!



That's all for me! Let's get some coffee!

Believe It Or Not...A Review!

Normally I don't do reviews or talk a lot about my recent Preps.

However, I thought that I would tell you about a couple of recent purchases just because I have been very impressed with them.

Now, this review has nothing to do with the regular purchases of food, although I do that regularly. These are extra items that I have picked up for back up purposes...

The first picture is of the Cansolidater can storage unit from Shelfreliance. I have wanted to try this out because of the large amount of canned goods that could be stored in a small amount of space. I figure that in my cabin, I'm gonna need all the space I can save...without giving up the amount of food I'll be needing to store. You can see the dimensions of all their units here.

It is very easy to put together, holds a lot of canned goods, and is adaptable. I set the small unit up and filled it. I was very pleased with the way it works, and now I feel good about ordering the larger unit! The delivery is pretty fast as well!


This next pair of items was a combo unit of hand crank flashlight and hand crank radio from Emergency Essentials. I have purchased items from these folks before, including food items, and I have to say I have always been completely satisfied with the products so far.



The main reason I wanted this combo is that I needed both items and it was a little cheaper to buy them together! Not that I'm cheap, but...Ok, I'm cheap! I really prefer to call myself frugal, just because it sounds better!

I want to be honest here. I was not expecting too much out of the radio or the flashlight, but I was pleasantly surprised with both. My main worry about the flashlight was whether or not it would be bright enough to be of service. After all, it only had three LED bulbs. The good news is that it turned out to be plenty bright enough to easily see very well in the dark, and it has two brightness settings. Nice!

BTW, the flashlight also has a jack in it for charging cell phones, and during a storm that can be very useful!

The hand crank radio was next and it was perhaps the most pleasant surprise of all! Not only can it be charged by using the crank, but it also has a solar panel on it that can be used. Here on the coast, most of the times that we have a power outage, the sun still shines...so that makes this a very handy item indeed. Even though the radio is small, it has acceptable sound clarity. It comes with ear buds, and has three tuning choices...AM, FM, and Weather band! All together, I was well pleased, especially as the price was right!

Finally, this is a very necessary item for me! This is my new perculator coffee pot from Academy!

Even though I already have a couple of non-electric coffee pots for the future homestead, I'm taking no chances...ya know?

Now the main reason I wanted to mention Academy here is that they had this coffee pot for the lowest price of anyone I found any where! Priced at $9.00 on the shelf, it rang up at $5.00 at the register...! My kind of surprise!



Well, that's all I had! Sorry to bore you with this, as a lot of you may already something like this handy, but I figured I would at least let you in on what I have done over the last few days to add to my goodies! Better than money in the bank, I think!

Now, my friend, let's get some coffee and gather around the table for a bit...OK?

If She Only Knew...!

I got this from my cousin in Central Texas...

I hope she is only joking...but now days, who knows? I have to admit, it's a very interesting approach to solving some age old problems that seem to pop up at the start of hunting season...for some folks, that is!

My sweet husband invited me to go hunting with him this year. I couldn't believe it...the first time ever!
I never thought he'd be willing to share his 'guy time' with me and being the thoughtful man that he is, he even gave me an opening day present. He calls it 'The First Timers Lucky Hat'. I'm so fortunate to be married to him. I have attached a picture of me in my lucky hat below....



It will be interesting to hear from her after their first hunting trip! That is, IF I hear from her after the trip!

Now, let's get some coffee and sit outside, my friend! We can discuss the upcoming cool front...truth or fiction?