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Praetorium Honoris

Monday, October 9, 2017

Buzzards

Just for you Mi viejo sargento de la fuerza aérea amigo

Two interesting things about this picture.  First, we have lazy people in Texas also.  Second, there's a closer spot to the front door, but I didn't park there.  Texans park in the shade, even if it's further from the door.

Well....As all y'all know, it's been a hectic few months in the juvat environs here.  We had the construction of two new school buildings (wiring for technology connections in the classrooms?  Nah, we'll get our guys to do that).  We also had new software requirements as our new Curriculum director wanted "data" (build new data pulls and integrate them into software from different companies, some of whom are difficult to get tech support from? No problem, our guys can handle that. Hint: Redmond WA)  Get schedules and rosters ready for the first day of school, but you won't get the student data on the first of July like you usually do.  We're going to be on vacation until the end of July.  You can handle it, can't you?

Yeah, it's been a hectic few months.  And it culminated 10 days ago with the passing of my equine friend. 

Hit me hard that last one.

In any case, I told my boss I was going to take Monday and Tuesday off for mental health. I was getting cranky, enough so that Joe might be getting a run for his title. 

Truth be told, I also wanted to spend some time with my wife.  You see in a tourist town like ours, private businesses have to be open when the people with money to spend are around.  Which means your Saturday and Sunday are Tuesday and Wednesday and State and Federal Holidays are workdays.  (We do make exceptions for Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving for obvious reasons.) But I work M-F, so time together is minimal.

So, I was taking time off when my wife could take time off.  I was looking forward to doing things with her, even if they were of the "honey do", type of things.

Monday went well.  I got a lot accomplished on the lengthy list of things that needed accomplishing.  Chief among them was reacquainting myself with the top of my desk.  
Yes, I was reading a certain blog while cleaning.


Years, I say, years since I last saw that.

Other duties, as assigned, were performed as well.  Cleaning and resetting the guest house for one.
The two older female guests must have had a VERY good time. There was almost a quarter of the bottle gone! How brazen of them.
 Didn't even know they still made this.

 All in all, it was a satisfying day spent active with a lovely lady.

Tuesday dawns and we've decided on a day of leisure, with no particular plans.

However, Canine flight does not understand the term "Sleep in", they're up with the sun, and therefore, so are we.  

"Resistance is futile, you MUST awaken! "  sayeth Canine lead as she decides my face needs cleaning whilst simultaneously swatting Mrs Juvat with her scimitar tail of death.

Resistance indeed being futile, we arise and feed the Canine, Feline, and Equine flights in our squadron.

Enjoy a cup or two of coffee whilst deciding what to do.  I'm arguing for a nap, but lose the argument to "How about lunch at Fuddruckers?"

Fudds, to quote a term I first heard about on Instapundit, is "Premium Mediocre".  The most descriptive definition therein is "best bottle of wine at Olive Garden".  OK, not great.  

However, this Fuddruckers has one nice advantage, the view on the back porch.

So it was written, so it shall be.

As we're driving off the property, I get one of those little premonitions.  You know, the warning feeling that something's about to go wrong.  I shake it off though.  Things are going to be fine.

I come around the corner leaving the property and notice a bird sitting up at the top of a tree.  So, I stop, thinking it might be an Eagle or a CaraCara, and take this picture.

Nope, it's a buzzard.


I'm reminded of a poster I'd had up in my cave dorm room back when I was young.
Source
I figure the bird is doing what I hope to do later that afternoon (take a nap), then notice a couple more up in the sky making lazy circles.  

Ahh, to be able to do that.... without all that eating dead rotting road kill, of course.

I'm watching them for a few seconds and happen to check six.  (A habit I haven't completely gotten away from after all these years, but am usually remiss at performing.)

To quote a line from Romancing the Stone,  "Bastards have brothers".

Click to enlarge.  There are 20 buzzards in those trees

I put the truck back into gear and drive off, not wishing to appear too motionless, lest they come investigate.

But as I drive off, that ominous feeling returns.

Lunch at Fudds was delightful, 70ish outside with a nice breeze, a decent burger, soda and rings, and wonderful conversation with a lovely, funny, woman.  

And the view ain't too bad either.

Driving home, I'm eagerly anticipating a nap, having hung blackout curtains in the bedroom the day before.  I'm intend to check out their efficacy with a lengthy study.  Halfway home the cell phone rings, I push the button on the steering wheel that allows me to answer the phone without taking it out of my holster (it also allows me to receive and send texts in the same manner, thanks for asking.)

"juvat, we're unable to print anywhere in the district, can you come in and fix it?"

"Sun of a Twitch!" or something like that.

Drop Mrs Juvat off at Rancho Juvat, dash into the nearest phone booth and quickly change into my blue tights with yellow pee on the front, cape and red shorts and become.....


What did you think I meant by "yellow pee"? Spell check isn't always your friend.
Source

PRINTERMAN!

Still looking for that nap by the way!

And...for some reason, a Jimmy Buffet tune was running in my brain while writing this, something about "buzzard's bay"



Which raised the question "Where IS Buzzard's Bay?"  Well, since you asked.

Pretty sure if we zoomed in close enough, we could see Chez Sarge.

  

16 comments:

  1. That buzzard cartoon is one of my all time favorites. Gary Larson I think.

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    Replies
    1. I've probably still got it stored somewhere in my extensive archives.

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  2. I'm sorry about your horse. A few years ago when my son's old roping horse died, it hit me hard. Still brings a tear. The two horses still on the Lazy B are both over 20 years old.

    I've also lived in a resort town. The locals work hard thru the busy seasons - no rest and sometimes they get a bit testy.

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    Replies
    1. I think the Paints miss her also. I've noticed them spending a bit more time under the tree. Horses are pretty smart, wish they could talk. I think it would be interesting. "You ain't getting on MY back, you fat old fart", might just come out of their mouth though.
      Here in Fritztown, the busy season is all but January and February and even that excludes the federal holidays therein. So...Testy? Check!

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  3. I've actually flown over Buzzard's Bay at night in a small aircraft. So yup, I'm in the neighborhood.

    Nice post, now I gotta get some paper towels and wipe down the monitor. (Yellow pee, heh.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Supposedly, Mr. Buffett crashed his seaplane there on takeoff, hence the mention in the song.

      Yes, well, one has to maintain one's sense of humor. Even when cranky.

      Delete
  4. Thanks for the Buffett song and post. A good way to start my day.

    Paul L. Quandt

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    Replies
    1. The playlist on my phone and, hence, in my truck is only Jimmy Buffett and Classical Music. Makes my heart light and relaxes me, and to quote a line from a song, "....and then I can go on!"

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  5. Crème de Menthe is excellent on vanilla ice cream, if you want a way to down the rest of the bottle in a fun way.

    I remember when Fuddruckers was actually 'new and shiny' and the food was the 'new hotness.' Shame that they've gone down the Applebee's hole (looks good, tastes 'meh.')

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    Replies
    1. I don't think either is particularly good with insulin, but, maybe Mrs J would like some.

      That's pretty much my assessment of Fuddruckers also. Was interested when it first opened, not so much after first visit. But on a nice day that porch is very relaxing.

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  6. I'm pretty sure MB has yellow pee on her blouse because she, as business administrator, gets all those calls... even when we were in Chicago.

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    Replies
    1. A lot of things I can fix via remote desktop and a wireless connection to my laptop. Printers ain't one of those things. They usually require hands on. But, heaven help me, if I don't jump right on a printer problem. "My printer doesn't work!" Well try printing to the one that's 15' further away. Sheesh!

      Delete
  7. Dug a peck of quahogs out of Buzzards Bay Saturday, on the Cape Cod side. Most of the tourists are gone. Life is good.

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    1. Sounds good, and there is an R in October (I think). Made it through Octoberfest weekend with an estimated 20K turista's in our town of a nominal 10K. I elected to not visit town during that period. Very large explosion of stupid.

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  8. I'll take premium mediocre if it comes with a slightly above average (or better) view of the water.

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, there is that. A bit of mellow Country and Western played just loud enough to be heard and heard over also added to the enjoyment.

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Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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