My apologies to the Bangles.
Well....This was a heck of a week. Not quite as "heck of a week" as it was from Dallas north to the North Pole, but heckish enough.
Woke up Friday to 33 degrees, a lot of rain and a wind chill in the teens. Got 2 1/2 inches of rain that day. Normally, that's a cause for celebration. We had to wait for that party opportunity while asking the Lord to keep it from freezing. Nobody and I mean NOBODY, knows how to drive on ice especially not Texans. Fortunately, the weather guessers had given enough early warning and we had stocked up last Monday. Went to HEB Friday midmorning for a few "nice to have things" to put on our shelves (that's my secret phrase for Wine). Suffice it to say there wasn't a lot of food stuff on any of the shelves.
Yes, Beans, there was a good supply of wine. No beer though, this IS Texas.
Got through Friday and Saturday, didn't have to, nor want to go anywhere.
Sunday, woke up at 6 to go to early Mass (0730), cold as all get out, a little frost on the wind screen, but the roads were dry and ice free. Not hard to find a pew at church though. Got out of church and the highly accurate truck thermometer read 45, so maybe the worst has past.
One can hope...and pray!
So, juvat, enough bitchin' about the weather, it sucked all over.
No more weather bitchin' Aye!
We've passed a large stumbling block in the last week or so. We've hired a broker and have started the process of selling the property. Mrs J's bout with the Big C was the final straw. Living in the country with an excellent "See 'em comin'" view was wonderful over the past 25 years. However, the realities of getting older and the potential need to get to a hospital or worse get somebody to come and take you to a hospital in time to make a difference, rules against living in the country. So...since there are a lot of people moving here from a state out west and seem to have quite a lot of cash they need to invest lest Uncle Sam claim quite a bit of it, we decided to talk to a broker.
We were very surprised (on the happy side) when he quoted what he thought a fair price range would be. Should that come to fruition, we will be able to afford a bottle of wine or two. Yes, Doctor H, in moderation, in moderation.
But, we've got a lot of work to do, cleaning junk out of places we had completely forgotten about, The realtor was quite adept at finding them and pointing them out. Apparently the reproduction rate of junk is much, much greater than that of Rabbits.
Quicher Bitchin', juvat!
Enough bitchin', Aye Sarge.
So, we're going to lease a large dumpster (one that gets picked up on the back of a truck) and start loading it up. Maybe we should also hire an archeologist in case we've got some ancient Incan artifacts, who knows?
The other, equally big and time consuming, project is what are we going to move into? We intend to move to the College Station area, which is about 200 miles east of our current location. MBD, The Rev, MG and Leon' live there. That's the Family we need to be close to, just in case. (Little J, LJW and Miss B are stationed overseas, so not an option.). We'd like to be somewhat out of the city, but not too far. We'd also like to have a bit of acreage so we can keep the horses, as well as the 5 dogs and two cats.
To complicate matters, there's probably going to need to be an interim rental house to live in between selling (and more importantly closing on) our current house and closing on our new property. The 2 horses, 5 dogs and two cats gang also adds to that complication.
So...a lot of pondering gonna go on as we get ready for this transition.
It also seems like PCS'ing in the Military was a heckuva lot easier than moving as a civilian. I could be wrong, but it sure doesn't seem like I am.
Finally,
Just because I know this guy and sang a lot of his songs, including this one, as a member of the Juvat Boys Choir. That famed (maybe infamous) organization provided musical entertainment/roasting at going away dinners at Kunsan. Good Times!
So, for your musical enjoyment, "Ain't no Fighter Pilots down in Hell" By Dick Jonas. Enjoy!
Peace out y'all!
People that grew up in Atlanta do everything possible to not drive in the snow. But there are the transplant dummies from New England who are convinced they can drive in the Atlanta snow with their cars that have "Summer" rated tires. The roads are rarely plowed and have an asphalt designed for summer heat that gets slick with snow and ice. Any snow in the ATL is not a good thing.
ReplyDeleteTSquared, I feel your pain, my Friend. I’ve lived in several climates. Haven’t seen any (including Hawaii, torrential rains) that relieved the driver from the responsibility to drive carefully. Learned that at about 17 when I had my first, and last at fault accident. Been hit a couple of times, fortunately no injuries.
DeleteI think, we can safely expand your last sentence by replacing “ in ATL” with “ South of the Mason Dixon line” maybe even with “on the Planet”.
Just say’in
juvat
Reality can suck sometimes, can't it? You think that you're all settled in until the End of Days and then a reality cheque gets cashed and you find that you need to be somewhere else. Maybe God's way of keeping us humble.
ReplyDeleteJoe,
DeleteQuite possibly. The Lord is quite talented at that task.
juvat
I am sorry you are losing your ranch, but understand why you are moving to town. Give Schmedley a big hug, as she rides with you, to your new digs .
ReplyDeleteStB,
DeleteI prefer to think of it as “Handing it over to someone who can take better care of it than us anymore”. But there is a tinge of sadness about the project. Hugs for alcon will be administered. Well, maybe just a pat for the horses.
juvat
Thank you in advance, for administering hugs.
DeleteMy pleasure!
Deletejuvat
Aye.....this is one Northerner that knows that nobody can drive on ice no matter what your self-appointed skill level is. When it comes to moving, junk is a four letter word......good luck with the logistics of the upcoming move especially with the four-legged members of the clan juvat........:) Urban centers are where the hospitals are.
ReplyDeleteNylon, yep. Even if YOU have a modicum of ice driving skill, you can bet your bottom dollar the driver who is closing fast on your six does not!
DeleteThanks
juvat
There is nothing good to be said about ice anywhere but in a drink, especially not on the roads! You know, I think you could replace "ice" with "moving" and still have the correct sentiment!
ReplyDeleteI understand the moving closer to services & family, best of luck!
Rob, Good point! I shouldn’t have denigrated the whole Ice clan for the actions of some.
DeleteCheers, ( soft sound of glasses clinking).
Thanks
juvat
"There is nothing good to be said about ice anywhere but in a drink, "
DeleteFalse, sir! It is essential on a fishing trip to keep the libations cool in one chest, to keep your catch cool in a different chest for your return.
And, best of all, in an ice cream churn on a hot summer day. Preferably in celebration of ofou Independence.
Joe,
DeleteAll true!
juvat
Juvat - Glad you came out okay. Rain and snow (to some extent) I can deal with; ice is another story.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand your decision (I support it too, not that you needed that from me). Looking at the experience of my own parents and my aunt and uncle being out in the country over the past years really gave me a lot to think about, especially with things like health coverage and family access. Having a lot of the same sorts of thoughts and struggles - including the "How did all this stuff get here"? (On behalf of rabbits, I assure you junk reproduces more quickly).
Best of luck. Here is to an easy cleanup, a quick and profitable transaction, and paid movers.
THBB, Thanks, much appreciated.
Deletejuvat
I used to go to CLL once every so often. I installed a translator and tower up there in '94-ish. Much younger man then. I remember some smaller towns out west of there that looked interesting. YMMV.
ReplyDeleteIce is no fun. I remember driving in the ditch to make it up a slight hill once upon a time. The ice on the road was just too slick, but the ditch was fine!
I hate moving. Especially after a two decade stop. Good luck and Godspeed.
STxAR,
DeleteDriving in a ditch to get up an icy hill. Gonna have to add that one to my Ice STORM emergency procedures boldface. (The Emergency Procedures you have to memorize verbatim and punctuated correctly when tested.)
Thanks.
juvat
Hell, even tanks slide on ice. You cannot, repeat cannot, drive on ice. One can only avoid ice (except in drinks of course.)
ReplyDeleteI can't get my head around you guys leaving the ranch behind but times and circumstances change and we can but adapt.
Good luck with all this, hopefully things work out. Prayers for the juvat clan!
I thought the same about him leaving the ranch when he first mentioned the idea some Mondays ago, but seeing how my MIL is struggling, I realize it's better to make that decision before it's a mandatory decision.
DeleteBest of luck with the horses Juvat- that's not an easy chore as you get older. If you ride them- good on you. If they are just large expensive pets, I understand the burden/loving commitment of ownership.
Sarge,
DeleteYes, but do they look as graceful or lovely as Dorothy Hamill or Nancy Kerrigan?
It’s a tough decision, but, in addition to the “what if” stuff, there’s also the close proximity to kids and grandkids, so we got that to look forward to.
juvat
Tuna,
DeleteMy local Doc took one look at my Neck X-rays and STRONGLY advised against horse riding. So…I took his advise based on paralysis being the best possible outcome of a throw and other results were worse.
juvat
So you only get the expensive pleasure of feeding them!
DeleteWell, they are good listeners when I’m down in the dumps. So I got THAT going for me!
Deletejuvat
Onward with new challenges. Improvise, adapt and overcome. You guys can do it.
ReplyDeleteMight want to take a realistic look at the necessity of being close to the equine members of the family. They probably add the most complications to your search for new quarters.
JB
JB,
DeleteBeen pondering that for a while. Best option would be the buyers want the horses also. That would take a lot of the worry off. We’ll see.
juvat
When my Dad worked for the old Denver & Rio Grande RR as a section foreman, we moved often. He said the best way to move was a 5 gallon can of gas and a book of matches. Good luck with your move(s).
ReplyDeleteWSF,
DeleteThat was also the description used to describe a better option than an overseas military move.
juvat
Well, when we moved in the military, everything fit in a seabag! Good luck with all that, and hope the 'interim' stay is short.
ReplyDeleteOld NFO, wasn’t quite that simple once we got married. But it was a lot simpler than this is looking.
Deletejuvat
Sad, but understandable, about the change of location I mean.
ReplyDeleteWhen we left the house to an apartment, the primary concern was accessibility. Can Mrs. Andrew get in and out of the apartment? Can EMS get in and out with her in case of bad things? Easy and quick access to pharmacy and decent roads to hospitals and docs' offices and stores.
Which meant we are in 'in the city' and not in the country.
And we had to downsize majorly. Still need to weed through everything we kept and downsize some more.
It's hard, but it's a needful thing.
Good luck. Regarding the change of station, have The Rev set his feelers out amongst his congregation. Great things can be found with good help. At least he and his parishioners can point you to a good realtor.
Beans,
DeleteThat’s a pretty good idea. MBD also works for the city of College Station. She may know some helpful people also
Thanks
juvat
Back in the day, the networking provided by fraternal organizations was the best reason to belong to said fraternal organizations. You could get lodgings at a frat member's house rather than the sketchy hotels available. Jobs, lodgings, places to shop from and such, all networking. Same with the Church (or whatever denomination one belonged to.)
DeleteGotta use your available resources.
You could even contact your old winery buddies if any are in the area.
Beans, all good things to keep in mind, thanks. Just as an FYI, probably 90% of Texas Wineries are within 60 miles of our current house. I only know of one in the CS area.
Deletejuvat
Making that decision to move, may actually be harder than the move itself. You know what that decision will take....
ReplyDeleteRob, I’m pretty sure you’re spot on there, just got to get the ball rolling!
Deletejuvat
So many things in one post!
ReplyDeleteMoving: We're still glad we moved out of CA after fifty years+ in the same house. Kids can't afford houses big enough for some of our stuff and there's little interest, anyway. All things discarded, some sold, some stored briefly (and maybe a little longer). Too much stuff and a bad economic situation.
Ice: No good. I remember trying to stop on roll-out in ABQ, turned to the left smartly, big airplane continued straight ahead. Exciting use of reverse power.
Song: Sang this so many times at dining extravaganzas with the FIS and TFS. So many good memories, at least those that made it through the French 75's. That song and "Itazuke Tower", of course (I retain the memories with "itazukeflyboy@gmail.com")
Don't worry, you'll be fine - family, friends, dogs, horses and wine!
Lt Fuzz.
DeleteCA sure has changed since my Grandparents lived there. Used to love coming to visit every summer. Gramps ( Mom’s Dad) was a widower and had a house up on a hilltop in Marin county. With a pool! We had a blast. Sure has changed. I don’t wish the current situation in SoCal on anybody, but it sure does highlight some incompetent gummint officials.
Never had to land on ice. (Thank you Lord!) A few VERY wet runways with a crosswind in the F-4 taught me that a drag chute may not always be you friend. I can’t imagine how much worse it would be on ice.
Not too worried, more just concerned that we’ve got all the aspects of the move planned for.
Your 5 Ending aspects of the move pretty much sum it up.
Thanks
juvat
(Don McCollor) Juvat, there was one winter commercial flight into Grand Forks ND (a couple work colleagues were aboard). The runway was much slicker than forecast. When they passed the halfway point at the terminal, they weren't slowing down way near enough. They went into a snowbank off the far end of the runway. When the shaking and bouncing stopped, the flight attendant (clutching a seat back and luggage compartment) nonchalantly announced "Welcome to Grand Forks".
DeleteDon,
DeleteI’d bet there wasn’t an unclenched set of buttocks on board by the time it came to a stop. But the flight attendant seemed to have a quick, and hilarious, sense of humor.
juvat
Crusty Old TV Tech here. Well, bittersweet, but at least you're moving from the Hill Country as most of Cali decides to sortie in. And, you're heading to what my Aggie buds consider the Center of the Known Universe, and not a bad place at all. Just remember, the Heat Stress Index in Brazos County is the highest in Texas most summers...the heat of Austin with the humidity of Houston. And the airport with the world's widest runway, Easterwood Field. 7000' wide, but only 146' long!
ReplyDeleteYou've not lived until you've discovered your new 1982 front wheel drive Plymouth can be placed in Reverse when approaching an intersection, throwing a spray of slush and salt at the fellow you were about to T-bone. The joys of winter driving!
COTT,
DeleteGoing through College, my Dad was assigned to Columbus AFB Mississippi. I had a job each summer painting houses, which facilitated my College education. Suffice it to say, the Temperature and Humidity level played took care of my enthusiasm for working there. My junior and Senior Summers were spent pumping gas into airplanes in Lubbock, hot but not humid. Life went/goes on.
juvat