RickkciR

She's not big on birthdays, but this one was  a good one. Few days prior we were in COSTCO for eye glasses and as we walked by the jewelry counter I was like " ummmm.. this isn't romantic .. but...do you want to pick out your present?" ...  YES was the answer I got... score! Few days later, Friday rolled up on us and the Donihue's were traveling back from Cali and they stopped in for the weekend.  We double up with the Kennedys and the six of us headed to Landon's, Ashen Rose, Mi Cochina, Brass Rail... and lots of downtime at the house... Great Weekend ...  score! To top it off, yesterday we headed to SWG for a fundraiser where we got see Rusty and Chris and Jimmy, as well as a small cadred of CVMA on a warm sunny beautiful Sunday.  Score! Yep ...  she enjoyed it... great B'day weekend!

Seventeen days to go.  Will be back from Vaca' in the Caribbean, dust the bikes off and back in the mix.  Been on a 4 month hiatus and have missed my breakfast rides.  Lunch rides.   Long Rides. Winter crappy weather didn't help either.   Yesterday found myself creating a tracker for all my rides planned for 2023 and the schedule is filling up quickly.   Only thing slowing me down is Lucy saying .. WTF?  Fair.   She doesn't like the long rides. Can't take off all day as a couple with Peanut at home either.   But it isn't stopping me from planning rides to at least 4 other states this year.  Some long ones here in Texas.  An Iron Butt to Colorado. And when done, I'll be summing up the good times on my motorcycle Blog ( East Texas Biker ). Spring is here and I'm ready to ride !

Been here in Cash for like... 28 years or so.  Only called them out once in the last three decades for a potential fire issue. But, I've seen first responders up the street over the last several years.  Thank God for them Last year, I've found myself in an ambulance headed to the ER twice. Once in Lone Oak, TX other time in Hot Springs AR.  Before they arrived the FD was there, looking after me.  Thank God for them. Few days ago, we got a flyer (below) in the mail for equipment to help them save lives when on the scene at accidents.  That has never been me, but .. shit happens.  I've been lucky .. more than once. Folks in my area.. many out there .. are volunteers. Many choose it at as a career path...   Thank God for them.  Opening the mail the other day, Lucy looked at me and asked me exactly what I was thinking, when we looked it over.  "You thinking what I'm thinking ?"  were her words.  Or maybe they were mine. But our eyes met, we nodded and agreed.  Thi

Things are moving along.  Got the pool replastered few weeks ago and moved all the Grilling and BBQ equipment into the Gazebo, after my neighbor moved the Hot Tub to their place.  The cheap roof on the Pergola was a mess since the last hail storm so got a high end 12x26 poly' roof up there last week that should last 10++ years.  Stormed last night, but for the first time in ages the patio was somewhat unscathed.... somewhat, because you can't stop the rain from blowing in from the South.  But, overall nice and dry under there.    Next step is to get the new pool equipment hooked up to the WiFi, get the Patio and Gazebo cleaned, new Polywood  table setup next to the pool up and ... ready for summer.  Good times ahead! Bring on the Sunshine..... God Bless Tejas!

MS Home  Last year, got a 25' up at the MS house with the Stars and Stripes.    Soon after, purchased one here in TX but just got it in over the weekend.  Borrowed a post hole digger from Tammy next door, Jimmy had stopped by so we dug an 18" x 18" hole centered in the front yard, grabbed four bags of quick setting concrete and began the process.  These kits you buy have a PVC sleeve you set in the ground so it truly simplifies the process.  Covered the ends with plastic bags to ensure no dirt/concrete got in the center, centered it in the hole, put in some water, concrete mix , stirred with a shovel, and .. repeat.   Once everything was in there, used a level horizontally across the top of the PVC insert multiple directions to make sure it was level and .... wait.  Few days later, slide in the pole, mount the flags and .. extend.  You can buy a lanyard type of pole, but I chose one that you simply extend up and down to get to the flags. Yep .. .I'm happy.  Pair of 3&

God I hate to see this.  When one passes away from natural causes or an accident.   That’s bad enough in itself. Friends have to deal with the loss, but the family has to not only deal with loss of a loved one, but potentially the financial fall out depending on …. Preparation. I’ve written about this sort of thing multiple times.  Incidents get me to thinking about it.   I’m in multiple organizations and if I was tasked to do one  briefing… one piece of advice … to all members it’d be… Get some damned LIFE INSURANCE!   Now what happens when this comes up is some folks say “I can’t afford it”.  Others will say “I have it at work”.   Others will say “it’s not a big deal”.    My thought is simply this.  If you don’t have it and you have kids and a spouse that depend on you…. GET IT.  If you have it at work, is it enough?   Is 50k or 250k enough to ensure your kids are fine until after HS Graduation?  Enough so that your wife isn’t flipping burgers or cleaning houses, trying to raise th