Just When You Thought It Was Safe...
Well, after a wonderful rainy night, which kept the local loudasses off the streets (something about loud stereos and wet weather don't go well together), we're staring at a increasingly cooler day as the day progresses...guess the "honeymoon's over" as far as Indian Summer goes...and that's OK.
I mean, we're almost knocking on December's door here, so let's get on with the cold.
After all, the faster it gets colder, the faster we'll all get used to it, right?
*** I see that "da Prez" and his second-in-command are coming to Kokomo today...Lord help those who live there...LOL.
Just do me one little favor when they're down there; Under any circumstances, DO NOT let either of them SIGN ANYTHING...Kapeesh?
Seems every time Obama gets a pen in his hand, "something wicked this way comes".
*** Now, on to something more mundane...
Mrs. Bobby G. headed off to school (work) and as usual, put the automatic garage door up...
...And I waited....and waited...and waited some more for the door to come DOWN.
It chose to remain in the "UP" position.
Wifey leans out the window, saying "it won't go down".
('Ya think???)
Alright, time for CAPTAIN OBVIOUS...obviously (snicker).
I told her I'd take care of it, so she left.
I got the backup remote (thinking a failure in the first unit), and tried it...
The door stared blankly back at me and remained UP.
(hmm...)
Ok, so now I'm feeling like Dave Poole on the Discovery (from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey)...and BOTH remotes will not allow the door to come DOWN.
(shades of replacing that "faulty" AE 35 unit, right, HAL?)
So now I'm thinking the problem is a little more "complex", as in either the receiver unit has gone bye-bye, or the motor itself has taken the big dirt nap.
Either way, I'm up the proverbial creek without any visible means of proper locomotion...yep, ain't got a paddle for this puppy aka "no spares".
(note to self - see about getting some swap-out parts)
I looked around for a previous bill from the garage door repair people...couldn't find one, but one name stuck in my head: OVERHEAD DOOR, so I give 'em a ring up, and schedule service for today. I believe these to be the same people that replaced a drive sprocket a few years back.
There is a bit of IRONY attached to this, in that our current remotes are getting a bit worn out. The wafer switches will trip the door if you so much as SHAKE the remote...not a good thing.
So I copped a NEW pair of upgraded remotes (same MHz frequency and # of tri-dip switches as the old ones) for less than the retail price of ONE replacement remote.
GOD, how I love a bargain on eBay!
If there is ONE THING you want in THIS part of the ghettohood, it's as SECURE a perimeter as possible (just wish the city would let me put up those damn guard towers and searchlights, or AT LEAST let me dig my frigging MOAT.)
It isn't EXACTLY the best "stocking-stuffer", but it's functional!
And bending the plastic to get the garage door fixed is one of those early Christmas gifts I'm sure the missus will approve of.
(Especially if she wants to NOT have to stand in the cold and open and close the door MANUALLY. It's a thick, heavy WOODEN door, and will work those biceps & triceps like nobody's business, trust me).
So, now we play the waiting game, and I have every confidence that the door will be fixed by the time Wifey arrives home (crosses fingers).
Yeah...confident.
*** And now for something completely different...
But not that far removed from yesterday's post.
Everywhere I read, it seems like food banks are taking it on the chin.
With so many UNEMPLOYED through no fault of their own, it is placing an ever-increasing strain on those tasked with feeding the needy.
I think we have a deeper problem though...
I see SO many people around my area that rely on TWO food sources alone:
1) The BBQ grill.
2) ANY fast food joint.
And there is an inherent trouble with that.
Using a grill means you need either wood or propane to get it all going.
Now, if your money is in short supply, buying propane for grilling might be prohibitive.
Wood is still pretty much free, if you're willing to hike through some woods, or travel along a river bank to score some laying about.
So that takes care of that aspect...sort of.
But, if you (as many do around here all too often) rely solely on ANY of the fast food venues, sooner or later the COST of going there is also going to be prohibitive. What's left then, hmm?
We used to call it COOKING...and guess what friends, it STILL WORKS!
My Mom was one of the best cooks I have ever encountered on this planet, on either side of a restaurant.
And I didn't get away without picking up a LOT of tips along the way (thank you, Lord).
I really enjoy cooking. It's my way of giving.
Sadly, too many people today aren't versed in the culinary skills.
I mean, the missus is lost without a can opener or a microwave, and that's fine...
We have our own duties, and we both perfom them in an exemplary manner.
But think about how many people today rely on THEMSELVES when it comes to providing food.
The number is small, but it's growing (again).
My buddy Al, back in Philly had a mom that baked the BEST bread around, She grew up in AUSTRIA where everyone fended for themselves a lot more.
My Mom was raised on a farm in upstate PA (near Hummelstown) and SHE also learned that you fend for yourselves first.
Today, that's almost looked down upon as being some sort of "throwback", when in fact, it's going to be the next "craze"...you watch and see.
How many people do we know that still dig out the MASON JARS and can damn near anything and everything...and HOW LONG does that stuff last?
Our friends up near Harlan have a stash in their basement...shelves of canned items...all of it natural and good!
Hell, they got me beat by more than a few country miles there.
I do the "C-Ration Shuffle"...I stock up on canned items with long shelf lives, and then rotate when necessary.
SPAM is good for at least TWO years. Ditto for sardines.
Dried items make excellent stowaway goods, too. Beans, grains, etc.
Now the reason I mention this is because *IF* more people did not rely totally on someone ELSE for the food on their table, but more on themselves, the benefits would be many.
-- People would learn to do FOR themselves.
-- People could do more...with less.
-- People would not suffer the problems from a constant diet of processed food stuffs.
-- People would spend more time at home with family. -- People would take PRIDE in themselves
And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Now, I'm not saying we all go out, buy some livestock and build a smokehouse...that's not for everyone.
But you CAN do something to help the food banks AND yourself.
If more people rely on themselves and begin cooking again like Mom and Grandma used to do, the food banks would have time to replenish their shelves and be better able to feed those that truly need it.
I mean when you see houses burn down because someone was using the STOVE as "auxiliary heating" or someone else fell ASLEEP while cooking, that speaks VOLUMES to me as to the ability of people to properly fend for themselves.
Everyone in life has to carry THEIR OWN WEIGHT, and many times we're even asked to carry another's for a time... or we CHOOSE to bear a burden in order to make the way easier for another person or persons.
It's when we're coerced or otherwise demanded to bear the weight of too many people that choose to not even carry themselves through life, that the problem becomes overwhelming.
That needs to end now.
We can ALL do what is needed OF us, BY us, without subterfuge.
Curiously enough, being able to do for yourself is part of the American experience.
Look at those who grew this nation...the pioneers, the settlers, and even the entrepreneurs.
It's part of the human condition.
And it makes us all able to help others, BECAUSE we first learned to help ourselves.
That never gets old, either.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.