Billy Bob's Travels

Hog wash....

2012-01-27T09:47:00.002-06:00

Sometimes I get my days mixed up, but don't everybody? Here I was think'n today was Saturday, not that it matters what day it is, I ain't got to go to work nohows.

Holy crap!!! I got me some change invested in the stock market and yesterday my portfolio spranged a leak. Money was pour'n out it like water. Watch'n the news, I noticed there was another "speech" in Washington. Hmmmmmm, could this have something to do with the leak? Somebody needs to just "shut up". This is cost'n me money.

My new diet is working. I've been on this new diet for 3 weeks now and have gained a pound. Ya see, diets ain't just for los'n weight, but also for gain'n weight. Oh, did you know that chicharones are a good laxative?

"I tole you Billy Bob, don't go on the roof". I was up there for bout 10 minutes.....what can go wrong with climb'n on the roof? Well, you could fall off ya know, but apparently that didn't happen.....thank God for balance and a sound mind. "It's the ladder Billy Bob, stay off the damn ladder". Anyhows, before I changed my TV antenna I had 11 channels. Of which 3 were Mexican channels. Now I have 16 channels. Of which 6 are Mexican channels. Now that's what I'm talk'n bout. Yee Haa!!!

How bout some cajun music to start out the day? Holy cows, turn that thing down. Sit'n here rock'n an' shak'n the winders with that big ol' bass speaker thingy. If'n I was sit'n in a rv park, I would have an irate neighbor that for sure. Some people just don't appreciate good music.

Speak'n of Cajun, when was the last time ya visited New Orleans? I ain't talk'n bout New Orleans proper, but the French Quarter. Been quite a while since I been there. Back in 2004 I think it was. Not that I lost anything there, but I sure would like to go back for another visit. Buy me one them Hover Round thingys so's I don't have to walk......"Git out the way, here come Billy Bob". Yeah, that would work. A hunnert mile a hour in a Hover Round. (Think bout it.....Billy Bob is dangerous on a bicycle)

Was a mite chilly this morn'n.....38 degs. Sun is out. Not a cloud in the sky. Be a good day to go somewheres, but damn, I still got to crawl up under "that jeep".....or not. Maybe I'll change clothes and go see if Barney the OFM is home.

LOL, funny thing just happen. I were talk'n bout my diet to gain weight and I just received a email (spam) for a weight loss diet. What the hell, is somebody read'n my posts before I post them???

4pm.....
Weren't 5 minutes after I made my blog post....the phone rang. It were Barney an' he was say'n "yeah I'm home.....hurry, I'm hungry.....fish is bite'n everywhere....we can go for a ride....do some walk'n....yeah come on.....I'm home, yeah I'm home....c..c..cooooome oooooon". We had a wonderful dinner at the Jalisco's Mexican Restaurant right there in Rockport. I ate too much as usual, like I always do when I sit down to Mexican food. Love the stuff....what ever it is. I'm wait'n for someone to open up a Chinese Mexican all you can eat buffet. Yum boy howdy I mean to tell ya. Then we went fish'n. Did I mention the wind was blow'n a hunnert mile a hour? Well, it were, I swear.....take my word for it. Then we went for a ride. Seem like half way to Galveston, but Barney assured me it was only 7 miles. Yeah, the wind was blow'n there too. I fount me a nice little bench to sit down on and watch seasoned fishermen try'n to catch fish in the wind. Remind me of the time me and Barney went fish'n in the wind....only an hour earlier. Like spit'n in da wind ya know.

Now I'm back at "da house". Got to lay down....NOW!!!!

Look'n up.....

2012-01-26T14:37:00.000-06:00

Boy howdy, things are look'n up this morning. Woke up all bushy tail after my first good nights sleep in bout a week. Made it to the coffee pot straight as a board instead of all bend over an' stagger'n. Yup, my back is better today. That's good news.

Speak'n of good news, did any of ya see where Arizona Gov Jan sticked her finger in Mohammad Ali Obama's face. Now that was funny....from my prospective anyhows. But wait.....I don't talk no politics on my blog. Just stuff I find funny. Now had she stuck her finger in my face.....hmmmmm, broke finger? I'm think'n Obama had the same thoughts. I'm sure she's really on his poo poo list now.

Anyhows, the old Billy Bob is gonna try a new outlook on "the rest of my life". I've let myself be influenced by others and by what others think of me for too many years. That's not living your own life, it's living your life through the eyes of others. Just in this last year I let myself be influenced into do'n things I really didn't want to do. So maybe this year I'll be the old Billy Bob ya used to know from 2 years ago. I'll still be open to suggestions and welcome each and every one of 'em. But......"this is my life". If I feel like complain'n bout something, I'm gonna complain. If I feel like talk'n bout something what don't interest ya, I'm gonna talk bout it. If I decide to go to Alaska in the dead of winter, that what I gonna do. Of course you gonna hear me complain bout it.

Open my UPS delivery package. My God, why so much packaging? The empty boxes weigh as much as the merchandise.

Won't be no more dead batteries in "da house" no more.

Since it has warmed up a bit outside and my back feels better, I think I'll climb up on the roof and change my TV antenna. May even crawl up under "that jeep" to change out a U-joint what is vibrat'n. Although, first I need to go downtown and pick up a rear transfer case seal what is leak'n. Not a whole lot of sense of pull'n the drive shaft two times.

Ok....I'm off to the roof.

Back'n down

2012-01-24T18:31:00.000-06:00

"Alice"

2001

Not that it matters, but I really feel like crap again today. Ya see, I went off to Walmart and HEB yesterday with my big ol' shop'n list. While I was in Walmart, my back gave slap out on me. And I weren't even half way through my shop'n list. There weren't no place to sit down, so I headed to the closest check out....us'n that shop'n cart like a walker. But I still had 2 more stops to make before go'n to "da house". The most important was the HEB grocery store for my donuts and chicherones. Then I had to carry fortyeleven bags in "da house". I was finished, done, kapoot for the rest of the day. So for supper last night I prepared a plate full of donuts and chicherones, topped off with a quart of milk. Damn I were thirsty. Belly rumbled all night long.

Well, today my back ain't no better. Although I have been able to move around a little better than yesterday. And then, after I put the trash bag out in the yard, here come that damn goat an' bite a big hole right in the side of it. Trash all over the ground.....damn goat.

UPS come by and visited for a minute this afternoon. Brung me a brand spank'n new TV antenna. Said tomorrow he would drop back by with a brand spank'n new battery charger for me. Nice guy huh???

A new day dawning....

2012-01-23T11:51:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I've sit back and actually relaxed with a closed mind to my surroundings and short comings. Well, I did that yesterday. Made for a wonderful day. Shut out the entire world. Although I did spend a couple hours sip'n a cup, read'n some handpicked blogs and do'n some think'n bout what I read. This is a messed up world....according to the blogs. I'll include my own blog in that ever growing list.

I had planned on a trip to my favorite store, Walmart, but tossed that decision in the dumpster....along with any plans to do something productive. Made a couple trips to the floor with my favorite pillow in hopes of releiving the pain in my back. Just layed there and relaxed....with a cup of coffee in one hand and the "flipit" in the other.

Got some stuff com'n my way via UPS tomorrow and the next day. Ya see, my TV reception sucks, so I ordered and brand spank'n new antenna. I have no problem watch'n Mexican broadcasts, what is about the only ones that work, but I don't know what I'm watch'n 'cause they don't speak English.
The other item is a new replacement battery charger....Black and Decker 40 amp smart charger. The reason I chose this particular charger is that I can leave it plugged in to 115 volts and it will automatically come on when I start my generator to brew my morning coffee while boondocking. No go'n outside in the snow, wind and rain at 4 am to push a button.

Ok, it's a new day an' I got things to do......laters.

Laughter

2012-01-22T10:40:00.000-06:00

Did I ever tell ya bout the time.....I scared a cat. Ya see, there was this fish'n pier in Port Aransas what I frequented bout 3 or 4 times a week.....at night when the speckled trout was eat'n supper. That pier ain't there no more 'cause some millionaire developers tore it down and built a bunch of high dollar houses. But anyhows, people used to drop off their cats at the pier what they didn't want no more. The ones that survived the constant attacks of the coyotes were a rough bunch to deal with. They would sneak up on ya an' steal your bait right out your bait bucket. Or what ever else was considered a likely meal for a hungry cat. This one cat in particular, bruised and scared, was one mean dude. He attack me on more than one occasion when I trap him out on the end of the pier, bark'n an' growl'n at him like some kind fool. Well, one late evening while the sun was just descending beyond the horizon, I spy'ed that damn cat tak'n a nap out there on the pier. He were sound asleep, not a care in the world. Very quietly I sneeks up on that cat...with mischievous thoughts in my mind. This is gonna be cool and funny. What is that cat gonna do when he wake up? I starts growl'n an' bark'n like a vicious dog.....boy howdy, glad nobody see me do'n that. That cat cat come slap alive. He jump straight up in the air bout 2 foots....all puffed up and mak'n some god awful hiss'n sounds. Off the pier he go right into the water, 15 feets below and 50 feets from shore. He swimed in circles, not know'n what the hell is go'n on. Then he was full awake, and pissed. Got his bearings calculated in his mind an' head for shore. Damn, he swim pretty darn good for a cat. As he climbs to safety up on the rocks, he turns round and gives me one them looks....like "I gonna git you for this".

Many years ago I would laugh at just bout anything. Laugh so hard I would get a headache. Well, last night I watched a movie what brought back that laughter. It was a Chinese ju gitso, karate, kung fu, climb up walls, fly through the air kind of movie. It was broadcast on one the Mexican channels, so naturally I had no freak'n idea what the hell they were say'n.....what make it that much more funny. I stayed up till 2:30 am watch'n that damn movie....with a split'n headache. Felt good to laugh again.

Need to make that dreaded trip to Walmart to refill my meds and probably spend a hunnert dollars on useless junk I don't need. I am out of donuts and chicharones, so it won't be a wasted trip.

Yes I can.....

2012-01-21T09:40:00.001-06:00

(((OMG)))

Yeasterdays weather caused me to do something what I knowed was gonna cause me a problem at a later time. And I was correct. I had made a cash offer to "Bubba" a few days ago to wash and wax "that jeep" with some kind of "special" yellow stuff....or maybe it's orange. Well anyhows, two days later and "that jeep" was still dirty. So, the old Billy Bob go outside yesterday, since it were a beautiful day, an' do it his self. The $20 I had offered is nuttin compared to the pain and agony from a simple wash job.

The first time I hurt my back I was only a rambunctious teenager. Ya see, this was at a time when batteries was a precious commodity, much like gold is today. The battery in my 1946 Ford 2 door was one of the many batteries that would fail me in the worst of circumstances......like skeek'n the car back in the yard late at night. So ya push it....'cause the damn thing won't start. Up a little hill being as quiet as possible. This could possibly be my first experience into the art of cuss'n like a sailor. Fifty years later and four more self inflicted "I can pick that up" injuries, I now have two deteriorated discs an' a torn whatsamacallit....ligiment/tendon or something like that. Google sciatica to understand why I might "whine" from time to time.

Actually there ain't nuttin wrong with cuss'n if it's used in a constructive way. Some sentences in writings require a little cuss word here an' there for the sentence to have full impact and meaning to the reader. Fortunately there ain't many blogs that use hi octane profanity in their writings.

Today I will be mostly "do'n nuttin". It's wet outside...not from rain, but high humidity. But this is normal for this part of the world, being only a few miles from the Gulf of Mexico. If I was camped out on the island, I would be dealing with salt on the ground and in the air. Grrrrrrrr to salt.

What's a good day?

2012-01-20T11:14:00.000-06:00

I been think'n bout that ya know. Ever since my heart surgery it's all been down hill. Kind of makes me dread when I finally reach bottom an' there ain't no more hills.

As you may recall, I was out in the mountains bout 60 mile from "da house" the day I had my heart attack. I were tak'n samples for my gold prospecting hobby. Can't call it anything other than hobby unless ya strike it rich ya know. Took 5 gallon of water with me for panning out the samples. That enough for bout 20 samples what consisted of bout 6 cups of sand, dirt, rocks and sticks. Panning out a good heap'n sample takes right at 15 minutes...if'n ya know what ya do'n. I fount some "color" (gold flakes), but not enough to break out the gold machine I designed and built. I build stuff ya know. After the surgery, I had to give up a hobby I dearly loved an' throw it all in the dumpster. And I was "this close" to strink'n it rich.

Then other things went all to heck an' gone after my surgery. Little chores what took only an hour to do now takes me all day....and sometimes into the next day. New health issues has done sneeked up on me and the old ones have multiplied in intensity. You talk bout hurt'n all over....boy howdy.

Yesterdays golf game with OFM Barney is an example. I refuse to comment on the outcome of the game at this point, but it weren't good. Throwed that score card in the trash can, right where it belong. I got up there to swak that ball plumb out of sight an' I almost go to the ground. My back done gave out. This has been a concern for the last couple three years. Don't wanna have to throw my clubs and bats in the dumpster like I did my gold prospecting equipment. Damn life is cruel.

So what's a good day? For me, it's not get'n up in the morn'n and have to sit all day long "do'n nuttin". Although I like do'n nuttin on rare occasions.

And then what's to become of my travel plans? It used to be so easy to get an idea in my head to go somewheres, hook up and go. Now just hook'n up "that jeep" to the back of "da house" takes careful planning and uses every little bit of energy I have. Then when I get there, I got to unhook and set up a camp. Tomorrow will be better. That what I keep think'n anyhows. Maybe tomorrow.

Weather here in south Texas has been spectacular. Don't think I could be anywheres else this good.....weather wise.

Busy schedule...

2012-01-19T09:58:00.000-06:00

Gonna take a few minutes out of my busy schedule to update the go'ns ons of Billy Bob and Company.

Yesterday I did absolutely nuttin.

Today I intend to do absolutely nuttin. Well maybe I'll go meet OFM Barney at the golf ball swak'n place.

The beat goes on....

2012-01-17T14:54:00.000-06:00

Boy howdy, is the old "Billy Bob get'n beat up or what? Retirement ain't supposed to be like this ya know.

I got so much stuff to do in the maintenance department that I may never got back on the road again. Work on "that jeep" is com'n along just fine....slow but just fine. Further inspections have found a couple more little items to repair, but other than that, "that jeep" is almost lile a brand spank'n new.....Ahh, dump truck???

I were sit'n here talk'n to nephew Joseph. He say...."what the hell is that click'n noise"? That what I say too. The front A/C is go'n nutso....clickity click, clickity click...with it turned off. With summer right around the corner, I gonna need that A/C. Ten minutes later....located source of the clickity click to be in the thermostat. Why I don't know. So's I swaks it a few times with my little thermostat swak'n hammer. It ain't how hard ya swak, but where ya swak. I guess I could replace it but if it ain't mak'n a clickity click no more, I rekon it's fixed.

Then there's the dash air in "da house" what lost it's charge again. Now dash air is a must have during the heat of summer as everybody knows. I remember one time I was com'n back to Texas from Ca., driv'n through some the hottest country I ever see in my life. The dash air did not work an' the fan only blowed hot air. Said I ain't never gonna do that again. Woooeee, it were hot. Maybe "other BIL" Martin has a leak detector for R-134a. I throwed mine in the dumpster back in Deming.

Work work work....that all I ever do.

2:15 pm......well that took care of that. Got tired of wait'n round for free stuff and went off to the local muffler shop and had them brackets cut slap off. The drive back to "da house" was a splendid ride.....just like a Cadillac....or something like that. Not much left to do to "that jeep" other than a little water leak and replace the serpentine belt. Old Billy Bob that much closer to "on the road again".

Just talk'n to myself here....."where ya gonna go Billy Bob"? Now that's a good question. Ain't really give it much thought. Been think'n of run'n on over to Falcon Lake an' catch me up some fish. Ain't very far from here....bout 3 or 4 days the way I drive. Slow and easy. And then there's Lake Amistad up Del Rio way. As the weather warms up, I'll head up north a ways. Lot's of lakes round Dallas ya know. Get too hot in Texas, there's always the north Georgia mountains....and fish. And a few grandkids of course.

Today would have been a perfect day for golf ball swak'n, but they closed today. Who ever hear of such a deal as that? Maybe tomorrow or thursday. Hmmmmmm, wonder if the OFM Barney ever got over all his ailments?

The old cabin

2012-01-15T11:43:00.000-06:00

I been giv'n thought to chang'n a few things on the blog. You know what I'm talk'n bout, a little house clean'n, change the looks with a new background and header pic......stuff like that. If'n ya ain't never did it, it's a all day affair to get it look'n just like ya want.

I sure do hate to change the header pic though. It so much goes along with not only my "internet" name, but with the way I feel bout life. Take that old cabin. Why I would cut off a little toe to live in that or a facsimile of such. The outside I would leave just as it is, but the inside would be filled with modern day conveniences. An old antique cook stove complete with a working oven (propane powered). A pot belly stove for heat, also converted to propane, with a couple old wooden chairs up next to it for sit'n, drink'n up coffee, think'n.....a place to spit if need be. Unfinished wood floor with a bunch of throw rugs here and there. I could go on and on, but damn it, I already have a "shack on wheels" that if I ain't careful, will look just like the one I want. Hillbilly redneck blood runs through my veins.

Talk to old "pesky neighbor" Wayne yesterday. He's back at home again from the rehab center. Says he weighs 197 pound, but I know "pesky" and his use of numbers....especially on a score card. His walk'n needs much improvement....got wheels on his walker. Says he feels good. That's good news. Kind of miss the old cuss.

Federal Express showed up right bout the time I were gonna eat my supper (Churches chicken, a couple donuts, chocolate chip cookies, a hand full of chicharomes and a glass of milk). Oh boy, new headlights for "that jeep". This means that my night time driv'n will be less hazardous for not only myself, but all approaching traffic. Of course they will both have to point in the general direction I am going. Weather permitting, I'll install and adjust said headlights today. Also have a couple other new parts to install, but not sure if I want to crawl up under "that jeep" or not. Guess I better do some think'n bout that.

Sit'n round.....do'n nuttin

2012-01-14T15:30:00.000-06:00

When I woke up this morn'n my first thought was..."do I really wanna do this"? I was nice an' warm under a pile of covers and it was cold everywhere else. It didn't take too long to think about it. It's time to get up. I had to go and Sadie Mae was wait'n at the front door to go outside to do her business too. It was cold and dark out there and she didn't stay very long before she was knock'n on the door. I train my dogs to knock ya know. But Sadie has the tendency to just jump up and down on the steps, shak'n "da house" till I open the door. Within the next 15 minutes, a fresh pot of coffee was brew'n and the ol' Mr. Buddy heater was do'n it's thing to warm up "da house". Ain't life good? Even in the dead of winter? Fresh coffee and a warm house.

Today I am playing the wait'n game with Federal Express. They are scheduled, according to tracking, to deliver the 2 new headlights for "that jeep" some time today. I don't mind sit'n around all day wait'n 'cause sit'n round is one of my favorite things to do. But it's get'n late in the day. Where is the Federal Express truck? Be my luck of the evil spirits that I'll have to go to town (Corpus Christi) to pick them up. That's not home delivery now is it?

Other than a lazy day of sit'n around wait'n, I'm still recuperating from last Wednesdays game of golf with OFM Barney. I swear, if this happens every time I "swak a ball", I'm gonna have to give up golf along with every other thing I had to give up in the last 5 years. There ain't much left.

Superstition

2012-01-13T09:49:00.000-06:00

A few of the blogs this morning are talk'n bout superstitions since today is Friday the 13th.

Ya see, superstitions were started when "mama" was look'n for way to keep her irresponsible children from do'n stupit stuff. Walk'n under a ladder don't really cause ya to have bad luck, it's just plain stupit when there's a guy up there work'n....ya know he gonna drop something. That ol' black cat is just go'n to the other side of the street....maybe to meet a friend for breakfast or just to hang out. Now if you break mama's mirror, that ain't superstition. Mama is gonna be pissed, that's all there is to it.

I remember the "bigger kids" on the farm used to tell me if I sleep on my left side, the devil will get under my bed and stab me right in the heart. I sleep on my right side to this day....but I'm not superstitious. I'm comfortable.
And then I have this ring I wear. Found it many years ago. It has been nothing less than good luck to me since the first day I put it on. But I ain't in the least superstitious.

Let me tell ya a little bout this ring and you draw your own conclusions. I were unemployed the day I found this ring. I put it on and the next day I had a job offering. Purty good job too. This went on for the next couple years. Good job and good times. We lived in West Virginia at the time and used coal for heat. I notice the set was missing from my ring. My son found it a few days later out on the porch amongst all the coal chips where I was bust'n up coal. Another time it was missing again. Fount it in a cast iron skillet just before I pour out the grease from breakfast. The next time it were missing, it was found on the computer keyboard. The set is a black star sapphire mounted in a white gold mounting....or what ever ya call it.

In 1987 I had all the cold and snow I could deal with in W.Va.. Hooked it up to Port Aransas, Texas with nary a dollar in my pocket, two VW busses and a ton of junk. Did a few odd jobs to make ends meet. We were out of money, low on food, so I hock my ring for $50. We ate that $50 in bout a week and I had no ring. Immediately after retrieving the ring from the hock shop, things began to look up again. New job with the University of Texas (that where I retired from), food on the table and good times. Been up hill ever since. Well maybe 3 heart attacks can't be considered up hill, but I never had a worry in the world when I had my open heart surgery in 2008. That is until they told me to take off my ring and shave off my beard. I survived.

Now let me tell ya bout cold. I knowed last night from the weather forecast it were gonna be cold. But they didn't know just how cold it were gonna be. If my thermometer is right, I woke up to 25 degs this morning. It were 45 degs inside even with a little electric heater on full blast. With being this far south in Texas, my heart bleeds for all those poor souls that live north of here.....Brrrrrrrrrr.

Yesterdays trip to Port Aransas turned out to be a success. Drove the "dump truck" down the road do'n a hunnert mile a hour. Took care of all my business an' head 'em back to "da house". Holy crap, it get'n dark....and look where them headlights are shining. One up in the air and the other over there in the ditch. But that's ok, the new headlights are scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Also picked up a couple parts that need to be replaced. Will it ever end???

After affects of golf ball swak'n

2012-01-12T11:13:00.000-06:00

I suppose by now, the entire universe is aware of me and OFM Barney out there on the golf course mak'n fools of our selves. Why is it that that ball just won't go where ya intend it to go? I was aim'n over there, right along the edge that tree an' where it go....the other side. During the entire brutal challange of "golf ball swak'n", I was fortunate to make one spectacular shot. Ya see, we had to go round a corner to get to the green. I swak my ball an' it go in the trees...a hard right turn before the intersection. I grabs holt my trusty 9 wood, gonna go right over them trees. I rares back all my mite an' swak that ball hard I can. That ball go a hunnert mile a hour, inches off the ground, right under them trees....old Barney scratch'n his head. Can't tell ya bout the next shot....it were a disaster 'cause I were up under another tree on the other side. Never play golf in a National Forrest.

By the time me an' Barney filled our bellies at the local eat'em up, I were hurt'n something awful. I had one foot hurt like I drop a hunnert pound rock on it. Should a took my shoe off but my socks was dirty and probably stink a little. My back and hip hurt more than usual. Back at "da house" I took me up two 500mg Bayer aspirins.....an' took that shoe off.

Bout bed time I got the bright idea to put some air in my bed....pump it up a little. I lays there for a while think'n....I done put too much air....it were hard as the floor. An' I went off to sleep. And I slept. Slept until Sadie Mae come scream'n down the hall and jump slap in the middle my back. Holy crap, it's 9:30 oclock....ain't had not one leg cramp all night long an' feel'n purty good this morning. Miracles never cease.

It seems that Google is mak'n some kind of changes to the blogs.....that don't work. Ya see, I click on someones blog and it come up. But before I get to read any of it, it redirects to a blank page what don't load. I were think'n it could be my computer since some blogger posted some HTML code stuff yesterday morning and maybe it cause me to get a virus. That happens ya know. I remember back bout 15 year ago I used to go to chat rooms of different sorts. Well I knowed a code what I could shut down another persons computer...lock it up or something like that. Don't know if there's still such a thing as a chat room. Don't do that kind of nonsense no more. But it was harmless fun back then.

Ok, need to get my self in gear. Got things to do.....like a trip to Port Aransas.....maybe.

Cabin cruiser

2012-01-10T11:30:00.000-06:00

Did I ever tell ya bout the time.....it was back in bout '67, I bought myself this 25 cabin cruiser, what I don't remember the brand name. It had a hunnert hp outboard motor hang'n off the back....probably as old as the boat. It was made out of wood, so old Billy Bob could make modifications without the aid of cut'n torches and welders. I never thought to check for wood rot and worms and that kind of stuff. I just put it in the water and went fish'n.

Well modifications were in order. Tore all the top cabin off that thing and design me a open cockpit. After I done burn that hunnert hp motor slap up, I made a decision to put a inboard motor in it. At a local boat salvage place, I fount a big ol' propeller, shaft and mounting hardware. All I need now is a motor. Hmmmmm....sit'n out there in the yard was my old Corvair what I got drunk and knock all the winders out of with a ball peen hammer. Never did tell ya what the sheriff had to say bout that did I??? Anyhows.....I install that ol' Corvair motor in that open cockpit cabin cruiser. Backed up with a 4 speed truck transmission....clutch an' all. I call that "billyrigg'n". To everyones surprise, I had me one boot scoot'n high powered 25 foot speed boat. Two cherry bomb mufflers stick'n straight up in the air. Yes sir, that was one snazzy look'n boat do'n a hunnert mile a hour cross the water.

Used it a whole season pull'n a 25 foots sportsman shrimp net. Didn't get much shrimp, but it sure sounded nice them cherry bombs sing'n in the air. Then here come a hurricane in 1970. I had the boat all tie up to a tree down at the end of the canal. It sinked right there.....plumb full of water. Never did replace the motor 'cause there weren't many Corvairs in the junk yards.

Holy cows, it were cold this morn'n. Something like 38 degs when I finally roll out of bed. Ain't got a thing to do today. Too cold and windy for fish'n. Too cold and windy to sit outside on "da porch" sip'n a cup. But.....old Billy Bob ain't gonna be do'n no whinn'n bout the weather.

XX wife is in the hospital over there in Atlanta. Got pneumonia an' something bout her blood. Do'n tests and stuff like that. She's a good old gal, so all of you think bout her in your prayers or what ever it is you do.

Speak'n of XX wife....did I ever tell ya bout the time she almost shoot me? Ya see, we was dove hunt'n. She had her own gun waht she was dragg'n through the brush....right behind me. KA-BOOOOM....that gun go off....weeds, brush and branches fly'n. Scare hell out me I mean to tell ya. I never walk in front her no more after that. Did we get any dove? Well hell no, she sound like a bull moose trampl'n through the brush. And talk....she never shut up.

Got them headlights ordered for "that jeep" last night. Now I gonna be able to see at night.

Ok....got things to do. Don't know what, but I got to do "something".

Harder by the day....

2012-01-09T14:57:00.000-06:00

My blog writing seems to get harder with each passing day. It's ain't like I can't go back and repost something from a year or two ago. It's just gotten to be a chore when I have other things to do. By the comments section, I can see that people are get'n bored with "that jeep" postings, but this is my only record keep'n place of things I do on a daily basis. I can come back here in a year and say...."my God Billy Bob, look at what ya did to "that jeep"".

Todays post will be no different. I'm still work'n on "that jeep" and I'll keep my records straight....for future reference ya know.

One other thing that has made my blog postings harder is I seem to be losing my "candy bar" sense of humor. That being....a Snickers without "nuts" is just another candy bar. Things I found funny or humorous 6 months ago, just don't crack a smile any more. This causes me some worry when my entire life I have been the neighborhood clown with an unusual sense of humor. Even my writing has lost much of it's humorous charm.

Well as I type, I can look out in the yard and there lays a sway bar. What this modification has done is allow the body to bounce up and down on the springs, where before the removal of the sway bar, there was no down movement. Ok, so we did some good. But not finished yet. There is two brackets that will have to be removed that the body is now bottom outing on. Cutt'n torch time. But that is for another day and time.

This morning was beautiful and sunshiny with a few sprinkles of rain. Then all a sudden, it turned cloudy and the temps lowered to a jacket....62 degs. But ya ain't gonna hear old Billy Bob whinn'n bout the weather. Yesterday it was 82 degs out there.....perfect. But....thursday, friday and saturday is gonna be extremely cold with highs in the lower 50's day time and mid 40's night time. My God, I thought winter was over.

Ok...got things to do. See all ya good people laters.

Nuttin but "that jeep" post

2012-01-08T18:21:00.000-06:00

An attempt to make a morning post proved unsuccessful due to an overload of the cerebral controzines...or something like that. Ya see, I been think'n again an' that can be dangerous. Not like the every day dream thinker would do, but deep black thoughts into the unknown layers of my soul. "Boy howdy Billy Bob, you has done lost it".

Went for a ride in "that jeep" yesterday. Took it over to "other" bro in laws and look see what the deal is. Ya see, the drive line and rear end yoke is at the wrong angle. It got to be adjusted.

As you recall, some youngster installed a long arm suspension in place of the stock suspension for extreme offroading. You know....rock climb'n an' stuff like that.

Along with a 4 inch lift kit and great big ol' tires....what I done took off last year. It rides like a truck. Not a little family street truck, but more like a 9 yard dump truck. I can run over a dime an' tell ya if it's heads up or tails up. Took a couple wimmins for a ride back in Deming an' they says...."My God Billy Bob".

Ok, now you know what I'm up against with "that jeep". And why I hate it so. Got online and find out how to remove them headlights what ya gotta use a flashlight to see if'n they on or not. Shoot, there weren't nuttin to it. Then I had to fabricate a "Billy Bob" adjusting screw so's that one headlight won't be pointed at the ground like it been do'n. When I get new headlights, I'll know how to replace them. Damn....$59 for each one. Check air in the tires.....what the hell, 20 to 25 pound in all four. Maybe that why my gas mileage sucks and it go all over the road all by it self. I don't have to do nuttin....it just goes all over the place, cross the centerline, go off in a ditch, ....just like that.

Ok....I climbs under "that jeep"...gonna take some pics ya know. What the hell, the sway bar is sit'n on top the suspension arm. That won't work 'cause the sway bar is mounted on the frame. Every bump I hit will be amplified right to the frame....what would make for a "dump truck" ride. So, old Billy Bob gonna yank that sway bar slap out and throw it in the dumpster. Yes I did the research....it's ok.

Oh no, he changed his mind

2012-01-07T10:32:00.000-06:00

Ok, I done it again. It's been suggested that my doom and gloom an' not feel'n good may be caused by hour after hour of online "toad" hunt'n for the last 4 days. Well, I agree. Soooo, here what I decided I'm gonna do. Keep "that jeep" and do some repairs on it until the time comes that I find what I'm look'n for in my travels. You know, "the perfect toad" sit'n in someones yard with a for sale sign in the windshield. But, in the mean time, this don't mean that a "toad" won't jump out of the bushes and say..."here I are"

I already have a buyer for "that jeep". But the loss I would take, would add $2000 to the cost of a replacement.

I used to climb trees. Big trees, little trees, it didn't matter to me, I was gonna climb a tree. I used to ride bareback, no saddle, on pigs and cow puppies. Did you know pigs will bite hell out you? And mama cows will horn ya while ya runn'n fast ya can? Old mean "tom cats" not only scratch hell out ya, but they will also bite ya. Old ugly dogs come alive when ya jump on them from out a tree (see above) while they sleep'n. My job on the farm was tak'n care of the chickens.... feed'n an' collecting eggs an' stuff like that. I weren't skeered of no stink'n chickens. They was skeered of me. I were hell on wheels ya know. Oh, did ya know a big red rooster will attack you in a heartbeat? Flog hell out ya, just like a big ol' turkey. Milk'n cows is best be tended by one of the bigger boys. Cows ain't dumb as you may think. They will kick hell out ya when ya least expect it. Just like that crazy mule. Tractors are cool. Ya crank 'em to life by spin'n that wheel on the side. Seven year old boys should never start a tractor without adult supervision. Strange things can happen....like plow'n down a barn yard fence. Did ya know that "crank'n" wheel can break your arm. On the farm, ya learn stuff like that. Ya even learn how to smoke corn silk roll up in a page from the Sears catalog in the out house. Oh yeah, outhouses catch fire too.

In 1948 we left the farm to go live in the city, right on the banks of the Missouri river. I were 7 year old or thereabouts. A big husky boy....bout 65 pound or something like that. City life was boring. Weren't no animals to torment, no tractors to start up, no swim holes....no throw'n rocks or shoot'n homemade sling shots at stuff. The neighbor kids didn't live "down the road a piece". They was right next door.....bout 20 feets or so. We picked up soda water bottles for pocket change. Sometimes we had enough change for us to go to the movies just up the street. Costed just a nickle back then for the Saturday matinee.

Life has been good to old Billy Bob, but hard.

Feel'n like crap...

2012-01-06T10:31:00.000-06:00

Weather has been absolutely beautiful. Couldn't ask for anything better.

The old Billy Bob is wore slap out from all the research on the internet look'n for a reliable vehicle to tow behind "da house". I were think'n it was gonna be easy. Whoa, was I ever wrong. The search has been narrowed down to either a standard shift Ford Ranger or a Jeep Cherokee. Not a Grand Cherokee...just Cherokee.

Here what I found so far. Just outside of Austin is a beautiful 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport,

and then up by Dizzy Dicks house in Conroe is this 1999 Ford Ranger XLT.

Since nephew Joseph is out of town on a job, I ain't got no way to go inspect them.

News flash....just in. 2000 Mazda single cab 4cyl 5 speed standard shift pick'em up in Corpus Christi.

May just have to go take a look see this one.

On the other side of the coin, old Billy Bob been feel'n like crap.

Toad hun't...part 3

2012-01-04T12:56:00.001-06:00

1.The continuing saga of the "toad hunt" goes on. To my surprise, after much more research, the Ford Ranger 4x4 pickup transfer case can't not be shifted into neutral with out a special kit and reprogramming to the computer. So this new found information narrows my search down to "more friendly" 2WD standard shift Rangers. Of course I have other choices....such as Isuzu Troopers and Rodeos.

Ok....got appointment with another bro in law to look at "that jeep". Get his professional analysis.

3:30pm.....or there abouts

Well there went that appointment. Now it get'n too late in the day to be check'n stuff. Wanted to play a round of golf ball swak'n tomorrow, but priorities are priorities.

For those that don't know how much "stuff I carry with me.
1. A whole boat (folded up)
2. Portable air compressor (to blow up boat)
3. A boat motor (100 HP trolling motor)
4. A propane tank and related hose
5. A trolling motor battery
6. Fish'n stuff....poles, tackle boxes
7. Folding camp chairs
8. Gas can
9. Water transfer pump
10. A great big ol' spare tire
This is why I need something bigger than a Suzuki Samari....or something like that

Stuck in a rut....

2012-01-03T11:48:00.000-06:00

Yep, it were definitely cold last night. My thermometer thingy says the low last night was 26 degs. And I trust my thermometer thingy. Maybe this is the last day of winter for south Texas. Let's hope so.

Don't suppose any of ya want to hear bout "toad" hunt'n no more. Well, I gonna tell ya anyhows. Yesterday afternoon was spent in it's entirety of cruis'n car lots look'n for the perfect towable vehicle. Light curb weight and enough carry'n capacity for my "junk" and collectables. Well, it weren't a successful day. Although I did find 3 possibilities, but guess what, they all weigh bout the same as "that jeep".
Isuzu Trooper

Isuzu Rodeo

2005 Dodge Dakota 4x4

Of the 3, I like the Trooper the best, but still not exactly what I'm look'n for. More look'n on the horizon.
Then I got to think'n. "Oh boy, here we go with the think'n again". What if I just keep the "that jeep" and spend some more $$$$$ on it? Got to do some serious think'n on that.

I were sit'n here think'n last night. Where I gonna go to next and what I'm gonna do in 2012. It didn't take me very long to figger out that I have no freak'n idea for my future. This is one of the drawbacks of get'n older and run'n out of dreams.
Got to do some serious think'n on that. "Take yer time Billy Bob, it all gonna be fine".

Two old goats

2012-01-02T10:59:00.000-06:00

Billy Bob, you make some of the smartest decisions I ever see. Boy howdy let me tell ya, it was cold this morning in Sinton, Texas.....42 degs when I finally roll out of bed. It's expected to reach a blister'n 63 degs by this afternoon. That's almost golf ball swak'n weather.

So far things ain't look'n too good in the used car and truck markets. Either all the Ford Ranger pick'em ups is been sent to Mexico or Obama's Cash for Clunkers has took them all off the streets. I've Craigslisted in most big cities in Texas, with in a reasonable travel distance, and there is a severe shortage of small trucks throughout the state. This should be easy in the truck capital of the world....Texas. Why didn't I keep my "little red bronco ll"???

For those that missed the goat pics yesterday, here they are again.

Nephew Joe is a rigger for one the biggest crane operations in the State of Texas. Get's called out to all over the place. Well, today he didn't get called out. So later on today, we gonna go look'n at "toads". At least that's the plan. Once I get this frog business behind me, I can go on with my life as it's supposed to be for a retired person. You know what I'm talk'n bout....sit outside in the sunshine sip'n a cup an' do'n nuttin all day.

Speak'n of swak'n golf balls, I'm think'n wednesday morn'n bout 9 or 10am would be a perfect time for an exciting round of golf with the OFM Barney. It's been a long time since Barney stomped me in a round of golf, but I think I'm ready again. Last round I played was with old "pesky neighbor" Wayne back in June I think it was.

Oh yeah, speak'n of old "pesky", I talk to him night fore last. He going home today.....or that what he told me anyhows. It's been a rough row to hoe for him this last year. Hope he will continue to improve in 2012.

Ok....got things to do....

Break'n wind.....

2012-01-01T10:02:00.002-06:00

Billy Bob, you make some of the dumbest decisions I ever see. Had you looked at the weather forecast for today, Sunday January 1st 2012, you would have known the winds were 25 to 30 mile a hour out of the north and will progress throughout the rest of the day.

Let me tell ya a little bout driv'n a big motorhome against high winds. First off, it ain't nuttin like driv'n a little red pick up or a big ol' high dollar SUV into the wind. It's more like tak'n a 20 foot sailboat out to sea during a raging hurricane with 20 foot swells. I was headed down the road, just east of Roswell, NM back in 2003. There was road construction with only one lane of traffic each way. The winds were kick'n up in the 40's and 50's mile a hour. No place to pull off the road. Traffic was heavy. By the time I got to Roswell, my hands had to be pried off the steer wheel. Just a slight gust of wind in the 40 mile a hour range will change the direction of a class A motorhome into interesting territory....usually into an occupied travel lane. So you see, old Billy Bob don't like driv'n "Sally da house" in the wind.

After OFM Barneys surprise visit yesterday, I proceeded to the laundrymat. Loaded up 3 huge washers with a months supply of clothes that was in need of a good wash'n. That was the important stuff. The sheets and blankets will have to wait for another day.

Andrea asked if I were gonna be bored in Sinton. Well yeah I'm gonna be bored. There ain't nuttin there but a golf course. It's a hunnert mile drive to Corpus Christi there and back. I'll have no water other than what I bring with me. Electricity will be from an old 100 foots extension cord. But I'm not go'n there for pleasure. I got things to do. Mainly find a replacement for "that jeep". Nephew Joseph call me yesterday evening an' say he done fount me two to look at. Ya see, Joe knows lots of used car dealers and stuff like that. He gets around. And he's a wheeler dealer unlike his uncle Billy Bob who will buy anything for any price.

Ok...got to get stuff ready to roll. Things to do ya know.

4pm update...
Well that didn't take long. Pull out of my campsite right at 11:45 and head to the dump station. After a good dump, I pull straight onto the awaiting ferry for an exciting ride across the ship channel. No wait'n in line like I had expected. At 1:30pm I had backed "Sally da house" into her space and hook up 20 amp electric service. That mean if'n it gets cold, I gonna be using my propane heater.

"Hello,..... can I come in to visit"?

"Well sure, make your self to home". Just don't pee or poop on the carpet.....OK???

2011 was a good year....

2011-12-31T10:23:00.000-06:00

It's been a good year when ya can sit back and count your accomplishments and fulfilled goals. Lifes toils and tribulations are soon forgotten when you look forward to a brighter day tomorrow.

The old Billy Bob had an exceptionally good year considering all the turmoil in the world and at home USA. Wars and rumors of war have no place in my life. Falling markets and rising gas prices have not effected my lifestyle. The ups and downs of everyday life have been outweighed by pleasure and happiness of doing whatever and whenever I so desire. So what if I have bitched and moaned from time to time throughout the year when things didn't go my way. They were soon forgotten and the good life carried on. Count your blessings, we got another year beginning tomorrow. I don't make new years resolutions 'cause they are way too easy to break.

Woke up this morning to another heavy fog bank....visability bout a hunnert yards. Another cold front is due in the area sunday evening with winds out of the north at 18 mile a hour. This is gonna affect my travel plans for monday, even though I have only 30 miles to go. And then, the highways is gonna be crowded with tourist and hung over travelers. Maybe I should leave a day early and avoid the rush and the extreme cold temps.

Toad hunt'n part #2

2011-12-30T12:27:00.000-06:00

Boy howdy, it's all foggy outside this morning. And I mean foggy......

Had some good comments on my hunt for a "toad". I think River hit it right when he asked what I gonna use a toad for. Since "Sally da house" is also my home, I carry a lot of stuff with me. Some of this "stuff" is transported in the toad. You know what I'm talk'n bout....a storage shed on wheels. So, I need something big enough to hold it all. I can do without 4 wheel drive since I gave up gold prospecting and am no longer located in the desert and mountains. Most importantly, I need a motor big enough to get the full effects of a "cherry bomb" exhaust system. Billy Bob likes it loud ya know. Anything less than a V-6 is out of the question. Then there is the weight equation. It's not that "Sally da house" doesn't have enough horsepower to pull a toad full of "stuff" down the road do'n a hunnert mile a hour, but the fact of being overloaded and the possibility of damaging the motor and transmission....what I probably am tow'n "that jeep". From past experience, I will be "toad" hunt'n for a small size V-6 pick'em up (Ranger, S-10 or Dakota or equivalent ) with a topper or a medium size SUV.

Speak'n of toads.......years ago my daughter Angela had a sleep over party for her birthday or something like that. Well, I was the coordinator for all the games and such. We lived right next to the local cemetery, so midnight we all headed off frog hunt'n. The biggest toad won the prize....what ever it was I don't remember. Now if'n ya ain't never been in a cemetery at midnight with a bunch of 10 an' 12 year old girls, ya don't know what ya miss'n. And to talk a little girl into pick'n up a frog.....Oh my God. It was fun fun hilariously funny for a solid hour. Naturally a ghost story was told before going to bed at somewheres bout 2am. Wonder if any them girls still remember "toad" hunt'n in the cemetery?

Had a wonderful visit from Barney the OFM yesterday afternoon. We went up the the Mexican food eat'n place and overindulged. With full bellies, we cruised around to a few of my old secret fish'n holes. Well hell no we didn't catch no fish. We was jist fish'n, not catch'n.

One of the most dreaded chores of a full time RV'er is laundry. Well, old Billy Bob is down to a couple pair of socks and cream of the crop holey underdrawers. That should last another couple weeks, but I need to get'er done in the next 3 days before I head off to "el Rancho Abraham" in Sinton, Texas. Maybe today, but don't bet your last dollar on it.

Toad hunt'n

2011-12-29T09:30:00.002-06:00

Boy howdy, it's gonna be another beautiful day.

Yesterday, me and Sadie Mae took off for Corpus Christi look'n at "toads" (a towed vehicle behind your motorhome). We started hit'n used car dealerships. I was surprised to find that most lots had nothing under the year of 2008 and what few they did have, were either way overpriced for the year model, or would not serve as a "toad". I have but three choices, a standard shift 2 wheel drive, a standard shift 4 wheel drive or automatic 4 wheel drive. That's it. Surprisingly, there are not many choices online either. But I did find 2 Ford Ranger pick ups in San Antonio that may be worth the travel distance to look at.

Photo removed 'cause it was an automatic 2WD

Chunked a few lures down at the "secret hole" and not a bite. There just ain't nobody catch'n fish out of the secret holes. Ya got to have a boat to get to where the fish live....and I ain't talk'n no little "bubba boat". Although, there are many places the "bubba boat" would be perfect. Remember when I was tell'n ya bout them ships blow'n their horn at me to get out the way when I was out there in my little 22 foots sailboat? I was younger back then and I weren't skeered of nuttin, but let me tell ya, that day I was skeered. Well, I ain't gonna be out there in the "bubba boat" when a ship comes by.....that's for sure.

12 noon....
Well here I am back later. Got the dishes done, trash out and took me a shower. Now what I gonna do.

Did some research on "that jeep". Fount out that the "Billy Bob" don't know what the hell he's talk'n bout. The "that jeep" don't weigh almost 6000 pound like I said it do. It's right at 4000 pound curb weight and 5500 GVWD....duh. Then I check the curb weight of a 2002 Frord Ranger 4x4 pick'em up truck. Weight almost the same as do the "that jeep". So what do I do in a case like this??? I guess I could spend another $3000 on the Jeep, but what would I have if'n I took that route? That's an easy question. I would have a $8000 piece of junk Jeep. Man.....decisions never cease.

The OFM Barney is on his way over to visit and go eat 'em up some Mexican food. Maybe we'll get a chance to toss some lures in the water.

Ok....got things to do

A visit to Rockport

2011-12-28T09:43:00.002-06:00

New glasses and a well deserved fish'n reel is a good decision. But.....did you know you can put the fish'n line on the reel backwards. Well, that what I did. On the first cast, I got me one them "birdsnests" like ya ain't never see in your life. A great big ol' wad of fish'n line all tangle up on my brand spank'n new reel. I says...."My God, would you take a look at that".

Me and Sadie Mae loaded up "that jeep" and went off to take a look at the water. We was go'n fish'n ya know. Well the tidal current was go'n out through the ship channel bout a hunnert mile a hour. So we ain't gonna be fish'n there. Then we discussed go'n to to the Packery Channel, an outlet from the bays to the Gulf of Mexico. It gonna be boil'n out there too. So we jump on the ferry boat an' head 'em off to Rockport. We gonna go visit with the OFM Barney. On the way we stopped a few places and chunked a few lures in the water. That where I got that birdsnest. We had a nice visit cruis'n round Rockport look'n at stuff. Holy cows, the changes in the last 10 to 15 years amazed me. Nuttin is the same as I remember it.

Don't know what to do today. It's a beautiful sunshiny day bout 70 degs...so far. This is outside weather. I rekon I aught to charge up the battery for the "bubba boat" just in case I get up enough nerve to launch that thing. I sure don't like the idea of get'n wet, but with a "bubba boat" there ain't much choice. Why the hell didn't I but me some waders???

Well "that jeep" done popped up with another problem. I was go'n down the road, hit a bump an' the freak'n motor quit. Not once, bout three times. Then I see the little "check engine" light is on. What the hell is the deal now? I'm at the point that I don't trust this thing to drive to the grocery store 2 mile away. If'n I had a big enough gun I would blow that thing to smitherines...or whatever. Then probably go to jail. Gonna reset the computer and see what happens. I may even yank the performance chip out of it and throw it in the dumpster. But that's like work, so maybe I should leave it for another day.

Oh yeah....Barney was tell'n me yesterday the finer points of my little camera. Well, it's worse than that now. Ya see, I were gonna take a pic of Sadie Mae on the ferry boat an' I drop my camera. It hit the asphalt deck of the ferry boat and broke something.....the lens protector thingy. It don't open no more when ya turn it on. So old Billy Bob fix it right up. I yank them lens protector thingys right slap out of the lens with my trusty switch blade knife. Springs go fly'n. But, the camera still works. I can fix anything.

Ok....got things to do.

Christmas shopp'n....

2011-12-27T08:43:00.001-06:00

There ain't nuttin better than to wake up to a beautiful day. Well there might be, but this is best I can do this morn'n.

Yesterday I jump in that old "that jeep" an' head 'em up to Corpus Christi with two things on my mind. Get new glasses and go Christmas shopp'n. Got 'em both done as you can see. Ok, where the hell did the big Walmart on SPID go? It's gone.....either that or I needed glasses worse than I thought.

I don't know where everybody else gets their glasses but I get mine from LenCrafters. Been do'n it for 15 years now without a hitch. Total cost was just $35 to the examination place right next door to the glasses place. Ain't insurance great? Ain't being able to see great?

Now I got to figger out what I gonna do today with all this beautiful sunshine. It's free so I rekon I better take advantage of it. Now if'n I could figger out where the fishes are hiding at, maybe I could eat fish for supper tonight. If I catch any, they will probably be too big to keep, but shoot, fish'n is fun anyhows....even if ya don't catch none. All excitis bout try'n out that brand spank'n new fish'n reel.

10:30am.....
Guess I'll load up this damn dog an' go somewheres. I know there's a fish out there just wait'n for me to show up. So' I'm off to adventure on the gulf coast. Ain't ya excitis for me? I am.

Check back laters and see all the pics of oversize fish I catched.

Chang'n mind

2011-12-26T09:28:00.002-06:00

Ok....mak'n a major decision here this morning...

I used to tell the kids "no" a lot. Then they would run off to their mama whinn'n that I always said "no". She would tell them, "just wait a few minutes, he'll change his mind". What I usually did. Well, that's what happened last night. Ya see, it's like this, I was look'n at the extended weather forecast. We gonna have some nice weather for the next week or so. Sunshine and upper 60's every day. Now that's fish'n weather. Do'n stuff outside weather. Tak'n care of business weather. And that what I gonna do. I'll be extending my stay in Port Aransas for another week.

Had I went along with my original plan to move "da house" to Sinton, Texas......bout 30 mile from everything, I would be stuck with long drives to the exciting and adventurous locations. Ya see, what I'm do'n here is justify'n my decision to "change my mind". I need new glasses and it's much closer to Corpus Christi from Port A than it is from Sinton. And Walmart is just across the ferry and down the road a piece bout 10 mile. All my secret fish'n holes are right here....or close by. Yup, I make good decisions.

I'm get'n to worry bout the "OFM" Barney with them silly hats he got for Christmas. He surely wouldn't wear one out in public would he? Now there have been times I wished I had one just like that when I was freez'n to death in some God awful cold environment when I should have been inside snuggled up to a cherry red wood burn'n stove. Men do strange things when they get it in their mind they gonna go fish'n, hunt'n or work'n on an old junk car. Been many time I was at the golf ball swak'n place in 35 deg weather.

Remember the beef stew soup I made a few days ago. Well, I ate me up a big ol' bowl yesterday and it was burnt. Make me sick. Now how the hell can ya burn beef stew soup? Two gallons to the dumpster.

After I make this morning grand decision to stay in Port Aransas for another week, I made another very important decision. Remind me in the morn'n to tell ya bout it.

Misery of Christmas

2011-12-24T10:27:00.000-06:00

Well wouldn't ya know it, the weather is terrible for a holiday. I waked up this morn'n and said...."what the hell". The wind was blow'n a gale, foggy, rain and it's cold outside (51 degs). Even Sadie Mae had doubts as to if she was gonna go out to pee or not. Simple....kick her out the door. Now she's back in bed at 9:45am.

Old Barney come by to see me last night. I rekon he was as bored as I was. Nephew Joseph and his girlfriend/fiance Rena also come by and we all went out to eat up some Mexican food. Was a very pleasant visit all around.

Arrangements were made with Joseph to move "Sally da house" over to "el Rancho Abraham" in Sinton, Tx come monday. While there, we gonna go car shopp'n in Corpus Christi and see if'n I can find a replacement for "that jeep". Something a little lighter and more trustworthy. Also need to go get me some new eye peepers from the eye glasses place. Been see'n double images for the last year, so I rekon it's bout time. It's hell driv'n down the road and see two great big ol' trucks com'n at ya. One passes and you have no idea where the other one went.

Now what does a retired, travel'n, homeless person do for the holidays? Being alone with only an old dog for company and companionship, I ain't gonna be a do'n nuttin. Made up that big pot of beef stew soup yesterday for the occasion, so that's it. Eat soup and lay on my butt over there on the couch an' watch'n what ever on TV. Excit'n huh???

Walk'n on rocks

2011-12-23T09:08:00.001-06:00

Don't be let'n that title fool ya, I gonna get to it in a minute.

Bout 11am yesterday, I decided to take advantage of a purty nice day...I went off fish'n. My first stop was an old "secret hole", where in the past, I have caught some nice eat'n fish. But yesterday at the "secret hole" proved unfavorable. In fact, all my old secret holes proved the same. Out of all the different places I throwed the pole in the water, I never seen one fish caught by nobody.

Then.....I went to the jettys at The University of Texas marina. Just 10 years ago I could scramble all over them rocks get'n to a good fish'n spot. Well, old Billy Bob won't be scrambl'n round on them rocks no more. When I got half ways to the end, that's when I knowed I done made a big mistake. It wasn't that I couldn't find a place to put my feet, but the fact I've lost a good deal of my sense of balance. Feet just refused to go where I intended. Walk'n out on them rocks was harder than walk'n on water.....what I gave up on years ago.

Speak'n of walk'n on water......there was a fish'n pier what went out in Galveston Bay just outside Texas City what I fish'ed off of on occasion. I pulls up where it supposed to be and what the hell, it's under water, by bout a foots. High tide ya know right after a storm in the gulf. There were a bunch of wade fishermen close by....waded out bout up to their belly buttons. Well, I didn't come to wade fish, I gonna fish off the pier. So's I start walk'n out on the apparently missing pier....to the amazement of the wade fishermen. From a distance, you could a swore I was "walk'n on water". Not being able to see the submerged pier ya know. That was cool.

Another time I attempted to walk on water was in an old swim hole when I was just a kid. I see them big ol' snakes headed my way an' I was out of there right now. Bout a hunnert mile a hour. But that's another story for another time.

What the deal with all the insurance advertisements in the mail? I went and picked up bout 3 months of mail from my mail people, Port Aransas Business Center, yesterday and more than half of it was offers from insurance companies. The insurance I have now could be considered the best in the world (Medicare and BCBS (Blue Cross Blue Shield)) and probably the cheapest. I think Medicare is $99 a month and my secondary insurance, BCBS, is $124 a quarter. Any medical needs that may arise costs me nuttin. My perscriptions are super cheap, I have dental and vision coverage.....what more could I want? I'm covered 100%. Remember my open heart surgery bills for close to $250,000......paid 100%.

Today is windy. Nuttin like Deming New Mexico, but still to windy and chilly to lay'n out on the beach in a speedo.

3:30pm....
Got a big pot of beef stew soup brew'n on the stove for the next few days of cold weather and go'n out for sizzl'n fajitas with nephew Joseph tonight at Old San Juan's Mexican Restaurant. Will be mov'n "da house to "el Rancho Abraham" in Sinton, Texas come bout monday afternoon.

2011-12-22T11:12:00.001-06:00

Being that........I have lived in and retired in Port Aransas, Texas, I know what to expect. It ain't like I'm gonna be surprised by either the weather or the conditions.

My first encounter with Poat A was way back in '64 while I was stationed in Charleston, SC. aboard one of our great warships, a guided missile destroyer escort....or something like that. USS Charles F. Adams DDG 2.

I had an old '56 Ford an' took off for south Texas on a 30 day vacation. Holy crap, what a trip. I pull over in "someplace", Mississippi for gas and here come Barney Fife, the local law enforcement officer. "Whare yer shoes boy"? (I was barefoot) I says..."right there on the front seat". He read me the riot act bout in Mississippi ya gotta have shoes on your feet while driv'n....thought for sure I was gonna go to jail. Finally make it to Texas an' make a mistake of ask'n directions. Nobody ain't never hear of Port Aransas....I were lost....stuck in Beaumont, Texas. Well I knowed it was on the coast by the name.....Port. So's I head on south down the coast highway, State Highway 35...for what seemed days. Texas is big ya know.

When I finally arrived my destination, there was a ferry boat wait for me. Paid my $1 for the short ride across the Corpus Christi ship channel and start hit'n bars. That's where my daddy spent most his time. I finally found him, not by sight, but by sound. He was sing'n "My Philippino Baby" at the top his lungs accompanied by the pounding of a out of tune piano played by "Bob", a screech'n fiddle and a wash tub base strum'ed by "Buttercup".

Now back in them days, Port A was a wide open town....a little fishing village with a population right bout 500 people. There was a bar on almost every street corner and most had a poker game go'n on in the back rooms. High dollar poker games. I fished. I drank. I cruised the beach. We partied. Holy crap, I done found paradise on the Texas gulf coast. Then my 30 day vacation was up. Back to Charleston, SC.

A year later, I was stationed on an old WWII destroyer (USS Haynesworth DD700) out of Galveston, Texas....only 200 hunnert mile from Port A. Many weekends were spent in Port A till I was know by everybody in town. Then I moved there in 1970.....to stay. Was gone a few years....Atlanta and West by God Virginia. Then back to the Island in 1986....to stay. Went to work for the University of Texas for the next 15 years, bought 5 years of military time and retired in Jan, 2002. Been "on the road again" for the last 10 years in "Alice" an' "Sally da house".

Now here I am, back in Port A. But things have changed. Big changes. It's no longer a little fishing village. They turned it into a tourist trap. Big souvenir shops poped up where once stood adult drink establishments. Condos line the once desolate highway leading into town. Gambling is no longer allowed. Public intoxication is no longer allowed....although it happen occasionally. Bon fires on the beach are no longer allowed and most of the best fish'n holes are closed to fish'n. It's a freak'n City now.

Ok...got things to do.....
Laters

Bitch'n post...

2011-12-20T11:36:00.000-06:00

Port Aransas, Texas

First things first. She said....."your blogs are too long, ya write too much". That got me to think'n ya know. What if I was to just make a short post? Something like....

"I ain't happy this morn'n".

That's it. Nuttin else. Well, somebody gonna be call'n me up on the cell ask'n why I ain't happy this morn'n. Then I got to go into detail with some kind of explanation....bout a hunnert times, an' probably run the batteries down on the cell. Seems to me that if'n I was to 'splain stuff from the begin'n, I won't be hav'n no dead batteries in my cell. An' sides that, I like to write as much nonsense as I can possibly put in a daily blog post. That make sense???

Ok, from what I can figger out so far....I ain't happy this morn'n. Somewheres back up the road a piece I got to think'n...."I sure gonna miss the desert". The farther I went east and south, the more I left the desert behind.....gone, poooof, just like that. And to end up in a place I don't like no more just adds to the equation. Something don't add up. Gonna be do'n some think'n on this in the days to follow.

Back to the question of where I gonna stay. My travel'n days ain't like they used to be where I would just plant "da house" somewheres and be content till I decided to hit the road again. The excitement just ain't there no more.....an' I worry bout little things too much. You know...the what if's an' stuff like that.

Wow, I just get in town and here come the weather right behind me, spoil'n any chance of a wonderful day. Not that I was gonna go down to the beach wear'n nuttin but my "speedo" and lay out watch'n babes. It seems winter brings out the worst in a person....kind of like drink'n half a case of cheap beer. Always something to bitch about. In that case, it's time to post this "whinn'n" and cry'n stuff and get on with my day. Things will be better tomorrow.

What the hell.....

2011-12-19T09:25:00.002-06:00

Boy howdy Billy Bob, don't ya watch the weather forecasts?

Here I are sit'n here in Texas Rest Area on I-37 bout 75 mile north of Corpus Christi and ...."what the hell"? First, it rained all night long....just a little steady drizzle. Then this morn'n, the wind is blow'n a hunnert mile a hour right out of the south.

Oh, did I tell ya bout what happen last night? Ya see, when I pull into the park'n area, I said to myself...."go down to the last space". What I did....but it weren't really a park'n space. I look in front me and behind me....yup, plenty room for them big trucks to get by. Well anyhows....I screwed up. Bout 12:30 I was awaked by a a hunnert angels blow'n trumpets. It was a line of trucks....all pissed off 'cause they couldn't get by. Boy howdy what a nightmare that was. I pulls up a few feet and goes back to bed. Next time I'm gonna park over there in the autos section where there ain't no irate truck drivers.

Ok....here what I gonna do. Well maybe what I'm gonna do. Who knows? I'm serious when I say I don't know where I'm go'n. I ain't got that many choices ya know.

12:30pm.....
Holy crap.....git down on your hands an' knees and praise the lord you made it to Corpus Christi. Ya see, it's like this, I swore a long time ago to never drive in a hurricane again after a close call with my life and a hunnert others. But I did it anyhows, think'n I was one tuff cookie. And let me tell ya right now, it were one scary ride. Never ever will I take that chance again. I was even scar'n them Texas cowboy truck drivers.

Now that I'm here, where the hell am I gonna go? Well that's an easy question.....to a RV park.....duh!!! Ok, in Port Aransas I have bout a dozen or more choices. All of 'em are high price RV resorts what I ain't particularly interested in. What the hell would I do in a freak'n hot tub? I ain't no lobster or a egg ya know. So I guess it's Google time to check some prices. Back laters......

3:30pm....or close to it
Boy howdy I done wore Google slap out. Spend the last 3 hour search'n rv parks in the area. They priced any where's from $150 a month to $650 a month.....plus elect. So here what I gonna do.....pick me out a space at the County park in Port Aransas for a week while I go look'n at reasonable rates by the month. The reasonable rates surely won't be on the Island. They gonna be either Aransas Pass or Rockport where Barney lives. Sure wisht I remember the name of the park where Barney is stay'n. Maybe they are cheap and have an opening.

Ok....headed for the Island. No not Padre Island.....Mustang Island and Port A.....much as I hate to. But business needs took care of before I go off play'n somewheres.

On the road again....

2011-12-18T10:31:00.000-06:00

Boy howdy let me tell ya......it's miserable out there. Went out to hook up the "that jeep" and it was drizzl'n rain and cold.....49 degs. Actually I was debat'n on if I should stay here another week till all this terrible weather straighten out, but I said to hell with it, I may as well be miserable closer to the coast as here.

See, I tole ya. It ain't the biggest fish I ever catched, but if ya look real close, it's a fish. Can't wait to get down to the coast and catch me up some eat'n fish....the spotted sea trout, my favorite eat 'em up fish from salt water. My favorite fresh water fish is a toss up between the rainbow trout and the bluegill. Yum 'em both.

Gonna talk me forever to get catch up on all the blogs once I get settled somewheres. That's still the problem....don't know where I want to go. Once I get down the road a piece I can decide on one of 3 or 10 choices. It's hell not know'n where you're go'n. Anyhows, I headed that way.

More laters......

Final update....

2011-12-17T13:56:00.000-06:00

Well at least I hope this is a final update. I'm sick of wak'n up every morning to nuttin but clouds and cold. Time to head 'em up. Maybe tomorrow.......
Well crap.....here I am steal'n WIFI and I forgot the card thingy with the fish pic. Shoot!!!

Thursday Dec 15th

I were sit'n here, think'n ya know. We got 4 campers in the park now, plus old Grizz, the camp host. Watch'n each of the other campers is what got me to think'n bout how good I got it. The one up there in a travel trailer, he got hisself a wood'n leg or something like that. He walk funny...carry a big ol' walk'n stick. Then there one in another travel trailer what is all bend over when he walk. Hurts me to watch. The latest is an old feller what cain't hardly walk at all. Heavey set....take a whole minute or more to get in his "toad" (towed vehicle). Now out of us 4 campers, plus Grizz, there ain't but two of us what can walk a straight line.....me and Grizz. And I bitch????

Went off yesterday to do a little fish'n off'n the bank. Drove over to Rough Canyon and walks down there where Barney was catch'n fish back in bout Sept. Flung a few lures an' worms at them fish but they didn't do nuttin. So's I put on a little crank bait lure an' toss it out there. Whammm....it were a fish. That were the only one. Until I puts on a "little spook". Whammmm, it were another fish.....but he got away fore I could land him. Bout the same size the first one....maybe 3 pounder or so. That was it, no more fish. But I had me a good time....that what counts.

Me and Minnisota Mike was gonna go fish'n this morn'n, but he never show his face. No phone call...no nuttin. Probably cause of all the clouds and such. Still a mite chilly too. Maybe tomorrow.

Now I'm get'n road fever again. Time to move. Sure would like to go straight to Lake Falcon, but I got business to tend to in Port Aransas and Corpus Christi. Yeah, it don't matter if'n ya retired or not, there's still business to tend to. No, not monkey business. Although I have been hanker'n for a beer at one them beer joints down that way. Play a few games of pool. Dance with the ladies. You know what I'm talk'n bout. Boot scoot'n Texas two step. But hell, I ain't got no boots no more. Gave 'em away to a little barefoot Mexican kid a while back.

Saturday Dec 17th

Now listen here feller, I jist come in off the range round'n up a hunnert head of cattle what I gonna drive up to Wichytaw. Been hunkered down out there in that chaperal for the last 2 weeks eat'n jerkey an' hardtack....wash'n it down with steam'n hot Arbuckle. Ain't had no time to take a bath, so don't be mak'n no snide remarks that I smell like a goat herder. Them's are fight'n words feller, so go fer your hog any time ya feel lucky.

Boy howdy, this weather is got to the old Billy Bob. Been read'n them old Louis L'amour westerns till I was think'n I was turn back time. It's too derned uncomfortable to go outside and sit on "da porch" sip'n a cup, so's I been sit'n inside go'n insane. Work on that old piece of dead wood I was tell'n ya bout a while back what I picked up somewheres and it's look'n pretty good. Although, it still looks like an old piece of wood. I wrote a poem bout an old piece of wood one time. Good'ern too. Maybe I can find it in my collection of poems, drawings and writings. Wrote one bout a fish'n spot I knowed, called "My Secret Hole". It were magazine quality but I never send it off to be published. Maybe one day I'll post 'em on here. That is if I can find them.

Guess I'll be pull'n out of here tomorrow since I finally catched me up a fish big enough for a photo. Done give up on my batteries since there ain't been no sunshine in a couple weeks. I'll resume my investigation when I find a place to plant myself where the sun shines down on me. But I just know I gonna be buy'n new batteries before it's all over.

Update

2011-12-12T15:48:00.000-06:00

Thursday Dec 8th

Whoa boy howdy, it's still cold in Del Rio. Here's what I'm think'n....it's gonna get warmer....maybe. With no internet I have no way to check the weather forecast so all I can do is walk outside and say...."yup, still cold". Don't ya just hate winter???

Anyhows.....
That old blue eyed cat.
I arrived in Twentynine Palms, Ca. in the year of 1954. Stay'n with the filks of my dads 4th wife. Up the road a piece from where I was stay'n, there lived this lady what collected stray cats. Kept 'em in a fenced in pen out back under the trees. Had must'a been bout 20 or 30 of 'em. They wanted me to come stay at their house and help care for the cats, feed 'em an' such. Being a 13 year old, I were excited as all get out for a new adventure. I pack up my little ditty bag and move in. I was a orphen boy ya know, kick around from place to place.

Inside she had this house cat what didn't like nobody, not even his own self. Walk round through the house hiss'n, growl'n an' smack'n stuff for no reason. He watch me with his evil eye. One day I picks up a broom and start sweep'n the floor an' here come the cat fly'n round the corner...he attack that broom....all puff up, hiss'n, growl'n and bite'n that broom like it were a Burger King Whopper or something. I says...."Whoa, that one mean cat". So's I "pops" him a good'un with that broom, full backswing...hunnert yard drive. He take off like a lightning bolt up under the couch mak'n God awful weird sounds. This was the beginning of a "cat and mouse" game. Every time I pick up that broom, here he come out from under that couch or around the corner....hiss'n an' growl'n....bite'n at that broom. So's I pops him....part of the game ya know. This went on for a couple weeks....puff up, hiss, growl, bite'n at that broom an' I pops him a good'un. What else could I do, it was his game ya know.

One morning I were headed off cross the liv'n room to the kitchen for something to eat. That old blue eye cat come tear'n round the corner like his tail was afire. Grabs holt to my leg with both arms, toenails dig'n in, teeth bared. He were work'n my leg over a good'un. I were kick'n try'n to get that damn cat off'n my leg and holler'n like I been attack by a mountain lion. Out from the kitchen come the lady of the house....broom in hand....scream'n all kind of cuss'n words at that cat. She whoop'ed up on that cat blow after blow with that broom. That old cat see he was in trouble an' heads for the back door, go right through the screen door like it weren't even there. Then he sit out there on the porch dare'n me to come outside.....all puff up an' hiss'n. I were skeered that cat. He was a mean one, I mean to tell ya. A week later, that cat was gone....pooof, just like that.

Saturday Dec. 10th.....

Well shoot, I still ain't catch no fish. Me and "Minisota Mike" went out yesterday think'n it were gonna warm up by the time we got to the other side the lake. Forget that, it were cold....50 degs. On the way back, we run that fish'n boat slap agound, dead in the water. Nuttin but rocks under us. Hell, I ain't gonna spend the night out here am I? Well hell no. I gonna walk. But Mike beat me to it. He jump out the boat an' start push'n....right off that stick up we was in.

Oh, did I tell ya it been rain'n? Yep, been do'n it all day long. And it's cold outside. Almost make me pack up an' head south. But wait a minute, the rain has always stopped and maybe this is a good thing.

Ok, now I'm need'n some technical advice. Ya see, I got battery problems. When I wakes up in the mornings, by batteries are down to 12.20 volts or less. Ain't got nuttin turned on neither. I'm think'n I may have one bad battery, but what the hell do I know? I should know though with all the batteries I screwed up in my lifetime. My poor old uncle used to say..."Billy, did you use the battery out of the truck"? Well yeah, how else I gonna crank up my old jalopy what the battery ain't no good. Boy howdy, I could tell ya some battery stories right now, but I'll wait for a better day.

Sunday Dec. 11th.....

Well crap, it's still ugly outside. I were think'n today would be nice since yesterdsay sucked....rain and all. Now I got some think'n to do. Today is the day I got to make a decision. Do I pack up and head south, or do I pay another $14 for another week of camp'n?

Last night I were think'n bout "the rest of my life"....what I gonna do with it and all that stuff. Ya already know I want to find a new homebase. Somewhere's where I'm comfortable and of course, close to a Walmart. I were think'n real hard bout this and there really ain't no place I wanna to go. I feel like I'm bout wore slap out. What I probably am. Maybe I need to go fish'n an' catch me up a big ol' bass. That would make me feel better.

Old "pesky neighbor" Wayne came through his heart surgery with fly'n colors. Still don't know what they did to him, but he's in recovery and do'n fine. But....they fount a couple plugged up arteries what they gonna fix next, so he gonna be at the hospital for a while...and then off to rehab again.

Monday Dec 11th.....

Well boy howdy, this weather in Del Rio sucks. I waked up this morn'n think'n I was gonne see some sunshine. It ain't no different from what it was yesterday. Drizz'n rain, cloudy and cold. You do consider 50 degs cold, right? Been like this long enough. I'm ready for some sunshine and 70 plus temps.

Well I decided I were gonna stay right here in Del Rio for another 7 days, just to see what would happen. Ain't no new news to speak of other than I have way too much idle time on my hands to do some think'n. Boy howdy that think'n too much can get ya in troube some times. Not that I'm in trouble or anything like that, buy damn, my mind is all mess up now. I were sit'n there on the couch an' look around at "da house". What can I do to change stuff and make it more comfortable? Then I got to think'n...."why". There ain't a thing needs changed and I'm comfortable just like it is. Then I got to think'n....open another business. Why? I'm too old for that kind of stuff. Don't need no money and to waste what little time I got left don't make good sense. Sheesh, I can hardly walk as it is and I'm gonna start up another business??? Don't think so. How bout I just lay back and enjoy what I'm do'n? Even if I don't catch no fish.

Ok.....I'm off to town for some WIFI so's I can post all this nonsense. Been a while ya know.

Cold and stiff

2011-12-07T12:48:00.000-06:00

Tuesday Dec. 6th

This may be long.....

Boy howdy let me tell ya, it cold. Just last night I says..."Billy Bob, put that other big ol' blanket on the bed". Slept like a baby with Sadie Mae all balled up under the covers with me. When I got up I says...."Boy howdy let me tell ya, it cold". It were 33 degs outside and not much better inside. Ya see, I don't use heat while I'm sleep'n. That's a waste of propane to keep "da house" warm when you're under covers. Fire up the generator for my morn'n coffee, two electric heaters crank'n full bore and the Mr Heater on full blast. It warm up pretty quick like.

Then here come "Michigan Mike" huff'n an' puff'n down the road. This is the guy what says 55 degs is hot and he ready to go fish'n. Ha....not this old bird. Anyhows, he ran out of batteries early this morn'n....pooof, nuttin. He done broke camp and headed off to the RV park for the next month. Silly man....don't he know he in Texas? It gonna be warm tomorrow, or something like that. So here I sit, all by myself, with no neighbors to pester. Unless ya want to consider "Grizz" the park host or what ever ya call him. It's a lonely life being retired with nuttin to do.

Speak'n of nuttin to do, I got to think'n this morn'n...on my second cup 'o. "What the hell ya gonna do now Billy Bob"? I were look'n at the map, Walmart special ya know, and there ain't no place I want to go. That it's warm anyhows. Were think'n maybe run over to Galveston/Texas City for a couple weeks, but put that out of my mind real quick like. Although, I could go camp on the Texas City dike for free, or ya used to could....maybe catch me up a couple speckled trout fishes for dinner. More an' likely I'll just head off to Port Aransas, spend a chunk of change for a couple weeks of liv'n on the beach, get all bent out of shape at all the "winter Texans" driv'n 10 mile a hour gawk'n at stuff an' ask'n stupit questions. Tourist towns suck.

The old blue eyed cat.
Yesterday I had written bout the old blue eyed cat. After reading it, I decided it contained too much personal information about old Billy Bob....so it has been deleted for a later date. Just to keep ya interested though, I still carry some the scars where that mean ass cat bite the hell out me.

Wednesday Dec. 7th

Do ya know what cold is? Well let me tell ya. I got up at 5am to do what most old folks do at that hour and checks the outside temp. It were 22 degs. So's I jumps back under the covers and go back to sleep in anticipation it gonna be warmer when I get up. Yup, it surely was. It were 26 degs outside and 34 degs inside at 8am.

But the cold temps are only part of my problems. I hook up the battery charger to my battery bank and the voltage go up to 14.97 volts at 40 amps charge. Inverter start sing'n a tune bout "voltage too high" or something like that. That ain't right. Today, if'n I don't go fish'n is to check out my battery charger on the "that jeep" battery. If the voltage still goes that high, then the battery charger has bit the dust. If not, then I have a "bad" battery bank problem. Will let ya know the results when it's warm enough to go outside.

Ok, went out there in the freez'n cold and check my battery charger on "that jeep". It bit the dust for sure....15.2 volts.

Talk to old "pesky neighbor" Wayne last night. He will be going to surgery friday morning. They fount something wrong with his heart and they gonna try to fix it like they done mine a while back. He also tole me that Deming got 5 inchs of snow....and there's a peacock run'n round the park. I ain't never seen no peacocks in Deming.

Crank up "da house an' head 'em up to town. Out of propane. Went first to Walmart for a brand spank'n new battery charger.....and they ain't got one like the one I gonna replace (Black and Decker 40 amp smart charger). I have a couple 12 amp chargers so I ain't in no worry bout the new one. So....I pick up a couple bags of dog food and head on down to the propane sell'n place.
Closed!!!
Well I hope they are only out to lunch and will be back shortly. In the mean time, I'm mak'n this post from their front yard.

If'n tomorrow is a nice day, I should be out on the lake catch'n me up a big ol' bass fish. Ha....that's funny, ain't catch one yet.

Catch'n up....

2011-12-05T10:57:00.002-06:00

Friday Dec. 2, 1922

Ok, where have all the days gone? I know I missed yesterday and there's a possibility I may miss today too. It's not like I have internet any ol' time I want it. I got to go downtown for that.

Anyhows, yesterday (thursday) started out as a dreary nasty day. It was cold and windy up till bout 3pm or so. And I was out there on the lake fish'n with my neighbor buddy Mike in his big ol' bass boat. Well it ain't really a bass bout, but we was bass fish'n. Catch a fish??? Well hell no I didn't catch no fish. If I had, I would be called a "catcherman", not a "fisherman".

Today totally sucks. It stayed warm all night with the clouds hold'n the heat in from escaping to the moon, or where ever it goes at night. Got up to 54 degs this morning (friday), what ain't bad at all. But it ain't change all day long. It's still 54 degs....give or take a couple. I think more of the same is expected for tomorrow.

When I go off to town to make this post, somebody remind me to write MsB's phone number down....OK??? It's in my email and I can't get to my email without internet.

Saturday.....
Ain't got nuttin to say. Wait for tomorrow.
What's her name came by for a short visit. Ya see, I were cut'n up some taters to fry and I see something out the corner my eye. "What the hell was that"? Someone was sneak'n up on my camp....tak'n pics an' stuff. It were our MsB. Sure do make old Billy Bob feel good when someone come to visit.

Sunday.....December 4th
HUH??? Was I supposed to go to town and find some WIFI??? I ain't gonna do it.
It was a terrible day. Windy, rain and cold.

Monday December 5th....
Well shoot, here it is another week already. Figgered I would stay another week in hopes of catch'n me up a big ol' bass fish, what I ain't done yet. I knows they out there 'cause Minnisota Mike is been catch'n 'em one right after the other. But then he's on the front of the boat and everybody knows there ain't no fish behind the boat. If there is, I sure ain't fount one.

Been rough, I mean to tell ya, rough, with no internet. Kind of remind me of these young kids what plays all them computer games online. "Oh my god, what I gonna do now...internet down". I remember a time way back before internet when we had to devise instruments of destruction...an' stuff like that, to entertain ourselves. We played outside....rain or shine. Now what do we do? Sit in front of a computer writ'n silly stuff while the TV is blar'n in the background. Don't know bout the rest of ya, but old Billy Bob spend bout 4 hour a day on the internet...research'n, writ'n blogs, email,....silly stuff when I should be outside soak'n up sunshine an' catch'n fish.

Which brings me back to what I been harp'n on for the last 2 years....."I can't do that stuff no more". Boy howdy, does that piss me off when I think how active I used to be. And that ain't been very long ago neither. Ya see, I get me a wild hair and decide I gonna go climb that mountain over there. I goes out and buy me all kind of mountain climb'n stuff, drive to the bottom the mountain and ....pooof, there go that grand idea. Cain't do it.

Me and Mike been talk'n bout run'n down to Zapata, Texas when we leave here. Maybe not together, but none the less, it's an idea.

Ok, it's off to town and find me some WIFI. Well naturally, hit up Walmart for some fish'n stuff.
See all my blog friends on the next trip to town. Have a good'un folks.

Fount WIFI

2011-11-30T16:37:00.000-06:00

Wednesday Nov. 29, 2011

Well yesterday was a nice day for put'n miles on "Sally da house", but I didn't have very far to go. Arrived at Pedro Springs campground right on the dot, 12:30pm. Well that ain't really the name of the place, but it's something like that. Pay up $10 for the next 5 days of camp'n. Park same site I had last trip....only 'cause of the tree.

Got camp all set up, a pot of coffee brew'n an' sit'n out under a tree. Here come a neighbor feller hobbl'n down the road twords my camp. "Howdy, my name's Mike from Michigan". We sit out there under the tree jaw'n bout fish'n an' camp'n, kids an' grankids for the next 30 or 45 minutes. He says "let's go fish'n". Ya see he gots a fish'n boat an' his wife don't like fish'n. Well old Billy Bob ain't go'n out in no boat today. I got things to do. Side that, I got to do some think'n bout this situation. Mike is 100% disabled retired Air Force, so that mean Billy Bob got to do all the back break'n work of get'n that boat in the water. I'm think'n, I'm think'n.

Come bout 3pm I says to myself..."let's go fish'n". Me and Sadie Mae load up "that jeep" an' head off to the fish'n grounds for some bank fish'n....and her pee'n on rocks an' bushes. First place we go, I ain't catch a fish yet. Damn ducks all over the place. Weeds in the water. Nuttin. So's we head up the road a piece where I was catch'n great big ol' fish the last trip. Nope, not a damn fish in there neither. Water is crystal clear...see all the ways to the bottom. Ok, where at is my fish? "Ya need a boat Billy Bob".

See a couple kayak fellers out there paddle round, but never see them catch no fish neither.

Well, it were off to Walmart for some camp'n supplies. Picks me up a few fish'n stuff thingys an's some groceries what I was out of. Gonna be mak'n a pot of chili today since it's chilly out. Was 37 degs outside an a nippy 54 inside this morn'n. Now that's get'n downright cold in my book.

Mike come by just bout time coffee was done. He say..."don't want no stink'n coffee, want to go fish'n". He went out yesterday afternoon while I was rock climb'n an' shopp'n. Caught him up another 5 pound'er right close to camp. Damn!!! Now tomorrow he talk'n him an' me go out an' do some fish'n in his big ol' bass boat. I cain't hardly pass up a deal like that can I? You knows how long it been since the old Billy Bob catch a bass that big?

Don't EVER leave a pot of chili simmer'n while ya take a nap. Runed it, but I gonna eat it anyhows.....black stuff an' all.

Where I at????

2011-11-29T10:23:00.000-06:00

Boy howdy, is it ever confusing when ya wake up and don't know where you at. Last night I wake up a bunch a times wonder'n why people was in my yard. But they weren't. I don't have a yard no more. It's back there bout 475 miles. I think anyone that travels have this same feeling when you're half asleep an' see a big ol' truck park next to ya what wasn't there when ya went to sleep. Or maybe it's just me.

Don't know how today is gonna turn out. Right now I ain't ready to hit the road quite yet, but then I ain't drunk up a whole pot of coffee yet.

Ya know what really gripes me? Old historical buildings. Here I are sit'n in Judge Roy Beans front yard and right across the street sits one of his rivals old grocery stores.

Last year it was in bad shape from lack of proper maintenance by historical organizations or locals in the community. This year, it is ready for the bulldozers to scrape it up and haul off to the dump.

Last year......

This year.....

It's gone, only two standing walls.....gone, Pooof, just like that.
Across the street is another very old building, board and batten bout to fall down. Has America lost all of it's historical pride? These old buildings is the history of bygone years. Fix the damn things before they are ALL gone.

Ok, here's the deal. My Verizon card don't work no more, so I have to depend on WIFI anywheres I can steal it. If there's no blog post, ya know old Billy Bob ain't got no internet. Next stop is Del Rio, Texas, and there ain't no internet there as you remember from a couple months back when me and Barney was camp'n out there. Why would the biggest internet provider not have towers in Del Rio? Maybe time to switch providers???

Look'n like I might get in some fish'n at Lake Amistad if'n the weather holds out. Supposed to be in the upper 60's to lower 70's for the next week or so. Catch me up some them big ol' bass fishes if'n I can remember where Barney took me. Don't know how long I'll be camped at the lake, but you can be certain I'm gonna have me some fun. Might be a good time to brew up a pot of Billy Bob chili....huh?

Holy Crap, I'm out of eggs. Milk is sour. Where the grocery store??? Ain't got no donuts neither.....damn. MsB.....help!!!

What??? 24 degs

2011-11-28T08:47:00.002-06:00

Boy howdy....it's freak'n cold in Texas. I got up 6am MST an' says..."WHOA"!!! Cranks up the heater, starts the generator for a pot of coffee and finds me a coat.

I were sit'n there last night look'n at my Walmart Rand McNally GPS and says to myself..."hey, you can't get there if'n ya don't go through Sanderson". That's an inside joke that most of ya won't get. Ya see, Sanderson is on US-90 and I'm on I-10. In order to get to Del Rio from I-10 I got to go south to pick up US-90 . And since I posted yesterday that I weren't go'n through Sanderson because I was go'n on to Ft. Stockton before head'n south, well guess what? I'm go'n through Sanderson. DUH!!! Is that clear in everyones mind now?

Yesterday when that big ol' diesel pusher (that's a motorhome with the motor in the back) passed me do'n a hunnert mile a hour, I thought, "what's his hurry"? I ain't jok'n, he was over the speed limit of 80 mile a hour by at least 10. He were smok'n. And that put my mind to think'n. The guy owns a big expensive diesel powered motorhome. He's probably retired. He don't got to go to work tomorrow. What's his hurry? Then I notice there ain't no cars behind me. They all way up the road a piece....do'n a hunnert mile a hour. Speed limits were increased 'cause everybody was driv'n 10 mile a hour over the the old speed limit. Now they driv'n 10 mile a hour over the new speed limits. Does that make sense? What's the damn hurry???

Well it's about that time. Put some miles behind me. If'n my calculation is right, I should arrive in Langtry (Judge Roy Beans Place) at exactly 3:45 this afternoon. Hope to hell it ain't cold there too.

11:00am
Well here I am down the road a piece, but had to pull over. Started feel'n a bit dizzy so looked for this wonderful rest area. Will sit here till I feel it's safe to get back on the road. Must'a been something I ate.

Been hav'n a wind for the last 2 hour, but it's been out of the southwest. That's good. Save a little gas and go a hunnert mile a hour with no problem. 60 mile a hour is my limit. Would rather go 55 but "Sally da house" don't like that. She rarin to go. But 60 is a good safe and enjoyable speed for an old homeless sightseer like me.

Ya don't find a whole lot out here in west Texas to take pics of, unless ya get your nose down close to the ground. So don't expect many or any pics for a while.....I ain't stick'n my nose in no dirt where I might find a "doogie doodle" lay'n there. I learn a long time ago ya don't go barefooted where cats take a poop. That some nasty stuff com'n up between your toes. You didn't want to hear that did ya??? But that's old Billy Bob.

3:45 MST

Well did I tole ya so or not. Pull into Judge Roy's front yard at exactly 3:40. He were sit'n on "da porch" an's says...."Welcome Billy Bob, been a long time. Pull up a chair an' lets BS a bit. Coffee's on the stove". That old Roy is sumptin else remember me after all this time an' remember my favorite drink. Well, it weren't exactly like that, but I'm here in Lantry, Texas....right on schedule. Hooked up to WIFI....don't know if I have a Verizon signal. Ain't tried it.

Damn it hot. Must be bout 80 something out there. Hit a bunch of wind headed south. Hit me right in the nose. For those what ain't never see a motorhome before, their nose look like one then peekanese dogs....flat face and go'n against the wind with a flat face is like swim'n against the flow of the Mississippi River. Or something like that. It's hard, that all I know.

24 hour countdown

2011-11-27T13:31:00.001-06:00

Boy howdy, here it is what looks like a beautiful day. Sunshine bear'n down, temp go'n up and no wind at all. This would be a great day for travel. But it ain't gonna happen today. What can be done tomorrow can be put off today.

Let me tell ya bout cold. I were sit'n there on the couch last night an' I were cold all over. Was only down to 34 degs outside, but even with two heaters on full bore, it was cold inside. Or I thought it was. Then when I got up this morn'n to 24 degs outside, the inside was nice and cozy. Now how comes???

Did you see......they was expect'n a freeze in Del Rio this morn'n? What the hell? That where I go'n. Planned to stay there a few days. Play in the water. Catch me up some fish an' stuff. Take MsB to Taco Bell for a full course Mexican dinner. Gonna have to do some investigating bout this weather situation on my way to south Texas. Dang!!!

When I get into Texas bout 200 mile or so, I'm gonna be losing my internet connection. We already know it don't work in Del Rio and for a hunnert mile in every direction. So it look like old Billy Bob's Place is gonna be shut down for a few days. At Judge Roy Beans place (Langtry, Texas) I can get on WIFI, but after that, I'm screwed for internet until I get closer to San Antone. What the hell am I gonna do with no internet? Scary thought.

Ain't nuttin to do today other than lay back an' wait for tomorrow. Fill the fresh water tank with some this good water, drain the black water tank an' hook up "that jeep". That bout it. Gonna give my neighbors my Port Aransas address so's they can watch my mail to send to me. Pay the "old man" for this months electric. Then I'm out of here. Texas bound....Yee Ha....y'all.

12:30
Well old Billy Bob couldn't wait till tomorrow. May as well do today what ya was gonna do tomorrow. I'm out of here in just a few minutes. Well more like 30. Should arrive my sleep'n an' camp'n spot right bout 7 or 8pm....just other side of Van Horn at the Texas Rest and Rv Resort on Interstate 10.
See ya down the road a piece.

3:30pm
Boy howdy is Billy Bob mak'n time or what. I'm 50 miles into Texas an' ain't been slow down for nuttin. Shoot right through El Paso at 60 mile a hour. Bout 95 miles to the next destination....Van Horn. Hope I can sneak in and out there with out go'n to jail.
Here what I'm think'n. I'll sleep on the side the road tonight an' get up bright and early tomorrow and head down the road to Judge Roy Beans Place. Ain't go'n through Sanderson, so get that out your mind. I'll continue on I-10 to Ft. Stockton an' then head south to highway 90. Does that make sense? It do to me 'cause I'm look'n at the map.

WHAT???? No Taco Bell in Del Rio??? That be OK, I know a good little eat'em up right up the street from Walmart. Ask Barney, good food. Since there is no way to communicate when I lose my internet signal, I'll just say I'll be in Del Rio sometime tuesday and be hungry on wednesday. Cain't hardly miss that way.

Yeah, where the hell is Butterbean? He may be hang'n out with an old buddy mine name of "Cornbread". I know where Sue is at. She back there in New Mexico get'n a brand spank'n new solar panel.....and freez'n her tail off.

Ok....got things to do.....see ya down the road a piece.

Love for Texas

2011-11-26T11:01:00.000-06:00

Before I get to involved in some off the wall nonsense this morn'n, I want to thank everyone for yesterdays comments. Some gave me reason for thought and others gave me reason to "splain" myself better.

I'm not overly excited in no way about head'n south to Texas, what is actually east, and I'm not at all excited with stay'n in Deming neither. This move has been on the front burner for over two years now and what's cook'n is a combination of likes and dislikes. Granted, I love the desert and what it offers in beauty and seclusion from the masses (big cities). But I love Texas too. I may not be a native Texan, born an' raised there, but when almost half your life is spent in a glorious state like Texas, you is a Texan. Some may disagree, but ...."bite me"!!!

When ya live in a motorhome full time, or any rv far as that go, that is your home. Where ever you park, you are home. Well maybe not a Walmart parking lot. But then ya get older an' traveled out. Ya get to think'n. Think'n can be a dangerous proposition ya know. My thoughts are "where do ya want to be when ya can't do this no more"? Texas comes to mind.

In 1987 when I crossed the border of Texas from that God awful West Va., I stopped my old VW bus, kissed the ground and vowed to never leave again. Yes damn it, I did a lip lock with Texas. That's when 'Norman' got loose an' hid in the bushes. Damn cat. I broke my vow in 2005 even though my mail, "da house" registration, voter registration, driver license, insurance and my "love of Texas" is still in Texas. Now I'm go'n back.

As far as boondocking with solar, I can do that in Texas as well as anywhere else. Granted, there is no BLM public lands in Texas to boondock on for free, but I had never intended to boondock year round when I first installed solar. Solar works anywhere there is sunshine. Free camping is anywhere you happen to find it.....not only desert. Solar just broadens your camping abilities.

I know somebody gonna ask me "Who's Norman". While I was in W.Va., I fount this big black cat lay'n upside down on his back, fight'n for his life, while another cat was steady whoop'n up on him good. Norman had no defense, some sorry cruel human had had him declawed. Rip his claws out with a pair of channel locks. So old Billy Bob pick him up an' take him home right now.....just like that. Doctor him up an' feed him pork chops an' stuff. Norman turned out to be one of the most loving cats I ever see. He would hug ya just like a little child would do. Wrap both arms round my neck an' lay his head on my shoulder. In Texas Norman took to his new home with gusto. He were a happy cat. In the mean time, I had leased a small apartment complex of 8 units. Rented apartment 'A' to a Chinese couple. Norman come up miss'n a month later, never to be seen again.....pooof, gone, just like that. Bastards ate my cat, but I couldn't prove it.

Talk to old "pesky" the other day. They had to work on him all night long for low blood pressure. He has come to the realization that he may not be coming home again. But on the brighter side, he challenged me to a round of golf next year when I come to visit.

Go'n Home....

2011-11-25T09:29:00.000-06:00

In 1972 I left Texas during hard times for a better job and adventure in the big City of Atlanta. Ga. When I climbed off that Greyhound bus, tool boxes in tact, my clothes in a little brown paper bag, I says "WHOA!!!!" I had been to Houston on many occasions, but this is Atalanta....it's huge. Got a little apartment and went to work immediately.Think it was $8 a hour or something like that. Opened a small construction business (renovation, systems repair, painting, roofing and plumbing).

As time passed, things got tight....with the divorce and all. Loaded up my tools and headed north to West by God Virginia. Don't even ask why. Now you talk bout being stuck in some God forsaken far off corner of the world, this was it. Weren't nuttin but "hill billy's" everywheres ya look. One leg was shorter than the other. Even the wimmins had a chunk of "chew" in their cheeks. Opened a refrigeration business (Servico Refrigeration) due to the shortage of English speaking service people (these were hill billy's ya know). In 1980, I was hospitalized from an accident and spent the next 6 months living on the floor. This was the start of the back problems I have today. It was all down hill from there. This cost me a very productive and lucrative ($$$) business.

In 1987 it was time to move on. Headed back to Texas....Port Aransas matter of fact. Started up another refrigeration business and within a years time I was hired by The University of Texas, where I worked for the next 15 years. Gave up the refrigeration business and was think'n retirement in my latter years.

With the sale of my boat and what little I had saved up in a old dirty sock, I bought my first motorhome..."Alice". Made a few runs around Texas before my retirement in Jan., 2002. Stay'n close to home ya know.

After retirement, longer trips were made between California, Missouri and Georgia with Port Aransas as homebase.. Right bout 6,000 mile a year or therebouts. In 2004 after the sale on my stick house in San Antone, I traded "Alice" for a brand spank'n new 35 foots mansion...or so I thought. Great big Chevylay 8.1 vortec engine, 4 speed Allison tranny, dual exhaust romp'n stomp'n hot rod. Go a hunnert mile a hour. Hit the roads to places unknown. Deming being one of my favorite stops, I planted my roots here in 2005. Don't ask why. Convenience and cheap is probably the only real honest answer. Although, I do love the desert.

Now I'm go'n back home.....TEXAS. Now don't be sit'n there think'n that I'm all excitis bout this move, 'cause I ain't. I ain't young no more. I think things out, unlike what I used to do. This is a stressful move for an old cogger like me, not know'n where the hell I'm gonna end up. I think "that's all I have to say bout that" (GUMP) right now.

Rain set in yesterday afternoon. I ain't talk'n a little rain, I'm talk'n rain all night long....an' still rain'n. Last I hear, 1 3/4 inches. Let'er rain, I ain't go'n no where today no hows. Holy crap, my batteries are low, ain't got no sunshine and I ain't go'n out there in the rain to hook up the battery charger. No....the converter is disconnected...for those what know what a converter is (a device that converts 115 volts to 12 volts for charging dead batteries and 12 volt supply to "da house"). Two fuses Billy Bob, that all ya got to do....two fuses.

Happy Thanksgobblin

2011-11-24T16:29:00.000-06:00

Boy howdy, seems just like yesterday I was sit'n at the "slabs" brew'n up a big ol' pan of brown sugared marshmellered sweet taters. Candied yams to some ya.....but they ain't yams, they sweet taters.

Some of ya probably have no idea what I'm talk'n when I mention "slabs". If'n ya wanna take a few minutes, just Google slab city one time. Boy howdy, then ya gonna know.

I were look'n round "da house" last night an' there ain't nuttin anywheres I look that matches my brand spank'n new couch. It's a sore thumb. But let's back up for a minute, it ain't a embarrassment like it used to be. I'm too old to worry bout simple things like what freak'n color it is. For Dizzy.....cameras don't always record what the eye sees. With the sunshine, yesterdays photo changed the color from a light tan/brown to a beautiful pumpkin color. I can live with that.

Everybody by now know old Billy Bob gonna change design of stuff. Where do you store all your can goods? If'n ya got a house, ya put them in a freak'n pantry/closet thingy. But if'n ya live in a RV, ya put them anywheres they will fit. Well, I change design of a perfectly good couch to alleviate the can goods problem. A couple cabinet magnets and slide lock thingys and there ya have it. A hunnert pound can goods under there.

NOTE: This is not a political post.
I were watch'n that special on PBS last night. All them singers at a Thanksgiving gathering at the White House or somewheres like that. I done fall head over hill in love with one them ladies what was sing'n to me. Had goose bumps an' all that stuff. Then when it was over, that damn Obama feller get up an' kiss her right on the cheek. What the hell wrong with that guy go'n round kiss on other wimmins? He got his own woman.
Sheesh!!!

I were gonna go in to work this morn'n, but the damn alarm clock got dead batteries. So I just call in sick. No I ain't sick. Feel perty good matter fact. I'm think'n if the sun ever come out, I can get me in a couple hours of "do'n something". Get this rig ready to pull out. Texas bound. Catch me up some fish. Crank up some sounds an' lay on the beach. Vacation in south Texas. Yeah boy howdy, I'm ready....in my mind. I might just make it before the end of the month. What's that.....6 days???

Do ya ever talk to yourself? I ain't talk'n bout in your mind, I'm talk'n out loud to yourself....and then answer yourself. I do that ya know. Have some perty good conversations too. Damn Sadie Mae won't talk to me. All she do is sit there staring at me like "HUH, you talk'n to me"? Now I don't know if talk'n to yourself is normal or not, but it sure do help in mak'n important decisions....hav'n someone else to talk to ya know.

Ok, enough of this nonsense. Got things to do.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving y'all.

YEE HAA!!!! Old Billy Bob is got all his junk load up an ready to roll. I look out there all all the stuff I gonna leave behind an' only one thing breaks my heart...."da porch". That old porch has been a part of me for the last 6 years. Many BS sessions out there on that porch. Many hours of sit'n there in my old easy chair sip'n a cup an' do'n some mighty fine think'n. When ya build something with your own two hands, it becomes like a extra arm grow'n right out the middle your chest. Well, not really an arm. That would look silly as hell walk'n round with three arms. But ya know what I'm talk'n bout.

My couch.....is back

2011-11-23T16:55:00.000-06:00

Well it's almost back. pholstery guy just call and it's on the way.....Yeee Ha!!! Damn, wisht I could remember what material I ordered. Probly gonna look like a sore thumb, but what the hell, I need my "nap couch" back.

Well, here it are. Could'a swore I ordered orange.

Member what is used to look like....

What does a retired RV'n feller eat on Thanksgiving? It ain't like I can eat a whole damn turkey or nuttin like that ya know. Well, let me tell ya what this old retired RV'n guy think bout holiday eats. He don't. It's just another day....you know balony samitch, a boiled egg an' some Doritos....or something like that. Also, when ya hit that 70 year old mark, food ain't inportant no more. Everything taste the same, so it don't matter if it's a scrumptious perfectly prepared 10 course dinner or just an old chunk of lunch meat and a couple slabs of bread. Anything to fill an empty hole.....an' make a poopie pie.

Ok, got that couch all back together....had to put the hardware on the front bottom piece so's I can put all my can goods under there. The real test will come soon as I eat me up a samitch....nap time.

Late??? Who me?

2011-11-22T14:48:00.000-06:00

Dang nab it an' all that stuff. So here we are. Another wasted day in the Billy Bob household. I just ain't got no "git up an' go". Been drink up a gallon coffee try'n to get all jumpy, nerves on end....super charge....if'n ya know what I mean. Well, that ain't work'n neither. All I wanna do is sit on my butt look'n at stuff what needs to be done, scratch my head and say "tomorrow". Ya ever have one them days??? Think I need more coffee to get me back on the right track?

How long does it take to upholster a freak'n couch? I need that thing really bad. Been tak'n naps on the bed and sleep for 3 hour at a time. That ain't a nap. That a full night sleep.....when ya add up how many naps I been tak'n. I think I done catch me some that 'sleep'n sickness' stuff, or something like that, what goes around every winter. How do ya tell a doctor you're sleepy?

Ain't really got much more stuff to put back in "da house". Then what I gonna do with all the stuff I gonna leave behind? I hate to just let it lay in the yard. Neighbor Mark will take most the good stuff, but I'm talk'n bout lumber, pieces of pipe, concrete blocks, old batteries, jugs of used oil......good redneck stuff.

At any rate, I still have 8 days to get out of town before hav'n to pay for another months rent ( $125 ) on the homestead. I don't like rush'n into things that can be done tomorrow....as everyone knows, but end of month is get'n too close for comfort. "Damn Billy Bob, what ya been do'n all this time"???

Shrimps an' shrimp'n....

2011-11-21T14:56:00.000-06:00

Oh boy, what I gonna write about today? Words are get'n purty scarce round ol' Billy Bob's Place. In the last two years, I done bout said it all.

Holy crap, I done did it now. Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day an' all I done was lay round "do'n nuttin", think'n I would jump out of bed tomorrow morn'n (today) brite an' early, grab me a cup, punch the clock and enter the salt mines. Ha, well guess what? There ain't no freak'n sunshine, it's cold outside (51 degs) and it's rain'n.

Had me a excit'n dream last night...I were fish'n. What I done was to wade out to the second bar on the beach down Port Aransas way wear'n me a pair of chest waders. Them the ones that if'n ya tip over, they gonna fill up with water....ya gonna sink to the bottom an' drown for sure. I were catch'n one fish right after the other. Big 'uns too. That when here come a great big wave, bout the size a tsunami what flop me round every way but loose. Next thing I knowed I were lay'n on the beach with some bikini clad young lady giv'n me French resuscitation with her tongue. It worked....believe it or not.

Did I ever tell ya bout the time??? I were a shrimp boat captain ya know. Own my own 40 foots boat an' all that stuff. Look kind of like this one.

Like Forrest Gump say...."that's my boat". Well we had just brung in the net full of shrimps, fish, crabs and a conglomeration of tin cans, beer bottles an' a bunch other useless junk. "Let's go swim'n" I says. So I climbs up there on top the cabin an' make me a leap head first into unknown water. "Billy Bob, you are bay shrimp'n....the water is only 5 feets deep". I hit the bottom like a rock. Sinked my head right in that mud....thank God it were mud and not Sanfords junk yard. I come up out there spit'n mud....say'n all kind of cuss'n words. Almost break my fool neck. But that weren't the last time I do something stoopit. How I'm still alive to this day is astounding.

By the way, most every shrimp'n day we would bring in right at a hunnert pound of succulent shrimps along with a tub of live crabs an' some eat'n fish. But let me tell ya right now, shrimp'n ain't easy. Ya got to get up way before the sun does, hit the gas station for 55 gallon of fuel an' a hunnert pound of ice, transfer the fuel into the boat, stow the ice an' be underway at first crack of dawn. Then ya drag this big ol' net around all day long, bring it in, put it out, separate your catch, ice it down....pheeeewww....that work. And then ya finally make it back to dock, ya gotta sell all that stuff, clean the nets, wash down the boat....all before ya go home. What ya don't sell off the boat, ya gotta peddle to the restaurants round town at discount rates. In bed by 10pm if'n you're lucky.

I told this story one time before, but here it is one more time. What do ya eat on a shrimp boat? Well shrimps, what else? I got so sick of shrimp that I never wanted to see one again. I opens my lunch sack an' there they were....staring back at me....shrimps. Boiled shrimp. Fried shrimp. Shrimps prepared in every conceivable way. Yes, even shrimp hamburgers. I open that lunch sack one day an' HOLY COWS, it were a hamburger from the hamburger joint. My God, I done went to heaven.

Different strokes.....

2011-11-19T15:11:00.000-06:00

Boy howdy, this get'n up cold every morn'n is get'n old. Not that I would expect anything different since this is winter for this area ya know. Think maybe it time to break out the Mr. Buddy heater? I do use electric heaters at night...one set on off and the other in high gear. Am I cheap or just economically challenged?

Done haul off another hunnert pound of stuff to the dumpster. Start'n on another load. Pick up all my tools an' stuff lay'n in the yard. Oh hell no, I ain't no wheres close to get'n done. Got most the stuff cleared off "da porch" just in case someone comes by with a fist full of dollars and a big trailer.

Gonna brew me up a batch of beef stew soup today. Been a while since I made a batch. That stuff I made the other day (hamburger, taters and noodles soup) is bout all gone and now I'm hungry for stew soup. Don't do 3 course meals no more....make what ever in a big ol' pot an' eat on it for 3 or 4 days. Gumbo or chili will be next I rekon.

Talk to a old buddy down in south Texas this morn'n. He lives down there in the island ya know. He says the weather is beautiful. Well, I been think'n bout that beautiful weather too sit'n here with a blanket wrap round me every morn'n. The old Billy Bob is gonna be in hog heaven when he get down there....lay'n out there on da beach in a speedo, sip'n a cup and catch'n me up some fish. Don't know where exactly I gonna end up for the winter, but it don't really make no matter....long's it don't snow.

Rough days ahead

2011-11-18T09:49:00.000-06:00

Boy howdy old Billy Bob is got some think'n to do. The other day when I said I'm "skeered", I was serious as a second hand on a clock. Don't know what I'm gonna do.

Ya see, it's like this.....onest ya get settled in one place as long as I been homestead'n in Deming, it ain't easy to just pack up and head off into rough seas in a little blow up "bubba boat", look'n for an island paradise. It takes a toll on the mind, what sometimes I wonder how much mind I got left. Now don't get me wrong, I know from past experience that everything gonna be all right. It just gonna take some time to get used to being homeless again. Sleep'n under bridges an' stuff like that.

I had planned to get "out of dodge" by the end of the month, but it look'n like it gonna take me longer than expected. Didn't know I had so much to do. Gonna have to go see my doc before I get out of here. Get my records and stuff like that. Still wait'n on my couch to come back to "da house". Try'n to sell "da porch". Got a ton of stuff I gotta haul off to the dumpster. Damn......

Well things ain't look'n good for old "pesky neighbor" Wayne. Latest news is he gonna be transferred to Las Cruces almost for certain. He can't walk again, even with his walker. He told me the other day he just wanted to go home and die there....not some old folks home. Will get another update sometime today. Hopefully it will be good news instead of all bad.

Had a visit from a couple ladies from my Yahoo RV Singles group. Been talk to them a long time on the group, but had never met them in person. Kind of the same as meet'n a blogger. By now they should be in Banderra, Texas where they gonna meet up with a couple more group'ers before they head off to Mt. Pleasant, Texas. Ain't life just wonderful?

Ok....head'n off to town....pick up meds and a few eatables.

Oops, miss a step...

2011-11-15T15:22:00.000-06:00

After sit'n round all day feel'n sorry for myself an' stuff like that, I decided to attempt to find something funny to write about. Weren't a single thing funny bout yesterday to claim as an adventure or excitement...that for sure. Ya see, it were a beautiful sunshiny day, so's I climbs up there on the roof to caulk up some solar panel mount holes. Took that 'lectric wire what was hang'n off the roof from that spare solar panel an' I throws it. Hard I could, all the ways over there in my neighbors yard. That was cool. Don't ask why I do stuff like that, 'cause I don't even know. "Oh hell Billy Bob, git to da point". Well, I were com'n back down off'n the roof an' I flat miss that last step....what is bout 3 feets from the ground. Down I come....one leg up there on a ladder rung way up there an' the other flap'n in da breezeway down here.....I'm gonna die. Land right there, in a neat little pile. Long with my bucket of tools. What the hell....did I break some my important stuff? Nope....fit as a fiddle. So I thought. I was hurt'n to the back side...land on my tail (would say ass but I'm try'n to change my image). Drag my ass back to "da pouch", sit there sip'n a cold cup an' think'n...."ya dumb ass". Well anyhows, the rest of the day was spend "do'n nuttin".

Look'n like old "pesky" Wayne will be go'n back to a rehab facility in Las Cruces. Ya see, his oxygen level is still well below safe and this hospital in Deming don't have the equipment (or know how) to deal with it. As long as he on a machine, he's fine. Take him off and he suck'n air like a fish out of water. Doubt he will be com'n back home soon.

Are ya skeered yet?

2011-11-14T10:36:00.000-06:00

Boy howdy....I see sunshine peek'n in my winders. Been a while ya know. With the sunshine, I see work. Outside stuff. Sit on "da porch an' sip a cup....do some think'n. It's a beautiful day.

Yesterdays post turned out to be hours of fond memories of years gone by. And I had only touched the surface of my four plus years of sailing the seas. Touching the unbeknownst (not known), my mind wandered back to the torpedo incident during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Come on Google, do yer thang. Nowhere could be found that validated my story. But....to my surprise, I learned that in the same waters we were operating, were 4 Russian submarines that were carrying nuclear torpedoes. And.....with orders from Russian government officials...or what ever, the Captains were to arm and use these torpedoes at their own discretion if under attack. I didn't know that.
I caught myself up in a little lie in my post.... more research ya know. Our engineering efficiency evaluation earned us another 'red' hashmark on the stack, not a gold one. My jumping up and down was exaggerated ever so slightly. Even as a youngster of 21 years old, there was a little bit of "Billy Bob" in me.

Have ya ever been skeered? Oh, I ain't talk'n bout somebody com'n up behind ya an' scream'n at ya wheres ya jump slap out your shoes. I'm talk'n bout skeered of what the future holds for ya. Tomorrow, next week, next year....that kind of stuff. I been hang'n round Deming for so long that my feet have got roots grow'n out them. Dig'n up roots ain't easy ya know. Where am I gonna go? What am I gonna do? That what scares hell right out me. I'm gonna be alone again. Most the places I used to travel to, everybody is either dead, in old folks homes or just drifted away. I'm too old to be hang'n out in sleazy bars with little hoochie coochie girls. Although, little hoochie coockies can perk ya right up no matter how old ya are. Make ya feel young again, wanna dance, get slop ass drunk, fall down the steps an' brake a hip. "Damn Billy Bob, ya gonna do that"???

Time is get'n shorter every day. My nerves are on edge. Got so much to do. Pick them tools up. Where the hell is my couch? Dumpster run. Wash them dirty winders. Wheeeewww! Tired already...."da porch time.

A sailors life....

2011-11-13T12:01:00.000-06:00

"Dog gone it Billy Bob, ya got to splain stuff better. You didn't go to Viet Nam, but your ship did". When ya leave half the story out, people will tend to get the wrong impression.

Ya see, old Billy Bob is pretty much a patriotic kind a guy when it come to the US of A, our military and our veterans. At times I can become downright fight'n mad when people refuse to recognize our service men and women. It was them what has kept America free for all these years.

I had just arrived by way of a great big ol' Greyhoud bus from Ft. Worth, Texas to boot camp San Diego, Ca. in October, 1961. We was stand'n at attention, as best we knowed how, facing old glory wav'n in the breeze. A mighty fine sight if do I say so myself. It was time for colors, the lowering of our flag at sundown, the stars and stripes. The National Anthem is played through the loud speakers, the flag slowly lowered and folded ever so neatly. I were stand'n there shak'n in my boots....tears come to my eyes....I could hardy contain myself. I were officially in the US Navy wear'n a pair of old raggedy jeans, tee shirt and long ass flow'n brown hair with highlights of the Texas sun.....what they cut slap off the next day.....right down to the skin....bald, that what I were.

My first ship was a Forrest Sherman class destroyer out of Norfolk, Va., USS DuPont DD-941, commissioned 1957. Almost a brand spank'n new war machine.

There were some thrilling days aboard this ship. I was shipboard electrician, fix'n stuff ya know, in a crew of 318 crusty sailors. In 1962 we outfitted at Guantanamo Bay for Russian sub searching off Cuba's coast during the Cuban Crisis. It was a boring job, but someone had to do it. While tracking a submarine somewhere south of Cube we encountered a "fish" swimm'n a hunnert mile a hour right straight at us....missing our fantail within 50 feet. To this day I still believe it was a torpedo, but I think it's classified information....kept secret from public eye. All eye witnesses were questioned in the Captains quarters. It was determined at that time, this was no living ocean creature. We requested from higher authorities, the Admirals flagship, to "bring up" that sub by depth charge attack. Our request was denied by higher up in Washington DC. Go figger!!!

Steaming in single file through the Gibraltar Straights on a Mediterranean Cruise, we lost all steering control....the rudders ceased to work. Hand cranking was required and old Billy Bob was put to crank'n a manual steering device. How comes an electrician has to steer the damn ship? I check fuses an' stuff ya know.

During a yearly engineering efficiency evaluation test, I was assigned to the #1 switchboard. I knowed how to operate that switchboard like it were a part of me......knowed every switch an' breaker, parallel them generators without the blink of a light....I were good on that switchboard. But then....being I was a silly guy, I decided to be a little bit "redneck" and make a complete fool of myself. Make all them hi rank'n officers think ol' Billy Bob some kind of idiot. They says..."fire in #1 generator". That when I comes alive....jump'n up an' down, run'n round like a chicken with his head cut off...hit'n buttons, turn'n switches, hit that emergency stop steam valve....bring #1 switchboard back on line in less than 30 seconds. Allotted time was 1 minute....score 100% for Billy Bob. Never make a single mistake. Although I did get a good ass chew'n from the engineering officer for jeopardizing our chances of another gold hash mark on the stacks.

Then one time #2 switchboard catch fire. We had just tied up in some island port in the Caribbean. I were in anticipation for liberty call when it happen. Down the ladder I go....into the darkness of the aft engine room, hit'n switchs an' stuff....blinded by the smoke. Transfer all critical electrical load to #1 switchboard. By the time the fire was out, temps in the engine room had climbed to 140 degs, and all systems were go. Old Billy Bob was sop'n wet with sweat. That when I jump ship....take me a swim to cool off. "But Billy Bob....ya don't know how to swim". Almost drown flap'n round in that water like a cat fall in a mud hole.

Then I decides to transfer to another ship. Leave the easy life behind and check into the "Holiday USS Canberra".
Another story for a different time.

I'll leave you now to contemplate if this story is for real or fiction.

Lost memories....

2011-11-12T11:08:00.000-06:00

Have ya ever sit down and wonder what happen to all them old memories of yesteryear? Your childhood, adolescence, teens, young adult, loves of your life, the waning years. Holy cows, everyone should be able to write a book. But what do ya do when ya start lose'n them memories? Are they lost forever in a clouded mind?

It weren't but a few short years ago when old Billy Bob had a clear unclouded mind, membered everything from early childhood up the present day activities and unactivities (I jist make up that word). But where have they gone now that I no longer have that clear and unclouded mind? "Well holy crap Billy Bob, did ya ever think bout writ'n them memories down on a piece of paper"?

About 10 year ago I started a book. It were bout the wonderful memories of my life....good times, bad times, experiences, adventures and misadventures. I wrote stuff down as I remembered them. I laughed and I cried. Then I started blogg'n, tell'n my stories for the whole world to see. It's not a well written autobiography, but it's my story. It's my life. It's true accounts, not fiction as some may believe. Although, I do doctor up some my stories to bring humor and a few laughs along the way, what by no means, does this take away from the truth of the original thought.

USS Canberra CAG-2...Viet Nam bound

One of four US warships I served to secure our freedoms. (Oct. 1961 - April 1966)

Yesterday I come across a blog what really piss me off. Our Veterans were likened to and berated below septic tank cleaners....a total disgraceful respect to those that lost their lives, were maimed, lost limbs...fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. What goes through the mind of such a person? Hope to hell he reads this.

4 hours later....

2011-11-11T16:06:00.000-06:00

Boy howdy let me tell ya, this computer is gonna bite the dust yet. Ya see, I were writ'n a post.....well let me go back a little further than that. Been lock'n up almost every morn'n what I just start the damn thing right back up. Now this morn'n before I even read half the blogs, it lock up tighter an' a drum. The when all is well again, I gets a blue screen. Then after that all fix, it start reboot'n all by it self....I swear I never touch nuttin. Then I tries to boot up in safe mode.....it boot in regular lock up mode again. Finally I were able to do a "restore". Pheeewww....now it work'n again. It go'n a hunnert mile a hour in second gear. Burn'n rubber an' stuff.

Now what the hell were I say'n bout a blog post? Oh yeah...had me a good'un all write up....that when everything lock up. All that good funny stuff is gone.....poooof, just like that. Not only from the computer, but from my mind. "Well shoot Billy Bob, ain't no sense try'n to post nuttin funny.....that computer stuff is funny enough to last a week".

Oh yeah, I member one thing what I had posted...or write about. My romp'n stomp'n 500 watt winder shak'n sound system. It ain't like I gonna pester my neighbors on purpose ...shake their winders an' stuff, or nuttin like that. But I do like to share. Was listen to Baconhoven, Bratch an' Mooseheart yesterday, turn up purty loud an' here come the neighbors.....sit on "da porch" stomp'n feet to the beat. Had us a regular ol' longhair hoedown. Then when I crank on the cajun, they was say'n...."turn it up".

Winter blues

2011-11-10T17:40:00.000-06:00

I get them winter blues every year as soon as the temps drop below 55 degs, what in some parts of the country 55 degs. is a spring day. But one more degree under 55 degs, water gonna freeze. I ain't gonna go outside and sit on "da porch" sip'n a cup when it get this cold. You gonna find old Billy Bob sit' inside where it warm. I ain't stupit ya know.

Deming has felt the first winter freezes for the last few days. It's been get'n into the upper 20's come bout daylight. And I still have 3 weeks till departure. Or something like that. Gonna take a week to ten days to get my couch back.....and then, I got a yard full of stuff to pick up what I throwed off the roof from the solar panel installation. Table saw, chain saw, 2x4's, sledge hammers....stuff like that. Still have some storage bins to go through......dumpster bout another hunnert pound of junk. Neighbor just wait'n for me to hit the "tool shed" (compartment). He know I gonna be toss'n stuff.

Oh Boy Howdy....let me tell ya......got that 500 watt sound system all hook up. YES!!!! That what I'm talk'n bout. Shake some winders. In order to shake the winders on my neighbors house I got to crank it up full bore. At half throttle it shake my winders just fine....vibrate stuff. Now I got to go out and buy me some them "rap" cd's......lol, that's funny, Billy Bob listen to rap....right!

Not sure...

2011-11-09T15:26:00.000-06:00

Nope, don't know if I wanna do it. Make a blog post is what I'm talk'n bout. I look over there on the right at the blogs I follow an' some ain't made a post in a hunnert year. Then I looks at my followers list an' I ain't see some of them in a hunnert year too. What I'm say'n is I miss these people. They are an inspiration to my ability to write a bunch of nonsense.

So, no nonsense today. I'm gonna be serious as a rock. Write something that can't be construed as fiction.
*think'n....think'n....think'n....*
One hour later:
Well that didn't work, so I gonna dig up some more nonsense. Let me see....did I ever tell ya bout the time??? No, that ain't gonna work either....done tole that story a hunnert time.
Ya see, here what's happen'n, I'm runn'n slap out of stories. That what happen when ya live a bor'n life....sit'n on "da porch", sip'n a cup an' think'n....what I been do'n the last couple year. Maybe I better take a trip to town. Go to Walmart....something exciting always happen'n there....right!!!

Boy howdy, old Billy Bob is get'n pissed. All them flies ..... crawl up my nose an' stuff like that when I'm napp'n. Damn!!!

Ok....off to town. May or may not ever come back.

I'm back....ain't nuttin happen. Well ya there was. Went by the upholstery shop and look at the material for my couch. Damn....is that what I ordered? Better take ma a before pic before I forget.

See, I tole you it needed recovered. But where the hell the guy what gonna take the couch with him? Done past 1:30 an' that when he was supposed to be here with his helper an' a chain saw.

20 minutes later......all gone.

Now where the hell is old Billy Bob gonna take a nap??? I don't sleep on no stink'n floor ya know.

Blow up.....boat

2011-11-08T15:48:00.000-06:00

I hadn't been work'n for The University of Texas very long, so not many of the other employees knew bout Billy Bob. Just a "straight" guy do'n his job. Quiet, restrained and ordinary. That's what they thought.

The supers office was on the second floor with a little balcony walkway outside. Once a week we had an employee meeting in that little office....bout 10 of us. We was the maintenance crew ya know. Fix stuff what ain't broke.

In the boat crew was another Billy Bob "wannabe"....do crazy stuff, dangerous. He's the guy what was cleaning the insides of a enclosed boat with acetone.....a very highly flammable concoction of aircraft fuel, 180 grain pure alcohol, and TNT. He smoked. Lit him up one with a Bic and ....KA-BOOOM...smoke an' flames...he were lay'n on da ground. Hair all burn up, clothes smolder'n an' that smoke still clinched between his swoled up lips.

Well anyhows, this questionable boat feller an' old Billy Bob gets our heads together an' plan for a little innocent prank on supervisor. A 6 man co/2 inflate life boat was toted up to the second floor office in one neat little package. Rigging was attached to the "inflate" lever and tied to the doorknob. I think you get'n the picture here.....open door, little 6 man life raft blow up into a full size 5 foots by 12 foots boat in less than 5 seconds. Well, that exactly what happen....just like that. The supervisor opened his office door, only to find....to his surprise, a rapidly inflating, room filling, big ass boat. He start back peddling....two stepp'n...turn white like a sheet....no where to go. He backs into the handrail....he starts over....oh my God, he gonna die when he hit that pavement below. Now had he went all the way over that handrail, what saved his life, I wouldn't be writ'n this story.....I would probably still be in jail for premeditated 1st degree murder. No more pranks were performed on second story buildings. Ground level from now on.

Ok, one more harmless prank. Supervisor and da plumber was work'n on a electric steam generator. Ain't neither one of them knowed squat bout 230 volt electric stuff, so this is gonna be a pack of fun. Ya see, old Billy Bob had some his M-80 firecrackers in his pocket what he pick up in Tennessee last year. They was hook'n up wires, wipe'n sweat from their brows.....they was intense an' in deep thought. So intense that they failed to see the Billy Bob sneak up an' slip a big ol' M-80 up under that high voltage steam generator. Then I just stands there, real innocent like, fresh lit up smoke in hand, just wait'n for one them to turn on that switch. What they did. I touches my smoke to the fuse and quietly walk off.....KA-BOOOOM. Back peddle, two stepp'n...fall'n over each other. YEE HAAA....old Billy Bob strikes again. Yes, the maintenance shop at The University of Texas was a dangerous place to work. Remember the "jet powered bbq pit"??? Yes....dangerous.

Billy Bob been deep in thought way too much lately. It were just yesterday I were sit'n there on the couch sip'n a cup and got to think'n..."what if ya spend the winter in south Texas"? Yeah I know, I just got back from a Texas trip. But I didn't catch up no fish for the freezer. I breaks out my Rand McNalley GPS travel device (atlas) an' start a plan for a exciting adventure to south Texas. Two weeks here, two weeks there...before ya know it, it's spring time again. No snow. No freez'n to death. Only warm sunshiny days for lay'n back an' enjoy'n life. As Barney would say..."hav'n toooo much fun". Again....not set in stone ya know.

I've decided this is a good the time to "get out of dodge"....Deming that is. I've had it. Don't like it here no more. Too windy. Too cold. Too hot. Nuttin to do....bored. "But, but, but....what bout all yer stuff Billy Bob"? What stuff...."da porch" an' some junk?? It's paid for and no big loss. Maybe put a for sale sign on the highway...."da porch for sale" and dumpster the rest. Again....not set in stone ya know.

Cold weather blues....

2011-11-07T10:08:00.000-06:00

Wayne update.....
Last night Linda came by with an update on Wayne's condition. He is in intensive care....sedated to the hilt. Same as they did to him 6 months ago. Not a word on what happened to him. I have a bad feeling bout this.

Ain't no use sit'n here writ'n a big ol' long blog post this morn'n. I ain't did nuttin worth writ'n bout. But I don't feel alone as most the blogs I follow are in the same "shut down" mode......nuttin to write about. Now don't be get'n me wrong. I ain't say'n everybody is just sit'n round do'n nuttin 'cause I read some blogs wheres they make old Billy Bob feel like a bump on a log. I rekon we all have our days....don't wanna do nuttin, ain't got no silly stories to tell or feel they are spinn'n wheels. That where I'm at....spinn'n wheels....stuck...ain't no tow truck for miles. "Well damn Billy Bob, get off yer ass an' do something".

Speak'n of get'n off yer ass, I don't know what happen, but the last 3, 4 or 5 days, I ain't been feel'n so good. I rekon it's the weather since it's too cold to do anything outside (29 degs last night). And ya know what can happen when ya sit inside "da house" all day all cooped up like a chicken gonna lay a egg....ya get lazy, cantankerous, grumpy an' don't give a flip one way t'other. But as you know, those days pass....usually long bout spring time after the snow melts.

"pesky neighbor" Wayne

2011-11-06T11:33:00.000-06:00

As you may have notice in one my previous posts, Wayne's oxygen level had dropped to dangerous levels. This morning he is back in the hospital with breathing issues, low oxygen level and low blood pressure. Will update his condition as I receive further news. No visitation allowed at this time.

It was cold again this morning, but less the howling winds of yesterday. Now I ain't one to be caught complain'n bout nuttin, but....damn, winter sucks. I suppose that if there was no winter, the Mississippi river would eventually dry up, the Gulf of Mexico would become so saline all the delicious little shrimps would die, humanity would cease to exist due to dehydration an' starvation and this world would revert back to the land of dinosaurs. That could happen ya know.

I done come to the conclusion that....people are different. No, not talk'n bout different from other species of living flesh, but different from one another humans. Our likes an' dislikes are different. Our ways of life are different. We don't see eye to eye on stuff. We are all unique in our own way and the things we do fits our personal uniqueness. Ya get'n the picture yet? My xxwife used to get all in a wad 'cause I didn't like the same things she did. Or I didn't do the things she suggested....or demanded. Then she wouldn't talk to me for a week....thank God. I've found that to be the case in my entire life, people try'n to impose their way of life on mine. I'll admit that I'm just a little bit "redneck" in many ways, but I like my life as it is, do'n what I like when I like, with out changing into someone I ain't gonna like. I done try that a few times an' weren't happy.

I were read'n a blog yesterday bout introverts and extroverts. Never know what they was till I read this guys blog. I rekon I must be a extrovert since I got to be around people to be happy. And I got to have a dawg for company and companionship. Now there was a time when I didn't like people....but I liked dawgs. I could go up to the mountains and camp out for weeks and never give a thought to what's go'n on in town. I were by myself....'cept'n for my dawg. I weren't lonely an' never bored. I rekon I was an introvert. Is one better than the other? Hell, I don't know.

Relat'n to the two items above, I am back at odds as to "winter destination". Everything has been weighed and "da slabs" seems the better choice of the two possibilities. Although I do love south Texas, being from there. Yeah I'm a freak'n Texan liv'n in New Mexico and go'n to California for the winter. Well, last night I were think'n bout all them fishes in south Texas say'n..."Billy Bob, cast over here". Then I got to remember'n bout all them cold northers what cut through me like a knife an' them cold ass blow'n winds....rain an' stuff what happen every year. "Damn Billy Bob, make up yer mind".

Ok....who the hell is butterbean and Sue? Have ya ever read a comment and it sticks with ya? Make ya think...."who the hell is this"? I been try'n to put 2+2 together try'n to figger out who "butterbean" may be an' comes up with a 3. It seem he know me or he wouldn't have challenged me to a game of pool in Rockport. I thought about rvsue here in New Mexico, but give up that notion. Thought bout my nephew Joseph, but he don't know how to spell butterbean. Who the hell is butterbean an' Sue??? This is fun ya know.

I got this piece of wood. It all dirty an' gray color....just a old root I pick up somewheres.

I done this before, strip off the outer skin and reveal the beauty of that piece of wood what lays below. Been gonna work on this for two year now but ain't never got to it.....'cause it were lost. Fount it up under a seat with a bunch of other crap.....what was lost too. Not say'n how long it gonna take to get started skinn'n this prize, but stay tuned. Ya may have to remind me.

Play'n pool

2011-11-05T13:29:00.000-05:00

I were play'n pool one night. Probably ahead a couple or five hunnert dollar. I were "hot" that night. But I were also drunk'er an a skunk. Stumble up to the table, look at them balls through one fuzzy eye an' let 'er rip.

Ya see, it were like this....We was play'n our yearly pool championship tournament in La Marque, Texas. This was a yearly event brought on by some hi roller pool players out of Houston. They brung their best. Side bets averaged bout five hunnert to a thousand a game on two tables. The place was packed. Money chang'n hands. I was assigned to table #2 at the beginning of competition and held that position till I could barely stagger to the table four hours later.

Play'n the same player over and over and over became boring, so we start show'n off....trick shots and stuff, two bank 8 ball shots an such....with a grand bet on the side. By midnight I were tired....never wanna see another pool ball long as I live. After the last game was finish we tally up our winnings....me and that guy from Houston. I were $5 ahead, cain't stand up and bout to puke up all that rot gut beer they was pour'n down me. Jump in my old pick'em up and drive home do'n 20 mile a hour. The following night drinks were on the house for the Billy Bob.

I don't play pool no more 'cause I freak'n can't see the balls. Last time I play was back in 2003 at a local bar in Port Aransas. I were drink'n fresh brewed Colombian hi octane coffee. It were a weekly "buy in" tournament for wanna-be pool sharks. Tak'n my choice of crooked house sticks off'n the wall, I proceeded to knock some balls around the table. Some go in, some don't. I were rusty like a nail. By nights end, I come in second place....weren't no way I could beat that guy.....he good.
Yes, I love pool and Colombian hi octane coffee.

And then there were the time.....bro in law get all dress up, big ol' cowboy hat, boots, western cut trench coat or what ever, foo foo juice an' all that girlie stuff. Had his own stick an' alligator leather carry case.....little knocker thingy in his pocket for the tip.We was go'n to town for a night at the pool hall in Corpus Christi. Don't get me wrong now....he were purty damn good for a wanna be cowboy. But old Billy Bob stomp a mud hole in him right off the bat....all night long. By nights end I were ahead by 3 to 1. That's excellent odds if'n ya play'n for money...what we weren't.

Now let me tell ya bout the time I weren't so good. We was play'n a pool game call "golf" on a snooker table at the local billard hall in Huntington, West by God Virginia. Were six of us play'n. The game of golf is one of the hardest games to play on a pool table. Especially on a 5x10 foots play'n surface. The pockets and the balls are smaller than regulation pool so ya gotta poke 'em just right. I lines up my shots with position for the next shot in mind. BAM....I swaks that ball an' here it go down the table a hunnert mile a hour, hit the cushion an' jump slap on the floor. Didn't matter how hard I think, I miss shots, hit wrong balls, make someone elses ball....I suck. Then we switch over to 9 ball on a regulation table. Damn....I lose a hunnert dollar just like that. Never see that nine ball one time. All in all of play'n for 20 years, I would guess I broke close to even.
Wanna shoot a game fer a dollar???

Cold front blowed in this morn'n. Howl'n winds all night long keep me awake. Temp didn't drop much but it's cold out there....54 degs., windy and no sunshine to brighten my day. This is the beginning of winter in Deming. With that being said, it's almost time for old Billy Bob to hit the road to warmer climes. I been toss'n it around for the last couple month bout where I gonna go this winter. Toss up between south Texas and southern Calif. Well, southern Calif. has won out. Billy Bob is go'n to "da slabs" for the 4th year in a row. Catch me up some rainbow trout at "da pond" in Yuma.

Better late than never....

2011-11-04T19:52:00.000-05:00

Well shoot, I were think'n this morning that I need to post something. But there was nuttin to write about. Didn't do a damn thing yesterday and today was no different. So what do ya write about??

Old "pesky neighbor" Wayne had a bout with his oxygen level last night. Was down to 74. Just 2 days ago it was 94 to 96. Off to the doctor he went and they gonna put him back on oxygen again. Sure am glad his shoes don't fit me.

Called the upholstery guy this morn'n chack'n to see if'n he split the country with the deposit money I gave him. Nope, he still around, but gave me some off the wall sob story bout why the material ain't arrived yet. Something bout his grandmama died, his cousin Raymundo Gonzales was sick and his truck was in the shop. Ok....that sounds logical....I think.

Received a much anticipated email from Amazon that my 500 watt sound system has been shipped. Boy howdy can hardly wait. Shake some winders an' piss off the neighbors.......yeah!!! In case ya ain't seen what I got com'n by UPS, here is a pic....again.

The last system I had of this caliber was a 400 watt system what I blow slap up.....big ol' smoke cloud come out that thing, scare hell out me. Don't get me wrong now. It ain't like I'm skeered of smoke or nuttin like that, but this thing was on fire, mak'n all kind "crackle" sounds and stuff. Turn off a circuit breaker all by it self.

There's a story I would like to tell ya, but don't know if it's appropriate or not. Oh hell....why not? There was this lady....dare I say lady, what moved in the park. Feeled sorry for her husband. They got throwed out the last park they was in for attempt'n to take over and set park rules for the residents. She were one them anti smoke kind of people....any kind of smoke. Her first ploy was to inform all residents that smoking of any kind would no longer be allowed. HUH??? Not even the park owner dare tell us that.

She caused an old 86 year old man, what could hardly walk, to be kicked out of the park for burning weeds and such in a burn barrel. That what they for ya know. Said the smoke make her sick an' stay awake at night. She kept after that old man till he almost had a seizure....or something like that. Turn a water hose on him one time he light up his pipe. He finally moved after a couple months of her harassment. Sad to say, but I think he's dead now.

Then she start up on old Billy Bob, wrong move, complain'n that his bbq'n had to cease because of the smoke from my blackened an' charred chicken caused her headaches an' kept her awake at night. Now she start in on the wrong feller when she start in on old Billy Bob. That smoke were no way near her site. It were all on my porch in a big ol' smoke cloud.....flames an' stuff. Take a water hose put it out. Well, after a couple weeks of her complaints, old Billy Bob done had enough of these nonsense daily complaints. Gonna smoke her ass slap out the park.....that what I gonna do. I cuts up some old 2x4's an' every night I throw some in the blaz'n hot grill. When the wind come out the north, that 2x4 smoke go right to her house. If'n there weren't no north wind, I used a big fan. Good thing I weren't cook'n nuttin with them sticks or it would have been burn slap up. Didn't take long with her complaints to the office staff, what ignored her daily complaints, before they was hook'n it up. Thank God for invent'n 2x4's.

Now what????

2011-11-03T11:36:00.000-05:00

Now that the solar panel project is complete, I don't know what I'm gonna do next. That "to do" list is get'n shorter so maybe I can take a day off. What ya think?

Cole Front come by for a visit late last night so we gonna sit in "da house" today, sip a cup and jaw a bit.

This work'n stuff sure do tell ya how "tuff" ya are. Well old Billy Bob ain't as tuff as he thought he was. I mean I got hurts on top hurts. I need to take a few days off and "do nuttin". If'n ya ain't been pay'n attention, I ain't let up for 2 weeks fix'n stuff an' upgrading what already there. Remodeling. Fix'n broke stuff. Toss'n stuff to the dumpster. Tote'n big old heavy stuff up an' down ladders. Blow'n up expensive meters. Billy Bob is tired....wored slap out.

And then I got to think'n bout why I do all this stuff. Time is run'n out. I ain't gonna be able to do this stuff much longer. Travel'n is get'n to be too much work an' not enough adventure. ("Life without adventure is just an experience") Just yesterday I was a year older than I was a year ago. Slow'n down an' hurt'n more. But....would I be happier to sit down and never get up again? Never start the engine again??? Well hell no....don't think I would.

For Andrea:
Ain't gonna take time to rewrite history this morn'n. Here is a link to 500 MPH Winds. Hope you enjoy. For those what commented on hurricanes, old Billy Bob been through quite a few.....liv'n on an island (Galveston, Texas and Port Aransas, Texas) and all. Some was intentional....hurricane party ya know. None were life threatening as I may have made it sound like. Most time the hurricanes were far enough away that only strong winds, rain and tide surges were an issue. (Winds bout a hunnert mile a hour, rain by the bucket full and tide surge anywheres from 4 to 8 foots). It's easier to sink a boat than it is to drown the Captain.

Progress???

2011-11-02T16:55:00.000-05:00

Yesterday is dead an' gone. When all is complete, I should have enough power to run my table saw, watch TV an' listen to my brand spank'n new 500 watt sound system at the same time. By the way, that new sound system will be here next week.....rattl'n neighbors winders an' stuff. Can hardly wait.

It was some time right bout September. Winds was kick'n up, seas were ris'n. It is hurricane season. Me an' fitst mate "Weird Wanda" was sit'n in the cockpit sip'n a "Coyote cooler" when she says to me..."there smoke com'n out the dock". Well yeah, there should be when the water is up to the top them boards and all the dock electrical is run under the dock.....get'n wet. She wants to go tell the harbor master that the dock is on fire. I says...."oh hell no, they'll turn off the power". So we just sit there wait'n for all hell to break loose when it blow up. What it did. Sound like big ol' firecrackers go'n off under there....steam and sparks fly'n every direction. And then, the big boom. Scare hell out me. Lights out.

Living on a boat without electricity is the pits. Especially when a hurricane is less than a hunnert mile away. It were a year of hurricanes all over the Gulf of Mexico....they was sprouted up like weeds do in Deming. I think this was the year they went through the alphabet an' start over. Now if'n ya never live through a hurricane on a boat, let me tell ya...things get tight....if ya know what I mean. Preparation for such a storm take hours of painstaking measures to guarantee your safety. All dock lines are doubled up and adjusted to withstand the "surge". That when the water get over the docks by bout 4 feets or more. Anything lay'n on deck is stowed below so's it don't blow over on your neighbors boat an' break stuff.

Then it hits.....full bore. Hunnert mile a hour wind howl'n throught the strain'n masts. Rain pelts the decks, finding any conceivable entrance into the dry quarters below. Ya get wet, soaked to the bone. Coyote is bounc'n round in the water like a fish'n cork. Ya don't sleep. Ya just sit there and wait it out, fingers crossed....with a "Coyote cooler" in hand of course. Hours pass, what seem like days, and the storm finally passes leaving a wake of destruction behind. Fortunately, Coyote survives the storm with minimal damage...a blowed out cheap Walmart plastic tarp.

Get'n close to time for another hunnert trips up there on the roof to finish the solar panel installation. Some of ya might think that this project what I partook on my own is an easy job. But ya got to remember, old Billy Bob is 70 year old, an' that ain't no spring chicken by no account. I should be sit'n on my ass tell'n some young feller how to do it....whiles I sip a cup in the shade of "da porch".

Ok, I done talk myself into some porch time....go out there, sip me a cup an' do some think'n.

3:30pm.....
Project is complete. Well not exactly complete, I still got 6 little holes in the roof what need sealed an' disconnect that wire from the old panel. When I get it hooked up to the two new ones, I'll have 400 watts on an optimum sunny day. But that ain't gonna happen today.

Git'n tired

2011-11-01T11:09:00.000-05:00

Holy craps.....old Billy Bob is get'n wore slap out. Don't know what got into me, but damn!!!

Don't this look a whole lot better than a few days ago? That why old Billy Bob is wore slap out. Still ain't decide what to do with that printer.

Yesterday was spent load'n trash bags with stuff and haul'n them off to the dumpster. Good stuff. Stuff I done bought and pay for with hard earned dollars. No longer will "Sally da house" be haul'n all over the country a couple three hunnert pounds of "stuff". But I ain't done yet. Next is the hallway humongous drawers where I keep stuff what ain't got nowheres else to live. Important stuff....like tape, glue, fuses, light bubs, empty shotgun shells, pieces of used wood, old dirty socks, a few tools (table saw, engine hoist, extension ladder....stuff like that) ......you know what I'm talk'n bout....junk. Toss it in a drawer and forget bout it.

Mr. UPS guy come by yesterday afternoon with the new solar panels. Boy howdy is old Billy Bob all excitis. I were so excitis I almost climbed up on the roof last night to remove the old panels. But here come old "pesky neighbor" Wayne and his "mama hen" sit'n on "da porch". Before ya get the idea that Wayne has some crazy woman liv'n with him, this lady live up the street with her husband Mark.

Did ya all see Barney's brand spank'n new boat? You can see it right here....OFM. One fine look'n craft.

Don't that look like he sit'n on a big ol' banana??? Is that a match'n life vest he wear'n.....hmmmmm?

Ok....it get'n late. Gotta take Wayne some stuff, jaw a bit and then climb up there on the roof. Will attempt a photo account of todays project.

Halloween scares...

2011-10-31T11:16:00.000-05:00

We lived in a big ol' beach house up on stilts, 10 foots off the ground. It was Halloween an ol' Billy Bob gonna scare me some kids what is com'n down the street all dress up in costumes. I were dress up as a mummy, strips of a bed sheet wrap round all my limbs an' stuff. Damn it were hot in that get up. At the bottom of the steps leading up to the "goodie" candy bowl at the top. I placed some old junk from the back yard and set my old raggedy "sit'n" chair right in the middle. I sits there, not mov'n a muscle in anticipation of my first customer of the night. Hee hee, hee....this gonna be fun.

My first customers was a couple little boys bout 4 or 5 year old. Mamas is stand'n out at the street. They walks up giv'n me the eye when all a sudden I jumps up. That was all it took....them kids was gone....pooof, just like that. One them mamas was so upset, she call me a "sum bitch".....and whole bunch other choice words. Not gonna scare no "little" kids no more.

Then here they come, bout 5 little girls in their prissy girlie outfits.....all of age, bout 8, 9 or 10 year old. They look at me giggl'n an' pok'n fun at me as I sit there like a rock....never move. Up the stairs they go say'n "trick or treat". That when ol' Billy Bob come slap alive, mak'n gurgling sounds, snarling and headed for the steps. That was about the same time when them little girls come alive too. They was scream'n to high heaven, look'n for an escape route off'n them porch steps. Wouldn't surprise me if every one of them little girls was pee'n their pants by now. One little girl fall slap off the steps an' hit the ground a runn'n......bout a hunnert mile a hour. No more scare'n little girls on the steps.

Then there was the little "Darth Vader" youngster. He were all by his self, strutt'n his stuff.....his light saber swing'n side to side. I jumps straight up, arms frail'n, right in front that boy....boy howdy. That when he cut loose with that sword thingy an' beat hell out me with it. Sheesh!!! No more scare'n kids with sticks, baseball bats or light sabers.

Yesterday old Billy Bob cut loose and tackled the nasty job of clean'n that bedroom. I mean to tell ya, it were a mess. Three bags full of stuff what I ain't never use or see in years and ain't gonna never use in the years to come. Pull out drawers stuffed with god only know what.....or why. Billy Bob is clean'n house. Three drawer slide plastic thingys had to be replaced where all that weight had busted them into little pieces. Cheap junk. That was a job I don't want to ever do again.

Then here come old "pesky neighbor" Wayne. Right in the middle of fix'n that last broke drawer. See what I mean bout "pesky"? And then here come some more "pesky's". In no time flat, "da porch is fill with people talk'n bout some special star out there, meteorites, solar flares.....what the hell??? No offense Dizzy, but old Billy Bob ain't got no interest in that kind of stuff. I would rather plant rocks an' watch 'em grow into boulders. Now don't get me wrong, I like to look at the moon an' all them gazillion stars up there, but I ain't gonna be talk'n bout them.

Today is solar panel delivery day an' old Billy Bob ain't even ready to install them. There's decisions to be made. Do I leave the one good solar panel on the roof along with the 2 new ones or do just install the new ones and dumpster the old? More on that after I go sit on "da porch", sip a cup and do some think'n.

Poor old Wayne has got his self a "mama hen". That woman don't give him a chance to do nuttin on his own. Wayne has got to do stuff by his self if'n he's gonna make it. Ya can't depend on someone to do everything for ya. That's all I have to say bout that. She already pissed at me.

Ok...."da porch" time....an' some think'n.

Work work work....that's all I ever do...

2011-10-30T11:49:00.000-05:00

First off is "a good morn'n to all ya". All Ya???? Now what the hell is "all ya"? That would probably fit in the category of "y'all", "youse" and "you all". What ever your preference...."Good Morning".

If "all ya" ain't notice, there seems to be a remodel craze go'n on. I just got back from Barney's place (OFM) an' he done went and tore out half his kitchen dinette. Bought him up one them office chairs like old Billy Bob done. Now we can both sit back in comfort while we write our blogs and watch TV.

One thing what is hard to do is to answer questions. In some cases, a simple yes or no is just not enough. Ya got to splain stuff....or in my case, I gotta write another story. I'm referr'n to a question I got a couple days ago about living on a boat. Now how the hell can I write a seven year long story bout liv'n on a boat? But....to appease my audience, the old Billy Bob will attempt to scratch the surface of being a "sailboat captain".

It was in late 1995 when I packed my last box of belong'ns aboard Coyote tied up out there on the end of dock #1. She weren't the same boat I fell in love with a few years before, but I had a dream and she could once more be a beautiful "pirate ship". I met a few neighbors, had a couple rum coolers, ate some dock fix'ns and settled in to a new life on the water.
JoJo was a couple months old by now and took to boat life right off. Run'n rould check'n stuff out....mark'n his territory. Drizzle here, drizzle there....."this is mine". JoJo made his first dive into the water one dark night while we was sit'n in the cockpit enjoy'n a soothing "rum cooler" and admiring our new home. KERSPLUSH....dog in da water. "Quick, gimme a flashlight". How the hell ya gonna see a black dog in black water in the black of night? All I hear is his little feet slpash'n in an attempt to find some safe haven. When the light finally found him, he was sitting on the rudder stick'n out the water by a couple inches. He was shivering cold.....glad to be back on board.

Tools was broke out to remove all the teak decks that had seen their better days. Thousands of dollars worth of useless deteriated teak was toted to the dumpster. Coyote now had teakless fiberglass decks. Brightwork was sanded and refinished with 7 to 8 coats of varnish. Coyote was look'n good. In the mean time "Barnacle Bill" had been gifted with a "captains" cap what he wore proudly as he strutted up and down the docks. Yes, I strutted. I was a Captain ya know.

My first winter on board Coyote was spent try'n to keep warm. It's cold on the water ya know. Blankets was bought, a sleep'n bag, a couple electric heaters and another bottle of Pussers rum. I were set. Winter passed quickly into spring. Life was good. Well, it wasn't really THAT good. We had storms....bad storms. Pelting rains, blow'n hurricane force winds an' cold northers make yer bones shiver all over. But work continued come rain or shine. Coyote was look'n good and Barnacle Bill is get'n seasoned into an "old salt". Learn all kind of nautical terms, like head, galley, salon, berth......and a few what I won't mention here. Life was good.

I'll leave it at that for this morning. Just the beginning of an adventure never to be forgotten.

Boy howdy let me tell ya, liv'n in an RV is just like liv'n on a boat.....work, work, work. The biggest part of yesterday was spent throw'n out junk and clean'n. Another bag to the dumpster an' a vacuum cleaner bag full to the brim. Where all that sand, dirt an' grime come from? I only do this onest a year. Other times it's just touch and go. Some peole don't realize how much work is involved in clean'n an RV. There ain't that many places to pack stuff away, so the old catch all system is used.

This will be my main project for the day. Where I gonna put all that stuff? That printer? Makes perfect prints of stuff, does photos great.....dumpster. That is unless I can find a place to put it and use it for photos only. But that would mean I would have to move my other laptop so's I could hook it up. Gotta think on that.

Ok, it's time for Billy Bob to get busy....work, work, work.....

How time flys....

2011-10-29T11:30:00.000-05:00

Boy howdy, here it is the ending of another month already. And won't be long till the end of another year. Where does time go so fast?

I were sit'n here sip'n a cup an' got to think'n bout what I was do'n a few years back and why I ain't do'n the same stuff today. Well honestly I can tell ya....what I was do'n back then was just slap ass dangerous and nobody in their right mind would be do'n stuff like that. If I was to attempt to relive stunts I done "a few years back", I would probably be dead before tomorrow morn'n.

Most my life has been an adventure, well beyond just an experience or a "normal day". If I didn't end up at the end of a day either in a hospital or jail, I had a good day. No I'm not a freak'n criminal or a daredevil like that dude what jump motorcycles over a hunnert school busses.....break'n bones an' stuff. But when old Billy Bob walk upon the scene, something was gonna happen. You've hear me say many times, "life without adventure is just an experience". Well that the way I have lived my life since childhood.

When I lived on the farm, I was a terror to all the farm animals. They see me com'n, they was outta here. I was a rock throw'n fool. Could knock a squirrel out a tree on the fist throw. The other boys kept there distance when I had a supply of rocks near by. I rode pigs in the pig pen. Make 'em squeal like a pig. Have ya ever been bit by a pig? Jump up on the back of a new born calf out in the barn yard. Ride that sucker like a rodeo star. Mama cow beat my ass though. Run me slap under a barbwire fence....bout a hunnert mile a hour....me yell'n "MOMS" loud I could. Somewheres back there on my butt I still got the scar. Jump off the smoke house right in the middle of a old lumber pile. Put a nail plumb out the top my foot what the doctor pour alcohol and stuff like that. Now that was an experience I'll never forget. Pull a fox out his hole down there by the creek bank. Well yeah he bite me a good'un. Doctor put more that god awful alcohol on it. Jump on that old ugly dog what was sleep'n under my tree. He bite me too. Back to the doctor and his alcohol. Old Tom cat put a number on me a few times too. More alcohol. Have ya ever jump out a tree swing....backwards....downhill....into a little creek....cuts an' bruises??? Still more alcohol. These tid bits of information were just the beginning of "The Adventures of Billy Bob". Yeah old Billy Bob was a "wild child" an' he weren't even 7 year old yet.

The 2 weeks of feel'n good done up an' went away. Ya see, I were all fired up to get my work list down a couple more items an' it hit me.....don't do nuttin....hurt pain agony....lazy. But I did do something anyhows. Marked the dash air off'n my list. But as far as the rest of the list....nuttin. Billy Bob don't feel good. Hurt all over. Smell like Ben Gay....eat'n aspirin like they was candy.

Look'n round "da house".....what the hell do I keep that stuff for? So far I have "dumpstered" two great big ol' bags of stuff and from the looks of things, two more to follow right shortly. Then I got to think'n, why do men keep worthless junk stuff like that in the first place when they know damn well they'll never use it? Makes no sense to me, but it sure looks purty sit'n up there on a shelf. Some is memories....the rest is junk. God help us poor junk collect'n rednecks.

Holy crap.....

2011-10-28T10:25:00.000-05:00

Ok, what the hell is go'n on? I waked up this morn'n thought I were gonna freeze to death. Well yeah, it's 32 degs outside and 49 in "da house"....turn on some heat.

First things first this morning. Ain't nobody even looked at that piece of wood. All they see was a little coyote hang'n up there on the wall next to it. That coyote has a story behind it, so we gonna attempt to tell a story this morning.

Back in about 1987 or there abouts, I moved back to Port Aransas, Texas from a miserable 10 years in West by God Virginia. In the evenings I would take a casual stroll on the docks in the marina look'n at boats an' stuff....dream'n. There on dock #2 sat this beautiful "pirate ship", a 41 foot Formosa ketch. I fell in love with this boat. In the cockpit sat an older feller with a bottle of Captain Morgan in his hand and a proud "captains" smile on his face. The teak woodwork glistened in the evening sun, the teak decks were the color of sand. She sat high in the water, her masts reaching to the heavens. What a beauty. "Coyote" was her name.

As time passed, my deck walking gradually diminished to once a month....and then to once every 6 months. In the mean time, the older feller had fell overboard and drowned from over indulgence of the local brew. After a few years, Coyote had lost her tone. Her brightwork was now deteriorated, her teak decks had turned a dirty gray. She was dying a sad death.

Then one evening while walk'n the docks, I seen Coyote sitting all alone at the end of the dock....a sad sight to behold. I took a stroll down that way and low an' behold, on her boat davits hung a 'for sale' sign. My heart started pound'n in anticipation of ownership of this once glistening beautiful "pirate ship".

Arrangements were made for monthly payments and "Barnacle Bill" moved aboard in 1995 with tools, a gallon of varnish and a little dog name of JoJo. But a mascot was needed....other than a dawg. What could be a better mascot, other than a dawg, than a stuffed "Wile E. Coyote"? I searched every store I could think of look'n for my elusive mascot. But none was to be found. Then Christmas day, my son Daniel handed me a package....his gift to me, a stuffed "Wile E. Coyote". He hung around in the boat for 7 years, hung around in "Alice" for 3 1/2 years and now hangs around in "Sally da house". To a kid, he would be a toy, but to old Billy Bob, he is a memory of 7 years of a wonderful life living on a 41 foot Formosa ketch. Life was good.

Work list gets smaller

2011-10-27T12:03:00.000-05:00

Good morn'n all you wonderful people. "What the hells wrong with you Billy Bob? Ya never say good morn'n to no body". Well shoot, I feel good this morn'n, so good morn'n.

Had us a whole bunch of wind come thunder'n through Deming last night. Rain was on all sides of us, but not a drop at "da house". Was 41 degs this morn'n, but it was nice an' cozy inside. I rekon tonight will drop into the 30's with the cold front. Damn....that gonna be cold.

See there, I tole ya. that board right next to Wile E. Coyote is the board old Billy Bob done replace. Can ya tell if it's a new board? Very close observation you will see that it's not oak like I wanted, but I bet ya a quarter you can't see it from your house. Only I will know for sure.

Remember that wireless printer what ain't hook up wireless? Well let me tell ya right now....it's a piece of crap for printing photos. Junk. Throw it in the dumpster.....that what I want to do with it. But then again, I didn't read the directions for printing high quality photos. "Break out the book Billy Bob....read".

Another comment popped up bout them damn solar panels. Let me see if I can set everyones minds at ease. One of the two is putting out right at 90% capacity @ 7.0 amps....that's good. Now the one in question is putting out 2.2 amps. Each one checked separately through the charge controller. No mistake, one is not producing rated amperage. Flash.....new solar panels will be shipped today or tomorrow. That what the guy tole me anyhows.

Ok, gotta go over and check on "pesky neighbor" Wayne. Be back laters.

Wored slap out...

2011-10-26T18:12:00.000-05:00

Old Billy Bob ain't miss'n. He just been soooo busy he ain't had no time for blogg'n an' stuff like that. Had to take a break.

Couple day ago, yesterday morn'n me an' Sadie Mae jumps in "that jeep" for a trip to town. Turn the key an' it do nuttin. Now what the hell? Brand spank'n new battery slap dead'er an' a door knob. Charge that sucker up an' away we go. Stop by and visit my financial adviser. His advice was to quit spend'n money what ya ain't got. So's I borrow some change from one account and put it in another.....just like Obama do. Then I went on a spend'n spree, shell'n out twenty dollar bills to everybody. Upholstery guy gonna fix my couch just like in a plush Prevost couch. Went by the lumber yard and bought me up some boards an' stuff to replace the rotted out board an' stuff. Pick up some refrigerant for the dash air conditioner. Back to "da house" fix'n stuff.

Did I tell ya i done blow up another meter what I was check'n them solar panels with? Holy cows, that sucker says....poooof. But anyhows, the solar panels are headed for the dumpster soon as the brand spank'n new ones get here.

5pm....
Took care of all the business of the couch. Changed color tough. I can do that ya know. In about a week the Carmal leather will be here and 3 days after that I will have a brand spank'n new couch in "da house".

Solar panels have been ordered. Ain't nuttin more to say bout that.

Installed the new wood on the slide out what was rotted on the end......mark that off the list.

I'm gonna sleep on it, but since I've spent this much $$$$, I may as well spend another $400. What ya think, HUH????

Wayne's recovery

2011-10-24T14:39:00.000-05:00

Boy howdy' old "pesky" Wayne sure do light up when I tell him bout all the people root'n for him and wish'n him well.

It didn't take long for Wayne to get back to his old "pesky" tricks. Here I were sit'n at the table drink'n my first cup this morn'n an' here he come hobbl'n cross the yard to "da porch". Big grin on his face. I think he's very pleased with his progress. I ask him if he wanted the golf cart over there so's he could ride back and forth. Nope he says, he wants to walk. He's settled in at home just like he was never "miss'n in action". Five months is a long time. We may go play a round of golf ball swak'n this week if'n it ain't too cold. Give Wayne a chance for fresh air, the smell of fresh cut grass and drive the cart a hunnert mile a hour. He'll like that I'm sure. Maybe even let him swak a few hisself.

Cold front gonna be here in a couple days. Hot damn, I gotta get out of here before the first freeze. But I don't think I'm gonna make it. This is New Mexico and we have some strange weather here. Supposed to drop into the 30's at night with this front. That when my water hose freeze up an' I have to use dog water for my morning coffee. Most time I just let 'er drip at night and have water come morning, but sometimes I forget. And my memory ain't get'n no better with each passing day.

Spend the entire morn'n mess'n with that solar panel. Crank up that brand spank'n new meter an' everything check out good. It should work. So I lug that thing back up to the roof an' hook it up.....in parallel with the other one. Go back down that ladder for the umpteenth time to check the output. Ok, where the hell did the sun wander off to? Clouds have rolled in and now I got to wait till they gone. Slim chance 'cause we supposed to get some rain today. But.....with what little sun there is, it seems both solar panels are producing megawatts of electricity. "You good Billy Bob. Now, what the hell did you do to fix that panel"? At this given point an' time in my life, I have absolutely no idea. Ya rekon it may have been just my touch what did it???? Will know for sure as soon as I have a sun filled day. Until then, cross'n fingers.

Speak'n of my touch.....way back when I were in the refrigeration business, I got a call from a long time commercial customer. He had a refrigeration unit what was deader like a door nail....didn't do nuttin. I walks up to that unit and says..."a good kick in the ass will fix that". So I rares back and I kicks that dead unit a good'un. That sucker crank right up an' I never figger out why it had quit in the first place. That kick earned me a service call and the admiration of a happy customer.

Word usage

2011-10-23T14:27:00.000-05:00

Well shoot, I think I got some splain'n to do this morn'n. After read'n yesterdays comments, it seem some of ya think Wayne is all well. Well that ain't so. When I said he drove up in a big ol' pick'em up truck, he weren't do'n the driving....he were just riding. If ya look around you at some folks that have had a stroke, you will see that their capabilities are much degraded. Parts of their body will not function as it did before.

Wayne is lucky. He has the ability to walk, but he ain't gonna be break'n no speed records for a long time. With the help of a walker he is able to move about and do his necessary stuff. He has regained use of his right hand and arm, but not his left. Maybe 25% usage in the left. After 3 strokes, I would say he is in very good condition....considering what he went through. I hope I never have to go through such an ordeal he has.

So what did Billy Bob do yesterday? I were sit'n on the couch think'n bout mak'n a trip up on the roof when I spyed a bag of Cheetos an' a bag of Ruffles look'n at me from inside a cabinet. Well hell, "eat'em up"....what I did. Then I got sick. Holy cows....puke and everything. Took me a nap, miss supper an' go to bed feel'n terrible. But I feel good to go this morning.

I were read'n Barneys blog (OFM) an' look at them cast iron legg'ins thingys he got on for wade fish'n. That remind me the time I were wade fish'n on the beach in Port Aransas try'n to catch me up some spotted sea trout. Yeah I were barefooted. Little critters was crawl'n all over my feet get'n out my way when I step on something what don't run away. The water thrashed under my bare feet an' I were "out of there" in a flash. A dark shadow was go'n the other way. Yup, it were a sting ray.

Look'n like I only got bout 5 weeks to make a final decision what I'm gonna do for the winter. At this point, it look like I'm gonna be headed west to the "slabs" again this year. But that decision ain't written on a rock. I don't know bout the rest of ya, but a decision such as this bugs the hell out me. I lose sleep over it. I have to drink more coffee to calm my nerves. Decisions are an important part of my life. "Well DUH Billy Bob". Maybe I better go outside, sit on "da porch", sip a cup an' think this thing over.

"My God Billy Bob, now look what ya went an' did. Ya slap blowed up that volt meter". Well it weren't my fault. Ya see, when I was on my Texas trip, I left it lay'n outside....an' it rain on it. It would still work, but after what I done to it today, it dead....poooof, just like that. And then, I was gonna go to Walmart, get me a new one. Freak'n battery dead in "that jeep". What the hell? Maybe I better take the rest of the day off.

Battery charge up....head'n off to Walmart.

Wayne is home...

2011-10-22T15:51:00.001-05:00

Boy howdy, I get's up this morn'n, drinks me up some coffee and here come "pesky neighbor" Wayne drive up in a big ol' one ton pick up truck. Take a ladder get in an' out that thing.

I had promised Wayne I would make him some good coffee soons he come home, so I put on another pot while he was stumbl'n up the steps to his house. My God, is he drunk??? Then I takes him a big ol' cup. Hot damn, he drink that up like he ain't had no coffee in months. Well he really didn't. That stuff they serve in hospitals and nursing homes would never pass for coffee in the real world.

We sit there on his porch for a spell gabber jaw'n when he say, "lets go sit on "da porch". Grabs his 2 wheel walker and away he go....climb up my steps like they weren't there. Much better than I had expected. After a bit he says...."come on Sadie, lets go for a ride". They jump in the golf cart an' away they go....do'n a hunnert mile a hour round the track. So good to see old "pesky neighbor" Wayne back home.

Of course I ain't did nuttin today and probably won't. I have the option to choose what I gonna do an' what I ain't gonna do. And I choose the lesser of the two options...."do nuttin". Although, I been think'n bout climb'n up there on the roof and check out that solar panel again........hmmmmm, should I or shouldn't I?

Day of reckoning...or something like that

2011-10-21T17:02:00.000-05:00

YEEE HAAA!!! Wild Man

This is what happen when ya take a shower and don't brush your hair before it dries......

When I roll out of bed at 9am this morning, I says "what the hell". I ain't never sleep this long in years. So what could be on my mind to sleep that long?

I'll tell ya what it is. Ya see, I'm mak'n all these pepairs to "da house" and don't know how much money I want to spend on them. With everything what is broke, I think I'm look'n close to $4000 or more. That would include some new shoes ya know.....$2400 for the set. These ones are over 7 year old, so they gonna blow up one these days....send "Sally" out in the weeds an' be break'n all kinds of stuff. Damn, just the thought make my cringe all over. BaBOOM....out in the weeds somewheres.

Anyhows where was I? Solar panel. Ok, just order a new one, mount and hook that sucker up an' be done with it. I check that thing out fortyhunnert time and it still don't work....drive'n me plumb nuts. Fount one online, Kyrocera KD135SX-UPU, to replace it with for $330 plus shipping. I'm think'n $330 plus shipping is a wonderful way to stay out of the State Institution for the mentally challenged.....ie.. nutso ward.

Look all over online for a replacement sleeper sofa to replace ol' wored out one I got. Dogs ya know. Guess what....$1000+, plus shipping. That gonna have to wait till I check out a upholstery shop. Damn!!!

And then we got that backup monitor to consider. Do I spend $700 for a new one, or just take my chances? Actually, a backup monitor is just a luxury item for ya to be distracted from "safe" driv'n every time ya look at that little tv screen to see if'n "that jeep" is still back there. What good would it do for me to watch "that jeep" come unhook and take off across the weeds do'n a hunnert mile a hour? It's either back there or it ain't.

Now we comes to the slide out. Yeah I know, I been talk'n bout it a long time. Remember.....it don't slide in an' out like it suppose to do.....over works the motor. Well I go looks at it again and maybe I fount the problem. The two strong like bull metal actuator arms what is attached to to the wall is sit'n on an' sliding on the frame part under the slide out. That ain't right. The bottom of the slide out sits on rollers in case ya wanted to know. I know, I can't 'splain it no better than that. So how I gonna fix it?

Dad burn flies just won't let my alone. Follow me everywheres I go. But I'm gonna fix them. Gonna take my monthly shower a week early. Put me on some clean duds an' I be good to go. Take that you damn pesky flies.

Think'n back to the past

2011-10-20T20:30:00.000-05:00

I were tickle pink yesterday with all the comments bout beans in chili. I were expect'n sympathetic comments bout how hard I been work'n an' some suggestions on how to fix all this broke stuff, but all I got was "beans" comments.

Well, I won't be talk'n bout chili (with beans) today that for sure, but you can bet yer bippy I know how to make the stuff. In fact, this pot of chili is one the bestest I brewed up in the last 5 year. It so close to perfect it would amaze the judges at any "chili cook off" competition in any part of the country. Except for them damn beans float'n round in there. I come in second place in competition with this same recipe back in bout 1989 or so. In that same same year, I come in first place in the "rusty bucket" parade for "best of show" with an old rusted out 1972 VW bus. Still got that trophy somewheres in my collection of junk.

Speak'n of beans. Real beans. We as a group of bout 15 of us, (University of Texas maintenance crew and a few from the boat crew) took our yearly fish'n trip to Choke Canyon State Park where we rented one them enclosed cabin enclosures to store hundreds of pound of fish'n stuff and groceries for a week. Old carpenter Ron breaks out his big ol' cook'n pot, fill it up with a couple three gallon water and bout 5# of butter beans an some ham hocks. Put that big ol' pot on the fire an' off we go fish'n. Now when we gets back a few hours later, them beans is all tender and ready to eat.....along with the regular conglomeration of camp cook'n. Bout 9 a clock pm we was all break'n out sleep'n bags and cots for a good night of sleep...in the enclosed air tight cabin shelter. Snor'n started right round 10 a clock. And then......RIPPPPP, someone done let one loose. Then on the other side the room.....RIPPPP, there go another. By 11 a clock pm, the whole room were full of these god awful RIPPPPP's.... like ya never hear in yer whole life. People is go'n outside....sleep'n bags an' blankets under arm. The house was vacated and left to the critters of the woods. This is a true story so don't be add'n nuttin to it.

Did I ever tell ya bout the time..... In Port Aransas, Texas, we had a yearly "anything that will float but a boat" race competition in the harbor. I were gonna win this year....I were sure of it. I took this old bicycle an' build me a paddle wheeler out it. Complete with a styrofoam outriggers so's it don't turn over or sink, a rudder where the front wheel go an' a great big ol' sail (wisht I knowed where that pic was at). I had it all decked out with flags an' stuff and even a pair of oversize granny underdrawers hang'n from the mast. Hot damn, that were one good look'n rig. But it didn't work out like I had planned it to. Oh it peddle paddled just fine....go'n a hunnert mile a hour. That when something go wrong. Ya see, when I build that paddle wheel, I use screws instead of bolts to hold it together....and all them screws come loose. All the peddl'n I do, that thang don't go nowheres. Just sit there dead in the water, while all them other boats is headed for the finish line. Well hell, put the sail up and sail cross the finish line.....ya still got a chance to save face. Up go the sail...."there ain't no wind Billy Bob". I stuck...stranded...all by my self.....red face embarrassed. Fortunately, there were a Coast Guard boat at the festivities....what come out and rescue me. I were the first one to the turn around point and the last one to the finish line. Damn that was a fun day.

Break time....look out "da porch", here I comes.

5:30 pm.....The boring stuff.
Boy howdy, this old guy been busy again today. Right after I drag myself off "da porch", I starts tear'n stuff apart. Mainly the slide out what been giv'n me trouble for the last couple years. Ya do know what a slide out is, right? It's a wall in an RV what you can "slide" it out to make the room bigger. In my case, almost big enough for a square dance or the "cotton eye joe". I jack that thing up with a prys bar an' a bunch of 2x4's so I could check the rollers. They all ok......'cept that one. One roller is 1/2 inches lower than the others.What the hell, how that happen. Oh yeah, remember when I had a flood? That part of the floor, right where that roller is, sinked. As a temporary repair/test, I slides a piece of 1/2 inches thick plywood under the slide out....right where that roller is. Unjack everything and push that button. It go in.... an' it go out. But not like a brand spank'n new one.

Then I goes round there to my battery bank compartment to check to voltage on one set. What the hell, who turn the charger back on? Now I got to wait one more day. That one solar panel has the other set charge up almost to the brim....gonna run over in a bit.

While I were tak'n a break out there on "da porch", up drives this big ol' Fed Ex truck with my brand new chair. Damn, that was quick. I put it all together....with out do'n any read'n of them directions, and it's gonna work.
See.......I tole you!!!

That's all I did an' I'm tired. Don't want nobody com'n down to the "da porch" bother'n me with silly stuff.
Got my spaghetti over there on the stove boil'n away. How damn, can hardly wait. Chili spaghetti spaghetti with garlic powder (not powder dummy....garlic salt) sprinkle on top an' some garlic toast on the side. Boy Howdy!!!

Bust'n my butt....

2011-10-19T16:34:00.000-05:00

Just a short update of what I were do'n yesterday. No, I'm not talk'n bout "do'n nuttin". I been bust'n it today.

But before I get into all the work I been do'n, I got to comment on a comment I received bout my Billy Bob chili. Yes real chili do have beans. I could leave it at that but let me tell ya how chili come to be. Ya see, my great grandaddy was a cowpoke back in 1860's on a cattle drive to Kansas. Every day the old cook would serve up a big ol' pot of pintos for breakfast, lunch and supper with sour dough pan bread. Well my great GD got tired them beans so's he went out an' fount a old cow what died the night before. He cut that sucker up and sneaked some it in that pot od beans along with some hot peppers what he fount grow'n wild. That how chili come to be. Later, eastern folk come south and west what didn't like pintos. So they took 'em out an' call their beanless chili "chili con carne", what was later in the 50's changed to simply "chili". Now that's a fact.

Ok......my rotted piece of wood project on the slide out.

First off if'n ya look real close ya can see sunshine com'n in under that seal. That where the water com'n in I betcha. That ain't right. Gonna have to fix that.....but not today. It ain't rain'n.

Now here's a look see at that piece of rotted wood.....see down there on the end.....yeah that's it. Now this will be a simple fix, but it ain't gonna look the same when I get done. That crap is made out of cheap particle board with fake oak tape on it. Old Billy Bob gonna go for the real thing.....strong like bull solid oak. That is if'n the freak'n lumber yard has any oak in stock. If not, I'll stain some pine or something like that. Put a good coat of polyurathane on it no one know the difference. I did that one time so I knows what I'm talk'n bout.

Ok....remember I tole ya bout my backup monitor not work'n? Well, I tore that sucker plumb apart. Why didn't someone tell my them little TV's will knock ya on your butt.....damn. Anyhows, the monitor is done bite the dust.

If ya get real close to it, you can smell the burn something, but I can't see what is burn up. Replacement time.

Ok.....chili.....with beans is all heat up for old Billy Bob. Today is chili an' crackers day. I think I made enough to last bout 3 more days. Tomorrow is chili (with beans) spaghetti. If'n ya ain't never have chili spaghetti, ya ain't got no idea what ya miss'n. Hot damn......YUM YUM eat' em up.

Undecided??? Who me?

2011-10-18T16:38:00.000-05:00

Boy howdy, decisions on top of decisions. You would think mak'n decisions for an old retired fart would be easy, but it ain't.

Ya see, it's like this......some of the decisions I need to make revolve around what I am able to do as I get older. You know, like do I go out and buy a snorkl'n outfit, (wet suit, flippers an' one then mask thingys) when all I gonna do is get my feet wet in some puddle somewhere. Well, the decisions I gotta make ain't that extreme, but they are important. Do I buy something just 'cause I want it or 'cause I gonna use it? Most stuff I go out and buy end up sit'n on a shelf or out in the dumpster. That ain't too thrift wise.

Remember that great big ol' airplane I was tell'n ya bout what I built 6 year ago?

Well, it ain't see it's first crash in all that time. What the hell I gonna do with a airplane what ain't never fly? Just sits there do'n nuttin. But......them was the bestest 3 months I spend in a long time....glue'n little pieces of wood together an' all that stuff. But it's got to go. Need the room for a helicopter.....decisions decisions.

And then.....there's this Boze sound system what I bought. Since it don't rattle stuff, I got to decide if that great big ol' 500 watt system needs to be ordered. But I don't listen to much music anymores like I used to. And if i hook it to the TV, I gotta turn the "boom'n" bass almost completely off just to understand what the hell they say'n. Decisions decisions.

And then.....where I gonna spend the winter. This is the most important of them all. Do I go to the "slabs" or do I go to south Texas. Again, age makes a difference in what I can do an' what I can't do. I know damn well I can't ride a freak'n horse no more. I can't dig for gold no more. Be do'n good if'n I could catch a fish.

Let's take a look see what I can do at the slabs. There bout 20 people talk'n their lips plumb off'n their face for me to go to the slabs. At the slabs I have beautiful spring time temps all winter long....40's at night and lower 70's most every day. Play Texas Hold'em 2 or 3 times a week. Campfire almost every night. Free food at least onest a week. Always someone to talk to.....BS mostly. Live entertainment every saturday night at the Range. You know, old fart stuff. Nuttin real excit'n.

Now if'n I was to go to south Texas, I gonna have all the fish'n I could handle for the rest of my life. But then.....I ain't gonna go out on a lake in a freak'n boat if'n it's cold (under 70 degs). I would be in my favorite State out of all 57 of 'em......although, there ain't nuttin wrong with New Mexico. Well yeah there is. It's flat ass cold in the winter and hotter an' hell in the summer. I were really talk'n bout the scenery, not the weather. All the Mexican food my belly will hold....ain't got that at the slabs. Ordered tacos one time....they was 3 inch long.....with fish on 'em. That ain't no taco. Decision decision.

Ok, run the clean'n lady off. She start cut'n corners. By that I mean, she weren't wash'n the corners....and there lot's on corners in "da house".

Mak'n me up a half pot of "Billy Bob" chile since it's get'n cool in Deming. Gonna leave if thick so's I can eat me up a couple chili samiches. Then, I'll thin it out a bit for chili spaghetti. Damn I like that stuff. Bestest chili this side the Mississippi. Think I'll have me one right now.......UMMM....yum yum.

Oh my God Billy Bob....you have did it again.

Ain't did hardly nuttin today. Seperated the battery bank into two banks so's I can check out each battery. That was a time consum'n endeavor if I do say so myself. Cleaned each an' every one them cable terminals and battery post, even though they didn't need it. Got the solar panel charg'n one set at 6 amps and the big charger equaliz'n the other set.

And then I hear this click'n noise. I says "what the hell is that"? All the 12 volt was disconnected, so's it can't be that. So it got to be something 120 volts.....right??? Well, I goes over there to turn off the breaker when I sees my water connection hose dripping water in one compartment.....click, click, click as it hit the plastic bottom. Or as Barney would call if, poly something or another. Plastic to me.

Ok, back to wash'n corners.....

Will I live or die....

2011-10-17T12:20:00.000-05:00

Holy crap, what have you done Billy Bob?

Yesterdays dozen or so trips up and down that ladder put a hurt'n on my back. Won't be no ladder climb'n today. Last night was terrible try'n to get in a comfortable position for some much needed beauty rest. And then this morn'n, I didn't know if I was gonna make it to the coffee pot or not. If'n ya ever had a back problem, what most men have from try'n to be "Mr. Macho", you know where I com'n from. Slipped discs 'cause severe pain.

Back to repairs an' stuff. A few hours were invested last night online look'n for replacement solar panels (one), a brand spank'n new couch, and replacement chairs. Fount them all.....well maybe not a new couch. You know how much them things cost for a RV???? My God!!! If I could sneak across the border (Mexico) with that thing on my back, I could it recovered for less than half the price a new one.....in leather. But I'm red tagged to go to Mexico until I get a passport....what I ain't gonna do.

Now what the hell did you do Billy Bob? Where is your cleaning lady? Don't know what it is, but every time I get someone to clean house for me, they don't come back. Hired my niece one year to clean. She got half the ceiling washed and never come back. I know I sure don't like clean'n, but I was pay'n them hard earned $$$$ to do the job.

Now i gotta go sit on "da porch", sip a cup an' do some serious think'n.
Oh wait.....here a pic of that little black box thingy on the back of my solar panel.

It's a slow world...

2011-10-16T17:18:00.000-05:00

Things sure are slow'n down in the blog'n world lately. Either that or things are speed'n up in the "every day life" world. I remember back a time when I had so much extra time on my hands I didn't know what to do with myself. But holy cows, they increased the speed limits on the Interstates, big ol' malls have opened up, nobody eats at home.....it's a dog eat dog world. Hurry hurry hurry......no time to relax.

While I was sit'n round yesterday....relex'n, I noticed a water damaged board. Damaged pretty bad if ya ask me. It gotta be replaced. Ya see, I have a slide out room what been giv'n me trouble for the last couple year. Damn thing don't slide like it supposed to do. Well, come to find out, the damn thing leaks too. Water run'n down the one end get'n that board wet...and the floor. Now this means another trip up there on the roof and take a look see where the water is get'n in. I'm beginn'n to think I'm a little too old to be climb'n up there put'n my life in jeopardy every time I do. But....somebody got to do it.

Fount me some really nice look'n replacement chairs online. Since I moved some stuff around, I decided I got to have new chairs. And they cheap. Black leather swivel round in circles. Go up and down. I gonna be uptown.

Ok, clean'n lady showed up before I were ready. Will be back later.......maybe

4:pm......

Boy howdy that clean'n lady is do'n a great job. Her 4 hours of clean'n would equal to my 24 hours of do'n the same thing....but not as good. Clean'n sucks ya know.

Four hours of diagnostics up and down that ladder and the solar system is still not fixed. The panel in question is only putting out 2.2 amps, but the voltage is correct @ 17.2 volts. I have a suspicion that little black box on the back may be the problem. If I am able to unsolder it, I'll check it out some more. This is where the diodes live. In the mean time I'll be satisfied with a 6.8 to 7.2 amp charge from the other panel. Grrrrrrrr to fix'n stuff.

Back to feel'n normal

2011-10-15T14:44:00.000-05:00

I don't know what it was what I ate the other day but it's all wore off today. For 2 days I was feel'n like a brand new hunnert dollar bill. Today I feel like I went through grandma's wringer wash machine.

On the farm, "mom's" got her hand stuck in the wringer of one them old wash machines. Sucked her in there all the way up to her elbow fore she was able to hit the release thingy. Her arm was black an' blue for a week. We didn't have electricity on the farm till 1948 I think it was. The wash machine had a motor on it....putt-putt-putt, the wash is done. I think it were a Sears an' Roebuck....but don't quote me on that.

Bot howdy, let me tell ya....I were think'n last night...."what ya gonna eat for supper Billy Bob"? Well hell, I'll just go off to town and eat at one them fancy restaurants. Ok? Fancy restaurant in Deming??? Where would that be...McDonalds? Ended up at the chinese buffet. Mistake....BIG mistake. Now get this, they got 3 steam tables loaded with scrumptious look'n "stuff". Two of them steam table is shut slap off. Cold food. Where the hell is the beef an' broccoli??? Had to swipe some broccoli out one other pan, but it taste just like chicken. Yummmm yum, yum. Yeller fried rice???? Where the hell is the shrimps??? "Oh, there one....yup, one". Then I tells the cute little china girl...."I'm very displeased an' won't be com'n back". She says...."Oh thank you berrly much....ten dollar fifty seven cent please.....you have two penny"?

Ok, my garden lady is due in a few minutes, so I got to go sit on "da porch". Gonna move "Sally da house so's she can dig up all them weeds where I park. Then I got to think'n...."I wonder if she cleans house". Boy howdy, old Billy Bob wouldn't have to do nuttin but supervise. I bet ya a quarter I gonna like that job. The way I figger it, I get paid a sack full of money every month for "do'n nuttin", so's to help the economy, I'll spread it around a little.

1:30pm......

Ok, hired me one them Pinkerton investigators to investigate my solar system. Uh huh, just what I were think'n, one panel is charg'n 5.9 amps an' the other one 1.4 amps. Now that tell me something.....one ain't work'n. But that's only part of the problem. Why are my batteries go'n down so freak'n fast? But old Billy Bob know how to check that out too. Disconnect everything that run off the batteries. Then if'n them batteries go down, them batteries are shot.....maybe. I ain't done yet......

Boy howdy them 2 trips up to the roof like to kill me. I were winded, couldn't breath.....thought I were gonna die. And I gotta go up there again to uncover one solar panel. And then back up there with my chain saw, volt meter, a handfull of tools an' stuff to check out that panel what ain't work'n. Sheesh!!! Anybody know how to check out a 48 cell solar panel? All I know is "either it is or either it ain't".

Think'n back...

2011-10-14T16:48:00.000-05:00

3pm Update:

Morning edition will be found below
Before and after......

Now that's what I'm talk'n bout. I got me one hard work'n garden lady that for sure. By this time tomorrow, old Billy Bob should be weedless.

I been a busy old cuss all day long fix'n stuff. Was get'n some tools out the shop and the damn tool drawer wouldn't close.....hang'n up on something. So's I empty the drawer, take it out and walla, there a screw stick'n out. Rescrewed that sucker and all is good as new. Then I got to think'n, how bout check'n for a leak on that dash air? What I did. Replaced a shrader valve.....that one them things like what holds the air in the tires on your car. This is the tool I fabricated to remove the shrader valve. A regular valve removal tool was too short to reach the valve, so's I make one reach way down in there. You good Billy Bob.

Then I put some pressure with a brand new can of R-134a. Tomorrow I will know if all is well and can charge 'er back up. Damn I like fix'n stuff. But I sure ain't gonna be break'n stuff on purpose so I can fix it. That would be dumb.

Got either battery or solar panel problems what need to be diagnosed. Ya see, the batteries are only charg'n half what they supposed to be do'n by the solar panels. That makes me suspect one solar panel is not charging. Old blanket trick will solve that suspicion (cover one solar panel, climb down off'n the roof and see how much amps there are). Ya gotta do that two times ya know. By the way, I equalized them batteries all night long. In a week I'll do it again. But don't forget, I let the battery water get low.

**********************************************************************************
Morning edition....
Ya know there may come a time when ya get to think'n...."I ain't hav'n fun". But then when it's all over and ya think back, ya had a blast. I were sit'n back on the couch last night thumb'n through a book, TV on, Bose system try'n to shake the neighbors winders, listening to the neighbors new dogs bark'n and got to think'n....."you had a wonderful trip Billy Bob". 2600 miles of stomp'n through Texas heat, fires, empty lakes, high humidity and endless roads. It don't get no better than that.

One of the pleasures of traveling and blog'n is that you sometimes get to meet up with some of these people what been hiding behind a computer screen. Ya get to wonder'n what these people are like in "real life". Well let me tell ya, I met up with two followers what "made my day". Up at Ink's Lake, TroubleinTexas showed up at my campsite for a visit with the Billy Bob. Just so happen, the OldFatMan was camped right across the street from me, so we both got to meet Trouble. Was a wonderful visit sit'n round the picnic table tell'n sea stories, laugh'n an' hav'n a good ol' time. Ok Billy Bob, where the hell are the pics of Trouble? "No Billy Bob, ya didn't forget to take pics did ya"? Damn I wish someone would remind me that I own 3 digital cameras. All loaded up with film ready to shoot.Thanks sooooo much for the visit Trouble.

(pic of Trouble goes here)

Then.....while camped at San Perdro campground at Del Rio, Texas, I had the great pleasure to meet MsBelinda, better knowed as simply MsB. Ya see.....I were sit'n outside enjoy'n an afternoon on "da porch" sip'n a cup and think'n. I hears a big ol' diesel truck come rip'n through the park with no muffler. I looks around and it were MsB driv'n "dad's" car.....dust, dirt and rocks fly'n. She thinked I didn't recognize her but I did right off the bat 'cause of the car. What another wonderful visit from a long time follower.

Just in case ya think I forget to take pics, here's Barney the OFM try'n to catch him some dinner. After meet'n up with Barney at 2 of Texas' lake, I would definitely do it again. Thanks for a great time Barney.

Ok....my "bag lady" gardener just showed up to dig weeds out my yard. You didn't think old Billy Bob was gonna do all that dig'n again did ya? I could hire a couple local illegals to do the job, but I ain't tak'n a chance on go'n to jail. Who says Americans won't pick onions and dig weeds. Sheesh....this is America and Americans want to work. No I ain't pay'n Union wages. I may be nuts, but not that nuts.

Updates later in the day.....if I do something worth writ'n bout.

It's freak'n cold....

2011-10-13T18:20:00.000-05:00

I don't like nuttin this morn'n. I'm grouchier than what's his name. Reason is, I'm cold. Holy cows, it were 49 degs out there this morn'n before the sun come up. No....I didn't get up before the sun....sheesh, what you think'n? But I laid there shiver'n with one little tiny blanket wrap all around me.

In answer to a question a couple or 5 days ago, Inks Lake is way more further out the way of my route to Deming than Del Rio by bout 200 hunnert mile....or something like that. Plus, me and the OFM had arranged to meet up there. Lake Amastad is not a lake to be crossed off your travels list. The water is crystal clear as far as you can see. The camp grounds (6 of 'em I think it is) are perfectly arranged to access most any part of the lake. Choice matters.

Did I mention I have a battery problem? Boy howdy, yeah I do. Ya see here's the deal. When ya live in a motor home, 5th wheel or one them little tow behind house trailers, ya gotta check the water in the batteries. Well yeah I check mine....was just too long ago. They were low....way low. Now you know old Billy Bob fix stuff, but batteries require expertise beyond my control. Now don't go jump'n up an' down say'n Billy Bob can't fix everything, 'cause I done fix stuff before. The last time I let the water get low I fix 'em right up with my battery charger. It's called equalize, and all good battery chargers have that feature. That what I gonna do when I get to Deming. Otherwise.....$450 for new batteries.

Bout time to head off down the road a piece and my mind is all fog up so I'll post this before the fog clears.
Updates later...

UPDATE:.
1:30pm.....well here I are in New Mexico. Pull into the New Mexico Visitor Rest area so Sadie Mae could go take a poop. Boy howdy, she drop a big ol' log. Only bout a hunnert mile to go for destination Deming. I camped last night further than I thought from Deming.....right at 300 plus mile. Damn I'm gonna be tired.

6pm....laid back in Deming. Took a whole 10 minutes to unhook "that jeep" and set up camp. Damn I'm get'n good.

This is what I came back to.

You would think a couple hunnert pounds of salt would have kill the ground deader an' a door knob, but hell no it didn't. My weeds is grow'n just as good as everyone elses. What now....fire???

I think this is all I have to say for one day. Will start catch'n up tomorrow......boy howdy that gonna be a chore.

On the road again....

2011-10-12T16:10:00.000-05:00

Yee Haa!!! Old Billy Bob is headed down the road do'n a hunnert mile a hour. This post is being made from Sanderson, Tx. bout 115 mile from Del Rio, Tx., where me an' old fat man Jack spend an awesome time catch'n fish and stuff like that. In Del Rio not Sanderson. Camped a whole week for $14......cain't beat that wit a stik.

Got to make this short 'cause my internet connection SUCKS. Really slow for a big city like Sanderson.
Left out an hour after Barney did this morn'n headed off in different directions. Him go'n south to Rockport and me go'n west towards Deming, NM. I were all excitis once I got fuel and set the speed control thingy on 60 mile a hour. Damn, I like the desert.

When I get down the road to civilization, I'll attempt to catch up on all the blogs and put an update to this one. Somewhere's up the road bout a mile or less, I'll be headed north to Ft. Stockton and I-10......only bout 80 mile north.

Missed y'all for the last week. Ain't never gonna let it happen again.

UPDATE:
4PM.......sit'n to the side the road. Boy howdy I mean to tell ya, this travel'n stuff is why I retired. Get behind the wheel this big ol' thang an' scare hell out people. You think I'm kid'n? It were back down the road a piece and this guy pull slap out in front me. Now "Sally" can yell "get the hell out the way" pretty loud when she get nervous. That guy what pull out....I'm think'n he done mess his pants....turn pure white, weave'n all over the road look'n for a place to get out the way. Bet he don't do that no more.

Been sit'n here read'n blogs for the last hour....boy howdy I'm never gonna catch up. Then I got to think'n,....this is a really nice comfortable look'n place to camp for the night. Hmmmmm, think I might just do that.

Just for Trouble.....here that pic ya been wait'n for for so long. Ya see, Barney was fish'n over there where there weren't no fish while old Billy Bob done clumb over all them big rocks an' stuff to get to the fish'n hole what had so many fishs they was fight'n just to get on my pole. That be one monster of a fish.

Ya believe that right??? Well good.....'cause old Billy Bob don't stretch no truth ya know.

Stuck in the desert with no internet...

2011-10-08T18:11:00.000-05:00

Well howdy do to you....where the hell ya been? Been miss'n see'n all your happy faces and sit'n on "da porch sip'n a cup an'n jaw'n with ya.

Pull in right across the street from OFM Barney the other day. Tuesday I beleive it was. Well it weren't exactly just pull'n in, old Billy Bob went right on by the entrance to the campground do'n a hunnert mile a hour. DEAD END. "Oh Oh Billy Bob, I don't think you oughter be on this road".

And then...."that jeep" done screw up again. Won't shift out of park. After a full night of think'n an' worry'n "I'm gonna be stranded in this God forsaken place", I finally come to the conclusion...."that jeep" is a piece of junk. Next morn'n I breaks out all kinds of tools an' start tak'n stuff apart. Hammer in one hand and a big screwdriver in the other.....something gonna give. Wiggles wires, pulls on cables, swak this with the hammer, twist that thingy....all kind of "back yard" mechanical stuff. Then I cranks up the engine, grabs holt that shifter thingy an' push the button......WALLA, it works. "You good Billy Bob".

Today is my 4th day at San Pedro campground in Del Rio, Texas....with no internet, what really make old Billy Bob feel somewhat angry with Verizon. The only place in the whole freak'n world where Verizon won't work and that's right where I plant myself.

Me and old Barney been everywhere. High dollar eat'm up places eat'n up shrimps an' stuff like that. He been mak'n me climb down cliffs, over brush an' weeds, great big ol' rocks, just to get to a fish'n hole.....where there ain't no fish. Not even a little bitty one, 2 inch long or nuttin like that. Sheesh, how I gonna catch me up a fish if'n there ain't none.

Until next time, this is old Billy Bob sign'n off. See ya down the road a piece.

Count down....

2011-10-04T13:18:00.000-05:00

Oh boy, I get to see the sun come up this morn'n. What a thrill to look out the winder and see this look'n back at ya. Not a spectacular view of a sunrise if ya ask me. But like they always say...."ya get what ya pay for".

Speak'n of gas prices, what some pretty little girl mentioned......it don't matter. Ya got to understand, that when you retire, buy a big ol' motorhome (Sally da house) and tow a big "that jeep" behind it, it's almost 60 feet long. Now you try to pull this rig up to a pump at the local convenience store. It won't fit and you can not back up. If I drive 8 miles to save a couple cents on a gallon, I'm gonna burn a gallon of fuel or more. So I save nothing. But I have on occasion HAD to drive 4 and 5 miles off my route just to find a station I can fit this rig into. I dread refueling. A trip such as this Texas trip, I'll burn over 350 gallons of fuel. Gotta dig deep in the pockets for that.

Remember all that stuff I were gonna do yesterday so I wouldn't have to do it this morning? Well, guess what. No, never mind, you already know the answer.....didn't do a damn thing. Not only did old Billy Bob feel terrible yesterday, he feel worse this morning. "What the hell did ya eat this time Billy Bob"?

Ok, 10am and all is well.

Well all except for the damn dash air. Where the hell did my freon go? Will have to suffer my way to Del Rio with out it, but ya knows how tuff Billy Bob can be. Ain't skeered no stink'n heat.

Went dumpster div' a while ago. Fount me a great big ol' American flag. I'm talk'n BIG. Now what the hell I gonna do with it....blanket for the bed??? Or a couch cover??? Front winder screen thingy??? I'm talk'n BIG. Maybe put it on my awning like one them screen thingys for shade.....yeah, another project.

Ok folks, see ya down the road a piece.

1pm update:

That ain't so bad. Got the winder open and the fans run'n. Finally got out of the high humidity of the gulf coast and a few miles behind me. But......ya know what a back up monitor is??? It a little tv what hangs up thewre on the dash so's you can see what behind ya when ya back up. Mine stays on all the time so's I can see when "that jeep" come loose an' hits the shoulder....off into the corn fields. Well, that sucker done quit work'n. Now we talk'n anywheres from $400 to $600 just for a new unit. Then it gots to be installed. Is this another project for the Billy Bob?

Ok, just let'n ya know I'm still truck'n down the road a piece. Laters from somewheres.

Pack'n up....

2011-10-03T09:50:00.000-05:00

Although 86 to 88 degrees may seem somewhat warm to some, I don't think I gonna be need'n no air conditioning. If worse comes to worster, I can always crank up the generator. Yep, boondock'n is rough. Ain't many can survive the extreme elements that those temps, but old Billy Bob is used to these extremes. When I were 13 year old, I lived in the desert, place call Twentynine Palms....California if'n ya didn't know. We didn't have no air condition back then....in fact we didn't have no electricity neither. But back then, we didn't think much bout how hot it were......115 was the norm. Burlap was hung over the winders at night with a gallon jug drip system. Gentle breezes would bring in soothing cooled air in the heat of the evening. It were part of grow'n up in the desert.

Boy howdy is Billy Bob got lots to do today or what? Ya see, I always wait till the last minute to do things that might be considered work. Pack'n up for a road trip is work, so I waited till the last minute. Got to make a trip to town for a couple weeks supply of eat'em ups.....you know what I'm talk'n bout. Pick up a few items at the hardware store. Get me one more them cherry hot fudge sundae thingys. Then back to "da house" and pack it up for a long 310 mile drive to Del Rio, Texas. May spend tomorrow night camped out at the Walmart RV Resort in Uvalde, Tx. before mak'n that last hunnert mile journey on to Del Rio.

It ain't too often when old Billy Bob carelessly flips his lips and says the wrong thing. Well I did that yesterday when I says "no one" instead of "not many". "That's all I have to say bout that"....Gump.

Ok....gonna head 'em off to town. Excitement awaits Billy Bob in the old fishing village of Port Aransas.

Sunday afternoon update

2011-10-02T16:38:00.000-05:00

Since no one read this morning edition of Billy Bob's Adventures, here's an update of this afternoon.

The printer is up and running. Does a fair job for what I want it to do. Only problem is I have a room full up with wires hang'n all over the place. So....I am gonna make my kitchen table area my computer command center. Just like NASA. What means I gonna be mov'n stuff. Remodel. Tear down walls. Throw stuff to the dumpster. Break out power tools. Big hammers, table saw, engine hoist....hydraulic jacks an' stuff.

Actually what I gonna do is move a cabinet from over there to over here where the other table chair is located what is never used and I don't eat at the table 'cause there ain't no room.......PHEEEEEWWWW, that was a mouth full. Then I might buy me one them recliner type chairs to put over there where I move the cabinet from.

Yup....that what I gonna do, but not today. Be another project.

Oh yeah afore I forget.....I changed my mind. Well, Barney helped changed it for me. We gonna meet up in Del Rio round bout wednesday or thursday. Do some boat'n in the "bubba boat", catch us up some fish, spend some leisure time just sit'n back jaw'n and tell'n a few lies. Well wait a minute, old Billy Bob don't lie and I don't think Barney do either.

New project

2011-10-02T14:37:00.000-05:00

Holy crap, today is Sunday. Tuesday is departure day and I have no idea where I gonna go. I'm headed west, so it shouldn't be too hard to figger out. Rekon I better break out my Rand McNally GPS and figger out a route and a few places to camp. Ya can buy your own Rand McNally GPS at most any Walmart for $5.97. I'm think'n 2 weeks is enough time to drive the 800 plus miles to Deming.....what ya think?

Ok, let's talk bout this Boze sound system what I bought. "What the hell was ya think'n Billy Bob"???? Holy crap I can yell that loud. Like I said before, it's an excellent system if'n all ya want to do is listen to "quiet" tunes at bout 100 or so decibels. Now I ain't say'n that 100 decibels ain't loud 'cause it is. But that ain't what I were look'n for. I want that hammer'n bass....shake stuff.....rattle doors and winders. No I ain't too old for that kind of stuff.

So here what I gonna do. Back in Deming I have my old bass 10 inches speaker what the amplifier burn slap up. It were a Logitech just like what I was want'n in the first place. I gonna take this Boze thingy apart and put the guts inside my old box. Then cross my fingers an' hope it don't catch fire when I crank it up. Yup....another project for old Billy Bob. It's projects like this that give ya the feel'n of...."you da man Billy Bob".

Speak'n of projects.....let me tell ya bout this wireless printer thingy I bought. Holy cows, how the hell do ya hook it up? Mess around with it last night for a couple hour when I come to the conclusion....it ain't gonna work. Well, maybe it ain't. I got it to finally hook up to the router, but that ain't what I want. Don't need no stink'n router when ya got a wireless computer. Today I gonna try to install all the set up stuff on the computer from CD disc an' see what it do. Damn, why they make this stuff so complicated....change this setting, change this change that, hook up this hook up that....and the damn thing still don't work. Where's help when ya need it??? Yeah I read the freak'n instruction.....a hunnert time an' still don't understand a damn thing.

Was gonna do laundry today but decided to vacuum instead. Takes less time ya know and the laundry will still be there when I get back to Deming. Stink a little, but what the hell, I still got plenty underdrawers left. Ya see, I got a inventory of underdrawers of bout 30 pairs what will last bout 6 months or so if'n I'm conservative an' don't change too offen. Ain't got no date scheduled for the next few weeks, so I'm good to go.

2:30pm.......Ok, so no ones interested.

Well, Billy Bob done bit the bullet and relocated that damn wireless printer.....under a chair on the nasty dirt collect'n floor. Gonna hook it up with a wire......Oh no, not more wires. Holy Jesus, I got too many damn wires hook up to my laptop already. Us'n 3 USB connections and need one more. Damn....this sucks.

Got the floors all vacuum up. Look like a brand spank'n new floor now. Well it did until Sadie May brung in some more grass an' crap from outside. Changed the license plates on "da house". I were just get'n to remember what the numbers was and they send me a new set....with different numbers an' letters. Sheesh!!!

Got it pretty much figger out where I gonna go from here. Inks Lake State Park. Catch me up some fish this time an' not sink the "bubba boat". But that decision is subject to change. At my age, all I got to do is say I forgot where I was go'n and go somewheres else.

Ok, on with the printer installation.

New gadgets

2011-10-01T09:24:00.000-05:00

I'm gonna start this morn'n with a little story bout "grudges". You know what I'm talk'n bout....somebody says something to ya what ya ain't expect'n them to say, so's ya throws the old grudge trick on 'em. I have a cousin. Lives in California, not that that would make any difference. One time as a teenager, I says to her..."Margaret, you're cute but you're fat" Oh my God, should'a never say that. When my Uncle died in 2004 I think it was, she still would not talk to me. Over 40 years she carries that grudge. And to this day, she still fat. Don't do it folks. Ain't worth it. Watch what ya say an' don't be toss'n "grudges" round like they was nurf balls.

Ok here the deal. I were gonna make a comment on this Boze sound system I bought yesterday. It were gonna be something like this..."OH YEAH....OH YEAH.....KNOCK YER SOCKS OFF"!!!!! Now ya got to know old Billy Bob and understand him and his ways. I ain't say'n this system ain't good, 'cause it is. It's fantastic. Clear and crisp. LOUD. All the good stuff you would expect from a 'spensive Boze sound system. But ya got to understand, old Billy Bob had his eye on a different system...one what has the power to rattle the winders and doors off the neighbors house a block away. That's what I'm talk'n bout. Hmmmmm, how can I modify this system to do what I want it to do???

Now bout that wireless printer I bought. Well hell, ya gotta have a wifi router for it to work without wires. Well I got me one them router thingys an' I got a 100 page booklet of instructions. Sheesh.....what the hell did I buy? I don't even use a printer. But it got one them flat top "sit on take a picture yer butt" thingys....what ever it called.

Ok....I'm out of here for a bit......back laters with excit'n news and nonsense.

Port Aransas blackout

2011-09-30T15:15:00.000-05:00

Have ya ever wake up an' it still dark outside......and ya don't know what day it is? Ya can't tell by look'n out a winder 'cause ya can't see nuttin. That what happen to me this morn'n. Scare hell out me.

Went off on a fish'n trip last night just for the hell of it and 'cause I was bored. Me an' Sadie Mae was sit'n out on the picnic table and she blurts out...."let's go for a ride". Or at least that's what I think she said. We jumps in "that jeep" and off we go to the beach....well not really the beach. We went to the jetties where they catch'n all them big ol' red fishes. Well, I knows for a fact that there are also big ol' trout in there, so's I break out my special Billy Bob altered dumpster dive trout fish pole. Ain't narry a one trout in there.....not one. See bout 4 leatherbacks (sea turtle) swim by on their way to Old San Juan Mexican restaurant...or somewheres like that.

Then it got dark, really really dark. Load up and head to the Station Street fish'n pier. Ain't nuttin' in there neither 'cept'n for a buch of mullet and skip jacks. Have ya ever hear of a Tarpon? Well, a skip jack is a mini tarpon in disguise. Fight'n sum a gun.....go a hunnert mile a hour. That was fun for a while and then I got to think'n....cherry hot fudge. Oh Yeah!!! Next stop Dairy Queen. Then off to the Robert's Point fish'n pier. Sadie Mae done eat up half my sundae while I was check'n out the pier. Ain't no fish here neither. Back to "da house".

Weren't back to "da house" more 'an 30 minutes and pooooof.....City blackout. I mean there weren't no lights no wheres....for hours. Lady next door was outside with her little flashlight think'n she gonna fix a blackout. I tells her the entire City of Port Aransas is off an' she says......"Oh? Well how comes you got lights"? Then I have to splain to her how comes I got lights and the City don't. Don't think she believe my story 'cause when I go inside, she still fiddl'n with her breakers on the power pole.

Well, let me see what kind of nonsense I can get into today......sure would like to buy me something.

I were sit'n here think'n.....how far is it to Best Buy in Corpus Christi. So I jumps in "that jeep" an' check it out.

It were only 541.22 miles.....Oh wait....$542.22. Happy Birthday Billy Bob.
We gonna be "rock'n round da clock" now an' print'n up all kind of weird stuff with no wires.

Smell'n like a goat

2011-09-29T11:50:00.000-05:00

When I read Dizzy's post this morn'n, I got to think'n....how many post have old Billy Bob made? Well hell, I don't know, I ain't good at add'n stuff like that. And while I was at it, I went back to the beginn'n of my blog an' start read'n. And read'n an' read'n. Now that was the old Billy Bob I remember. He's crazy!!!

Got my dish's all done up yesterday. Well all 'cept that big ol' cake dish thingy what had the cherry chocolate cake in it. Oh....speak'n of dish thingy, I were sit'n outside last night an' I looks at the "bubba boat" lay'n there on the ground. Whet the hell, it all full of wrinkles.....just like old Billy Bob. Then I says.....how comes "bubba" is full of wrinkles? Well hell, it don't got no air in it. "Yes it does ya silly" Don't ya know nuttin' bout hot an' cold expand'n an' contract'n. Well yeah....but....... This morn'n with the sunshine, all them wrinkles is all gone.....poooof, just like that.

My God I got lots of stuff that I need to be do'n. And it ain't fun stuff. I got to clean house.....take out the stink'n trash, vacuum the floor.....the dreaded laundry basket. Damn, what one am I gonna tackle today? Well that's a simple decision, take out the stink'n trash.

Speak'n of stink'n, have ya ever go in a high dollar eat'em up and smell something what smell like a goat farm??? Ya sit down to eat and the waitress stands back 10 feets....people change tables....ya feel like everybody is look'n at ya??? Damn Billy Bob....you stink. Well, it weren't really my fault ya see. I were lay'n on the couch in a dream world and wakes up all cover with sweat when the main breaker trip (no a/c). I jumps up hungry an'er something what ain't ate in a week. Head off to the high dollar eat'em up place.

Boy howdy let me tell ya, them red fish is mak'n their run. Big 'uns. That's all I have to say bout that.

Feeble attempts...

2011-09-28T11:44:00.000-05:00

For the last couple months I been hav'n a hard time add'n a llittle humor to my blog posts. It comes in spurts ya know, like a plugged up water faucet turn on full force and just drip drip drip. Well that bothers the old Billy Bob. I don't get them excruciating pains from laughter like I used to....bust yer gut slam'n headache kinda pains.

Now I been think'n, what has changed in my life that I would start get'n serious bout anything. I don't do that kind of stuff unless nuttin else works. I found out many years ago that talk'n serious stuff makes ya look like an idiot every time ya open your mouth. I would rather look like an idiot mak'n people laugh rather than look'n like a idiot try'n to splain something I don't know nuttin about. (insert humor here)

Me an' old "pesky neighbor" Wayne had us a talk'n yesterday. He were all ready to go home, but done change his mind. Gonna wait till Oct. 30. Says his legs are still too weak. Tole me he walk 490 feets with that old walker thingy, but I know all bout Wayne and his numbers. Told me one time he had 147 quails eat'n supper at his house. Then a week later the number increase to 175....and then to 123. You should see the way he keeps score on a golf game.

Speak'n of swak'n gold balls.......

This is a before and after.
As with everything old Billy Bob buys or acquires by horsetrad'n, deals or just flat out steals it, he ain't satisfied. Gotta change it. This is one the good things bout being retired. Ya got plenty time to modify stuff. That a hunnert dollar paint job ya look'n at there. I also painted Wayne's old ugly white one too.
See.......

Ok....why the hell are you post'n pics of golf carts??? Well it ain't really golf carts we talk'n bout here. We talk'n bout retired and nuttin to do. I live from one project to the next. If'n I ain't got a project of some sort, I'm just gonna lay down on the couch and do nuttin the rest of the day. No, house clean'n ain't no project. Those of ya what been follow'n me for the last few years know that old Billy Bob is always do'n something.....a project. Well, I'm all out, ain't got nuttin to do. With winter com'n on, I got to find me a project to keep my mind off'n freez'n to death. Damn I hate goose bumps.

Just read Gypsys comment and decided I need to repost that "jet powered bbq" build'n experience for the new followers.

********************************************************************************

Jet Powered BBQ Pit
by barnacle bill

In south Texas everyone has a homemade BBQ pit of some sort, but old Barnacle Bill, he didn't have none.
I seen some really snazzy look'n ones and now I got to decide what kind I was gonna build.
Barnacle Bill is a builder, ya know!!!....Make stuff....
After lots of thought as to design, I decided on building one those round ones....
You know, them really cool look'n ones.
    I searched around and found this old 10 gallon propane tank like what ya use on a travel trailer.
The size looked right and not much rust. I made a quick drawing of what I thought I wanted it to look like.
A few measurements was made and a lid was sketched out on the side of the tank.
    Now Barnacle Bill ain't no dummy ya know!
This thing at one time contained propane, a "highly flammable liquid" what explodes on contact with sparks and flame..... and I'm going to open it up with a cutting torch. Got me a big ol' pipe wrench an' takes out that valve assembly thingy...then I takes me a big ol' whiff.
Sure nuff, this thing used to contain the "highly flammable liquid" gas cook'n stove fuel called propane. Then I got a think'n...."how the hell ya gonna get that smell out there"?
Now, what better way to remove the fumes than to fill it with water?
What I did!!! Three times. Then to be on the safe side, I blows it out with a air hose...three times. Ain't no more that "highly flammable liquid propane" stuff in there.
    Then I take it back into the shop, laid it on the floor, but still being just a mite leery as to the
past contents, "highly flammable liquid propane", I lights up a smoke and takes me a five minute break to survey the upcoming game plan.
And think out all the possibilities as to what was about to happen.
Hell....it couldn't blow up. Could it?? I took all the "highly flammable liquid propane" stuff out.
    Being safety minded, I made sure that the fire extinguisher was handy and that there was an open unobstructed path to the door.
All looked well!!!
Precaution #2 was to be on the "extra" safe side. So I pulls out my trusty Bic lighter. Yeah!!!
I cautiously put the flame in front of the hole, keep'n back at arms reach...ya know.
Bet you thought all hell were gonna broke loose, didn't ya?Nuttin happen.
Well it didn't.....until I turned the flame into the hole. Holy Crap!!!!
Ignition!!!
There was this God awful sound of a big ol' jet engine filling the room.
Beautiful blue flames com'n out from that hole where I took that valve out...shoot'n 10 feets.
My BBQ pit was on the move...LOOK OUT!!!
Shoot'n across the room under it's own power. Across the shop floor it went, taking out and bounc'n off everything in it's path.
    I was definitely just a little "shook up" by all this excitement...boy howdy let me tell ya, was I ever...thought I done wet my drawers.
My pride and dignity was terribly hurt from all the laughter and hee ha's from all the onlookers, which had kept their distance and made quick exits from the building.
As I surveyed for any damage to property or person, I felt this numbing and burning feeling to my right hand. MY GOD, am I on fire???

A couple weeks later my hand was completely healed and that "Jet Powered BBQ" was sizzling the finest steaks anywhere south of Dallas!!!
Happy Sailing !!!*********************************************************************************

One more week....

2011-09-27T12:39:00.000-05:00

I were lay'n round get'n over "humid-titis" and got to think'n...."ya better stay another week". Ya see, it's like this, I didn't get everything done that I wanted to get done. Yesterday was a complete waste other than the cherry hot fudge sundae I ate up last night. Let me tell ya bout that sundae. I tell the girl I want a LARGE cherry hot fudge sundae. The girl was completely confused. "We don't have cherry hot fudge sundaes". I says HUH??? (the sign shows all the flavors, including the two I want, cherry and hot fudge). After I explain to combine the two ingredients she says...."Oh, I didn't think of that". Then she says, "what size would you like"? HUH? I just tole you....LARGE. Then she says...."ok, one large strawberry and chocolate sundae....right"? HUH? Finally after management intervention, I get my large cherry hot fudge sundae......damn. It were good too.

Went off to the fish'n pier an' chunk my pole in the water a few times. WHOA.....what was that? Something done bite my fish'n lure. Then he bite it again. Then he bite it slap off. When that happen I know what it was. A damn ribbonfish. And ya don't eat ribbonfish.

So I pack up my fish pole and head back to "da house". One light shine over here and the other one shine over there. Got to get that fixed.

Had two days of wind and humidity. Boy howdy let me tell ya.....salt everywhere. The "da house" is covered with a thin layer of salt. The "that jeep" is covered with a layer of salt. Can't see out the winders. Everything sticky. Sweat like a hog eat'n slop an' smell like a goat. Why the hell do people vacation on the beach?

Went to the hardware store yesterday and bought me up some stuff to put wheels on the "bubba boat". They probably gonna lay in the back of "that jeep" and rot.

Ok....got things to do......laters.

See there? Didn't I told ya?
What ya see there is a Billy Bob Engineering "bubba boat" redneck boat trailer. One trip to the water is all it gonna take. Load up all my stuff, pick up the other end and tow that sucker right down to the waters edge. Go out an' catch me up some fish. Yeah.....that what I'm talk'n bout.
So far the patch is holding on the air tube what I burn two holes with a smoke. "No smok'n in da boat Billy Bob".

What, no presents???

2011-09-25T11:33:00.000-05:00

I waked up late again this morn'n to wind outside. What the hell???

After giv'n much thought and speculation, I decided I don't need no stink'n surround sound system. But I did find one I would give my left arm for.

Now that's what I'm talk'n bout. Logitech don't make this model no more, but there are still a few available online.....@ $995. Holy cows!!! Then I look at another system by Logitech......

This one will blow yer socks off too....shake the winders, knock stuff off the walls.....crank up the volume.
Then last but not least is the Boze system............

Ok....that's all I have to say bout that.

Got to get in gear and head 'em up to nephews house, just up the road a piece. Stop by the parts store and pick up some parts (fan clutch and thermostat). Joe is gonna fix "that jeep" for his uncle Bill. Feed me too. He's such a good boy.

I'm out of here......back laters.

Happy Birfday Billy Bob

2011-09-24T13:27:00.000-05:00

Boy howdy, today is the first day of be'n officially old (70). I ain't no old fart no more....I'm just old.

Well we went out and ate last night. Had me up a big ol' platter....one them cast iron thingys, full of sizzl'n fajitas. I sure were tempted to drink me up one them good look'n, refresh'n ice cold draft beers, but settled for coffee instead. With what little bit of intelligent thoughts I may have left, I didn't want to screw them up by get'n all snockered stumbl'n drunk. I make good decisions sometimes. Visited with nephew an' girlfriend all the ways up till my bed time. Didn't think they was ever gonna leave. Photos??? Well hell no....done forgot to take camera.

Was a bit warm this morn'n when I finally roll out of bed.....at 8:30am. "Sheesh Billy Bob, ya sleep too much". Didn't take me very long to get all rare'n to go and do something. Broke open them new a/c gauges and prime up that vacuum pump an' hook it up to "da house" dash air.

Here in just a little bit, I gonna charge that sucker up.
Then I check the fan clutch on "that jeep". Nephew says I need changed it. I says it look good to me. But what the hell, change it. If'n ya remember, "that jeep is been get'n hot.

Ok....got 'er all charge up....mak'n cold air.....that what I'm talk'n bout.

What to do in Paradise

2011-09-23T18:49:00.000-05:00

Boy howdy let me tell ya, things chance as time rolls on. I'm talk'n bout a little fish'n village with a population of bout 600 when I first come to the Island to live. Half the streets was paved with caliche or how ever the hell ya spell it. Weren't no street lights to find your way home from the bars. If'n ya wasn't fish'n or at home, ya was at a bar get'n smashed. Everybody was a fisherman. But that was back in late 60's when Port Aransas was wild to the bone.

Those days are gone now. Condos in what ever direction ya look. Great big ol' tourist trap souvenir shops on every corner. Laws and ordinances you won't find in a big city like Houston. Cops everywhere.....hid'n in cracks an' crannys....like cockroaches, wait'n to pounce on any infraction of the law. But Port Aransas is still the destination choice of hunnerds of thousands of tourists each year. During spring break ya ain't got a chance to make a left turn. Ya gotta make 3 right turns.

Ok, that's enough bout Port Aransas. What ya gonna do today Billy Bob? Probably ain't gonna be do'n nuttin exciting today, but today is yet young.

4pm.....and it stayed young. Old Billy Bob just din't do a thing today. Call my nephew and con him to come visit his bestest uncle in the whole wide world. When I tell him how poorly "that jeep" is runn'n an' I had to go over there and pick up my vacuum pump.....well you know the rest the story. He be here in a couple hours. He's a good boy.

We gonna go out to Old San Juan's Mexican restaurant for supper tonight. Eat 'em up me some sizzl'n fajitas I bet ya. May even drink me up a ice cold draft beer. Ain't had one in over a year. Probably gonna get snockered....flat ass drunker 'an a skunk....on one ice cold draft beer. That would be cool.

Then I got to wonder'n.....what the hell is wrong with my blog? I been mess'n with it for the last week try'n to make it look more better. But it seems all I have done is run my customers off. Part I gonna blame on Blogger 'cause yesterday morn'n after I were mess'n with it, it didn't show my post till way in the afternoon. Then some weren't able to post a comment. That seems to be the case today also. Gonna be mess'n with blogger one more time....but not today.

Put that patch in "bubba boat". Boy howdy you talk bout stick. It gonna take a big ol' hammer get that thing off. Took bout an hour or so to get the old patch and that sticky glue off before install'n the new one. That sucker leak now, it go'n in the dumpster.Then I put that new part on the dash air for "da house". Weren't nuttin to it. Evacuate an' recharge and old Billy Bob is gonna be a "cool dude".

Tomorrow is my birthday ya know, so I'm think'n I gonna go to town and buy me up them toys I were talk'n bout yesterday.

Get'n over sick....

2011-09-22T17:07:00.000-05:00

Holy cows, I want you look'it them fish.

Yesterday was one them days ya want to forget all about. When I woke up yesterday morn'n, I thought I was dead for sure. Nuttin worked, stumbl'n around "da house", dropp'n stuff, try'n to brew me up a pot and make it to the couch before something serious happen. Don't know if'n it were something I ate or something I didn't eat. Salt air??? I was down an' out for the count.....just like that. Feel much better this morn'n.

Went off to the fish'n piers last night in hopes of catch'n me up some fish. Well crap, the lights don't work. The ones on "that jeep" is what I'm talk'n bout. When I turn them lights on I says...."are they on"? One was shin'n down on the ground an' the other one was shin'n straight up in the air. What the hell??? I never drove "that jeep" in the dark before, so I had no idea. By the time I got to the fish'n pier, I done had a hunnert people flash'n their lights back at me. Spend bout an hour at the Roberts point pier throw'n my pole in the water. Never catched a fish. In fact, nobody catched a fish.

Today I got to head off to Corpus Christi and look for some parts. Need to run over to Sinton, bro in laws el ranchito, and pick up my vacuum pump for the dash air on "da house". Sure would hate to drive all the way back to Deming, 800 mile, with no air cond.

Ain't got nuttin more to say right now.....so I'm off. Laters

5pm.....
Well here I am back from the big city. To my surprise, I fount my parts in no time flat. Then I says...."what ya gonna do now Billy Bob". I gusee I could run down to Best Buy an' get me an extension cable for my hunnert year old printer. Holy crap....them cables is way too much $$$$. Then I went an' look at some brand spank'n new printers. Well Howdy Doody, they all wireless, do all kind of fangle stuff on 'em an' cost less than a hunnert bucks. Now I fount me one I really like. All purty an' stuff. But I says...."wait a gal'd dern minute....I don't need that". Then I goes over there an' looks at sound systems. Boy howdy let me tell ya, I fount one I really like. It were all purty an' stuff too. It were a high dollar ($400) Boze system what knock your doors slap off. Now that what I'm talk'n bout. Then I got to think'n...."do I really need to knock doors off"? Spend 2 hours in there and ain't bought a thing. But I know what I want if'n I go back.

Then I headed off to Harbor Freight....just look'n ya know. Bought me up a brand spank'n new set of refrigeration guages since I don't know where my old ones is at.

So old Billy Bob had hisself a successful day in Corpus Christi. Got what I went for an' fount a couple toys what I want to make me happy.

I ain't home

2011-09-21T21:24:00.000-05:00

Sweet good byes

2011-09-20T17:58:00.000-05:00

Did ya ever tell a loved one/friend/acquaintance good bye. I quit do'n that many years ago. Good byes are too final....like "been good know'n ya" and never see them again. Good byes should be left at the grave as the first shovel of dirt is tossed and ya walk away. I've said good bye too many times.

As the kids rounded up all their stuff, a sadness filled the air. It's been a wonderful week of holler'n and scream'n, hugs an' kiss's, talk'n an' silence. But all good things come to an end. It's time for old Billy Bob to hit the road again. The memories of this past week will be cherished forever....if I don't lose my freak'n mind. I think "that's all I have to say bout that". Adios and see ya later daughter (Angela), SiL (Matt) and grandkiddos (Kaitlyn, Nathan and Hannah). Love ya bunches......[this] much.

Got up this morn'n feel'n pretty darn snappy. That's a good sign ya know. It's a beautiful day for travel'n another two hunnert an' some miles. Ain't got a whole lot of stuff to do before hit'n the road, but I ain't gonna rush into it, that's for sure. Rush'n into stuff is for kids. Causes stress, heartburn, headaches and it's really a pain in the ass.

"da porch" time....sit back sip'n a cup an' think'n good thoughts.

11am.....well it's almost time to say "adios" to the Stephen F. Austin State Park again. This being my 4th trip here I should remember how to get back next year. Boy howdy, a year seems a long time but it goes by soooo fast as ya grow older.

Next stop will be Port Aransas, Texas. Right slap dab on the Gulf of Mexico.....itty bitty string bikinis and stuff like that.....fresh shrimps right off'n the boat, Old San Juan's sizzl'n fajitas....yum yum eat'em up. I'm think'n bout a week on the beach is all this old feller is gonna be able to handle. After liv'n on the "Island" for 18 years, it don't take long to see it all. Old school stuff. Been there done that kind'a stuff. Maybe I'll get a chance to catch me up some fish, get my "bubba boat" fixed, fix the dash air on "Sally da house", play a round of golf ball swak'n, visit a few old friends....you know, just every day tourist stuff.

Ok.....I'm out of here....see ya down the road a piece.

4pm......
Well shoot, that didn't take long. Here I are sit'n side the road just past the Kennedy causeway bridge. That bridge is way up there cross'n over the ICW...intracoastal waterway. Eat'n me up a big ol' sammich while Sadie Mae is outside pee'n and poop'n. At least I suppose that what she do'n.

Got one more gas station to check out before I get to the island where I might be able to buy fuel. For the last hunnert mile, there was not one station I could pull this big thing (bout 55 feets long) into for fuel. Gas stations are not R/V friendly.

Ok....crank 'em up and head 'em up......look out Port A, here come Billy Bob.

5:45pm.....that didn't take long neither. All set up in the County Park....right along side the Corpus Christi ship channel an' the beach is right over there. It hotter inside than out. Boy howdy, go figger that.

Now it's lay back time....shut yer eyes and dream sweet nuttins. Oh wait, too late for a nap. How bout a fresh cup of coffee, go sit on "da porch" and breath in that salt air. Rust your lungs ya know. Along with the frame on your car, eat right through a paint job....salt has teeth....like a piranha fish.