Work list gets smaller

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...

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

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

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...

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

 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

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!!!