I did not write anything special about my dad on father's day. I gave him a call...I sent a card...I prefer to deliver the giftee in person. When that will be, I'm not sure. My father was in a good mood over the phone yesterday. We had a little chat. He doesn't usually say much.

My father is moody. Not usually mean moody. But if he doesn't feel like carrying on a conversation, he lets you know with his silence and lack of eye contact. He mostly keeps his dark side under check...but if you push him when you know he is holding it back...then only you are to blame.

On the other hand, my dad can really laugh! That big grin across his face and he'll chuckle until tears come to his eyes.

My Dad


He hardly EVER sits still. He is always doing something...whether at home or for someone else. Since he retired he's been busier than ever. He mows the lawn for Ray next door...Ray is quite old and feeble now. So, dad mows his lawn, trims his bushes, and when he doesn't discern any movement at Ray's house during the day, he'll go tap on his windows until Ray gives him some sign that he's alive.

Dad has helped the ones across the street with projects. He also helped the one next to them with lawn care tips. That one is son to my mom's hairdresser friend I wrote of a few posts back. His name is Mark. Since he doesn't have a father figure (not a REAL one) and he is friends with my brother, Mark has taken to getting my dad's advice about lots of things. On the other side of Mark lives a family whose youngest daughter is best friends with my youngest sister. Her name is Stephanie. She and her husband built a house in the same neighborhood. When Stephanie's oldest boy was getting ready to go to a formal dance and the kid didn't know how to tie a tie, Steph's husband was no help, Steph's dad was no help, so Steph brought her son to my dad who gave the kid a lesson in how to tie a tie.

My dad also watches out for Ron, who lives on the other side of my parents. His wife, Sandy, a friend of my mom's died last fall and Ron sunk into depression. Dad makes sure that Ron is still moving along each day. In the winter, Dad plows everyone's driveway for them.

My dad spent last summer helping to rebuild their church. He was out in the heat laying cement block, raising walls, etc. He is 72 years old.

When various ones at the church were having financial short comings, my parents would find ways to help out...anonymously. They taught me the importance of charity work...anonymously. It is the glow of knowing that you helped someone without calling attention to yourself. If you need a pat on the back, it wasn't really charity.

My dad has helpd keep each and every one of our cars safe and on the road as we were all growing up. He taught us how to do for ourselves...and if we didn't know...he taught us how to find the info, understand it, and do it.

My dad knew how to make a quarter last from one paycheck to the next. My dad taught us how to appreciate the little things, because he does. My dad taught me how to accept things as they come and work with what you have. He's not judgmental. There were times in my life when I appreciated that. My dad also knew when to stand back and let us go.

Thanks Dad!

I wasn't very good about Father's day this year. He made his own breakfast...and actually made it for everyone else. I gave him a new hose reel (the kind that is in a box) to replace the rusted mounted one out back...and I gave it to him 3 days early...I didn't know where/how to hide the box so I took it out back and hooked it up. Today, the kids gave him a card and a zippo to add to his collection. He went off to play golf. That made him happy. But I didn't do anything special.

Yesterday he was in over drive. He went off to the store with the credit card. That isn't always a good thing. I took my son to his afternoon swim party and had the mother of all migraines all afternoon. It took a LOT of drugs to get to a level that I could function under.

The Daddy came home with these huge posts...one to finally mount the bird house and put it in the back yard...the other to mount the squirrel feeder he brought home with him also...along with a big bag of squirrel food. He also brought home a lot of cedar mulch to put around my gardens to make them look better and keep the dirt moist so my flowers will grow better. He also dug and put in some fancy brick-type edging around the newly dug and planted gardens. He didn't complain at all about all the new perennials that I had bought and planted.

THEN he made dinner. Grilled some Italian chicken and did some zucchini in butter sauce.

Sounds wonderful. I will not put my thoughts or comments in to print. Those of you that understand it don't need to read it. Those of you that don't/won't understand it...well, don't need to read it either.

Hope everyone has a great day! And to those Fathers that have always been there for your kids...HUGS! And for those Fathers that have been separated from your kids by circumstances...BIG HUG! And to those Fathers that have had to be the Mom too...BIGGEST HUGS! Single parenting is never easy.

And NOW the time has come to move the squirrel food. It was bound to happen.

I moved the bunny food out to the tree line...where I could still see her but she wouldn't be so apt to jump up on my porch and leave coco puffs...if you know what I mean.

It was kinda funny watching Scrawny chasing the other squirrel away from her pile o' nuts...and she is a rather neat squirrel. BUT unfortunately, someone always comes along to spoil the fun. I have not ever seen a chipmunk (the operative word being 'seen') since we moved here. I have seen some wee holes in the ground (chipmunk size) at the base of some of the shrubs. This morning, there was a chipmunk sitting on the edge of the porch trying to figure out how to get those nuts away from Scrawny whilst she was a munchin'.

SSSSOOOOO now the pile o'nuts is gonna hafta move out on the tree line, also. I am not encouraging chiplessmonks to be habitating at me house. I want them to believe they still have to be sneaky and hide. If they thing they have an open invitation, they take more than full advantage...kinda like the unwanted, hillbilly relatives. If they want to sneak into a family gathering and they sneak food away (even tho you KNOW they are doing it but pretend not to notice) then that is one thing. If they THINK it is okay to take it, then they not only take the food but the table and dinnerware too while they set up camp in your yard OR you find them rolling out their sleeping bags on your livingroom floor.

I draw my lines! No hillbilly relatives washing out their unmentionables in my kitchen sink...and no chickmunks making homes in my attic.

I missed the shot this morning (pretty much like Andy did last night! If you didn't watch the NBA Finals game...you won't get that). I was sitting at the kitchen table with my son while he was eating breakfast and I was waiting for my nectar of life (coffee) and there was Scrawny on the back of one of the chairs on the back porch staring in the window at us. TJ would get up and tap on the glass and Scrawny would drop down in the chair and hide from view. Then she'd pop right back up and stare at us again. I had not put out her pile of nuts, yet. SO, finally, I got up and took the bag out on the porch. He hopped down and nonchalantly strolled across the porch, jumped off the end then hopped up and hung on with her front paws while watching to make sure I put the nuts down for her. Sheesh!




For the way she drinks, I have a difficult time thinking of Scrawny as a female. never mind...never mind.

OH! AND on a very happy note....I got my daughter back last night! It seems D.C. was a very good experience but she was really happy to be home! She only left a FEW things behind. Nothing we can't fix. I surprised her with a little bedroom redecorating.