"Freedom Wasn't Granted, It Was Won!"

There are millions of shining examples of people searching for freedom and opportunity that have stepped onto our shores.

My great-great-grandmother met and married a Irish immigrant that came to America wanting to buy and work his own farm. She was Indian and knew this land. Together through hard work they raised a large family and started my long line of industrial get'er done relatives.

I think of them when I start getting depressed and remember the hardships they had to deal with.
Bandits, wild animals, no doctor within days of them, several still-born babies, tornadoes, droughts, wild fires, floods, and food shortage. They didn't give up. They taught their five sons the 3-R's and to believe in God and his son, Jesus .

I'll be thinking of them tomorrow as I sit inside air-conditioning, eating huge bounty, and waving my little flag in the parade. Shaking hands with US Vets of different wars, how blessed I feel and will never forget;

Freedom Is Not Free, to this day!

Surprise Surprise!!!

Hubby has said that I LOOK for something to worry about, but at other times he's glad I do.

Monday I was up in the attic at 3 a.m. while it's cooler up there, sorting through stored boxes. A large area of our attic is 8 feet high, floored and overhead lights and ain't un-comfortable at all. It's quiet at that hour unless the A/C unit kicks on, then it's loud roaring like an airplane.

I sit on a old vanity stool to sort, and reminisce through boxes. We do have to climb up the folding attic ladder, but that's not difficult, unless I'm trying to carry a hot mug of coffee in one hand. Anyway.......

The water heater is located next to the opening so you walk past it to cross to the box area.

I just happened to look at the water heater connections on top as I passed. It's a 40-gal "low boy", 4 feet tall, which means I'm a bit taller. Low and Behold! one connection was gleaming WET! The pan had been wet also, but with afternoon summer heat, the water had evaporated.....for the moment.

"Houston, we have a problem!" my brain screamed in my left ear (It's constantly screaming).

Hubby got up at 7, but I waited until he had his first cup of coffee before I said, "Oh, by the way, we need a plumber to check our water heater leak."

He looked at me like I had just said, "I'm pregnant". One of those shocked "Not Possible" looks.

But he climbed the ladder, and a couple of minutes later, climbed down and said, "You're right. It's not a bad leak, but still needs attention."

Long story short: Since the heater's age is 11 years, we decided to replace it, not just repair. Giving us a better chance to avoid any future "Gore/Obama" tax. We figured it would save us $$$ in the long run.

STICKER SHOCK!!! $950 = 1 heater + labor, with 10% senior discount.

Alas, we had it replaced within 2 hours after the plumber and his helper arrived.

Lesson Learned: Check your water heater today. You might see the wisdom in preventing a expensive headache down the road.

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Another call from the mayor's office. Reduce outside watering from 3 times to only twice per week.
We have a 20% chance of rain today.

82 And Still Counting......

Today is hubby's birthday. How I got lucky enough to snag one of the last "knights in shining armor" is beyond me. I'm sure no princess, but he has treated me like a queen for over 40 years.
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What gift do you give a 82 year old man? His tastes in clothes are now simple and his closet is full. His health limits any sweets, his tool box runneth over with tools. He wears hearing aids so music CDs are wasted on him. Some men are just hard to buy for, aren't they?

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I've make a few mistakes in the past on gifts for him, so I've learned to be careful on what I give him. He claims any gift is wasted at this point, he needs nothing. But I keep trying.

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On his 50th birthday, several of us pitched in and sent him a belly dancer to his office, but he was not impressed. The other guys in the office reported they enjoyed her. But Hubby said he thought she was a bit too fat to giggle the bells in the correct order on her hips. I think it was more embarrassment because he was "the boss". So it was a dud gift.

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Oh well, next time I would give him something he could share with just friends and family.

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On his 55th, I gave him a Surprise Party. Spared no expense, rented the VFW hall, hired a top band, had 400 guests with a open bar, I just knew he would be thrilled. He appeared to be in a state of shock the entire evening, you know that "deer in the headlight stare"? I had a success, he was surprised!! I had a great time!

WRONG!

It turned out some of the guests he thought were dead years ago. We had managed to locate several childhood friends, who were by then, old folks. So he was staring at them quite a lot.

He did get some real funny gifts. This was when the National highway speed was 55, so he got several "Speeding Passes" and "Get Out Of Jail Free" slips.

After we got home later, he made me promise to never surprise him like that again, cause all his memories would be of shaking hands with several formerly 'dead' people, and try to blow out all 55 candles and not faint! I still had a great time!

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For this year's I guess I'll give him hugs and kisses, grill him a big steak and tell him it's from his last slain dragon in the freezer. Then I'll drink his wine. I'll still have a great time!