Smokey

Smoky - Author's Picture

Smokey's face looks quite offended. She didn't like that we were paying attention to a puppy rather than her. She's a tabby; maybe mixed with something else. Not my cat, but it is my picture.

Papa Lopez Mexican Cantina

Papa Lopez

Papa Lopez's is a very good place to eat (and drink) if you happen to be in town (Allen, Texas).

969 Sam Rayburn Tollway STE 120

Allen, TX

"Papa Lopez Mexican Cantina is proud to be a family-owned and operated restaurant. Visit us at one of our two locations - let our family welcome you and yours into a fun & vibrant atmosphere, where you'll enjoy one of our authentic Tex-Mex dishes!"

Papa Lopez

Winter Weather

HPLHS Renewal

I've had enough dogs for the month and enough cold for the year. We did get the storm spoken of in my edit (below). We were without power for almost 24 hours, and it's not set in stone that the power won't go out again. In fact, it has blinked off a few times since it came back on this morning. Anything's possible in Texas. The area is completely shut down. We did get to make some coffee today. I'm so cold. My feet are freezing, and our bathrooms, especially the one on the north side of the house, are freezing. They're heated by electric heaters, and they haven't warmed the rooms up yet. I spent the powerless evening (yesterday) rewatching movies and some animated Star Wars episodes. I also rewatched a couple of Hellraiser movies, the second one and the third one, starring the younger Terry Farrell of Star Trek.

Read the remainder as though it were written previously, which it was:

A winter storm warning starts today. I hope we miss it, but the weather forecast is calling for it. I might be without power when or if it hits. In the meantime, I'm happy to have renewed my 2006 membership to the HPLHS, or H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society. I got a new stamp for my ID. Pretty cool.

About an hour ago, I set out my gas lamps and candles. I have about 10 gallons of water. I hope it'll be enough in case we do get a bad storm. We're overdue for one. At the moment, I'm hearing a fixed-wing aircraft flying over our house. I wonder why they're up in this weather. It has already started raining. Probably will change to freezing rain before long. Godspeed to all who have to be out in these conditions.

I still have the urge to head out into the woods and take pictures. I'm not sure when I'll get to do it. I don't really want to head out into the rain. But, I might have to.

Edit: We did get a winter storm last night. It's possible that we will get more freezing rain and snow. Now I'm sure about going outside. It's so very cold, too cold. Oh, and I have totally changed my mind about going out to take pictures, or even going out at all. I live in Texas for a reason, and cold is not one of those reasons.

And another edit: The power went out two brief times when I was writing this post.

Winter Weather Possibly Approaching

Goodbye Kisses

We're under a winter storm watch on Friday, along with a warning for some brutal cold weather, like single water freezing digits. I hope "they" are wrong, but the forecast hasn't changed. I hate it when the area basically shuts down when a winter storm hits. We'll see, I guess. We got a lot of rain last night. If the temperature does drop, I'd like to go out into the woods and walk the bank of a creek that lies on the south side of the property. I'll take a few pictures, and there's always the possibility of finding an antique bottle or two, and maybe even an old trash pile. I just hope we don't lose our electricity.

I've been working on blog material for 2027, which right now is a long way off. In the meantime, I'm working on various retellings of stories that relate to Washita in an attempt to promote the novella. My current focus is on the stories taking place in or around the fictional Dobbs County. At the moment, I'm also developing the character of Izzy Kent, who is becoming more prominent in the 3820 tale. She's a key player in the Dobbs Universe and has also appeared in a couple of standalone stories, and may become the most outstanding character 3820. I didn't decide to make it that way; she just took on a life of her own and ran with it. She has a few characteristics that I also have, personally. I want to say it's strange, but it may be predictable. The character may well have the interests of the author, even if their genders are not the same.

Today I spent from 2:30 PM to 5 PM at the vet's office. My daughter's Jack Russell has heartworms, which has led to heart failure. The bill was a shopping 762 dollars. I was so tired, mainly from sitting in the waiting room. They had hard wooden chairs and what seemed to be vintage pews to sit on. Very hard on the back, especially when you already have back trouble. The picture: I thought it was poignant. There actually were kisses in the container.

January 2026 Update

Medical Wrap Picture

"Go ahead, baby," I said (accidentally, I'm often guilty of saying this) to the 20-something that checked out in front of me at the store, but needed to exchange something that she'd bought. She was certainly young enough to be my daughter. She said, "Thank you, honey," like a server in a restaurant might say. I almost laughed because of our age difference. I think we were both tickled. She thought I was flirting with her (I wasn't; anyway, my wife was with me, so why would I get myself into trouble?). I was just amused because of her youth. The young woman finished her business, and I checked out when she got through.

A couple of days ago, I had to visit my doctor to get some bloodwork done. I have no idea why. I have another appointment near the end of next week. I guess I'll find out then. I remember when they used to apply Band-Aids to injection sites. Now you get 345656 wraps of material wrapped around your arm. It's aggravating. At least I got my flu shot and won't have more mummy-like bandages. Hopefully.

In the meantime, I have another appointment for next week with my doctor. This past week, I took my mom to her optometrist appointment. I'm taking her to another appointment next week. Mom is elderly now and having trouble getting around. She's above the age of 80. I'm going to spend as much time with her as I can.

Cat Nest

New in the House

I recently posted about my Ghost Secret Mission Unboxing. It came in a large box. As it happens, I found a use for the box as well. The cats claim it as a sleeping spot.

Well, the New Year has begun, and it's amazing how quickly Christmas 2025 came and left. I had a voice appointment with my VA doctor. Tomorrow I see my physician (I don't really know why; they said to be there, so I'll go). On Friday, I have to drive my mom to her annual eye exam. Above all that, I'm beginning to be worried about my wife's health, which consumed much of my thinking and worrying in 2025. I know better than anyone that it does no good to worry about anything. I do it anyway.

In the online world, or in matters related to the online world, I've been using AI to create monthly graphics to add to the blog, well, monthly. I've also started fleshing out the character of Izzy. I'll need to work on Tiffany Williamson before too long. It's fun creating a literary universe. It's falling together without really any effort.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I don't make positive New Year's resolutions; however, the following concerns:

Things I Won't Do (Or Won't Do Again)

1. Climb a mountain, especially one that has a peak ascending into the "death zone," a place where no life is possible (without bottled oxygen, anyway).
2. Go to sea on a submarine.
3. Get on a submarine that's in the water. I've been on one, a museum ship, but it was safely on the ground.
4. In addition to the above, I shan't be getting on a submersible.
5. I'll never descend beneath the ocean to the point that implosion is possible.
6. Also, I'll never descend beneath the ocean at all.
7. I'll never fly again unless I'm hurt and unconscious on an air ambulance.
8. I'll never wade more than ankle deep in the ocean. By now, I've been oceanside quite a few times. I've never done anything more than walk along the edge of the beach.
9. I'll never hike in a national park. Too dangerous.
10. I'll never get on a boat or ship again that isn't an on-ground or dockside museum ship. Too dangerous.
11. I'll never head off into woods or forests that are unknown to me. Too many snakes.
12. Additionally, I won't go camping unless I'm in a recreational vehicle.
13. I'll never go to places like Hawaii or other cool sites, as this would break my previous rules.
14. I won't be going on a cruise, even if I had the money to do so.
15. I'll never personally test anything that I might create or discover. Too dangerous. Might hurt myself.
16. I'll never be a security guard or police officer. Probably too old for the latter.
17. I'll never attempt to fly an airplane or helicopter.

2025 Christmas Decorations

Christmas Decorations

12/30/2025: I'm preparing to renew my yearly membership with the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society. Anyway, I'll do it in the next week or two. Right now I have money in my billfold and it's on fire to go out and eat dinner one night. I'm thinking Tex-Mex. Not just thinking, but that's what it's going to be. The picture shows my 2025 decorations, taken with a gifted Vivitar camera. I'm still trying to figure out how to learn/operate the camera.

Another Christmas Present

Christmas Goodies

I got a few good presents for Christmas. My nephew gave me the above gift. In addition to the present, there were goodies to eat included in the sack.

Screwdriver and Bits

I guess I should say that all of my gifts were good. The picture shows a screwdriver set with bits and sockets. I've already used it.

Christmas Ham and Turkey

Christmas Ham and Turkey

I cooked the usual ham and turkey for the Christmas Day meal. I always cook the meat. The ham was just okay, because of the brand and being pre-sliced (too thin), and I only had one bite of the turkey. I don't care for turkey, so I don't eat much. We did have plenty of ham, and yesterday I put the rest of it into a freezer bag to store it. We cook it with pinto beans in the crockpot. I was busy and didn't have time to take pictures after I had cooked the meat. I did get a picture when I was getting ready to cook it.

A Christmas Present

Vivitar Digital Camera

We're in that time of year that I call the "lull," or transition point, counting down to the New Year. I don't like these few days. And I can't remember the last time we had a white Christmas. On Christmas day, it was in the low 80s (F). The picture is a camera I wanted. My wife gave it to me for Christmas. I also got $100 worth of Amazon cards from the kids, and my nephew gave me a screwdriver set that has a number of bits and sockets (metric and standard) included with it. I'm not sure if I'm going to like the camera. After snapping an (admittedly few) photos, it kind of seems like my iPhone camera is the superior camera. Still, it's nice to have.

Christmas Message

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you!

Merry Christmas from me, us, and Lucas the tabby cat!

Merry Christmas!

5 Facts About the Christmas Holiday

Merry Christmas!

The time is approaching once again, and once again, I might be scarce on the blog. That being said, I have content that will auto-load every day at 10:00 a.m. Anyhow, my family and I extend to you a heartfelt, "Merry Christmas." Are you an expert on holidays? If so, maybe you already know the following facts. Either way, read on!

1. There is no evidence that Jesus Christ was born on December 25. Some scholars believe He was born in the spring [1].

2. Christmas has both pagan and Christian origins, especially the giving of gifts and a decorated tree [2].

3. The real Saint Nicholas was known for giving gifts and even for miracle-working. The idea of a jolly, chubby Saint is more of a modern tradition [3].

4. The Bible's "wise men of the east" is a translation of the word "magi." The magi were magicians and probably came from Babylon [4].

5. In Norse mythology, the god Odin has sometimes been thought to be synonymous with Santa Claus. However, there appears to be no direct evidence of this.

Sources Consulted:

¹https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g2972/surprising-christmas-facts/

²Ibid.

³Lonestar Hobby Blog.

⁴Easton’s Bible Dictionary via Christianity.com.

⁵In Norse mythology, the god Odin has sometimes been thought to be synonymous with Santa Claus. However, there appears to be no direct evidence of this.

See also:

The Origins of Christmas by Joseph F. Kelly

Image Source: Internet

December Journal Entry

Big Mama Sausage

Nothing much has been going on lately, and I'm happy about it. It is getting too cold for my taste, though. We've started doing our grocery shopping on Saturday, so we won't have to be out after dark. My eyes aren't what they used to be (never have been very good), and there are too many wild hogs and deer on the roadside during the night. We got our stocking stuffers bought, as well as a few presents. I hope to have an uneventful rest of the year and a prosperous 2026. Oh, the picture. I had a weird craving for an old-school pickled sausage, so I had to go to the dollar store and get one. That small item cost two dollars. So, two dollars for about 10 bites. I bought the non-spicy kind.

Holiday Season

Office Decorations

I took mom's groceries to her and then set about to do some errands. The temperature was in the 40s (F), so I dressed in my new hoodie and took off to town. I had to get some antacid, some creamed corn, and I was looking for some tea lights, as I cannot find mine. I know I have some, somewhere, stored away in the closet. Well, I couldn't find any, but I did find some battery-operated lights for a dollar a piece. The bad thing is that the batteries in them are not replaceable. I'll have to get some at Walmart or somewhere the next time we go. I got my Christmas decorations put up, or put up as good as they're going to get. I'm tired of trying to get them perfect. I made an effort, and that's about all I'll do for this year.

Lucas Faces

Lucas - Author's Picture

Lucas the tabby is about 12 years old. He was born to a feral cat at the bottom of a 50-gallon barrel. At some point, the mom and the other babies disappeared, and Lucas was left behind. I was on the back porch grilling chicken, and he came to me. I guess he smelled the food. I adopted him that very night.

In the picture, Lucas is unhappy with me and giving me "a look." I had been petting him, and that was okay. Then I started petting that spot right above the tail, and he got annoyed. He bit me and made a mean face. Lucas is one of four indoor cats that we have had. Two have died, and we have another white and brown tabby around here somewhere.

Journal, December 7

"During the war a church in Strasburg, Germany, was totally destroyed; but a statue of Christ which stood by the altar was almost unharmed. Only the hands of the statue were missing. When the church was rebuilt, a famous sculptor offered to make new hands; but, after considering the matter, the members decided to let it stand as it was—without hands. “For,” they said, “Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work on earth. If we don’t feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, entertain the stranger, visit the imprisoned, and clothe the naked, who will?” Christ is depending on us to do the very things which He did while upon earth. My friend, if the gospel we preach does not have a social application, if it will not work effectively in the work-a-day world, then it is not the Gospel of Christ."

From Day by Day with Billy Graham, © 1976 BGEA

Journal, December 5

Hot Wheels, Star Wars - Author's Picture

We went on our first weekly pilgrimage to Walmart. I say first, because we usually end up going at least twice, Friday and Saturday. I'll have to go pick up my mom's groceries tomorrow. Since I have a little birthday money in my pocket, I hope to take my wife to a late lunch or early dinner at the Sirloin Stockade in Paris, Texas. It's a bit out of the way, but we both like it. We'll go before our meal, probably, to visit the Goodwill store. I can always manage to find something I need (or think I need) at those types of stores.

The picture above shows Hot Wheels Star Wars ships at Walmart. I couldn't remember if I had them, so I took the shot and brought it home to check. It turns out that I already have the A-Wing Fighter (R), but I don't have the E-Wing. If they're still there tomorrow, I'll get the E-Wing.

As we were travelling, we passed through Detroit, Texas. It describes itself as the "Little Motor City." On the outskirts of town, you can see the Gulf Coast Bank. Years ago, before the name change, the bank was robbed. The robbers flew a helicopter onto the grounds, below radar, and then robbed the bank. They took off again, still flying low. I don't know whether they were ever caught. I just don't remember.

On one bridge, we saw the remains of three large hogs. Feral hogs are rampant in Texas. You always hear about someone hitting a hog and causing massive damage to their vehicle.

On Sunday, I anticipate a trip to a historic cemetery halfway between Detroit, Texas, and Clarksville, Texas. The cemetery has been on my "to visit" list for quite some time. I hope to get out there his weekend and take a look around. Naturally, I'll take pictures.

Christmas Is Almost Here

Christmas Is Almost Here

I like the home office decorations from last year (pictured). It's almost that time again! I think today is the day, assuming that nothing goes wrong, that I'll install my Christmas tree and decorations. As always, I may be absent from the blog, especially during the week of Christmas. Merry Christmas to all!

Journal, November 28

I just heard that a former local pastor passed away. He was a good guy and a good friend to have. Nothing terrible happened to him or anything; he was very much an elderly person.

I got a couple of Star Wars action figures for my birthday a few months ago, but I haven't had the opportunity to open them yet. Soon, hopefully, I'll be able to do some (or some more)unboxing. I can't name them all right now, but I do know I received about seven packages.

The other day, I was surprised to see (in the small town where I was born) an ice cream truck! Talk about bringing back memories! We last had an ice cream when I was a little boy. I still remember that music and being ready to run out to the street.

Some time ago, my sister-in-law ended up spending several days at a hospital in Arlington, Texas. She wasn't sick, though she was recovering from a bad spider bite, but she was there because of a friend of a friend. He was in a bad highway accident, and last I heard, he wasn't doing well at all. Sad news, but I also just heard that he made it through surgery and might be released in a few days. So, I guess he was not as bad off as I had thought. I actually went to high school with his sister.