There’s Timberland Up Yonder Ways…
My father spent all day in God’s country, Waverly, Alabama, helping my brother-in-law who is a registered forester. The state forestry commission came and burnt off all the underbrush and then they planted new trees as well. Dad said even the grandkids got involved in planting trees. “I told them if they kept digging deeper then a Chinaman might pop up!” dad told me laughing. Every ten years, dad’s mom would use the proceeds of cutting timber to buy her a new Buick. I am not really sure of the acreage, but is several thousand acres of land all planted with Loblolly pine trees – prime trees for making pulp...
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 15, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
The Upper Peninsula - Michigan, 5/15
(Source: The 4th Avenue Blues)
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 15, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
Citizen’s Band…
Or what is commonly referred to as the CB. When I was a truck driver, I was always hesitant to use the CB. I would miss the cues to end the conversation and it would just downright make me socially anxious. Oh, I would listen, though, especially about upcoming “smokies” or state patrol. “Is the weigh station open?” someone would ask and the answer would usually be, “Yes!” I just got out my old handheld CB and put some fresh batteries in. I immediately picked up two truckers a few miles away on interstate 85. They were berating the President for not fulfilling his campaign promises for t...
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 15, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
Helen Hits One Out of the Ballpark (We Hope)…
“What do you want our Helen to cook for dinner tomorrow?” my father asked me as I gulped down all my crazy meds with a swallow of Grapico soda. “I am going to the grocery store when I leave here.” “Let’s have fried pork chops,” I replied after swallowing my pills. “Lots of fried pork chops.” You could almost see my eyes glaze over in contemplation and food lust. “What vegetables?” dad then asked, bringing my focus back to reality. “Brussels sprouts and Cut Lake green beans.” I replied after some very short deliberation. I blame Charlie’s wife for getting dad and I hooked on Brussels sprouts. ...
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 14, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
“What’cha doing?” she asks…
That’s what mom asked when I answered the phone after about 5 rings. I was sound asleep. Mom couldn’t get me on my landline so she called my cellphone which was just sheer feet from my head as I lay on the bed. “Did I get you up?” mom asked cheerily. I looked at my alarm clock and it said it was 8am. It was odd that Maggie hadn’t already woken me up by then. She was still asleep next to me somewhat jostled a little by the phone ringing. “Oh no,” I replied to mom as I told a little white lie. “I am just glad to have you up early sounding so together.” Mom was organizing another trip to the bookstore and ...
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 14, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
Helen Hit a Home Run!
My eyes got wide-open when I realized Helen had served me up a full bowl of Mac and Cheese. I owe her a big favor! I thought the bowl was full of carrot salad. “If you want someone to thank,” Helen said. “Then thank your mother.” Helen was really chatty today and glad to see me. I took all the trash out for her. Mom was sitting in the den reading a book. Mom has found found a new author, James Michener,. that is captivating to her. I didn’t tell her this, but he has been dead since 1997. (Source: The 4th Avenue Blues)
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 14, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
A Chaperone I Will Have…
I asked my father tonight if I could go to my blogging friend -- Annabel's wedding in July. “Where is it?” my father asked kind of suspiciously. “I believe it is near Amarillo,” I replied. “Canyon, Texas.” “Hell, that’s almost in Oklahoma!” he told me with a goodhearted smirk. “Let’s think about it some more,” my father said. “I am coming with you when we go, though.” “I’m thirsty,” dad then said as he got up to leave. “Ride with me down to the Rectum and we will get us both a icy cold coke.” “And a candy bar?” I asked with a mischievous grin. I grabbed some Reese's peanut butter...
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 14, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
A Standard Issue Southern Spring Thursday…
Mom and I were just talking about what we want to eat at the Mexican restaurant tonight. I was just very impressed mom was lucid and up so early. Mom said she is playing it safe and getting her usual taco salad. Me? I might try something completely random for the sheer hell of it. I am leaning towards fajitas or chilies relleño , though. Both things I haven’t gotten in months. The last time I ordered chilies relleño they used regular bell peppers in a pinch instead of pablano peppers and it greatly disappointed me. I haven’t ordered it since that mishap. Spring Has Finally Sprung… I n...
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 13, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
Bad Influences Abound…
It seems like something out of a Jeff Foxworthy comedy skit. Dad employs a man whose abbreviated name is J.W. to do his landscaping and yard work around the house. I was heading down my parent’s back steps ready to head back home with my daily sodas when J.W. lent me an earful and usurped my quick drive back to my abode.. “Let’s go fishing over at y’all’s pond in God’s Country,” J.W. told me almost pleadingly with his toothless grin. I told J.W. that I would go with him soon. Just not today. It was lightly raining as we stood there in the driveway. I was interested that moment in getting in my d...
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 12, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
An Unorthodox Breakfast…
Ah, the day after grocery day. What a wonderful day it is! I had shrimp and chicken fettuccine in a creamy parmesan alfredo sauce this morning for breakfast. I broke from my usual tradition of standard breakfast food fare. Mrs. Marie Callender made it and she did a good job. I was looking at the box and it was like only 420 calories for the whole meal which surprised me, but it was half a day’s serving of sodium, though. My only blunder last night was that I forgot to get ramen noodles – harkening back to my college days. I tried some a few weeks ago and I had forgotten how quick, filling and wholeso...
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 11, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
Caught in the Computer Triangle…
Everyone is calling me this week with computer problems. I will tell you a little secret – I am great with hardware, but not so hot with software. Most of these problems are software based and need a IT person. Not an A+ certified computer hardware repair technician like me. I told my brother that I had never really used a Mac much and I couldn’t help him with his problem. I got Charlie’s Wife’s email working again by trail and error, and I also got that viral browser toolbar off my father’s computer. The last two were both pretty straight forward – basic computer 101 type stuff. I had t...
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 11, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
Shine a Little Light on Me…
Ah, to sit out upon one’s deck and soak in the sun. It is supposed to get up to 77 degrees today. After a very cold winter, this feels as if we are in a heat wave. Maggie’s been spending most of her afternoons lately on the back deck as well. The princess of Mauritania and Maritouse can produce vitamin D and survey her kingdom all at the same time. We occasionally have to bark loudly from time to time to subvert established authority and let the other neighborhood denizens we are still boss dog. Either that, or Maggie just likes to hear herself bark. Let’s just keep it below Tourette’s levels if you don...
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 10, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
Expect a 90 Percent Chance of Nothing Going On Around Here…
It is just one of those days where I sat on my ever-growing and prodigious butt in front of my computer and did nothing all day. Well, I take that back, I did route and reroute all the wires in and out of my computer’s case and around my two desks. I decreased the bird’s nest factor by tenfold. I also downloaded a bunch of mods for the Elder Scrolls games I am playing at the moment. Take a Bite For Grocery Night… Tonight’s grocery night and I can’t for the love of me think of anything decent to eat. I know I am getting chocolate ice-cream. I am burned out of sandwiches. I can’t find a luncheon meat ...
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 10, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
Charles the Great…
Charlie is in Dad’s Honda CR-V. He accidentally let all the radiator fluid run out of his “Creampuff” Chevrolet HHV and the car overheated. Maggie thought it was dad at first until Charlie popped out of the car with breakfast in hand. Even more rejoicing commenced. “Let’s hope it didn't crack the engine block,” I told Charlie the other night when he was over here telling me about it. Charlie brought two bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits this morning along with a large orange juice. “Janice is having more computer trouble,” Charlie told me as he stood at my front door. “I hated to ...
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 9, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
I Never Said I Was Cajun…
“Popeye's is having a seafood festival this week,” dad told me. “Or you can have a Whopper like your mother.” “I just don’t like that Cajun crab boil taste that all Louisiana cooking entails,” I replied with a queasy stomach. During all of this and the medication ritual, Charlie took it upon himself to start folding the warm clothes in my dryer as I had just finished a load. I also washed and dried Maggie’s feeding station towel. Dad patted me on the back with a smile for doing that. Maggie seemed pleased as well and began crunching on tonight’s nibbles about as fast as dad could put her bowl down...
Source: The 4th Avenue Blues - March 9, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Authors: Andrew Quixote Source Type: blogs
