I went hiking this past weekend with my brother, Mike, aka Dictionary Dude, a semi-retired CPA. We hiked the Ozark Highlands Trail, OHT, starting at the trailhead close to Ozone Campground on Arkansas Highway 21, ending up at the Fort Douglas Trailhead, 1.5 miles east of the Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area on Arkansas Highway 123. Total distance covered was 20 miles. We took it easy and did the distance in two and one half days. Last hike we did was 30 miles in 3 days which does not sound like a lot, but remember we are carrying packs that weigh around 35 pounds loaded. Plus these hikes are in Arkansas, you are either going uphill or downhill, if you find yourself walking on the flat for any extended period of time, Continue reading “Duck Dynasty Backpacking Trip”
The Flags Flying in Rural Areas
I just returned from a 3 day backpacking trip in north central Arkansas. My brother and I were in the Ozark National Forest a little ways south of Jasper which is on the Buffalo National River. It is a very rural area, a very scenic area, consisting mainly of national forests and cattle operations, sparsely populated would be an accurate description.
I have written before of how I felt my beloved American flag has been hijacked by the conservatives, especially the extreme right. That has resulted in my having mixed emotions Continue reading “The Flags Flying in Rural Areas”
Perhaps My Most Sensuous Dream
My due diligence: I don’t believe this post to be x-rated, I would not even call it r-rated. However, it has a vaguely graphic sexual theme. Also I know that listening to someone else’s dream is often a politeness. So now, dear reader, the choice is yours.
One of the things about backpacking this time of year is the amount of time you spend in your tent in a sleeping bag. It gets dark early and morning arrives late. It also tends to be cold, Continue reading “Perhaps My Most Sensuous Dream”
Rev. Joe’s Random Thought #2,000
yeah I know you did not ask!
This “random thought” may be somewhat obscure to many readers, but to those of us who know JMR, it will relate immediately.
JMR takes walks regularly and drives quite a bit for various reasons. All of us in his circle are use to frequently getting calls from him at these times as he has had a thought he needs to share.
Reflecting on this, it is obvious to me that this is his method of sharing in the same vein as Rev. Joe’s Random Thoughts. The acorns do not fall too far from the oak tree. Of course his method has the advantage of not floating around the Internet to come back and bite him.
Rev. Joe’s Random Thought #1,776
yeah I know you did not ask!
Only in America…
I go to the doctor every 6 months to get blood work, mainly because one of the drugs I take (blood pressure med???) can affect the liver. They generally want to check my cholesterol while they are at it, so I go in fasting. A bad habit that I started years ago is getting a Mickey Dee’s breakfast afterwards. Outside of when we travel, it is the only time I eat at this iconic American restaurant.
It was about lunch time when I got out of the doctor’s office. The line at McDonald’s drive-thru was fairly long so I went inside. There was only one man inside eating at a table, and I walked right up to the counter and ordered. When I left the line for the drive-thru had backed up all the way on to Olive Boulevard, which is very a busy street with 4 lanes and a middle turn lane. Admittedly the weather is bad here in St. Louis today, a slushy mess freezing on the road, so that probably affected peoples’ actions. However, I have seen the same behavior on beautiful spring days. It makes me wonder how much gasoline is wasted by folks idling in drive-thrus.
Picture from 6th Grade…
A couple of days ago was Valentine’s Day which got me thinking about one etched in my mind from when I was in 6th grade. Digging around I found a picture taken that day during our class party celebrating the event. I had given a card to every kid in the class – seemed like the nicest thing to do. I did not have to use even one finger to count the number of Valentine Day cards I received. Twas not a good day, and one that was burned in my memory. Perhaps this was the impetus starting me down my curmudgeonly path.
And so it went.
Word of the Day – Barratry
- Noun: Barratry
- the purchase or sale of office or preferment in church or state
- an unlawful act or fraudulent breach of duty by a master of a ship or by the mariners to the injury of the owner of the ship or cargo
- the persistent incitement of litigation
- Synonyms:
- contravention
- dereliction
- disregard
- infraction
- infringement
- noncompliance
- offense
- violation
- Usage:
- “But Captain Krausa listened quietly, then answered with real poetry–he accused the Losian of every crime from barratry to mopery and dopery in the spaceways.”
- Encountered:
- While reading Robert A. Heinlein’s Citizen of the Galaxy.
To see more Words of the Day, visit this link: Words of the Day
Quote of the Day – Charles Dickens
“An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself.” ~~ Charles Dickens
To see more Quotes for Day, visit this link: Quotes for the Day
Clint Eastwood Saves the Day
Today I was doing some honey-dos in the guest bedroom. While I was busy in there I decided I wanted to watch the final round of this week’s PGA golf tournament. Thing is we have not had a house guest since before the pandemic lock down so it has been that long since that TV had been used. First I had to load our current streaming service onto this TV, then I discovered the Roku menu was not working. I diagnosed the problem quickly – for me – as the batteries being dead in the remote controller. Opening the back of the device I discovered I needed two AA batteries. Problem was we had used up the last of the package a while back.
Remembering the oft repeated line Continue reading “Clint Eastwood Saves the Day”
Rev. Joe’s Random Thought #572
yeah I know you did not ask!
I spent part of yesterday afternoon giving all three bathrooms a very thorough cleaning. Now I do not want to utilize any of them as I do not want to encroach on their perfection. I am afraid, however, if I sidle up to a tree in the backyard one of the neighbors will place a call to Chesterfield’s finest. Well, there is always the BP on the corner of Olive and Chesterfield Parkway. Their bathrooms are generally clean, but not perfect. I wonder if I could sneak into the YMCA down by the St. Louis County Library and get a quick shower…
And so it goes.