No picture today since I want to talk about something that has been bothering me lately. I think I am writing about it to help myself deal with the problem and not to burden readers with it. So if you don't want to read today's blog I completely understand.

Before I say what I want to I must mention to my good friend Foam that I just read your blog about your Mom. I have not had to deal with the Alzheimer problem and I hope I never do. I admire you for your thoughtfulness toward your Mom and the love you give her. You have my utmost respect. Now about those religious services. Hmmm, I hope you don't hold it against me because I am a fairly religious person in that I believe in God and His works but I don't believe in Bible thumping and finding fault with others for what they believe or do. I might not agree with others but when I become perfect then I can throw rocks. (Damn, better duck cause the Irish are quite perfect you know.):)) All I can say to your Mom is keep up the good work of heckling. She is my kind of gal.

A couple of weeks ago I received a call from my oldest son informing me that his only daughter was pregnant, still in high school and he was quite distraught. What do you say back. I gave him my sympathies and all the encouragement I could. I must say I am so disappointed in my granddaughter. Until she hit her teen years she was a good kid, respectful and sweet as the day is long. She had friends who uplifted her and they even made a pact to remain virgins until the day they married. Suddenly she started hanging out with a different crowd, no respect for her parents and siblings and her grades went from A's to F's. No matter what anyone would say they were wrong and she knew best. Now she is 18, single, pregnant and not a clue what life has in store for her. She has the attitude that Mom and Dad will be built in baby sitters while she continues playing with her friends. The one I feel the sorriest for is the yet to be born baby. That little one has done nothing wrong but is already starting life on two strikes. I asked my son if he even knew who the father is and he said he did. The father is now an inmate at one of the California prisons. What a legacy. I will be surprised if the baby grows up even knowing who the father really is.

I was six months old when my mother died. She was only 24 years old at the time and my brother was 3 years old. She was the second wife for my father and both of them died. His first wife was only 19 when she accidentally took the wrong medicine for migraine headaches. So here was a young father having lost not one but two wives at an early age. My brother and I were passed from relative to relative for a while. Finally one Aunt and Uncle, who had no children of their own, asked my father if I could live with them and they would raise me as their own.

They lived on the shores of Jackson Lake which is nestled up against the Teton mountains. Beautiful place, just the kind I always dream of. When I first arrived there I was close to death myself. My Aunt had to change my diapers with tweezers and carried me around on a soft pillow because my body could not handle anything harder. She nursed me back to health and I have pictures of her and I when she would take me fishing with her on the lake.

One day my father showed up unexpectedly, picked me up and told my aunt and uncle he was taking me to someone else. It about broke her heart and the closeness she had with me was broken that very day because she didn't want to be hurt that bad again. I was taken to another aunt and uncle who had told my father that they would raise me with the understanding that he was to never interfere, not to visit but once in a while, and I was to not have anything to do with my mother's family. They would adopt me and I would know them as the only family I had.

Needless to say this was not a loving situation. As much as I would like to remember many good times unfortunately I can only remember the frequent beatings, the harsh discipline, and the hatred toward my mother's family. I was not allowed to use the indoors bathroom except for taking a bath. If I had to relieve myself I was to go out to the barn and do it in the gutter where the cows stood. I learned to hate the woman with a passion.

I wanted to know my father so badly. I knew who he was, where he was (most of the time) but was not allowed to visit. To this day I know very little about my father and almost nothing about my mother. When my father would come for a visit on Thanksgiving day he would not talk to me.

Why do I mention this? I think of this new unborn baby coming into the world soon and wonder what kind of life it will have. Grandpa will be there but there is only so much Grandpa and Grandma are allowed to do. Will it even know it's parents? The mother is getting flakier by the day. So my heart goes out to this little one, the innocent one, the one who has no control on what is happening. What has happened to being responsible for out actions?

So to my friend Diana I say thank you for being a good daughter. Your mother needs you even if her mind is weakening and yet in her own way she is very grateful.

Sorry for sounding like I am feeling sorry for myself because I truly am not. I have learned to cope and move on. I have a GREAT wife who has helped me sooooooo much. She is my angel on earth. Now you know a little more about this Irishman.

Have a nice day everyone.

Okay, so I lied about not blogging anymore but I seen this on Tigersue's blog and just had to do it. So Tanya, your husband was a Bonneville Bee. Well, we can't all be perfect like the Teton Redskins.:))

High School Tag ~
1. DID YOU DATE SOMEONE FROM YOUR SCHOOL? Yes, sort of, a little bit. I wasn't much of a dater I guess.

2.WHAT KIND OF CAR DID YOU DRIVE? The folks owned Pontiacs and if I got to drive it would be that or a 1953 Chevrolet pickup. Mostly it was a horse or bicycle.

3. DID YOU PASS YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE TEST YOUR FIRST TRY? yes.

4.WHERE YOU A PARTY ANIMAL? Hmmmmmmm, define party animal.

5. WERE YOU CONSIDERED A FLIRT? No

6. WERE YOU IN BAND, ORCHESTRA, OR CHOIR? All three plus Pep Band and Dance Orchestra.

7. WERE YOU A NERD? Most likely

8. WERE YOU ON ANY VARSITY TEAMS? Baseball but that party thing came into play and I was asked to not play.

9. DID YOU EVER GET SUSPENDED/EXPELLED? No, but if closeness counts it was very close.

10. CAN YOU STILL SING THE FIGHT SONG? No.

11. WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE TEACHER? Mr. Murdock in music and electronics

12. WHERE DID YOU SIT FOR LUNCH? Anywhere and everywhere

13. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S FULL NAME? Teton Redskins, Driggs, ID

14. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S MASCOT AND COLORS? Mascot ???, Colors: maroon, white and orange

15. DID YOU GO TO HOMECOMING AND WITH WHO? Our dance band probably played for it and I watched the girl I liked out there having a good time while I blew sour notes.

16. IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN WOULD YOU? Merciful heavens no.

17. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT GRADUATION? Nothing special. Had my teeth all pulled out the very next day.

18. WHERE DID YOU GO SENIOR SKIP DAY? I don't know if they did that.

19. WERE YOU IN ANY CLUBS? No

20. HAVE YOU GAINED SOME WEIGHT SINCE THEN? Yes, but that is as far as that question is being answered.

21. WHO WAS YOUR PROM DATE? The girl of my dreams and that is as far as it got.

22 ARE YOU PLANNING ON GOING TO YOUR 10 YEAR REUNION? I didn't go to any of my reunions until the 40th. We lived too far away.

23. DID YOU HAVE A JOB IN HIGH SCHOOL? Yes. I worked in the potato cellars, drove cat's and tractors for local farmers, logged one summer and always helped my old friend Frank Harrop in the hay.

So there you have another little tidbit about me. Enjoy and let me know if you do one so I can read it.

Have a nice day everyone.

This will definitely be my last post before the Thanksgiving holiday. Sooooooo HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ONE AND ALL.

I have another school district wanting me to come and drive for them as a sub driver and it has been interesting observing what they want me to do. First they gave me a book about 1 inch thick and told me I had to study it then pass 10 tests from it. I finally got that done last week. Whew!! Now they want me to be finger printed to make sure I am not some loose pervert that should not be around children. Of course the school district that I already work for should have done this three years ago but somehow it got overlooked. They could have a real STRANGE one in their midst.

I am also applying for my concealed weapons permit and that means getting finger printed again. After all these finger printings take place I will either be a confirmed hardened criminal or an angelic irishman in the midst of society.

Looks like it will snow today. Of course it is since I have to take a 300 mile trip tomorrow with the girls basketball team. Oh well.

Time for me to go and take a nap. I have strained myself severely just sitting here fiddling around on the computer. There was something I was going to say to Pamela and Foamy but now I forget so another time.

Have a nice day everyone.

It is still Monday and I have not set down to watch "Chuck" yet because I read my sister-in-law's and my niece's blogs about gratitude. I must give it a shot. Most of my youthful life I was told I was an ungrateful little s--t so this might be hard for me. These are not necessarily in priority order although the first two certainly are.

WHAT I AM GRATEFUL FOR!!!

1. Without a doubt, my wife Cheryl.

2. My religion.

3. A warm house on a cold day.

4. Rain. I love to watch it rain.

5. Animals. Especially north american animals like moose, deer, horses..., oh you know what I mean.

6. Hugs from my grandchildren.

7. Having my children tell me they love me..., and mean it.

8. The smell of baking bread.

9. Listening to a brook.

10. A drink of cold, cold, milk.

11. Listening to my wife snore. (Sometimes it can be very comforting.)

12. To hear the wind blowing in the trees.

13. Bacon.

14. Friendships, although it is hard for me at times.

15. For my current job which I enjoy.

16. The smell of new mown hay.

17. That the words Pappa or Poppy were invented by little girls.

18. Freedom and I mean this most seriously. Thank you veterans and those currently serving in our armed forces.

19. The United States of America and what a great place it is and hope it will continue to be so.

20. Last but certainly not least..., my God, who is real and He cares about us all.

There you have it. 20 things I am grateful for and it wasn't that hard to do. If you feel inclined do the same on your blogs and tell me so I can read them.

Have a nice day everyone.

If I get busy and don't get time to set down and wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving then I wish to do it now. Hope all of you enjoy your holiday and please, be safe.

So, what is everyone doing for Thanksgiving? Cheryl and I are just staying home like a couple of senior citizens. All of our kids have moved so far away that it takes 10 hours to get to the nearest one. (Oops, I forgot about the one in Provo but she has other plans.) That means they won't be able to come here and we won't be able to go to any of their homes. For Thanksgiving I sort of miss having the family gather. As a youth it was the one day that the Delaney brothers and sisters with their spouses would come to our home and it was just neat. Normally during the year I did not get to see much of them. I thought I would carry on the tradition with our family but necessity took them a long ways away.

Cheryl has had her operation and is doing just fine, a little tender, but just fine. Personally I think she is milking the kindness needed thing too much. I don't mind helping but there is a limit you know.

Got an email from my son in New Mexico and he led me to a website that has pictures of my grandson playing baseball. It was really neat seeing him in his uniform being all serious. I guess he is quite the ball player too. All star of course. I have another grandson in Bakersfield, California who was chosen as an all star in football. Yep, this grandpa's buttons are popping.

Winter has given us a warning here. Snow on the mountains which we need so badly. It is just about time for me to take my time off from work. I have to take the Christmas break and the whole month of January off which about drives me crazy and poor Cheryl even crazier. I have nothing more to do than chase her around the house. When I think of the other drivers out there in the snowstorms I don't feel like I am being punished too much.

Well one of my favorite shows will be coming on so I best get in front of the TV in my relaxed mode. The show? "Chuck" cause I like that hot little blond on it.:)))))

Have a nice day everyone.

Noticed this on LOWA's blog and thought it would be fun to do. I like these things because I learn so much about a person. Soooooooooooo, if you want to fill in your own answers please let me know so I can read them.



Fun

1. Where is your cell phone? Charging on the dresser.

2. Where is your significant other? Out in the kitchen fixing supper.

3. Your hair color? Salt and pepper now. It used to be black as our American Pre..., I can't say that.

4. Your mother? In heaven praying for her wayward son.

5. Your father? In heaven praying for his wayward son.

6. Your favorite thing? Ohhhhhhh, lots of things. Mostly that which Cheryl and I can do together.

7. Your dream last night? Probably another nightmare which had me working for Halliburton again.

8. Your dream/goal? To visit Alaska, Ireland, and make it to the Celestial Kingdom of Heaven.

9. The room you're in? Spare bedroom which we call the computer room.

10. Your hobby? Hmmmmm, several things get my attention but fishing, computers, bothering Cheryl comes to mind.

11. Your fear? My family not making it to the Celestial Kingdom or they make it and I do not.

12. Where do you want to be in six years? Still around and getting ready for our 50th wedding anniversary.

13. Where were you last night? In Blackfoot, Idaho with a group of band students attending an Army Jazz Concert.

14. What you’re not? Able to function very well due to pain.

15. One of your wish list items? To be able to visit said Alaska and Ireland but to do it pain free.

16. Where you grew up? Teton Valley, Idaho in the Darby section.

17. The last thing you did? Started the fire which I hope Cheryl is taking care of or it will go out.

18. What are you wearing? Welllllllll, aren't we getting nosy.

19. Your TV? An old one. We need a new one so bad it is not funny.

20. Your pet? None now. Since Dusty (the dog) and Gus (the cat) died we have not wanted to replace them.

21. Your computer? I don't know. One that works.

22. Your mood? Hungry, my back hurts, and I feel like watching TV.

23. Missing someone? No. I got Cheryl what more could I want?

24. Your car? A 1989 Ford Tempo that we call the "Scab".

25. Something you’re not wearing? Well, I certainly am not wearing a BRA!!!

26. Favorite store? Any sporting good store or tool store.

27. Your summer? Recuperating from pain.

28. Love someone? Absolutely..., Cheryl.

29. Your favorite color? Deep blue and/or deep purple.

30.When is the last time you laughed? Pretty much every day.

31. Last time you cried? Oh no. Real men don't cry..., just ask John Wayne.

Have a nice day everyone.

Hello good people. Tomorrow is the day to elect a new president and I hope all of you will get out and vote.

Just got back from a two day run to Boise, ID where our high school girls took 1st in the state cross country run and our boy took second. What a congregation of schools. I counted almost 100 buses and that did not include the ones that were coming and going at the time. Kids and parents were like watching an ant hill. All had some place they knew they wanted to be but never in the same direction.

Cheryl went with me this time and all she did was stick her nose in a book the whole time. I tried to get her to help me find certain streets but she was just too involved. The book? "Eclipse" the fourth book in the series about vampires, werewolves, and a stupid girl who wants to become one of them. There is a movie version coming out this November, I think, but it only covers the first book. That wife of mine is really hooked on these books, as are other women in this neck of the woods.

The surgeon says I have to have another back operation so he can insert pins in my vertebrae. He wanted to do it a.s.a.p. but I opted for next summer. He said as long as I can stand the pain he doesn't mind. So oh joy, oh joy another summer coming where I do nothing but recuperate.

Wednesday is the day of Cheryl's surgery. She is so nervous. Right now she is taking self injections for offsetting cumedin. I keep telling her she is a pin cushion that sprays like a shower head.

So there you have it.... The boring life of the Delaney's. Now if I was a beer drinking, petite German I would have all kinds of stories to tell. Or maybe to be like a Grandma in Washington who is always up to something and it is always nice. I don't even mention the Canadians. To think they might have been U.S. citizens at one point in history but nooooooooo, they chose not too. I guess I could be like the Iowans. Hmmmmmmm, that about said it all concerning them.

Guess I will close. Cheryl is back from her morning walk and I must go and start begging for food. The woman is so mean to me.

Have a nice day everyone.