DocWard

I'll just say that when I asked Mrs. Doc to marry me, I knew that if I ever came to a point where Iaid down the ultimatum "it's either me or the horses," I'd have my bags packed and ready to go.

I always think of the “Empty Arms Hotel”

If it's burning oil, it still has oil too!

I only laugh because I know the feeling well.

Funny thing. There's very little in the way of music that I don't like, or at least can listen to. The new country / pop stuff is on the list of stuff I don't care for. Stuff with a fake nasal twang to it. I can really do without most disco. I enjoy old Country music, up to and including stuff by Randy Travis, Clint Black, George Strait and the like. Bluegrass, Folk, Classical (from Baroque through Romantic and on), Pop, Rock of all types, R&B, Blues, and even early "old school" Hip Hop and Rap from when I was in high school and college. Among my favorite rock bands, Rush rates high, with their penchant for odd time signatures. Although I am adamant that the single greatest piece of music ever composed was Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125. (Others may disagree. I respect their right to be incorrect.) So, yes, it is wonderful. It makes life much more... Colorful. I can't think of a better word. The analogy of what we hear to what we see works well for me.

To each their own. They were among the most talented rock bands out there, and in many ways Neil Peart, their drummer and primary lyricist, wrote the soundtrack for my life beginning with my teenage years. I felt like I had been gut punched when I found out he had died. Out of curiosity, what did you listen to? I’m not saying there is something they did you might like, because I don’t know your tastes. I’m simply asking.

Why, yes, that would be the Rush I meant!

I didn't do it. I wasn't even in the area at the time. And I have alibis.

Have you been listening to Rush again? I wholeheartedly approve.

That’s how things were when I enlisted and for a number of years. From 2001 things shifted. Between 2006 and my retirement in 2012, we were doing lengthy ruck marches in full battle rattle, including body armor and, naturally, ruck sacks. I also had my aid bag. And that was in the field artillery. In the National Guard!

Stone sober and that's the first thing I saw too.

The Irony being Chevrolet drivers evidently can't recognize a Chevy when they see one. Pretty sure that's a GM tail light lens.

Oh, don't worry! In this crowd we've got... Uhmmm... Gimme a second... How about... Nooo not him... Hold on, I'm thinking here... Wow, this is more difficult than I thought! I mean there is old... Yeah- No it would be a bad idea to listen to him... OK, we're screwed.

Since the first one didn’t work, why bother?

That IS nasty!

Lock her up and throw away the key!!! That’s no way to treat expensive musical instruments!!!

I was on I-70 West yesterday, driving through the last of the snow, being careful with the horse trailer in tow, and a guy breezed past me on a Harley.

Funny thing. I went in last week for a haircut. I only recently started going to a new place, and the young lady has cut my hair four times now. I was wearing my Wranglers and Justins, which I will often wear to work (and the boots for shooting). When I sat down in the chair, she glanced down and asked "Do you watch Yellowstone?" I laughed and admitted I do not. I explained it looks really good, and I am involved in so much, the last thing I need is to add something else to my schedule. I mentioned I started watching another series (Cobra Kai) and still haven't finished it. She let out a slightly surprised "Oh." I thought I should then mention I shoot cowboy action, and my wife shows Quarter Horse, so the clothing is pretty typical. We had a pretty good conversation from there.

But was he Russian?

After getting all of the Pope's luggage loaded into the limo (and he doesn't travel light), the driver notices that the Pope is still standing on the curb. "Excuse me, Your Eminence," says the driver, "Would you please take your seat so we can leave?" "Well, to tell you the truth," says the Pope, "They never let me drive at the Vatican, and I'd really like to drive today." "I'm sorry but I cannot let you do that. I'd lose my job! And what if something should happen?" protests the driver, wishing he'd never gone to work that morning. "There might be something extra in it for you," says the Pope. Reluctantly, the driver gets in the back as the Pope climbs in behind the wheel. The driver quickly regrets his decision when, after exiting the airport, the Supreme Pontiff floors it, accelerating the limo to 105 mph. "Please slow down, Your Holiness!!!" pleads the worried driver, but the Pope keeps the pedal to the metal until they hear sirens. "Oh, dear God, I'm gonna lose my license," moans the driver. The Pope pulls over and rolls down the window as the cop approaches, but the cop takes one look at him, goes back to his motorcycle, and gets on the radio. "I need to talk to the Chief," he says to the dispatcher. The Chief gets on the radio and the cop tells him that he's stopped a limo going a hundred and five. "So bust him," said the Chief. "I don't think we want to do that, he's really important," said the cop. Chief exclaimed........ "All the more reason!" "No, I mean really important," said the cop. The Chief then asked...... "Who ya got there, the Mayor?" Cop:"Bigger." Chief:"Governor?" Cop:"Bigger." "Well," said the Chief,"Who is it?" Cop: "I think it's God!" Chief:"What makes you think it's God?" Cop:"He's got the Pope for a limo driver

Thanks for taking the post in the good humor it was intended. I re-read it and realized it could be taken as such, or I could come off sounding like a jerk. And I can understand people wanting to get out. I've traveled and seen and always come back though.

Wapakoneta is in Ohio? Who knew? So that would mean the other astronaut should have the state flag for New Jersey on his shoulder? Or, since the moon isn't shown and the size of the earth, it could also be John Glenn, Jim Lovell or Donn Eiselle, who beat Neil into space. All from Ohio. There are a slew of astronauts from Ohio. Just goes to show what lengths people will go to get out of this state! (there, I beat someone to it!)