I Am a Planner

Guess who is wearing flip flops to the airport?




Carry on Wayward Son

Larry Welk style. Enjoy.





© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

So Far

I haven't been in a winter funk, but I can feel one brewing deep.


It is a confusing time with no real gravitational pull of any event.

St Croix is 11 days and whatever demon is in me will melt away.

I need Spring, warmth, leaves and green grass.

Lets Get Real

I am 12 days away from this:


Normally I would be beside myself, but for some reason I am calm. Excited yet calm. I haven't even packed.

The warm fresh air and humidity will feels so good. My skin aches for some sunshine.

I have dives on my mind. I have all new equipment and a new technique. I will also gain new skills from an advanced Nitrox class.

I swear, if I keep this up, I just may be able to relax.

Midwife

I brought another iPad into the world just this afternoon. I got a call from a friend, desperate for help in setting up a new iPad 4 for his wife.

I headed over and patiently helped her set up an Apple account, and showed her some basic skills on the iPad.

He was grateful and gave me a nice bottle of wine for my help.

I other news, my hens are 100% free range now and it shows in the eggs. The yokes are very intense yellow.

Free ranging is saving me big money on feed. The eggs are smaller but they seem more intense in flavor.


BBQ


Accurate and true from my point of view. 



© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

A Little More

The license tag is on, and the sides are almost complete.


From here I am going up another board with a 2X4 scab on. Then I need the front and back built....that is what the new wood is for.



Oh, and see this dick head? Yep, another thief I know, but he is no friend. He swindled millions and tried to take a few of my clients life savings.

Finally the bear market of '08 flushed him out like so many rats.

He ran from the law once and shot himself in the chest with a shotgun. They kept his sorry ass alive and he pleaded guilty. He went home and didn't show up for sentencing.

I had dinner with him once when I suspected he was about to steal from one of my clients. Oh he was slick.

The son of a preacher man. I hope they get him alive and behind bars for good.

Just in Case you Were Wondering

If you needed and idea for my birthday or Christmas. I like my hash browns this way. I want the salt to bounce off because they are so crispy. A little pepper and egg yoke make perfection.


This is difficult to reproduce at home.

Breakfast potatoes are also welcome in about any fashion. This is good too:


but not my favorite.

A Problem

How does a prepared Southern Man prepare for an ice storm?



A sensible person heads out to Bojangles and picks up a bag of country ham biscuits to gather strength. Previously I had taken inventory of essentials like wine, beer, and orange juice.



Then he positions the generator to runs key essentials in the main house. This will run the water pump, refrigerator, Direct TV and the HDTV, the internet modem and router, and a few lights. I can survive with these indefinitely.


I cover existing projects and leave the tools in place. It will all be over by the morning and I can resume work.


Feed the livestock.


Collect the eggs.


Stockpile some gasoline. That's about all a feller can do.

Success

Not a bit to be broken. Not a sliver of metal in either eye.



Bondo walked me through the steps.


I now have recessed tail lights. Hopefully protected as one can possibly make them.

My New Favorite TV Commercial

It is funny, solves a problem, it is gross, lots of action, makes a conclusion to buy, and has hot women.  




© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

Solid

The welder came yesterday and welded the floor boards back in the C channels. He also gave me two great spots to attach tail lights.

It is looking very tight and solid.



It is 19 degrees here and we are caught in what most of the country is seeing...our first real hard cold in two years. It should continue for a while.

So I peer into my magic place where it is eternally 80 degrees and I see Richard sitting among the tourist that are preparing to snorkel.

I suppose Richard is my magical negro to a certain extent. I enjoy talking to him on most every visit. He is insightful, and has a very different perspective on the world. I guess part of the attitude is Rastafarian, which he holds true....except for alcohol. Richard is always in a good mood, he is respectful, a good conversationalist, a classy dresser, and lives on those park benches.

I have seen him for 10 years and he looks as good as ever.

Meanwhile, I have spent thousands of dollars coming and going to do what he does every day.

Who is the bigger fool?

Tests

I hate taking tests....I am surprised I managed to graduate college.

For me, knowledge leaks in like a tent sweating in a rainstorm. It takes a lot of energy and effort to retain the information I read. I cannot discern important facts from BS, so I am easily tricked.

I have a course now that I have three weeks to complete. It is advanced Nitrox and I will do my skills testing on St Croix by one of the finest technical instructors in the Caribbean.

Gotta get my head right now. No time to waste. I don't want to waste this opportunity.

Typical MLK Day

For whatever reason, I take MLK day to do something useful around the house. This year it was continued work on the utility trailer.

I started hanging the side boards. I can't them them all on until I secure the floor boards, and my welder is MIA.


Looking better already.


I am brushing and painting all the old hardware.


And I pulled off the old tires to get at the metal hidden by the old tires.


I decided it was time for new tires and packing of the bearings. It was nice to release the old trailer from it leafy grave.


An hour later I have two used $20 tires that I swear look new.


In addition I was told that this car rear end is lubed by the differential fluid in the differential. There was still a decent amount of fluid in in the differential and the guy added fluid to top it off for free.

I thought tires and a lube would be over $200 and it turns out to be $40.


Most of the hard part is done. I still need about 4 to 6 more boards and the lights hung if my welder shows.

You Will Never See This on my Blog

I don't do mechanical stuff. I wouldn't know where to start.


But I admire folks that can tackle this type of job.

Trailer Update

I bought and stained the side boards. They are 1X6X8. I'll do the other side tomorrow.


The sides of the floor boards got stain today.


The new tail light kit is almost installed.


My welder friend should be over tomorrow to tack the steel bars on to lock down the floor. I am also getting him to tack on holders for the tail lights.

Magical Negros

I love a movie with Magical Negros like The Green Mile, Bagger Vance, or who can forget Hoke, in Driving Miss Daisy.

Magical Negros are truly an American film phenomena. Google Magical Negro for further discussions on the theatrical technique.

Enjoy this satire.





A Happy Ending

It turns out that the big old red truck wasn't dealt a death blow like I had feared. It was a high pressure oil line that needed to be replaced.

Balance is restored.



Guns

I watched the speech yesterday from my Charlotte situation room. After a long rambling preamble by The Mighty Joe Biden, It was time for The President to speak.


He said he had 23 things to tell us but he only disclosed 4. I guess it is kinda like the health care legislation, pass it and we will see what is in it later.

Southerners are very touchy about their guns. We don't trust that the police will be in proximity to shoot the bad guys if the need arises. We don't trust that police and big government will always act in our best interest.

I have owned a gun for 30 years and have never shot anyone. I have shot 4 copperheads, a rabid raccoon, and a sick chicken. I guess I could have called the police to do that.

I have a concealed weapon permit that required a lengthy Federal background check. I had a mental evaluation at the local Sheriffs office. I guess they wanted to see if I had a twitch.

I don't collect guns, I don't hunt, but I do own two handguns and my wife owns two handguns. I also own a 12 gauge single shot shotgun and a .22 bolt action rifle. Those last two are my varmint guns. The first two guns are for bad guys should I ever encounter them.

I also own 8 umbrellas even when it doesn't rain. I have a snow shovel and it rarely snows. I have 3 generators and rarely loose power (our power is off now). I own life insurance and have never died. I have a retirement account yet I work for money.

One day I might need these things along with my handgun. Just in case.

The only Thing good about this time of Year




Otherwise you can have winter. 41 and bone soaking fog and misty rain.

Good News and Bad News

We went to the back surgeon today and Gigi is healing well.


Then lunch and I noticed a bit of fluid under my truck.


The old fella was gushing oil. I called an ambulance/wrecker. Please be a minor repair, or busted hose. This truck and I have been through too much to say goodbye now. 293,000 miles and 13 years.

I want more time together.

I'll never Be a Carpender

But it is fun to smell arsenic laden sawdust on treated lumber...the smell of fresh stain, and the scream of an over amped saw on a pine knot.

I am a board short on the flooring. I know, measure twice, bla, bla, bla. I want to use the tongue for water tanks, or the generator, or propane. So I cut the super sized board leftover from the deck project for a tongue floor.


Oh, I got legit with the license plate today. It seems this was built in 1992 and has been in the yard since 2003.

Still more painting, and staining to do, and I must get the wheel bearings packed. My dad never taught me how to pack grease in bearings because he didn't know how to do it either.

Then new tires, lights, fenders, and wheels covers are a must.

I'm having fun with this project.

Change is Good

It was a wonderful day for a January.


I started on the trailer project. The sides were easy to tear off and they were rotten. The bottom rails had to be cut with a torch.


The teardown revealed that the metal looked good with just some surface rust and the old welds looked fine.


I scraped and took a metal brush to the surfaces....then a shot of flat black paint.


I prepped new boards and stained them with timber oil.


This will look nice.


They still need to be trimmed a bit. I'm not sure how I am going to build the sides. I want something different and a bit more useful.

Fascinating

I know there are a few space buffs out there like myself. This 25 minute tour of the International Space Station is the best I have ever seen. You get a good feel of the layout and she explains curiosities like going to the bathroom in zero gravity, sleeping, eating, exercise and recreation. Her hair floating about is a bit  annoying. 

You will not believe how tiny the return capsule is. 

Enjoy. 




© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

28 Days


In 4 weeks I’ll be rushing Gigi to get ready, and catching a flight to St Croix. Yes it is about that time.

The seasonal Christmas winds have been very strong this year. This can be annoying on dive operations with small craft advisories, and stirred up water making visibility less. Also the water is cold relative to a calmer year at 80 degrees. Normally I see 83 to 84 in the winter.

Today I take my Frankenstein side mount rig out for a test dive in a pool. I haven’t been in a side mount rig in two years. This will give me time to tweak and adjust.

Also this year I am taking one course on advanced Nitrox.  It is basically an introduction to technical diving.

About a month out I start tracking the once a week flight to see if it is running late. It originates out of St Louis this year.   

© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

I want one




© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

Technology Trends

I am pretty cutting edge on technology and gadgets. I love the stuff but some trends I just don't get.

Twitter. I have an account but don't tweet.

Instagram. I tried it and have an account but don't see the appeal.

Dropbox. I have an account and see the appeal but don't use it.

Evernote. Same as Dropbox.

Tumbler. I don't even know what the hell it is.

Windows8. I get annoyed by those commercials of young folks flinging through the air snapping their surface tablets. The ad is not appealing to my demographic.

Yet, I remain old school by maintaining a blog.

Two more years and I'll have all new gadgets and software.

The best .99 cents spent in the last year was on Morfo Booth for the iPad. Whenever I can make dogs talk....I laugh.

YouTube Video


Stuff that Tics Me Off


Aluminum foil is a wonderful thing. Heavy duty foil is better. Folks in The South commonly refer to aluminum foil as “tin foil”.  Tin foil grinds my nerves.

When it comes time to exit an elevator, get the hell off and keep moving. Please don’t stand in the entrance looking stupid and confused. Move on. What ever you were going to do will come to you, but please, get out of my way because the door will shut and I will have to wait for another box full of stupid people to exit.

People in The South still refer to their electric bill as their light bill.

I like shrimp, sausage, and grits, but I don’t care at all for shrimp and grits. It is not a good marriage of food.




© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

Restoring The Utility Trailer

Back in 1989, I was a new country man in a strange land. I had just purchased a 3 bedroom ranch on 8 acres, and all I had was a push mower and a Toyota 4Runner.

I had a horse and no barn, and I had a need for a pickup truck but no money.

So I found this old fella that built swell utility trailers with character. He had about stopped building trailers when I talked him into just one more.


He built me this dandy trailer out of a Chrysler car read end and told me it was sturdy enough to take a load of water melons to Greenville, SC.

Well, that trailer served me well until 1993 when I bought my first pickup. It hauled lumber to build a barn, hay to feed horses, a lawn tractor to cut the pasture, and anything else I needed to haul.

After 5 years of faithful service I parked it under a tree like country folks do and decided to let it rot.

I have decided to restore this trailer to its glory years...even better...I will pimp it out a bit. The bones are still good but the lumber is rotting. It will be stripped down this weekend, assessed for any metal fatigue, and then fitted back with treated and stained lumber. I am even debating whether of not to put some Cadillac type wings on it just to be showy.

It will have fenders and a running board. The tongue will have storage space too.

When it is all fixed up I can scuba dive out of it, tailgate out of it, haul more stuff with it.

This Is Brilliant


One interesting story that was conveyed to me while I was visiting the federal prison was the apparent freedom of religion and the encouragement of religion.

Yes, the great irony is that federally supported schools scoff and discourage religion, but federally supported prisons encourage and support religion.

Well leave it to some enterprising inmates with zero freedoms to find the best religious ceremony on earth, which allows fellowship, team work, hours away from the usual routine, a campfire, and smoking of tobacco.

It seems that the Native American religious rites are seeing a wave of converts in prisons by attending weekly sweat lodge ceremonies.  

The guy who starts the fire for the sweat lodge at this prison camp is from Vietnam, and claims to be the best pyromaniac alive.

There are white folks, black folks and Puerto Ricans who worship Native American ancestors, and have a legal smoke without fear of going to the box.  

God Bless America

© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

Latin Blood Test

I love this song and love this version of it live on American Idol. This made about a pint of my blood boil. Nothing sexier than good Latino music. 




© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

Prison


I visited an inmate at Edgefield Federal Prison yesterday evening. It was surreal.

To live there and be controlled, one must have their individuality and humanity stripped completely from oneself. One is guided by a booklet of very serious rules and procedures that are repeated every 24 hours. Failure to comply will mean additional time added to you sentence and loss of privileges.  

We stood in line at 5PM with maybe a dozen other waiting to visit an inmate inside. The door opened in a few minutes. and we got in another line to fill out paperwork. Once completed, we got in another line to be processed. I had my picture made, and they kept my ID. I was told where to sit, and was instructed to remain seated.

They called out Mike on the intercom in cell block D3. A few moments later, a much smaller, thinner Mike, with long gray hair and beard, in green prison kakis, appeared at the door.

Boy did he look different. He had lost 35 pounds and his hair was bushy and his beard was long. He had almost a kennel smell to him. It wasn’t BO but the smell was noticeable.

I asked about the hair and his response was that it helps him to pass the time. He gets haircuts and shaves every three months. Haircuts measure time and are mental rewards.

His mind is like a walking calendar. He knows to the day all the possible scenarios until his release. Best case is 13 more months.

His days are broken down by activities like walking, meals and sleep. They add into weeks, months, and then a haircut anniversary where he can see the results in a mirror.

Mike talked a lot. He told me about an inmate just last week that was given an Egg McMuffin on a visitation in clear violation of the rules. His wife was suspended for one year and cannot visit her husband. He has been in solitary lockdown for 5 days.

Most of the inmates there are non violent drug offenders. About 85% of the population is black or Puerto Rican. About one half of the white population was drug dealers. He said you could tell the Meth dealers because they didn’t have teeth. Then there is the handful of white collar crooks like him.  

We stayed 2 hours, time passed quickly. He was lead back to the cellblock and we drove the 3 and on half hours back in the dark enjoying our freedom. 

© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

The Big House


Today I am going to a Federal Prison in SC to visit a friend.

I got to say that my curiosity is partly motivation, along with the friendship.

Mike has been in Prison since last march and will likely remain for at least another 2 years. He is in for mortgage fraud…2008’s creed got the best of him.   

It is a 3 hour ride each way. I am told I can take nothing inside the prision but a Valid Drivers License and $25 in single one dollar bills.

Oh, and I cannot wear any clothes that are green in color.   

This should be a fascinating day. 

© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

Vomit


No, no one here is sick. This is the tale of one cat inspired vomit story that has worked its way into family lore.

If you own a cat, you know that cats will tend to eat and purge, or expel (vomit) accumulated hair from self cleansing of their body. The hairball comes rather dramatically with lots of fan fare, noise, heaving to produce a small rodent looking newborn. It is really gross.

Once day, many Christmases ago, we had Gigi’s family over, that included her brother Pat, the only family hippie, and his wiener dog Shaft.

After their arrival our cat Millie yacked up a record hairball, and the expulsion had gone unnoticed in the holiday confusion.

To make the origin of the story even more mysterious, Shaft had apparently disposed of the hairball the dogs can do.  

We were all in the kitchen carrying on the way families can do when all of the sudden Shaft runs into the kitchen and begins this almost possessed looking drama that leads to an epic vomit. Pat was really worried and he knelt down to help his little buddy when Shaft hurled what looked like a wet kitten up on the kitchen floor with a silent audience watching in horror.

Immediately Pat concluded that Shaft had indeed just given birth to an alien baby, (not sure what substances he had ingested) and Pat ran suddenly to the kitchen sink and began vomiting publically.

I started laughing hysterically at his conclusion and the drama we had all just witnessed.

Pat was shaking his head with watery eyes certain that we had just witnessed a demonic birth.

Gigi recognized it as a recycled hairball and I fell out laughing.     

© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.

When I Thought I Had Everything




I got a toaster that burns the Carolina Panther logo on a piece of bread. It works pretty well.

Stuff I Wanna Do This Year, or Did Last Year



1. I want to get proficient in scuba side mount. Side mount diving has been on my mind ever since I dove side mount last February. It requires all new skills and equipment. I have obtained the equipment now, but not the skills. I start in the pool next weekend.

2. In 2012 I made an almost 100% conversion to Apple products from windows based products. It was a good decision. I have an iPad2, iPhone 5, iPod 4th generation, Apple TV 3, Mac Mini. They all live together in harmony.

3. At some point this year I will have to buy a new vehicle. My truck has almost 300,000 miles on it and my next newest vehicle is my 89 jeep, with a quarter million miles on it. Gigi’s 4Runner is an 87 with over 200,000 miles. It is time.  

4. This coming year Gigi and I want to do at least 6 camping trips like the good old days. This new travel trailer has inspired us again to hit the road. John Hills (Rock Chef) is supposed to be in the states this summer so maybe we can meet up on the road in the RV.  

5. Last year made me more humble. I found that the body heals slower than I though, but it does heal. I lost a record number of friends to death. Just plain old killing over except for one was a car accident.

6, Last year I read a big boy book with few pictures and I enjoyed it. It taught me a lot about a man I admire.

I guess I want to explore more and more….travels, the written word, or the cyber world. 

© 2013 wReggie’s I’m Always Mentally on Vacation. These Terms and Conditions of Use apply to you when you view, access or otherwise use the blog located at www.wreggie.com (the “blog”). Terms and Conditions can be found at http://reghunnicutt.com/terms.html.