Category: Uncategorized

Getting Old–or Something Else?

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Talkin' turtles at Great Neck Wildlife Sanctuary | Wareham

Is it just us getting older, or is life really getting more complicated–more things to remember, more things to forget?

I mean, OK, sure, I hear from empty-headed liberals, “Get with it, grandpa!” Like I would even want to get with it. Their bodies may age, but their brains stay 12 years old forever.

This is an old box turtle, in the picture: you can tell by the growth rings on his shell. Instead of growth rings, we have additions to our things-to-do lists. (Ah! We just remembered to give the cat her medicine. Now we don’t have to worry about forgetting it.)

It seems, though, that there are more and more forms to fill out, more hoops to jump through–and how we ever got those things done when we were both working full-time outside the home… well, it beats me. I’m pretty sure we had no super-powers.

Is this the “when you feel old” that they used to warn you about when you were young?

 

(*Sigh*) Ah, Christmas Tree!

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

46 Christmas Tree Decoration Ideas - Christmas Trees Photos | Southern Living

It’s time to take down our Christmas tree. It feels like we only just put it up the other day.

And of course I can’t help wondering, given all that’s happened–will we still be around for the next Christmas? Will the Democrats ban Christmas? Will America still be here? Or will they already have marred and defaced her beyond all recognition?

It’s a big job. I think I’ll have a cigar first.

Whoever’s here, please offer a prayer for Phoebe and her cat, Iggy. Most of you know what it’s like when your pet is sick. We love these little fuzzy characters–and they love us. A cat purring in your lap is a gift from God.

And pray for our country, pray hard. It may be God will hear us.

Have We Been Canceled?

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

See the source image

You know that feeling you get when you step into quicksand and it suddenly sucks you down? Well, all right, you probably don’t know that feeling.

For all of November and December, and the first half of this month, this blog was cruising along, setting records, vews galore–and these last three days, glug-glug-glug! And I really have to wonder if some creepy little person out there has found a way to flatten our tires. Can they do that?

There is no question that they want to do it. Let’s silence everybody who’s not the Far Left Crazy! Because COVID!

Sorry if I sound a little paranoid. It seems to be the temper of the times.

Girl, 7: Concert Musician!

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

My wife said, “You’ve gotta see this,” so here it is. And what can I say but “Holy moly!”?

Anastasiia Tyurina is only seven years old, but here she is, soloing with a Russian symphony orchestra, playing a melody called Valenki on her balalaika–from memory: she isn’t reading music.

The introduction’s in Russian, so I can’t read it–but really the music speaks for itself. Look at the talent God gave this child!

It’s proof He’s never far away.

Keep Praying for America

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Rushing Water Images, Stock Photos & Vectors | Shutterstock

But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.  Amos 5:24

People keep asking, “What can I do? They’re rich and powerful, they’ve stolen our country, and what can I do?”

But we should also be asking, “What can God do?” And pleading with Him to do it.

Individually, we can’t do much. Coming together as 75 million angry citizens demanding their rights, we might do more. Show ourselves in rallies, at least. It might wake up a Congressman or two.

Do we believe in God, and in His righteousness? Will He let stand the foulest crime ever committed against America, the theft of this past presidential election, and give the ungodly their hearts’ desire? Will He allow those who mock Him to go unpunished?

God forbid.

One thing we can all do, should do, and must do, is to pray. Tens of millions of prayers every day, and more than once a day.

Our sins have landed us in all this trouble. We need to beg God for His mercy. We are sickened by the perversion of justice, the corruption, the filth: we need to beg God for His judgment: the judge of all the earth will surely do right.

We don’t know how He’ll handle it. His moves cut deeper than those of any chess master. He may let Democrats just keep marching until they march right off the cliff. We may be in for some desperately hard times. We need to pray for faith, so we can trust in Him.

O Lord our God! Deliver us out of the hands of the ungodly, and utterly confound them. They’ve filled our country with abominations and have only just begun their work of destroying it. But in Jesus’ name, and by the power of Jesus’ name, fight for us, O God! Let all the world see your power; that all the world might know that you are God.

Let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Let it sweep away the wicked.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

An All-Time Record Month

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

40 Amazing Fireworks Animated Gif Pics - Share at Best Animations [Video] | Fireworks animation, Fireworks, Fireworks gif

Last month this blog had its first 12,000-view month. Shazzam! But this month, as of late this morning, has more than 14,000 views! Holy moly.

Last year we ran up 122,000 views. Then, for three months in a row–July, August, and September–we had Internet problems and viewership went way down. It looked like we weren’t going to match last year’s total, let alone beat it.

But these two record-setting months gave us 129,000 views. So we grew some after all.

Now I know that a bunch of numbers makes for rather dull reading, so let me plug this in, just to liven things up:

I must apologize for the idiots offstage. It’s one of those things that happens when you show a movie.

‘In the Year 2030…’ (2016)

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

See the source image

This oldie got some mileage yesterday, so I’m re-running it today for those who missed it.

I wrote this as a satire. Now it sounds like predictions. God defend us.

In the Year 2030…

But there are at least 75 million of us who don’t want any part of this: who know the election was stolen by the bad guys–and we want our country back.

The 80 million Biden voters do not exist, and never did.

The crime must not stand. There has to be a way to overturn it.

Anniversary: Our First Date, 1976

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

See the source image

I think that’s a reproduction of The Islanders menu, printed in the print shop at the good old Bayshore Independent, where Patty and I were working in 1976. I was managing editor, she was the bookkeeper. And The Islanders was a slam-bang great restaurant–I had my first Chinese food there, when it opened–which made it a natural destination for our first date.

And we’ve been together ever since.

After The Islanders we went to the movies (Voyage of the Damned–not exactly a knee-slapper) and then to Sam’s Bar & Grill for a nightcap. It was more an old-fashioned tavern than a bar and grill.

All those things are gone by now… except us. I don’t like to think of how our lives would’ve turned out if we hadn’t met: glory and praise to God, who has blessed us with each other.

Man and Cat: It’s Complicated

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Old Man With Cat Stock Photo - Download Image Now - iStock

My father was a big softy: which was why so many people loved him. But he always tried to hide this aspect of himself… fooling nobody. Every dog knew this man could be had.

Our cat Henry was a very discerning feline. If I had let him pick my friends, I would’ve done better. He had little use for most of the people we brought into our home. They could “kitty-kitty!” him all they liked and he still wouldn’t go near them.

So there’s my father sitting on the rocking chair in our living room, discoursing on how much he loves dogs but cats, nah, not his cup of tea, never could warm up to cats. You big faker, you. Because there’s choosy, discriminating Henry sitting on his lap! Purring. And getting petted.

Your animals know who’s good, who’s not. Don’t be afraid to trust them.

Our Tree Is Done! (And I’m Done For)

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

tree 002

Two hours of non-stop motion, much of it consisting of bending up and down–and our Christmas tree is decorated! Huzzah! I’m beat!

You’ll pardon for posting a picture of last year’s Christmas tree. Our camera’s been temperamental lately.

Why is it such a big job? my sister wondered. “You must have an awful lot of ornaments.”

Forsooth, we have a prodigious lot of ornaments! And I know the history of each and every one, too. Many of them once belonged to family members who have passed on but are certainly not forgotten. I couldn’t bear to leave those off the tree.

After I sleep, or crash, or just plain plotz, we shall throw open the doors of our imaginary Victorian house for our cyber-Christmas party. I hope you all can make it! We’ll have carol singing (with my imaginary harpsichord), all sorts of games, and food and drink like you wouldn’t believe.

But for now I feel like I just fell down the stairs, so see you in a bit.