Thursday morning, 30 Oct 2014. Libby is “singing” in the kitchen. I don’t know if “Whoa, oh, oh, oh counts as such, but it is melodic. Running water in the sink helps, I suppose.

I have Fiesta to my left and Paige to my right snoring. Sarah is doing her usual going about, to and fro. She’s now back on the couch. For how long depends on what’s going on.

I decided I’d sit and put some thoughts together, yet I can’t think of a thing except a rant on the state of the union or lack thereof. The administration has called the Israeli leader chicken shit. Really? This is what we say when we want to be diplomatic? Please not let me rant this morning. I shut the TV off to retain some sanity.

So, here I sit listening to the rattle of dishes being put in the dishwasher and a cup of coffee being made in the Mr. Coffee machine. Ah the quietness that otherwise runs through the house. All is well with my soul.

It’s been a rather hectic week with trying to maintain this old body. Some weeks ago I developed a shadowy spot in my right eye. Yesterday culminated in the laser treatment that hopefully fixes a “leak” in the back of my eye. Then the visit to the dermatologist that offered up a diagnosis of possibly developing skin cancer with a small incision with nine stitches that alleviated that problem. My blood pressure had been deemed too high so the dosage was changed and it now is back to normal. Oh, not to leave out the diabetic issue of a high A1C at 8.0 causing a stir with my doctor. That garnered a new medication to bring that back to normal, which it has.

Getting old sucks, simply stated. Sixty four for a Rowe male is unheard of to be quite honest. My great granddad, granddad and dad were all gone by sixty from heart disease. Being the oldest of five sons and having already lost three of them to suicide, heart disease and cancer tells me God has blessed me abundantly. Every day I wake up and feel good, as I do, makes for another day to live to its fullest.

I continue to enjoy my job at the Naval Hospital. I enjoy the interaction with people. Most are friendly, some nervous, especially when I tell them I have to fingerprint them or call them back to my office to get further information from them concerning one issue or another. Most of the latter has to do with finances. Lots of people have financial issues. Most I say comes from life events that can’t be controlled. Very few come from irresponsibility. I try to minimize these issues before the investigation folks as best I can with the new employee’s help. I encourage them to seek help and guide them to avenues of such. I try as best I can to champion the employee. If they don’t have a job they can’t help their own situation.

Just now Libby came and sat down with me. Oh, I know. I’m jumping around. She started telling me that she saw something that her co-worker wanted to get for her mother in law. They are chiding each other over the fact that Libby is not at work today. Libby tells Nisey she’s still sitting on the couch in her robe. Nisey says to Libby she sucks. You know the gist of it.

Fall is returning this morning with cooler temperatures. Yesterday was the 80’s. Today it is back into the 60’s and this weekend portends a night with frost. The weatherman said last evening that one day will likely not get out of the high 40’s. Okay fall!!

This writing isn’t really meant to cover a specific subject. It goes more to my state of mind. I’m sane, I could say. I’m aware of time, place and state of mind. My ADD kicks in like this morning. It’s undiagnosed, but I’m pretty sure I have it to some degree. My attention span is that of a four-year old some days.

Fiesta snores lightly as I type this. She’s such a sweetie. I cut, bathed and brushed all the girls out on Monday and applied a fresh dose of flea medication on this last evening. They exude a calming effect on me. I can see why dogs are a help to PTSD patients. Oh, look a squirrel! HA!

Facebook is the bane of my life, but it’s my only connection to friends and family. I probably should curtail its use, but I can’t. I have this addiction like a smoker to a cigarette. I was able to cold turkey that habit, so perhaps I should take a hint from that.

Blogging is really where I like to be. I can express myself genuinely without outside conversation. Libby writes too. She’s really good at putting together her ruminations. She has a post I haven’t read at the moment. I will read it before I close the laptop in a bit.

Libby and I went to see Big Daddy Weave, Chris August, Group 1 Crew and Dara Maclean

last Friday evening. It was a really good time of praise and worship to God. We’ve been to two of these gathering in the last couple of months and I’ve found these groups live up to their image. They are true worship leaders and the “congregation” is very much encouraged to participate. And we do.

Libby just asked me if I’d read her blog post yet. I suppose I should. . .and will.

We’re getting in the car and leaving town for the next three days to Emerald Isle. We need time to be alone and regroup. Her son and his family have been with us since they found jobs in this area. They are looking for a place to live here. They’ve been good in the way of getting to know each other. I see a hard-working son who loves his family. He’s young and still being refined in life. He’ll get better with age. It does that to every one of us. I see myself in him at that age to some degree. Mandi has a job and I understand from her supervisor she’s getting into her groove now. The little guy has been very rambunctious and lends himself to injuries at daycare. He’s started a new one today. I hope it works better for him. All four-year olds have more energy than what’s allowable to me. I can’t keep up with him.

My son in Raleigh went to watch the Panthers play this past weekend. They’re do or die fans. I guess you could say I am, too, but just not to that level. I love my son and his family. He’s attempting to reestablish a connection with me. For that I’m grateful. He realizes I’m his dad and always will be, even though his mom and I can no longer have a relationship. It’s unfortunate, but it’s life. I still love him, Meghan and Charlotte. I still love my eldest son as well, but he chooses not to communicate with me. That’s all I can say. My door is open, though.

Ramblings is all this is today. Hope you got something from it. Life is what it is.

Oh, one other thing. I’m planning on stopping in and taking a new Stingray out for a drive tomorrow. I saw a grey one amongst six or so at a dealership in Swansboro. You never know what may come of it. Not much I suppose, but I can dream can’t I?