Sabina Ohio Family Fun Night

   My wife always said I baked good pies, and I guess I do but I think its because I enjoy baking them. Pies are simple and they are a desert that just makes you feel good about eating them, I mean who don't like a warm apples or peaches with a little ice cream or whipped cream on top on a summer day and what a great way to use the fruit that grows on your backyard trees. Man my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Well to get to the point of the this story our little town had a Old Fashion Family Night where they closed down the main street of the town and the local businesses came out and set up booths to promote themselves. Some of the churches were out doing there ministries and handing out fliers and talking to people. The local police was offering to fingerprint children. There was old tractors ,cars, and a horse and buggy ride. They showed movies for the kids and had a old fashion penny candy store set up in the library, the bank was giving out free popcorn, a clown was doing face painting, and making balloon animals, there was games for kids and adults. There was even a ventriloquist with the cutest companion named Zach that I had several conversations with. Music was being played for everyone to enjoy on the stage by the city building. food was being served in the street and in some of the restaurants that are not normally open at night in our town. It was good to see people out shopping and talking to each other it was the first time I have seen anything like this in the three years I have lived here.

   
    I introduced myself to as many people as I could before we stopped for dinner at Traditions Restaurants which just opened this pass spring in town, they were hosting the pie baking contest which I had entered two pies. We wanted to try their food which was very good and to find out how I did? there was 20 something pies and they all looked to be wonderful so I did not expect to win, but to my surprise when I asked how I did? I found out I got 2nd for my pineapple coconut chess pie, and then she told me I also got 1st place for my chocolate chess pie. you could of knocked me over with a feather! I guess my wife was right I do make a pretty good pie and the town of Sabina Ohio thinks so too. 
Joey 

Flat Bread Pizza

Every since I decided to change my eating habits pizza has been off the menu. Well at lease pizza that I love you know the kind , an extra large meat lovers with extra cheese. I haven't seen one of them in a few month now. I really I don't miss it as much as I thought I would. But I did come up with a great tasting healthy pizza that does fit into my new life style so here it is. My flat bread pizza made with hummus and ricotta cheese.

• 1 whole wheat flat bread
• 1 Tbsp hummus
• 1 Tbsp ricotta cheese
• 3 or 4 sliced tomatoes
• 3 oz cooked chicken
• 1/2 cup of green or red peppers
• 1/4 Parmesan cheese

Heat the peppers and chicken in a skillet then spread the hummus and ricotta on the flat the bread, then add tomatoes and the heated chicken pepper mix to the top sprinkle with Parmesan cheese then bake for 8 minutes at 350. let cool for a couple of minutes and enjoy.

Wow I Can Be a Mommy Too

Now, I know what your thinking? how can a man be a mommy wells its like this, I adopted three little kitten that was orphaned and thought nursing them back to health and bottle feeding them I somehow became their mommy, or at lease in their little eyes.I know each one of them now by their sound, the way they walk and believe it or not the way they smell just like a good mommy is suppose to.

I have raised animals all my life cats, dogs, raccoons, and even a orphaned squirrel or two. but beside my dog Poddy I don't think I ever developed such a strong bond with an animal or in this case animals. I have been caring for them now for three weeks and they are all in great health now and growing like weeds, but I know I am going to dread letting them go when it comes time to find homes for them.

Beside the strong emotional bond the whole experience has been a great lessen, I guess it has let me get in touch with my feminine side. I really look forward to the time when they are all on be purring and nuzzling me at night after a feeding,I find it is very relaxing and it seems it as done something that the medicines I take hasn't, and that is pull me out of my depression. I guess its true when you are busy caring for some others needs your troubles seem further away, and it lets you look at them same problems with a different prospective.

To all you mommies out there, I salute you! I just got a little taste of the experience you have as a mother, and to be honest as a man who has raised two children I en-vie you. I was a great dad but the experience is way different from being a mom and as a dad and a grandfather now I am glad I got a small peek at the differences

Joey

Twenty Seven Years

Today is our twenty seventh wedding anniversary. I have enjoyed every single day of those years and would not trade them for anything. Sometimes I complain about my lot in life, but one thing I will never complain about is being married to my wife. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me and all I can hope for is another twenty seven years with this wonderful women.

Wenseday's Follies

We went to Walmart today and I walked instead of using their motored wheelchair. At first I was ok, but after about ten minutes my knee started hurting and there was a burning feeling in the lower section of the knee plus as an added bonus all the muscles in my right leg started cramping. it sucks not being able to walk as much as I want but it is still better than the six month I spent not being able to walk at all back in 2000. I know as soon as I can get my knee repaired I will be able to start moving more. On a brighter note I got four 40 pound bags of dirt to start my spinach and lettuce. all the plants I started in side are doing great but it is getting time to plant them outside.

Each Journey Starts with a Step

I walked today for about 30 minutes. My knees hurt a lot the pain was a 9 on a scale to 10 and swelled up as soon as I rested, I know I need to walk daily, but my knee isn't going to like it. I also want to start lifting weights again and start a diet I have to lose this weight if I ever have a chance to feel better, so I am going to start tracking my journey here to keep me honest and I hope motivated.

Joey

Ruts

Ruts, what rut you ask, life goes on and this is mine what am I to do about it, how did I even get here? One day you are healthy, happy, and going about your life without a care, and slowly day by day, month to month in to the years you progress until one day you wake to find the ever narrowing walls of the rut that has became your life. Looking up at the narrowing light at the end of the virtual tunnel, it seems so far away. and so hard to reach. How do I get out of this rut is the question that burns in my mind I hear it clearly, but no enlightenment is present to whisper the answer. Some say just change, it's your life you have control. but do I really, I know that I do, just like you know you do, but excuses come easily and they help to combat the fear of the situation, the fear of taking control of my life. So how does one take back control of their life. I guess the first thing is to identify the parts of my present life that isn't making me happy and start by changing them. I need to step out into faith and take back my life!

Dirt

Dirt, it is the fresh of my mother, the Earth. All life exist by the grace of her gifts. without dirt the Earth would be just another rock floating in space. we should celebrate the dirt that we live on and not take it for granted.

We as a people really need to learn to heal the dirt. We can start in our own yards, how you ask? compose for one. We need to learn to compose our green waste and add that back in the soil. I use to live on a hill by a river and for five years I didn't mow the grass on the hill, I planted wild flowers, and before long I had a beautiful garden that nature landscape. Trees started to grow in this yard and the small animals and birds returned. I composed the little bit of grass I did cut along with all our vegetable scraps and any other green waste that we produced and this gave me some wonderful additives for my garden, after a couple of years the four, three foot by five foot raised beds that I grew started producing more vegetables than we could eat all because I grew the soil first.

We should also teach the children how important the dirt really is to their continued life on this planet, maybe if the next generation started caring more about dirt and the way it is being used then they can start the changes that needs to be made so that humans can survive as a healthy entity on the earth.

Yes, I am a tree hugger and a earth warrior and proud of it.  

Joey

The Mad Man Cometh

This blog is for ME! So those who read it and don't like what you read click that big old X up in the corner and leave me the hell alone. I am not interested in your opinion on my writing or the content. This is a place I can let the mad man out and let him air his thoughts, tell his wild stories, and get rid of all the craziness in his head. So thank you for flying Mad Man Air please put your seat backs into there upright position and take your fucking baggage with you as you exit the blog.

The Mad Man.