Blatheration

Holiday Weekend

The software fairy is on his way to make all my problems go away for only $75.00 an hour. It sort of seems like if the guy is going to sell $1100.00 software packages, he should at least make sure it runs properly before he wanders off. Well I am over a barrel. Nothing new. I am assured that with only a little tweaking, all will be swell.

Here in Siloam Springs there is great anticipation in the air as we begin celebrating the 40th (?) annual Dogwood Festival, when people come from all over to partake of carnival food, purchase handmade sand sculptures, bubba belts and clog up traffic so honest businessmen like myself can sit quietly and wish they would all go home. Actually I like them visiting, but I wish they would quit parking in my lot. It encroaches on my skateboarding. It's like this every year, so I am resigned to it. It is a very exciting time for Mrs. Doclee, who so far has failed to be crowned Miss Dogwood every time since 1980. Through no fault of her own, I must add.

What makes this a special weekend for my lovely bride is that it is the BIGGEST GARAGE SALE DAY OF THE YEAR! Why that excites her I cannot imagine, but as usual I will humor her. After all, how often do you get to park in stranger's yards and paw through their personal possessions without there being issued a restraining order? Where else would she acquire new treasures for her own inevitable sale? Where else can you get a DeWalt reciprocating saw for only $5.00? It doesn't work, but come on! $5.00! And I just know we need a fondue pot and an 8-track tape player. Hey, at least the prices are good. I will certainly keep you posted.

I have traced yesterday's illness to it's source. Asparagus. That's right, the dildo of the vegetable family. It is well known that I would rather eat bugs than this nefarious growth, but good manners prevented me from holding my breath, running away and otherwise avoiding it like the poison it is. Had we not been guests in someone else's home, I could have avoided the whole sickening ordeal. As it is, no permanent damage has become evident.

Now as to yesterday's post, Mrs. Doclee, in a fit of environmental conscience has procured a replacement for the beloved 4Runner. The new Toyota Yaris liftback. "Like a car, only smaller". The official daughter, Miss Crabgrass has decided that this car is perfect for her, in that in addition to wheels, it also possesses a stereo. Happy her. So now a family realignment is underway. Instead of driving the unthrifty 4Runner (12 mpg) on her daily 1.5 mile (each way) commute, will now be stylishly transported by a classic 1971 International Harvester Travelall with a freshly rebuilt 345 V-8 (8-10 mpg). Miss Crabbgrass will be covering the entire mile to school in the thrifty but comical wheeled egg, and I will not have to share the beloved Falcon. So far so good.

So far return to civilian life has been smooth. It's as if I were gone for a weekend only someone moved all my stuff around. Either I don't remember where I put tools that have been in the same toolbox drawers for 10 years, or someone has used them and not put them back. I honestly don't remember keeping my 1/4 inch drive socket set in the kitchen, but maybe I always did. Also, new bedroom furniture required reorganization, so I am still allowing extra time in the morning for the "find the socks" game. I can't complain though. I know of a couple of instances of soldiers coming home to an empty house because wife just couldn't wait another month and hit the road. Life is good.

Illness strikes

I'm indisposed today, more postification tomorrow. Here's another pic.

A cold day in Hell

Mrs. Doclee has a new car. Well, sort of a car.

Bridge to Tomorrow...or Yesterday

Hi everyone. This is Mrs. Doclee on behalf of the birthday boy who refuses to get out of bed.  That is understandable, given his advanced age, but still there is work to be done.  He'll probably try to pull the same trick tomorrow and claim he has a hangover.

Anyway I get to use this space to promote my latest creation:
Bridge to Tomorrow.  If you turn around, you can call it Bridge to Yesterday.  I built this all by my own self out of pressure treated lumber and copper pipe for the balustrade. It  is 10 feet long and 4 feet high at the center  and took a LONG time to build.  Gramma pronounced it "really nice, dear" and will not allow  anyone to walk on it for fear of getting it dirty.
My shop, "The Studio" specializes in this sort of woodsy, outdoorsy stuff (wait till you see the gazebo) as well as custom Stained glass and tile mosaic creations. 

Doclee here, Mrs. Doclee was called away to attend to an English muffin emergency, so I will continue:  My bride has become quite proficient in the use of my shop, to the point of taking it over and moving all my tools out to the garage (oh, the indignity!).  The good part is that she is considerably more attentive to detail than I and her work shows it.  I was informed that a bridge like the one above could be had and delivered a reasonable distance for around $1300.  She can also build gazebos and garden arbors to specification on a materials plus time basis. She and her team also build extremely heavy and intricate mosaic tile works (table tops, garden steps etc.) for  65 to 90 dollars a square foot, depending on how intricate the design is.  Thus:
a 3x4ft. table top.  A random mosaic ($65 per foot)

This one is in the gable end of my "fort". Call and chit chat with Mrs. Doclee:  479-549-4186.  I will be back later.  Have a great Doc Lee's Birthday.

Give me a sign, any sign

Okay, this makes it official:

Mrs. Doclee and her little helper, Miss Crabgrass have been busy little bees as noted. I just got the picture though. HOME IS GOOD!

Hi-Tech Doc Lee

Great success in figuring out the new MAC iBook. We are now an apple family. Aren't we good? Of course, I still have to run the auto-crash Windows for my billing software, but it is a small price to pay because I now have a little apple that lights up on the lid. Also acquired a palm thingy which is getting returned to the store today because it was being rude. I will not abide a rude organizer.

Mrs. DocLee and I have been spending our week driving all over the place and experiencing life's little pleasures like grass and water. What a country. The reunion has been going quite well, even though Mrs. DocLee made a critical comment about my car, so she was cut off for an entire 20 minutes. All is forgiven now.

Clinic re-opens on Apr 16. Can't wait. Call anytime.

Shameless Plug

Also, Mrs. Doclee has opened her art Studio (stained glass, wooden bridges and faux painting) at 402 S. Mt. Olive St.  Siloam Springs Arkansas 72761. (Call  479-549-4186 for all your stained glass needs).  She has graciously allowed herself to be the city's sole distributors of D.K. Lee fine handmade knives.  Photos available soon.

Happy Easter

Finally Back

Big Easter present for Mrs. Doclee;  Her fine fella is back home.  That is correct, I am back, having arrived only last night to a standing ovation of strangers at the Airport and to a bride who has become even more lovely since the last time I saw her (22 Feb 06 for those keeping track).  Now what to do until I am compelled to return to work?
I did experience mild culture shock upon discovering:  Remodeled clinic, new shed, new fence, new carport all courtesy of my young and energetic mate.  The messed up ceiling in the bathroom remains so and my car was not washed, but all in all, a perfect homecoming.  I could not have asked for more. I am so lucky.
I would also like to thank the hundreds of you for sending all the stuff.  Especially the raw materials for Operation Mag-Neato.  My sanity was preserved by your good humor.
I would like to make a suggestion to those of you who would like to continue helping ease the daily stress of service members in combat:  Instead of sending packages of toiletries to troops who can easily get such things at the PX (we even had one at B-M), find out if their families could use some help.  You wouldn't believe what a relief it can be to a soldier just knowing that that his lawn is being taken care of while he's out of town.  It's the families that have a hard time during deployments.  The troops are pretty well taken care of. 

More later.  Thanks again.  Happy Easter.