Drinking Bloody Marys... Listening to the Blues... Suddenly I had a thought.

[cherokeeprogressive]

Am I lucky, or what?

My beautiful wife is sittin' on the couch, perusing People while keeping an eye on my glass. My Golden Retriever Bella is laying at my feet and every time I glance down her tail pounds the carpet so hard I can feel it in my feet. Every time her tail starts, my Chihuahua Luna pounces on it. Outside the floor to ceiling picture window is an unimpeded view of the lake. It's not a Swiss chalet; it's just a 3 bedroom house in Big Bear, but fuck me... I love it and plan to live here for the rest of my life. I am home.

I have an 8 gig iPod Nano plugged into my Sony Blu-Ray player and the amp is kicking out almost a thousand watts.

I spent the early part of the day putting the front end of my 72 Blazer back together. Now she has new wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends, calipers and rotors, leaf spring bushings, shocks, and a new steering damper. Everything is torqued to spec, and I did it ALL myself. Okay, Chilton's helped, but I turned the wrenches. Tomorrow I might be able to drive her for the very first time. We'll see. No hurry though, I want everything to be PERFECT.

Politics? What's that?

It's setting up to be a good night here at Chris' house...

Yes, I am lucky.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear cherokeeprogressive!

You sound like one happy man, and I'm glad!

Enjoy your life...

Days like yours will make the great memories down the road...

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. Dearest Peg... I have a smile to frown ratio of like, 99 to 1.

I DO love my life. I love my Wife, I love my Puppies, I love my kitties, and I love my boss.

I think I want to go to culinary school in a couple of years. Wouldn't it be cool to be a trained chef and put smiles on everyone else's faces?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. That sounds like a GREAT plan!

Would you still drive?

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. Probably not. Once I became a World Famous Chef, I'd prolly be limo'd...

but Baby You Can Drive My Car...

LOL.

[seabeyond]

2. It sounds better than excellent.

A man that can appreciate. That gets us far. I am with you, in lucky... Having it good and knowing it.

[cherokeeprogressive]

10. I don't really need much. That makes things very easy to appreciate.

On top of every good thing in my life rests my Wonderful Wife, playful puppies, kick-ass kitties, and a home in an incredible place that most people wouldn't believe appraises for as low as it does.

Soon, my daily driver car is going to be 11 years younger than I am, and I'm going to be 51 in a couple of months. When I bought it, I had to trailer it home from Salt Lake City, but I've been wrenching on it and when I'm done I'll be driving something I've had the pleasure of resurrecting from the trash heap.

If one doesn't expect much, that which comes their way means so much more.

[seabeyond]

17. i am right there with you. i hear exactly what you are saying

was clear in your post.

now, i would love that lake in the mountains.... all i am missing, but in time. i am good here, for now.

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. Make you a deal... I want to go to the Big Texan and eat that steak.

You can come to Big Bear, and stay at my house in exchange for giving me a place to stay in Amarillo.

Deal?

[Old and In the Way]

3. It's a good feeling to savor a productive day by rewarding yourself. :-)

If I may recommend, try a Bloody Mary with Gin. Hmmmmm.

[cherokeeprogressive]

5. Gin might be one of the only poisons we don't stock. Can you recommend a good brand?

Tanqueray? (sp)

Today we found a new Bloody Mary mix made locally. We found it in the local hardware store believe it or not... Normally I'd be drinking either tequila or Wild Turkey on a Saturday night, but when I saw this stuff on the shelf at the hardware store I had to buy it. The brand name is Shellback Bar Mix and being a Shellback myself well, I HAD to try it.

It's good.

[Old and In the Way]

15. Tanq is always a winner. Bombay is my personal favorite.

Gordon's is the house brand.

I normally use V-8, whatsthisheresauce, horseradish, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried celery and parsley, for show. A nice wedge of lemon or lime and I'm good to go. Can't drink a lot of them, but a damn healthy drink if you ask me.

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. Bombay Sapphire Gin

I rarely drink, but when I do have one, this is the gin I love.
At 35.00 a bottle here, it is a good thing I rarely drink.

[Texasgal]

4. Sounds like a wonderful night!

I am nursing a sick hubby tonight. He has a gastro thing going down. I've been cooking broth and jello all day.

have a wonderful evening!

[cherokeeprogressive]

7. Metaphysical good thoughts going out to your Hubby. Play his favorite music.

Hope he gets better soon!

[yankeepants]

13. Same here

Mr. Ypants is down. Ginger Ale and broth.

Good luck Texasgal

[irisblue]

6. saturday night in the prime of life

enjoy this, sweet time.

[yankeepants]

12. ahhhh. Lovely

I feel the same way about my little piece of heaven here by the shores of Lake Ontario but I do need to bring in politics. . .

Why would any one need 4 or 5 mansions, 2 yachts, and a personal golf course and never feel like you or me ??????

Perhaps because they are greedy and just need to get more and more and more and more. . . .

[cherokeeprogressive]

14. Greed and politics are different things that some people blend like Hershey's and milk.

I call those people either "politicians", or "future politicians".

1 yacht would suit me.

[yankeepants]

16. I''m just thinking Mitt and his ilk

We have a 16' boat --big enough for my beach chair and a cooler.

[HopeHoops]

20. "Had a thought?" - as in "I gots ta pee."?

That's a hell of a lot of work for one day. I've got a 68 Galaxie fastback and it took me four days or so to take off the manifold (70+lbs), replace the lifters, and clean it all out. I changed a water pump on my 70 Maverick, on the street, in 15 minutes start to finish. That was a long time ago when I was a serious motor head. I sat on the radiator with my feet on either side of the engine to do most of the work on the Galaxie. I can't even find the fucking transmission fluid dipstick in most cars now. Everything is packed in so tightly.

[blueamy66]

21. Sounds like perfection to me...

it's the little things in life, ya know?

methinks I need a doggy

[emilyg]

22. What a lovely post. Hugs.