I'm fairly certain everyone mistook me for a real cowboy while wearing this hat in one of the local outdoor stores.

March 23, 2014 – Sunday

65 degrees/breezy/rain

Leesville, Louisiana

This is my last full day in the Deep South. It’s been a good trip, filled with a pleasant combination of work and fun and a welcome respite from the snow and cold temperatures in the UP. I see tonight's low up home is to be between -10 and -15 degrees.

The red bud trees are in full bloom

Andy and I have accomplished what we set out to do less than a week ago. Boxes were packed early in the week, furniture was sold, given, or stored away, along with a few totes and boxes of items to be kept. We’ve eaten some great meals and for the umpteenth time this spring, I’ll restart my diet once I arrive back home.

At one of the local ice cream shops... they'll mix any type of concoction a person wants. I'm having strawberry/double chocolate ice cream with chunks of brownies, fresh strawberries, and Oreo cookies mixed in, all put into a huge waffle cone bowl coated with white chocolate and Oreo chips. No calories here.

We had a great road trip on Friday. Andy had a safety meeting to attend on the other side of Lafayette, Louisiana, about three hours east, so we were on the road fairly early. 

The day was bright, warm, and beautiful, and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip weaving between the acres of crayfish (mud bug) ponds and dense forest and swamps.

While Andy was attending his meeting, I contented myself by sitting on a picnic table under a shade tree and enjoying the beautiful day.

You know, some people gripe and complain about getting older. I’m kind of the opposite. In my younger years, I wouldn’t have been mature enough to appreciate the warm temperatures on Friday. I think as we mature a bit in life, a person tends to stop and smell a few more roses along the way.

Andy started this pineapple plant from the top of one he purchased in the grocery store. After almost a year, a little pineapple has sprouted. The man has a very green thumb, something both he and I are proud of.

We arrived back home by mid afternoon and promptly went to a local pawnshop that doubles as the U Haul depot to rent a van for Saturday. After, we traveled to the other side of town where Andy leased a long-term storage unit.

Saturday saw us press both into service. We took a load of items to be donated to Helping Hands, a Good Will-type service here in Leesville. After, we began loading the van and made two separate trips to the storage unit. As of late yesterday afternoon, only a few articles remained in the house and as Andy said, if he wanted, he could lock the door and permanently walk away within an hour. We’ve done well.

There's a bed (the one I’ve been using) to move today, a few houseplants, and a couple of mirrors that go to one of Andy’s friends. Other than that, we’re finished. There are two steaks and two large baking potatoes in the refrigerator to be grilled outside for tonight’s supper. After, we’ll empty the charcoal from the grill and move it out to the curb.

Andy's renting the U Haul at one of the many local pawn shops. With Fort Polk just a few miles away, there is no shortage of establishments willing to take a young soldier's goods and money.

 I usually talk with Sargie several times a day. Our television, an inexpensive 32-inch model I purchased several years ago, quit. In doing research I found that it as all the symptoms of blown capacitors in the start up board. I’ll pull the back from the unit when I get home and if the four capacitors are bad, a simple trip to Radio Shack, coupled with a bit of solder, should see it going again. Failing that, I guess we’ll be shopping for a new TV.

Sargie’s done really well while I’ve been gone and finds as much company with Brutus as I do. Her only big calamity occurred last night when an inch-long vole scooted along the floor in front of her. I told her that voles don’t eat much and need love too, but Sargie was inconsolable. I guess I’ll go vole hunting when I arrive home. I don’t know how this one got into the house, but it seems I kill one or two a year. Last year, I saw one and simply grabbed it. Sargie says that’s not an option for her.

We’re planning on leaving around noon tomorrow for Houston. My flight doesn’t leave until 6 PM, but it’s a three-hour drive, plus security lines in the airport have been known to stretch for blocks. I’d rather get there early and spend my time watching people than worry about making the flight. Monday night will be spent in the Minneapolis Airport and I’ll fly onto Iron Mountain Tuesday morning.

Andy returns back to the Gulf early Wednesday and is unsure whether his boat that is used to move oil rigs will go into dry dock or be pressed into service for one more job before being pulled for repairs. As he said, he’ll find out when he gets there.

It’s time to get a cup of tea and begin the day. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road… by way of Leesville, Louisiana.

What? I don't look like I'm from Louisiana?