Pat and Dianna broadcasting Sunday morning's church service from their kitchen table in Fresno, California

December 28, 2020 - Monday morning

13 degrees/cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

Diagnosed with Covid, Pat and Dianna are in week two of quarantine from their home in Fresno. Pat reports each is doing well, mostly they are more tired than usual. With a strict lockdown in California, my baby brother's been preaching the Word from home while recovering. He says he'll be back at the pulpit, well, if their Governor allows, next week. Certainly, he'll be back working in the church and tending his flock. 

Watching the two on Sunday morning, I've decided to start calling Pat, Jim, and Diana, Tammy Faye, as in the duo of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Believe me, there's NO resemblance to the later couple, but me being me, well, I have to give Pat a hard time. He expects no less.

Completely off the subject of Pat and Diana, do you remember Jim and Tammy Faye and the PTL Club? (PTL stood for Praise the Lord!)

How I loved watching their program back in the 80's when they were swindling millions, mostly from little old blue-haired ladies and young families who felt like they were making a sound financial investment, both physically and spiritually. I especially liked watching Tammy Faye's makeup run down her face and dribble off her chin as she gave a testimony that was about as fake as a three dollar bill. Their program was patterned after Johnny Carson's Tonight Show and in essence, all they did was sell time shares to a religious theme park and beg for more money in the name of the Lord. Problem was, the theme park was only half built and in essence, they were running a Ponzi scheme to finance their extravagant lifestyle.

Jim ended up serving time in the big house after being found guilty of all kinds of illegalities and cried and begged for mercy as they led him off in handcuffs. It didn't take Tammy Faye long to divorce Jim and find herself another man, one with with lots of money. She eventually died a horrible death of cancer. 

The last I heard, Jim was out of prison, remarried to a Tammy look alike, and trying to get another ministry going. I guess he's still begging for money and selling health and prepper products in the name of Jesus. Some people never learn. 

Yeah... ol' Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Two of the greatest circus con acts ever to perform in television ministry.

At any rate, I absolutely am not comparing Pat, a humble and sincere man, to Jim Bakker, but it sure is fun to tease the boy.

Sunday was a bit more active than the day before. I returned home from my morning walk to a huge brunch of pork chops done on the grill along with all the fixings. We decided to eat our big meal early in the day, hoping the calories might disappear by bedtime.

Of course, the grilled cheese sandwich and chips I inhaled later in the evening defeated that purpose, but it all tasted good.

We worshipped along with Pat and Diana online. He gave a good message and even managed to pick on me a bit. 

I don't know why.

Oh, he also referenced Sargie as the Master Crappie Angler, and she is.

Church over, Sargie and I enjoyed our daily ride, going from one lake to the other, checking out the fishing action on the ice.

After promising Sargie that I'd not begin fishing until the Monday after Christmas (today!!!) I returned home anxious to begin gathering all my ice fishing gear. The gas auger started on the first pull, the line on the reels was checked, the teeny lures sorted and made ready, a propane cylinder filled from a larger tank, and the Clam, the portable tent that protects me from the elements, inspected.

Let the ice fishing season begin.

Meanwhile in Maine, poor Luke can only dream of going ice fishing. Suffering from temperatures well above freezing, he sent a text saying he was sitting in his ice shack in their back yard, listening to a football game and sipping a Sunday afternoon beverage.

Poor kid. A much better fisherman than I am, all he can do is dream and pray for cold weather to arrive in southern Maine.

On today's agenda:

Well, I'm going for my walk at first light and as of now, planning to head to the lake at some point today, if not this morning, then this afternoon. I know Jambo will be reading this, licking his chops, waiting for an ice fishing report.

Otherwise, we'll take our ride to town and beyond that, well who knows? When one lives on Pentoga Road, the world's the limit.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Great nephews, Grayson and Lincoln