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Well everyone things sure have changed since my last entry so I will give you guys one more. I say one more because I guess that is the way that DJ and David want it as I have been relegated to the “columnist archive” where one can read the offerings of previous columnists. One would think that an email or phone call letting me know of the change would have been expected and have given me notice that I was being made inactive after the length of our involvement with one another. I mean they recruited me via email so they could have terminated me in the same manner, but such is life and such will be the relationship that I will have with them too.

So after this entry I’ll just go back to being a poster like the rest of you. Unless, of course, there has been a misunderstanding on my part as to the nature of the change and they still want my rantings as part of their site. I’ll wait to hear from them as to if that is still their desire, right now I am unknowing of exactly what is going on.

Anyway, I am now settled in wild and wonderful West Virginia and am seriously working out a reconciliation with my wife. We both have made changes in our ways of living, have recommitted ourselves to one another again and are starting anew. While it has only been a couple of months things are certainly looking bright. She and I were able to pay cash for our new place that is a 3 acre heaven. We are located outside of Sutton and near what is known as the geographical center of the state and it is about as rural as one could get much like St. Mary’s was back in the 60’s. Hell the little corporate town our address holds doesn’t even have a stop light, but this is what we were looking for.

The first night we stayed here we went out in the morning and watched three deer scamper across the top of the lot. This was followed by the unmistaken gobble of a turkey as we walked our domain towards the lower end of the lot. A few nights later as we were approaching our property from a little venture into town an eight-point buck and two does were standing in the middle of the dirt lane that we live off of and as we rounded the corner turning into our driveway there was a six-pointer and another pair of does. These deer sightings are routine and even having Taz up here with us once again hasn’t suppressed them either. Then just a couple days ago I saw a young black bear sitting in a power line clearing just a couple miles from the property. Now I’ll tell you that this is living, at least for me.

And for those of you that think there is nothing to do in SOMD all I can say is that compared to here you guys are in a metropolitan area. There are only two nationally recognized businesses in the town and they are Ace Hardware and Rite Aid everything else is locally owned and ran. The movie theater only runs one movie and it is only open on Friday and Saturday evenings with a Sunday matinee. The most popular entities out here seem to be churches as you can’t throw a rock without hitting one. It almost seems as if there are more churches than people. Not that I have anything against that but it sure is different than what I had been accustomed to.

Anyway that is enough for now and I hope that all of you are doing well. I had been without the internet for over a month and just yesterday had our phone connected and felt inclined to contribute. I'm so far out in the woods and mountains that even my cell phone doesn't work and I have to drive off of the mountain I live on to get service. I will also throw up some photos of the area once I have access to my desktop and a phoneline into what is being dictated as my computer room here in our new home. I will also be in SOMD about monthly as I visit family and friends and might run into you guys on occassion. I hope the best for all of you and am missing those of you taht I have come to know over the years I have been a part of what I still consider the best website around.

:clap: Good to have you back and wonderful that you and your wife are back together.

:clap: Good to have you back and wonderful that you and your wife are back together.
Thanks BS Gal. I would have never thought I could go so long without participating on here but I guess anything is possible (like reconciliation).

Great Ken I am so happy for you..will send you a pm soon... :huggy:

Sounds like there have been better days, for sure, and I am looking forward to some pictures. :howdy:

Thanks BS Gal. I would have never thought I could go so long without participating on here but I guess anything is possible (like reconciliation).

Hey, I said I would never get another dog because I was not going to go thru losing one. Guess what's under my feet now?????

Best of luck to you two Ken!

Hey, I said I would never get another dog because I was not going to go thru losing one. Guess what's under my feet now?????
The floor. :biggrin: What'cha got?

Sounds like there have been better days, for sure, and I am looking forward to some pictures. :howdy:
As soon as I run a phone line to the desktop as it has all the software for the camera and the CDs are still in storage.

The floor. :biggrin: What'cha got?

I have Rassie, the 7 year old lab we rescued. Best dog in the world. :yahoo:

Hey Ken..:howdy: Great to hear you and the wife working on things, good luck!

Best of luck to you two Ken!
Thanks sweety, been missing you.

I have Rassie, the 7 year old lab we rescued. Best dog in the world. :yahoo:
Actually I think you misspoke as Taz is the greatest and then of course there was Boscoe. So the best you can hope for is 3rd best. :lol:

Hey Ken..:howdy: Great to hear you and the wife working on things, good luck!
Thanks a lot perky and I must ask, are they? :biggrin:

Thanks a lot perky and I must ask, are they? :biggrin:

Your welcome, and yes!

:lmao:

Thanks sweety, been missing you.

Good to hear from you. :huggy:

Actually I think you misspoke as Taz is the greatest and then of course there was Boscoe. So the best you can hope for is 3rd best. :lol:

I'll take third. I'm sorry I only met you once before you left.

May peace and success find you both...........:cheers:

May peace and success find you both...........:cheers:
Damn, what tree did you fall from?

Damn, what tree did you fall from?

You know how those bad apples are :coffee:

You know how those bad apples are :coffee:
As long as you are just a bad apple and not "Strange Fruit". :biggrin: Nice to hear from you again.

As long as you are just a bad apple and not "Strange Fruit". :biggrin: Nice to hear from you again.

Fruit free, tyvm :lmao:

Good hearing from you too sir.

Like St. St. Mary's in the 60's..... It does sound like heaven!!!

Sounds wonderful and promising, Ken! West Virginia is beautiful... I keep threatening to retire there.

Glad things are working out for you both.:yahoo: Somtimes just getting out of St. Mary's helps. Congrats oldtime bucksnorts,:buddies:

:yahoo: Wishing you all the luck in the world

Sounds wonderful and promising, Ken! West Virginia is beautiful... I keep threatening to retire there.
Kwillia,

Beautiful isn't the half of it, it is simply amazing. Right now the colors are beyond peak but still more various and vibrant than I have seen in years. We recently had four straight days of rain and the creeks, streams, and rivers rising and rushing added additional beauty to the setting.

The area we are in is within minutes to several lakes, the fishing is claimed to be some of the best in the world (I will soon find out) and the people are some of the nicest I have met. The pace of everything is slow, I mean really slow, and no one is in a rush for anything.

An amusing feature of the town is a local watering hole called "The Draught House", when driving by it there is usually a collection of locals sitting outside holding the wall up that reminds me of the old Dukes Bar in Leonardtown. Hell, some of them even look the same.

Greetings. :howdy:

Sounds wonderful and promising, Ken! West Virginia is beautiful... I keep threatening to retire there.

My husband and I want to retire to Butt Scratch Montana (well not really Tennessee might do - since there isn't a place called Butt Scratch yet) out in the county, on a lake somewhere, with a boat so we can fish all day. So Ken, it sounds like you are living right smack in the middle of our retirement fantasy. :lol:

Greetings. :howdy:
Right back at you, how is life with and the little lady?

My husband and I want to retire to Butt Scratch Montana (well not really Tennessee might do - since there isn't a place called Butt Scratch yet) out in the county, on a lake somewhere, with a boat so we can fish all day. So Ken, it sounds like you are living right smack in the middle of our retirement fantasy. :lol:
I looked at Kentucky, Lake Cumberland area, and Tennessee, but West Virginia met all of our needs as to locating affordable property, being isolated and serene, and yet still close enough to get back to the MD/PA area to visit children and grandchildren. We have it all here and couldn't be happier.

Hey Ken, how ya doin? :howdy: West Virginia is nice country. Some good hunting up there. :yay:

P.S. Get a snowblower, you're going to need it.

:howdy:

Best wishes for you and the Mrs.

Hey Ken, how ya doin? :howdy: West Virginia is nice country. Some good hunting up there. :yay:

P.S. Get a snowblower, you're going to need it.
Getting a generator first, a little tractor with a blade should work the snow issue (it's only 150 feet or so of driveway, and getting the 4X4 back to perfect condition for venturing out come that season (which I guess ain't too far away). Hell not having to worry about going anywhere, like work, will make it easier. Actually I'm looking forward to being snowed in for a few days. Retirement has been very exhausting. :lmao:

Nice to hear from you, how's life on the shortside?

:howdy:

Best wishes for you and the Mrs.
Thanks NP, hope all is well for you and your clan.

:love: :smoochy: :love:

Best wishes and congratulations and lots of love going your way.

:love: :smoochy: :love:

Best wishes and congratulations and lots of love going your way.
Thanks dear and right back at you.

Woke up this morning to a hard frost. Dawn here is really a lengthy event. The sun is just now peaking over the ridge from the east and hitting the property.

Thanks dear and right back at you.

Woke up this morning to a hard frost. Dawn here is really a lengthy event. The sun is just now peaking over the ridge from the east and hitting the property.

Sounds beautiful. I love that moment when the sun clears the treeline. Enjoy!

Ken, sounds like you're in my dream spot. I love WV. I love the slow pace and the gorgeous scenery. I'll be heading to Canaan Valley soon for a little break. I'm looking forward to doing nothing all day.

Ken, sounds like you're in my dream spot. I love WV. I love the slow pace and the gorgeous scenery. I'll be heading to Canaan Valley soon for a little break. I'm looking forward to doing nothing all day.
It is a dream. We had picked out 5 or 6 places to look at and this place wasn't even on our list. Our first choice up north went under contract as we were heading to our showing and we didn't get to see it up close and personal. Then after seeing one in Bluefield that was a disappointment we got with an agent here (dead center in the state - Sutton, WV) and looked at another disappointment. Then he said there was another place he could show us but was thinking of buying it himself. I said go for it and as we rounded the hill and about to turn into the driveway I knew this is what Susan and I were looking for. We put it under contract and settled on it in 10 days. Granted it needs some work and we have been busy fixing it up but what else do I have to do now that I am retired.

Sounds beautiful. I love that moment when the sun clears the treeline. Enjoy!
I've got a spot on the southern end of the property that we use for our picnicing. Laying back on the blanket you look up and you have the sky dead center and trees bordering your view the full 360 degrees, it is awesome.

Howdy Ken.
Wishing you the best.

Howdy Ken.
Wishing you the best.
Hey Do What, how's life? Guess you're at work, huh?

sounds like a great place ..... good luck

I know exactly where he is at, it is a beautiful-magical place. I was just up there this past weekend and he is right the colors are fantastic in the trees right now. I think Braxton County is an undiscovered piece of paradise in West Virginia (although it seems, more and more people are discovering it!).

I know exactly where he is at, it is a beautiful-magical place. I was just up there this past weekend and he is right the colors are fantastic in the trees right now. I think Braxton County is an undiscovered piece of paradise in West Virginia (although it seems, more and more people are discovering it!).
It's even prettier now that the mornings are frosting up and after the rain from last week all the creeks, runs, and rivers are flowing to the beautiful lakes. It is as if I live in a wonderland postcard.

Nice to find out that we are somewhat neighbors. :lmao:

:drool: Ken I just cant wait to see pics of your heaven

:drool: Ken I just cant wait to see pics of your heaven
Wel as soon as I can get some phoneline and drag my ass under the place to run it to my desktop I will post some. Right now the plan is to head out tomorrow back to MD to start trucking up the rest of our stuff. Fun, fun, fun I tell you. So it might be a few days before I get around to it.

Hey Ken. Good to hear from you. Having been at your wedding I was sad that you guys were having trouble. I think it's great things are turning around. Enjoy WV.

Hey Ken. Good to hear from you. Having been at your wedding I was sad that you guys were having trouble. I think it's great things are turning around. Enjoy WV.
Thanks Tony, that was a kickass wedding now wasn't it and the marriage is worth saving.

Hey Ken, Good the hear you are doing so well.
All the best to you and your wife in your new life.

Hey Ken, Good the hear you are doing so well.
All the best to you and your wife in your new life.
Thanks and good luck with you quitting smoking BCP. The fun starts today up here, deer season, and getting the wife use to not just letting Taz out to run. I've fenced in about a 1/2 acre for him but the sh!t keeps digging out and I am now in the process of placing rock at the bottom of the fence all the way around.

Ken,
Small world! I lived in Southern AA County all my life and moved to Strange Creek, WV (about 15 minutes from you) 2 years ago. I have lots of family & friends still in So MD so I was going to post a bulletin on here about a breast cancer benefit for my cousin when I saw your post. I thought it was funny how small of a world this is so I had to send you a quick note.

Ken,
Small world! I lived in Southern AA County all my life and moved to Strange Creek, WV (about 15 minutes from you) 2 years ago. I have lots of family & friends still in So MD so I was going to post a bulletin on here about a breast cancer benefit for my cousin when I saw your post. I thought it was funny how small of a world this is so I had to send you a quick note.
Maybe one day we might meet, unfortunately I am no longer in West Virginia as of about a month ago. It will probably be some time before I head back there to gather the rest of my belongings.

Good luck for your cousin.

Maybe one day we might meet, unfortunately I am no longer in West Virginia as of about a month ago. It will probably be some time before I head back there to gather the rest of my belongings.

Good luck for your cousin.

Wondered where you have been? Hope all is ok.

Wondered where you have been? Hope all is ok.
I'm fine and will keep on keeping on. Just putting space between me and the problems. It's easier on my wallet that way.

I'm fine and will keep on keeping on. Just putting space between me and the problems. It's easier on my wallet that way.
Chit! Sorry things didn't work out.

Chit! Sorry things didn't work out.
Not to worry, life isn't over, I just hit another bump on a very bumpy road.

Hello and welcome back Ken!!!!!!!!!!

Hello and welcome back Ken!!!!!!!!!!
Say Hi to Rick for me. Planning on being back east sometime in early May for some birthdays.

Say Hi to Rick for me. Planning on being back east sometime in early May for some birthdays.

:buddies:

Mine's the 28'th........Bring me some bull lips for my crab trot line....:lmao:

Say Hi to Rick for me. Planning on being back east sometime in early May for some birthdays.

Hey Ken, if your up there in Illinois, you may want to put those guns away in your avatar, you can get arrested for that up around Chicago! :lmao:

Ken,
Small world! I lived in Southern AA County all my life and moved to Strange Creek, WV (about 15 minutes from you) 2 years ago. I have lots of family & friends still in So MD so I was going to post a bulletin on here about a breast cancer benefit for my cousin when I saw your post. I thought it was funny how small of a world this is so I had to send you a quick note.

It IS a small world. Strange Creek is where my house is at. Just got back from there yesterday.

Hey Ken, if your up there in Illinois, you may want to put those guns away in your avatar, you can get arrested for that up around Chicago! :lmao:
Nope, they can come pry them from my cold dead fingers. :biggrin:

Actually not travelling with any of them, one is being held on to for me back in MD by one of our local protectors of freedom.

Sorry to hear things didn't work out. I didn't read all the thread before I PM'd you. I had thought like someone else did that sometimes things work out better when you're not in St. Mary's. PM me sometime and we'll see if we can't get together and go over the good times when life was easier!

Sorry to hear things didn't work out. I didn't read all the thread before I PM'd you. I had thought like someone else did that sometimes things work out better when you're not in St. Mary's. PM me sometime and we'll see if we can't get together and go over the good times when life was easier!
Didn't get a PM but got an email and responded. Yeah, I would like to hook up with you too. Maybe sometime in May when I'm back that way.