You All Know

You all know that I hate Facebook, so I post most pictures and info here, so here is a couple of updates on the progress of our house. Looks like it might not blow over in this windy state that we live in.

Uncle Henry's?

I have a neighbor whom I have known for many years. He has a huge dog that hates everyone. One day a few years back I was talking with the neighbor (Joey), he had a quick question about something trivial that I can't even remember now. I hadn't ever known his dog's name so I finally asked him. I have known him before he moved in, more on that later in the story, but I had known his dog since he has had him. I have always called him "puppy" because I didn't know his name and when the dog was a puppy he would always get off his chain and come over to our house. This dog has grown to be a massive animal and would probably scare anyone who accidentally walked up upon him. He looks like Cujo except for the fact that he has no white on him and he looks more meaner than Cujo. "Puppy" has not gotten off his chain for many years except once or twice but I have never been afraid of him. When finding out from Joey that the dog's name was Rufus he was surprised when he found out that I called him Puppy. He said that the dog hates everyone. I looked at him puzzled and informed him that I could probably walk right over to the dog and pet him right now! It was Joey's turn to look at me with the same puzzled look. He then said okay let's go, I knew that he was walking with me for my safety and concern. I walked right up to the dog who was not at the end of his leash thus taking away my ability to get away if the dog decided to eat me. I walked on the other side of the dog and started petting him, Rufus wagged his tail and put his weight against me enjoying the attention. Joey exclaimed that he has had friends for years that are deathly afraid of that dog and for good reason I come to find out that the dog basically hates everyone. A moronic passerby was bitten by the dog one day when walking through Joey's yard.
I tell you this story to inform you that Joey is basically the same as his dog. I had known of Joey and his reputation for many years growing up. He is just one guy that you don't want to mess with. If he is your friend then nobody will mess with you. He is a few years older than me and I knew that he grew up around my part of town, but he wasn't my actual neighbor until I was out of high school. One day I was riding my bike with a friend and we must have been in seventh grade and I swerved in front of an oncoming car that was coming up the road. I knew that I had plenty of time to swerve out of the way and I did so way before the car was even near me. I guess the people in that car didn't like my maneuver and stopped dead in the middle of the road. I see a person climbing out of the passenger car window (the door must not have worked, thank goodness) so I start pedaling as fast as I can because it is obvious this person is angry at my idiocracy. I turn and notice that Joey is on foot right behind me and I was certain that he was going to catch me. I must have been two paces ahead of him when he finally gave up and realized he wasn't going to catch me.
I was afraid years later after learning that he was going to be my new neighbor that he was going to remember me. He didn't remember that incident and I have yet to share that story with him even though I now consider him a friend. He has now lived next to my mother's house for probably twelve to fourteen years. It is nice to have him for a neighbor because nobody messes with you or your property. So onto the main title of this story.
My mom's garage door took it's last breath this last fall and I knew I shut it for the last time. It was a rugged beast that needed to be replaced for a long while but it always seemed to work just enough to keep on living and serving its purpose. I knew that Joey used to work at a place that sold and installed garage doors so after discovering that a new garage door was not only going to cost $300, but another $600 on top of that to have it installed from somewhere like Home Depot or Sears. I had a friend who gave us an old garage door that was in much better shape than my mom's original she has had since we moved into that house some twenty or more years back. I walked over to Joey's house two weeks ago, he was outside working on his fifth wheel. I walk right past Rufus petting him on my way by. I ask Joey if he would be able to help me with the garage door. I inform him that my friend had given me one, that was/has been lying by the fence since October of last year. He said that he would be over in a bit and would check it out. I could tell when first bringing up the garage door that he hated the work. As I departed his presence he informed me with a loud voice that he was still surprised that his dog could care less when walking up to and passed him. I laughed and told him that I gave him treats here and there.
He came over a little while later and informed me that the garage door that was given me was in fact too big for the frame of that garage. He also informed me that he could order one from his old place of employment and that it would cost $275. He then said that he would come over and install it with a buddy of his free of charge! I said that there was no way I was going to pay him simply that much so I asked him what kind of beer was his favorite because I know that he is a drinking partying type. He informed me of his favorite beer and I had also planned on giving him a large tip when he came over and installed the door. Well this last Saturday him and his employee who both used to work at where ever installing garage doors came and installed the new garage door. Before they started working on the door I was going to give him an 18 pack of Bud Light bottles in new cooler that we had. I was in the house with the kids and Sheri when I pulled the box of beer out of the fridge and got ready to transfer them into the cooler. Triton saw what I was doing and asked if he could help. I informed him that I would do it and that I didn't need his help. Triton who will be four years old in June then said the funniest thing ever! He (who we all know has had a tough time getting down that talking thing) says Uncle Henry's. I burst out in laughter and Sheri didn't hear what he said asked what was so funny. I told Triton to tell her what he had said and he indeed did repeat. Sheri laughed and I still couldn't really stop laughing.
For those of you that don't know Henry should know that he is always drinking. If he isn't at work he always has a beer in his hand. His life revolves around beer. Triton and I always go golfing with Henry and thus the joke of Triton saying "Uncle Henry's" is hilarious. It is sad that Triton already sees that as being part of Henry, but that is the life of an alcoholic I guess. Henry is smart enough not to drink and drive so he never gets in trouble with the law, but he has pushed those loved ones that were or are close to him away because of it. He is a good man, but that dang alcohol has a hold on him. So do the cigarettes, I guess it is just a matter of time before he either grows a brain and kicks the habit/addiction or before one of them kill him! I call him a drunk and even came up with the nickname Unky Drunky, because that it what he is, so when Triton said the beer was for Henry I couldn't stop laughing. Poor Triton having to grow up knowing a person just for that and poor Henry for only being known as that. I hate to sound as if I am judging him for that, I really am not. It just saddens me to see a person waste all of that money, time, love and living on something that only destroys those very things in life.