“Hey, Lucy. Come here. There’s a bunch of junk on the porch.”
“Okay. What kind of junk?”
“I’m not sure. Looks like old sheets and towels and a roll of grey stuff.”
“Yeah, that is duct tape, Little one.”
“Who wants to tape a duck?”
“Not duck. Duct. It is one of the Boss’s go-to tools.”
“I see by the full watering can something is up.”
“Here comes the Boss. Let’s ask. Hey, boss, what is all this stuff?”
“I’m just getting things ready for a few days of below-freezing temperatures.”
“So you have unhooked the hose, Dad?”
“That’s right, Twiggy. We don’t want our faucets to freeze and break.”
You have to explain a little more, Boss. How do they freeze and break?”
“When the water is in the hose, and it is connected to the faucet, the water can freeze and expand, breaking the faucet.”
“Now that Dad is gone, let me ask. You get that, Lucy?”
“Nope, but as long as the Boss is in charge, I think all we have to do is say we do.”
“Close your eyes, Lucy. I have a surprise for you.”
“Better not be the old Twiggy vanish trick. Okay, they are closed.”
“Open them up and gaze on this faucet wrapped with a towel and duct tape.”
“Oh man, I thought you had found a stray kibble bowl.”
“Look at this masterpiece.”
“If you don’t mind, I’m going in to give someone a sad look and beg for a treat. This has been hard work.”
“I’ll help.”
Fiction Favorites 
I hope you all make it through the deep freeze safely! We’re due for a “wintery mix” storm today.
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Lots of ice this morning, liz. Staying put.
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Very prudent!
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We had a couple of days of deep freeze last week, John. Really made a mess of some of our landscaping. Hope you fare better!
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Sad thing is it’s going to be about three days below freezing which really creates havoc. Thanks Lori. 😊
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Just spoke to my parents in Boerne. Mom says they have a pretty good coating of ice and tree branches are snapping. 😔 Just hoping they don’t lose power…they were out for almost 2 weeks during last year’s storm.
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I hope they don’t lose power too, Lori.
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thank you for sharing, Michael.
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With a great pleasure, John! Thanks for the entertainment. xx Michael
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😊
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Perfect photo story, John! Thanks for sharing. Unbespoken, you have the best actors for this. xx Michael
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Ha ha ha. Thank you, Michael.
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😉 I never believed French bulldogs will be so handsome. xx Michael
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Little Twiggy Thanks you.
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The ladies know you too well. A sad look probably works wonders. I hope you all can stay warm, We’ve had temps in the teens for a while, though it warms up to the 40s midday. ❄❄❄
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The teens? I would die. Our windchill is supposed to go to zero today. NIce thing about that is if you stay inside it can be avoided. Thanks for the comment, Gwen.
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Stay safe! Tell your parents not to go outside on the icy porch.
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Thank you, Miss Jill. We do have icy steps, so we have to warn the old man here to take it easy.😁
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Whoa, I haven’t had to worry about frozen pipes since I left Long Island!
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I know right? We do have to worry since builders and codes are a little different here. Big winters were not supposed to happen. Thanks, GP.
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It does seem strange to think of a snowstorm in Texas!!
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Yes. That’s why last year’s six inches and 7 degree temps were so dumbfounding.
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Treat time always wins.
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Always. A begged treat tastes best of all.
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It’s nice when you have a heads up of what’s to come and can prepare. Plus it gives Lucy and Twiggy things to talk about. Hope your freeze doesn’t last long!
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I hope the freeze doesn’t last longer than the three days forecasted. Thanks you, Dale.
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I hope it lasts less long than that! xo
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Me too. Doesn’t look good right now.
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Oh dear… Stay safe!
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I will. Not doing a bike ride today.
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Please don’t!!
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Yes ma’am. 😁
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Good. 🤗
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Sounds like you’re prepared. Up here, I put the hoses away for the winter after blowing them out with the compressor.
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I wish I had a compressor. I would blow out the irrigation system. Oh well gotta hope for the best.
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Yep, blowing out the irrigation system beats replacing heads. It takes a little time, but I think it’s worth the trouble. Give the girls a smile for me. 🙂
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I finished Valley Walker. Great story. I’m working on the review. I enjoyed it very much.
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Glad you liked it, John. 🙂
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😁
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Ha ha ha! We are earn our mettle when the weather turns bad!
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Yes. Always a big test. I was born and raised in Detroit and lived for 50 years in snow country where the winters are brutal. You would think my mettle would be tougher. Of course, after 30 years of living in no snow regions, I think my mettle slipped a little. Thanks, Pamela. 😊
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Stay safe and warm, John. At least this winter storm isn’t expected to be like last year!
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Yes it is supposed to be not as severe. I still don’t trust ERCOT, the grid dopes. Stay warm.
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I don’t trust them as far as I can throw my house!
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Ha ha ha. I’m with you.
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What would we do without Lucy and Twiggy to get to the bottom of things? Bundle everything up tight. Hopefully Texas will fare better this time.
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I think we will since the below-freezing temps days are less. Thanks, Maggie. 😊
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I hope so.
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Lol!
It’s 10 below in Breckenridge and colder in Niwot! Stay warm, John.
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I know our whining seems silly compared to below zero temps. Our windchill is expected to hit zero later. Stay warm as well, Susie.
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Whoa!!!
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Yeah. We are not used to this although it is getting more common.
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The weather has been insane!!!
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Hope you all weather the freeze safely and warmly, John 💕🙂
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So far all is okay. Our temps are dropping all day so it will get worse I’m sure.
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Good luck with the freeze. You guys aren’t getting snow, are you?
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We have had no snow. Just freezing rain and sleet. Thanks for the good wishes.
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Not sure if freezing rain and sleet are better or worse than snow.
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For driving I would take snow any day.
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The girls are always right in the thick of things. They’re like cats that way 🙂
I hope you get through the freeze unscathed, John. Preparation is always smart.
We have freezing rain, sleet, and ice coming tonight into tomorrow morning. Praying the power doesn’t go down.
Stay warm!
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Twiggy reminds us of our cats. She has to have her nose in everything. Lucy is almost as bad. Thanks, Mae. I hope your power stays up.
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Yours, too, John.
And I love that Twiggy has that insatiable curiosity, with Lucy close behind 🙂
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They didn’t seem interested in learning – or they just don’t listen to you. Good luck with the ice. Is it there now?
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The ice is here. With these two learning is all relative. Thanks, Frank.
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Good luck with it. Hope it’s over.
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Three more days of below freezing to go.
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It’s 15 degrees here now. We have to do that to the pipes in mid October here. It was a learning curve for us when we moved here. Stay warm! I hope you don’t have any issues caused by the freezing temperatures. I hope the girls got their treats. 😂😀 “wrap up a duck”. Too funny!
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They always get their treats. There is ice on the ground, so we aren’t going anywhere. These tow are not happy campers when they have to go outside. Stay warm, Deborah.
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I can’t say I blame them! Brrrr!! You all stay warm and safe too!
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😊
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Wonderful. I just love pet stories. Quite enjoyable.
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I’m glad you liked it. Thank you.
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You’re most welcome, John.
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😊
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Even though the temperature is dropping, that back porch looks like a lovely spot to curl up in a blanket & enjoy a hot cup of cocoa! Love these stories John!
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We have a fireplace out there too so if we were really brave we would go out there. Thanks, Lynn.
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Here’s hoping for the best possible outcome to the storm. We lost power around 11:30 last night and are running on solar backup until it runs out. Stay warm!! Keep the girls warm!
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You stay warm as well. I hope the power comes back soon.
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I’m still laughing about taping ducks, lol. We’re getting ice tonight. Stay warm, John!
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Thank you, Teri. You as well.
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I suspect Lucy and Twiggy will prepare by coming inside, getting some treats and curling up in their beds. We had our pipes freeze two weekends ago – seems that the builders did not insulate the back wall of our house. They are coming to take off the siding and put in some insulation on Monday! Stay warm! We were told to let the water drip a little from the outside faucets to keep them from freezing.
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The outside works as long as they don’t freeze in the dripping. We drip inside as well. No telling about the outside walls. We have pipes on two outside walls and I don’t trust contractors.
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Glad you had help and advice getting ready for the freeze. Good to get it done early. We are expecting a freeze tonight and tomorrow night. Let’s hope the grid holds this time. I think we are ready to hunker down for the next couple of days with plenty of food, fire logs and libations. Stay safe and warm – worse up there where you are.
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Yes it is worse. I do miss the moderate climate of the coast for sure. Thaks, Jo. I think you are prepared.
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I can see all those years of living up north expanded your education on the snow and cold — well done, John! We’re on the northern edge of that messy storm system. Got 4.5 inches of snow, freezing rain, and ice yesterday; today, the snow is still coming down and brought with it a stiff breeze. Not pleasant for man or beast so I’m staying inside. Y’all stay safe and warm!
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Good idea to stay inside. Poor Monkey on those necessary trips.
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Yep. He likes to go out to investigate, then back in to potty on the floor. I’m working on that!
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Well you know kids.
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It is a masterpiece to get those facets frost proof 🙂 I hope the girls got some treats 😉
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Yes. I’m a sucker for a sad look.
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I used to wrap bubble wrap around the faucets and fix that with duct tape, but nowadays I’m using pre-made foam covers that can be slipped on and off easily. So I can removed them quickly if I need access to teh faucets in warmer weather.
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The stores ran out of them. Iused to have them at the coast. Was kind and left them with the new owners.
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Mine are still from the previous years. There are some on Amazon, btw.
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Yes I know they are available. The tape and towels are here right now. I don’t imagine the Prime driver is going to make it up the slight incline to our house.
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Duct tape is a great tool! Nice to see Lucy and Twiggy trying to “help” you. Stay warm and safe, John. And belly rubs for the girls.
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Thank you, Miss Satci. We loved them.
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I went overboard this time, and added windshield washer fluid that’s good to 0 degrees, instead of the standard 32 degrees. Filled up the gas tank, and filled a couple of containes with water, just in case — but I don’t think it will be necessary here. At noon, the grid was in great shape, with plenty of supply in relation to demand. It’s always interesting to keep an eye on outages, too.
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Thank you, Linda. All looks good here too.
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Might the freeze not last long, dear John! 🙂
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It will be about three days. Not like yours for sure. (touch wood)
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I hope the preparations are enough, John. These storms are scary. Skipping through the comments, it seems like you’re doing everything you can. Good luck.
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Hopefully. I just don’t like the idea of water running through the place.
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Plumbing in outside walls is scary. I replaced our outside faucets with “freeze-proof” models. They are a foot long and the valve is in the back. I learned the hard way that they have to be tilted slightly downward so the water drains out.
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We are supposed to have frost free but I don’t trust that that is true.
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Are you suggesting that contractors or real estate agents would lie?
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ROTFLOL
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Have you gotten your freezing temps yet? Good prep work, John. And just at dinner tonight we were discussing how our pipes froze one winter and flooded our basement. Ancient history, though, because now we do all the prep like you 🙂
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Yeah we learned many years ago when we lived in the North.
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Good knowledge!
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Life skill for sure. Thanks, Barbara.
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How often does it typically get below freezing where you live? I know I’m a bit surprised. Duct tape is one of the world’s best inventions. I use it for everything too.
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So far this year we have had four nights and expect four more.
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Good old MacGyver tape, lol. Not sure if it’s an issue where you are but we also set our water dripping to avoid frozen lines, but then we’re in an RV. Hope the plants survive the frost!
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Yes we drip the furthest faucet from the source and any outlet on an outside wall. The precious plants are inside. The hanging plants might not make it. Everything else is hardy.
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As far as DIY pooches are concerned, the girls are still a work in progress. And that’s okay.
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Yes they are. Still don’t have everything down pat.
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Give em time.
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😊
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😉
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Hahaha!
I was hoping for the old Twiggy vanish trick.
Oh well! A stray kibble bowl would have been great!!! My cats are always hoping for that.
Still, beggins is always an option.
Pets are soooo good at it!
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They are. They both have Masters of Begging degrees.
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Ah…MBs. Impressive. Can they beg in other languages? Cat? Bird? Armadillo?
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I think they can but have never heard them speak in tongues. 😊
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Well…. you need a tongue to speak, even if you’re a doggy. 🤔🧐
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Yes, indeed.
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I hope the prep work did the trick. You had two great helpers, too. Our world up here is encased in ice. No melting today, either.
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It seemed to do the trick. We have to unwrap the plants later to see for sure. 😁
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Fingers crossed.
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😊
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Super cute at always, John!
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Thank you, Betsy.
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Their life’s philosophy is evolved. As long as boss is in charge…Boss has a big responsibility.
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Boss is underpaid for such responsibility. 😁
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I didn’t know that about the tap freezing, John. I have stored that titbit in my memory bank. A great post as always.
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I don’t know when you will need it, Robbie.
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You never know in life when knowledge will come in useful.
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So true.
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Nice
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Thanks
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