Thanks for giving us some fine reading redsnow!

I have had my 2 shots and most everyone I know has also.

I agree, we've had a good discussion. A lot has changed in the last 18 months. Early in this thread there was talk about weather or not we'd ever get back to normal, and if there would ever be a vaccine and all. So many unknowns and not any answers.

One thing that I will mention: No matter how you feel about President Trump, Operation Warp Speed is in the history books! That was one very big accomplishment.

Here at work, I don't remember when we put up that plexi-glass sneeze guard thing? About two months I asked, Kim, Barb and Brenda if they wanted it removed. They all said: No, not yet. Tuesday of this week, they took it down. We can see people again, face-to-face, that's nice. And hear them better too.

Honestly, most of my customers never did wear a face mask, during this mess. Barb, Kim and I never did here at work. I wore a face mask twice, the one time I got my haircut, Deeanna made me wear one. And the other time when I got vaccinated. Both times I had the mask off and crumpled up in a wad before I got 3 steps from the door.

Things here are pretty much back to normal. Next week is "Poultry Week". I live in the "Poultry Capital of West Virginia". The parade is next Thursday, last year it was cancelled.

If the parade is like in years past, there will be 20 or 30 pieces of fire equipment/trucks from this area and MD and VA. I forget what they call it, but they can blast their sirens and all. Blow your ears off. Just a guess, there will be somewhere between 3 and 5,000 folks lined up on both sides of Mainstreet.

This is a small town parade, I'll try to describe it. The parade is started with a blast on our local fire alarm, on a calm day you can hear that thing from 20 miles. Up front in the parade will be the Moorefield High marching band, with the baton girls at the front of the pack.

Above I posted a picture of Holly, wearing her band uniform, our school colors are Blue and Gold. Our kids will look sharpe coming down mainstreet.

Not sure about this year? We should have the marching bands from: East Hardy, Hampshire High, Petersburg High, Franklin High, Keyser High, Elk Garden High, and maybe another band or 2 ?

Those are all rival teams.

Plus all of the banks and car dealerships, and local businesses, ball teams, politicians and all. All going through the parade, this will be a busy little town next week.

Just found out that we're also having the Poultry Pagent this year. So whoever the pretty young lady is, that's Crowned "Poultry Queen", I'm sure she'll ride down Mainstreet, sitting on top of a new Corvette or Camaro waving at everyone. Just a small town parade, but it's good seeing folks get back together.

Yes it is back to normal here also! I still work in the construction trade as a mason,finding help of any kind is hard to do. It is also hard to find materials for jobs. Maybe if they stop giving free money away people will go back to work.

I'm glad to see folks get back to normal.

Talking about our workforce, yesterday was my Miller Light truck driver's last day for me. He told me a couple weeks ago that he was going to put in his 2-week notice. He's got a job lined up with some other outfit, said he's gonna make a little more on the hour, plus they're going to give him a $500 bonus. He's going to finish out this week, and start at the new place Monday.

We shook hands, I thanked him, told him that he'd done a good job for me and wished him the best.

If a man would be looking for a job, it should be easy to find one.

The Poultry Parade was yesterday. Not sure who, but someone posted it live online. Sister Barb watched it, while she was here at "work". I didn't see any of it, other stuff to do.

Above we've been bs'n about my store, and I told you about the power outtage and all. It wouldn't be proper if it didn't mention the most recent actions.

I was told that the fire department was going to do hamburgers and hot dogs at the town park during Poultry Week. The parade starts at one end of town and ends at the town park. They have a building with stoves, grills, freezers and all.

So, I asked a friend to stop by and get us 4 or 5 burgers and fries, and we'd have supper together. If she'd pick them up, I'd buy. Then found out that they were not cooking.

Long story short, we were here in the kitchen fixing supper and KA-WHAM! The store alarm went off instantly, it's pretty loud.

I grabbed a light and my other hardware and circled the store. A lady had crashed her car into the store's block wall. I checked everything out and turned off the alarm. The lady said she thought the car was in drive (while it was in reverse) and thought she was on the brake. I guess she floored it.

The woman has only had her driver's license for a year or so.

Longer story short, that Chevy Cobalt knocked a hole big enough to craw through the wall. Knocked about 50 cases of beer all over the place. One big mess! I spent most of yesterday morning on the phone.

Messed up the door frame, looks like we'll need to replace 50 blocks. We've got it jacked up, sitting on collums, all taped off and all. It's a mess.

The new blocks, mortar and all should be here any time now, I've got a man lined up to get it fixed Monday.

Always something!

Glad no one was hurt.

Yes, it could have been a lot worse. You take a new driver, after dark in a car that she really doesn't know.

This is my best guess as to what happened. She probably had her left hand on the wheel, and when she realized she was going backwards FAST, when she looked back, naturally cut the wheels hard right. Wham! I'll bet it was over and done in five seconds or less.

She was shook up pretty bad, but she's fine.

If that 1,000 pounds or so of beer hadn't have been stacked against that wall, she would have been inside, and hit my stack of Pepsi and Mountain Dew. That would have been bad news!

There's about 200 cases of 15-pack cans in that stack. That would have stopped that little car.

But to look at her car and look at the damage to my block wall, you'd think: Ain't no way. The car has a dent in the trunk lit, scuffs on the bumper, quarter pannel is popped out a little bit and that's about it. Didn't break the taillights or anything.

That's a 2-story block wall, and it's cracked up to the 2nd floor. It's all gotta come out, we're looking at a 10 foot section or so. The door frame is busted, it's gotta come out.

But, I've got a man lined up to do the block work, I've met him before, they say he's the best concrete and block man in the area. I've poured concrete and tinkered around with bricks and blocks and rocks, but I'm no mason. That would be a good skill to know.

Talking about materials. I called the cinder block place again Friday, talked to the same lady. My blocks and stuff were supposed to be here Thursday evening or Friday morning, so they are to be delivered tomorrow morning, now. You can't depend on them.

The block place is only 15 miles from here, and they're going to charge me $125 delivery fee. I've got a man with a trailer, I can depend on Dave, he'll pick them up. I'd rather pay Dave than the block place anyway.

In a little bit I'm going to make some phone calls and hopefully we can get the wall fixed tomorrow.

Good luck with the block repair! If it was mine i would hand it into ins. That what you have it for.

Yup, and don't forget to get 'her' insurance involved. If she has none, then take it to court. Small claims should do it. And make her pay for court costs too! You should not have to pay anything for your shop repair!

Frank.