Sunday, 7/14/2024, addendum: I published this article yesterday at 5:54 PM. Eight minutes later, at 6:02 PM, former President Donald Trump took the stage at a fairground in Butler, Pennsylvania. A few minutes afterward, while Trump was speaking to the large crowd, an assassin's bullet grazed Trump's right ear. The following is one of several sources: “A few short minutes after Trump took the stage, shots rang out,” AP News, by Evan Vucci and Julie Carr Smyth, 7/14/2024. How quickly life can change in just over eight minutes! Former President Trump came within millimeters of being assassinated. One attendee died. Two others were critically injured.
Introduction
Almost daily, local television news stations are reporting bear sightings in nearby Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. For example, five days ago, “TWRA and Gatlinburg taking action after incidents involving bears approaching hotel guests,” WBIR-TV, by Staff, 7/8/2024, reported bears that, apparently, wanted to check into a hotel.
I have wondered if Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I would see a bear in our neck of the woods in Corryton, Tennessee. Well, last Tuesday was the day! This breaking news story reports our bear sighting four days ago in a neighbor's backyard! I know. Four-day-old news is not “breaking.” I am merely “poking the bear,” by making fun of the news media and their constant “breaking news” hype, which I heard a day or so before.
Bear Sighting in a Neighbor's Backyard!
On Tuesday morning, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I had been in our backyard. I cleared some small brush and tried, unsuccessfully, to get my old push mower to start. Afterward, my wife went to visit her father and sister, who live nearby. I continued painting the metal door between the utility room and garage, a job that I started the day before.
Late that afternoon, I finished showering when my wife returned home. Having dressed, I happened to look out the glass-pane door that leads to our deck. I saw a small black bear under a shade tree in a neighbor's backyard! Stepping onto the deck with my cell phone camera, I photographed the bear at 4:48 PM, on Tuesday, 7/9/2024. The view looks southwest.
Thankfully, Molly, our ol' puppy, wasn't in the backyard. I wonder what she would have done. I watched the bear for a while. Eventually, believe it or not, the bear ambled toward the nearby creek and ridge, which are farther south of us, and out of sight.
Conclusion
This brief article is the 114th entry in the humor topic section. Is that a real bear in the photograph? You, dear reader, are the judge. Please share your opinion in the comments! The first person, who answers correctly, will receive my positive reply and comment.
Why didn't I break this news last Tuesday? It took me until Thursday, July 11, to finish painting the door between the utility room and garage. Yesterday, my wife and I hauled off trash and the recycling, and we bought stuff at the nearby Dollar General Store and IGA. This morning, I got the push mower to start, and I mowed the taller green grass just behind and to the sides of the house. We need rain! The grass is more brown than green, except where I mowed. These and other domestic priorities had to come first.
By the way, we moved into our newly constructed house on 6/7/2003. Before moving in, with occasional help from Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, her sister, and two younger brothers, I sanded, caulked, puttied, and painted all the walls, base trim, and doors. Back then, I worked a second-shift job as a computer operator and help desk agent. I worked on our house and then went to work. Saturdays were spent working on the house.
Our house has 23 doors. I painted them all in 2003. Back then, the metal door from the utility room to the garage got only one coat of paint. It needed at least two more. After 21 years, I thought that it was about time to put the other two coats of paint on that door!
Up next is scraping and repainting the two rocking chairs and the glider swing that are on the front porch. Also, a corner of the deck railing needs extra braces. (Last year, strong wind weakened the original braces.) In 2003, two brothers and I put the first coat of paint on the inside garage walls. The walls have needed a second coat for 21 years. Who wants to volunteer to help with these domestic projects?
Posts
2 comments:
Funny post! It's a wooden, fake bear. A real bear would be wider. I have my own honey-do projects, so I can't help you with yours. I'm glad that Trump was only winged! The timing was amazing.
Thanks, Anonymous! You guessed correctly! The front porch rocking chairs and the glider swing are painted and done, as of today. My wife helped a little on the glider swing. I'll start the chores for the deck area next. Good luck on your projects! Yes, Trump was fortunate.
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