Winter Snows Play Havoc on My Deck Furniture

Word of the Day

Lubricakes - The cookies, cakes and brownies one brings in to butter up their boss.

With only three more days to get everything ready for our departure from The Lake, I'm starting to panic a bit. I've already looked at the suitcases several times today and each time I tell myself that I'm going to hold off on them until tomorrow. I'm doing laundry tomorrow. There's no point in packing until I can pack both my suitcases. I'll need to sort out the stuff that goes into the suitcase that I'll be bringing into the hotel each night from the stuff that doesn't need to be accessed until we're back in Arizona. Once I have all the laundry done, I can make that decision. I'm told that temperatures in Arizona are still around 100°F.

The sun is finally shining. I took down all my wind chimes and have them all stored away for next year. I washed off the deck. It looks so barren now that all the plants are gone. I took the broken rocker blades off my deck rockers. Three of the rockers blades broke or are close to breaking. There's only one that looks fine. That's the one that my Dad made. My Mom told me to bring the broken or breaking rocker blades over to their place so Dad can work on them this winter. I haven't been able to find any place where I can buy replacement parts for my rocking chairs.

Murphyism of the Day

Second Law of the Workshop

You can always find three nuts to fit the four screws you need.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Love is not blind - it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less.

- Rabbi Julius Gordon

A Dreary Morning Look at The Lake

Word of the Day

Lovedom - The realm of love, the totality of loving emotions and attitudes.

It's starting to get rather difficult to get up in the mornings. I've normally been getting up at around 6 AM. There's really no need to get up that early but it's become a habit. However, even though I wake up that early, it's not easy getting out of bed when it's still dark outside. So, I've been listening to talk radio until the sun comes up. However, this morning, I had to call the plumber and if you don't call him at 7 AM, you might as well forget calling him at all. He doesn't answer the phone. I got up at 6 AM, pushed a reluctant dog out into the rain (yes, it's raining again), and then had to actually walk outside in the rain because Gypsy didn't think it was fair that she had to go outside if I wasn't going to come out and get wet with her....in the dark, with the floodlights on. Oh well....I called the plumber at 7 AM and arranged to have our water shut off for the winter and all the pipes drained so we won't have any problems with burst pipes this winter. We do keep the furnace running (minimally) but there's always the chance that for some odd reason or other the propane tank runs dry or the furnace stops running or any number of things that would guarantee frozen and burst pipes and broken bathroom fixtures, and the list goes on and on, if we didn't make sure that anything that requires plumbing in the house is "winterized". Thus, since HTP and I don't have the necessary expertise or tools, a plumber has to come out and take care of this task for us. He told me that he (or his son who normally works with him when said son is not recovering from a major head injury) would come out some time before the snow gets too deep to drive down our 1/2 mile long dirt driveway. Probably before the end of November? I just wanted to make sure that there would still be water if #1 Son or MC Daughter and D Buddy should stop by before the end of November or if Sis' husband needs to use the place during hunting season. I also arranged to have them un-winterize everything in the Spring.

I'm making a dent in my To Do List. It's too bad that most of the stuff on that list has to wait until the very morning that we leave. However, if it's on the list, it'll get done. Oh....Sis? I just had a thought. How does Frankenberry Wine sound? Can you imagine the label? LOL.

Murphyism of the Day

Bowersox's Law of the Workshop

If you have only one nail, it will bend.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.

- Michel de Montaigne (1533 - 1592)

Gypsy - A Watchful Guardian of Her Domain

Word of the Day

Lovedicing - Gambling on the assumption that one can lead another person on for an extended period of time without developing deepening feelings for said person.

HTP surprised me. He spent a great deal of time yesterday morning and afternoon out in the garage. I thought he was fixing the tail-light on the boat-trailer but he was cleaning and clearing out a place to put my Earthboxes. He didn't think my idea of leaving them out on the deck was a good idea. Actually, I'd already come to this conclusion. Sis and I had discussed the issue (while HTP was out in the garage cleaning and clearing) and had decided that it would be fine to wheel them into my kitchen. This is what we do with our gas grill just before we leave in the fall. However, since HTP was willing, he took all six Earthboxes that I'd already prepped for winter storage, out to the garage and stored them for me. Yeah, HTP!!!!! Earthboxes are darn heavy when they are filled with dirt and moisture. After I removed all the vegetation and gleaned the produce, I'd dumped out whatever water still remained in the reservoirs but the dirt still retains water. HTP had to use the dolly to transfer the Earthboxes one by one into the garage. Job well done and another item is checked off my To Do List. Now, all I have to do is figure out what to do with all this produce. And...I have to wash off the patio. Now that I have all the plants and planters off the deck, there is a goodly amount of debris remaining. We took in most of the hoses yesterday but I still have the one for out on the deck. I'll remove that one after I clean off the deck and planter areas. Today? We'll have to see if things clear off some. It's kind of dreary out right now. I suppose I should take the windchimes down too. *sigh* Nothing highlights that we'll be having to leave here for the winter more than taking the windchimes down each fall.

Hopefully, we'll get some sun breaks this week so I can finish up my outdoor work and take some last hikes with Gypsy. It won't be long and she'll need to get used to walking on leash again. I'll start (re-start and review) dog-training again after we get back to Arizona.

Murphyism of the Day

Byrn's Law of Concreting

When you pour, it rains.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Acceptance is such an important commodity, some have called it "the first law of personal growth."

- Peter McWilliams

Fall 2006 - Looks Exactly Like Fall 2008

Word of the Day

Lostivity - State of being lost.

We had quite the thunder-boomer last night. Although this storm was predicted by the weather-beings, I didn't see any indication of it on the radar or when I took Gypsy outside for our nightly walk....which was delayed due to the first Debate.

The Debate. Must see viewing. Unfortunately, I didn't see anything earth-shatteringly different than what I've been seeing and hearing from either candidate on their various stump speeches. Talking points. Lots of talking points. I figure that by the end of the debate last night, an Obama fan will continue to be an Obama fan and a McCain fan will continue to be a McCain fan. It was obvious that Obama's handlers stressed that Obama should bring up the name Bush as much as he could in connection to McCain. I lost track of how times he dragged Bush's name into his answers. On the other hand, it was also obvious that someone coached McCain about being likable and the importance of smiling. Geez! Tone down that smile McCain. The one thing that bothered me the most about Bush was his goofy smile. Nope. Nothing about this debate changed my mind.

Anyway, as I was starting to say when my mind was diverted to another subject and a second paragraph, we got some rain last night. I checked the gauge. My first thought, as I made coffee this morning, was that I wouldn't have to go out and bilge the boat. The boat is in the garage. My second thought?...aside from questioning why it takes so long to brew a pot of coffee?....was that I probably won't be able to work on the Earthbox gardens today. It's too wet outside. But...I really should work on the Earthbox gardens. I think it'll dry off later this afternoon. I can't delay everything until next week. There's just too many things that need doing before HTP and I head back to Arizona. My ticker at the top of the blog makes one think that we've got all the time in the world but if one examines it closely, that ticker counts down the time that HTP and I have left before we're actually driving into our driveway in Arizona...not before we have to drive out of our driveway and lock the gate, here at The Lake. We're leaving in 6 days! SIX!!!!! My To Do List is growing instead of shrinking! I need to get the Earthboxes ready for storage. I need to cook, can, or freeze whatever I glean from the Earthboxes and out in the kennel garden. I need to go out and buy a new hair-dryer since I blew up my old one when Sis and I were sealing the wine bottles and I need to wash my hair but can't until I get a new hair-dryer. Gypsy needs a bath. I refuse to spend four days in the tight confounds of a car with a stinky dog. I really should get those suitcases out of the closet and start packing the stuff that I won't need until HTP and I get home. SIX DAYS?!!!!!

Murphyism of the Day

Wyszkowski's Theorem

Regardless of the units used by either the supplier or the customer, the manufacturer shall use their own arbitrary units convertible to those of either the supplier or the customer only by means of weird and unnatural conversion factors.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read.

- Frank Zappa (1940 - 1993)

Sealing the Bottles (Sis)


Designing and Printing Labels (HTP)


More Sealing of Bottles (Me)


More Sealing of Bottles and Labeling (Sis and Sis' Hubby)


Bottling Our Vintage 2008 Wine (Me...Bottling Dandelion Wine)


Word of the Day

Losery - 1. Having the characteristics of a loser. 2. Decidedly not a winner. 3. Deserving of merciless ridicule.

Sis and I started another batch of wine at her place. We decided to combine all the varied berries that we had in our combined freezers. In the end, we had a combination of blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and gooseberries. Sis' husband told us we should name the new brew, Mulligan Berry Wine. Since most of the berries that are in this brew are wild berries from the surrounds here at The Lake, I think we'll end up calling this new wine, Wild Mulligan Berry Wine. Sounds exotic. There will be at least 5 gallons of wine by this time next spring. We decided that Sis will wait until I get back here to bottle this fine new wine.

I'm doing last of the season things. Sis gave me some of her Kefir grains to take back to Arizona with me. Kefir is a sour dough type thing that you add to milk to make a healthy buttermilk tasting beverage. I love buttermilk and so does HTP. It's supposed to be lots healthier than any of the live culture yogurts that you can buy in the store...and the grains keep multiplying so you can keep making more and more buttermilk-type beverage as you go. It can be used in cooking and in salad dressings. You're not allowed to sell the grains. You're supposed to gift them to people. Since I've been told that Kefir is supposed to nullify the effects of lactose intolerance for people who have milk allergies, I'm thinking I may gift some of my first growing grains to one of my friends who has a milk allergy.

Sis also gave me some venison to take back to Arizona with us. Since I cleaned out my freezer when #1 Son was here, I found space to put it until our actual departure. I should be able to keep things frozen in our new ice chest as we travel cross-country....at least it worked out OK last year.

I'm going to hold off putting my Earthboxes to bed until next week. My Dad gave me some plastic sheeting that I can cover them with out on the deck to keep them dry during the winter. I don't want to have to carry them into the garage for storage. I'm hoping that they'll be fine stored out on the deck...as long as I cover them.

We're leaving in a week! It's a good thing I've got my lists or I'd be going nuts about now. I'm holding off on the suitcases until Monday....and I haven't taped up any of the boxes yet.

Murphyism of the Day

Hoffstedt's Employment Principle

Confusion creates jobs.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Pay no attention to what the critics say... Remember, a statue has never been set up in honor of a critic!

- Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957)

Sis and Me With Our Vintage 2007 Wines - Our Vintage 2008 Wines didn't all fit on one table...Sis has the pictures.

Word of the Day

Loseronic - Describing a complete and utter loser.

#1 Son returned to The Big City after breakfast. I loaded up a cooler with things from the freezer and fridge. We won't see him now until next summer.

Today was wine-making day. After I sterilized the bottles, I went to pick Sis up at her place. Today was spent bottling all the wine that we've been brewing all summer. LOTS of wine. When all was said and done, we ended up with 152 bottles of wine. Exhaustion. Sis' husband stopped over to see us after he got home from work and Sis drafted him to help out or we'd still be at it. HTP made our labels. Sis' husband stuck labels on bottles. I managed to burn out my hair-dryer (used to put the special shrink wrap over the necks of the bottles) so Sis and I had to go over and retrieve her hair-dryer. We packed up Sis' portion of the wine and by this time it was well past 7 PM. I packed half of my portion of the wine to go back to Arizona. I took the rest of the wine down to my "wine cellar" to store here until next summer. Sis and I made LOTS of wine this summer. We think we might have ended up making twice as much wine as last year. It's a good thing that I've been saving all those used wine bottles over the years. We ended up using most of my stash. In the end, we had 30 bottles of Dandelion Wine, a mere 10 bottles of Currant Wine, 19 bottles of Strawberry Wine, 21 bottles of Rhubarb/Strawberry Wine, 50 bottles of Rhubarb Wine, and 27 bottles of Prickly Gooseberry Wine. Bottles of wine all over the kitchen. 92 (375ml) bottles and 60 (750ml) bottles. I guess I'll have to start collecting more wine bottles for next summer.

So what's on tap for tomorrow? Sis and I plan to start a batch of Blackberry Wine. She's going to have to take on this project over the winter months. Me? I plan to start some more Pomegranate Wine and maybe some Prickly Pear Wine when I get back to Arizona. I wonder if I'll have any tangelos on my tree so I can make Tancello?

Murphyism of the Day

Fourth Law of Applied Confusion

In any structure, pick out the one piece that should not be mismarked and expect the plant to cross you up.

Corollaries

1. In any group of pieces with the same erection mark on it, one should not have that mark on it.

2. It will not be discovered until you try to put it where the mark says it's supposed to go.

3. Never argue with the fabricating plant about an error. The inspection prints are all checked off, even to the holes that aren't there.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

We inherit from our ancestors gifts so often taken for granted... Each of us contains within... this inheritance of soul. We are links between the ages, containing past and present expectations, sacred memories and future promise.

- Edward Sellner

The Sky is That Blue Today. Fall at The Lake.

Word of the Day

Lonolik - To truly love someone as a friend and yet not actually like the person in a romantic way.

Today is the day that we're going to pull the dock boards off the dock and dry dock the boat. We tried to do some last of the season fishing with #1 Son last night but I've decided that it will always rain or be really windy when we finally get a chance to go out in the boat. We caught some fish but..... Oh well, we'll have fish for supper tonight. There won't be any more fishing this year but at least we'll get a meal out of the ones we did catch.

Actually, #1 Son will be heading back to The Big City tomorrow morning. He's got an interview scheduled for Thursday afternoon. We're keeping our fingers crossed and prayers going up that he'll be soon gainfully employed doing that which he spent four years studying. In the meantime, I'll have to sort out the fridge tonight to earmark the foods that I want to send with #1 Son when he leaves.

It's a good thing that I'm wearing my beater jeans today. I've already managed to get them dirty when I pulled out the fish basket and the crayfish traps. Lots of lake gunk. I smell a bit fishy right now. Next job? Pulling the dock boards off.

Murphyism of the Day

Third Law of Applied Confusion

After adding two weeks to the schedule for unexpected delays, add two more for the unexpected, unexpected delays.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

You risk tears if you let yourself be tamed.

- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900 - 1944)

#1 Son, D Buddy and HTP Working on the Dock....They were putting the dock IN. Putting the dock in is a lot easier than taking it OUT.

Word of the Day

Loft queen - A regal, mature woman of the city.

I went to bed early last night and slept soundly. I'm sure we could have been hit by an earthquake and I wouldn't have noticed. Actually, I would have remained in bed, trying for a few more winks of sleep this morning but Gypsy reminded me that she had needs too. I feel bad that when we return to our Arizona home, Gypsy won't have any place to let loose and run....just for the joy of running. Full-tilt running, off-leash, ears flying. It's a joy to see how much she loves it here at The Lake. Dog Park? We'll have to see if that's an option. She's a small dog and I'm not sure how she'd fare with other dogs...BIG dogs. I imagine I'll get that same panicky feeling that I got when I took my children to pre-school for the first time.

Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning? I'm getting the idea that this week is going to toss some speed bumps into our plans to pull the dock and the boat. We still need to do these things but our task will be complicated by weather issues. Unfortunately, it looks like we're going to be doing these things while it's really windy and while dancing in the rain. *sigh* The plan is to pull the dock boards off and prep the dock for pulling....tomorrow. After that, we plan pull the boat out and take it in to have it winterized. Sometime on Thursday, we've got someone (a crew of three of four) who are coming out to do the heavy lifting part of pulling our dock onto dry land. I suppose, with #1 Son here (when he gets here), he could help muscle the dock onto dry land but for $20...I'd rather farm that task out to someone else. I can handle the dock boards. I can even handle pulling the dock out until the wheels reach the rocks that line the shore. That last bit, pulling the dock over the rocks and up onto the shore? That's the back breaker. HTP and I did it all by ourselves last year. We did it with #1 Son the year before that. This year? I'd charge a lot more than $20 to pull that dock onto dry land but don't tell the crew that's coming that I said so.

In the meantime, it's Laundry Day. Aside from today, I will have one more Laundry Day before we hit the road. The first Laundry Day in October will be my last Laundry Day here at The Lake...until next year.

Murphyism of the Day

Second Law of Applied Confusion

Truck deliveries that normally take one day will take five when you are waiting for the truck.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Never continue in a job you don't enjoy. If you're happy in what you're doing, you'll like yourself, you'll have inner peace. And if you have that, along with physical health, you will have had more success than you could possibly have imagined.

- Johnny Carson (1925 - 2005)

Time to Store the Dock and Boat Away for Winter

Word of the Day

Loanation - Monies loaned, typically to a close relative, without the expectation of renumeration.

Exhaustion! My legs got the squirmies last night. I've heard this squirmy leg feeling called Restless Leg Syndrome. I get it once and a while. It's not a condition that allows one to get much sleep. Me? I did all my usual things that I do in order to get to sleep but despite all my efforts, I ended up listening to talk radio all night. Actually, Coast to Coast was pretty interesting last night. I was mentally doing an inventory of all my emergency supplies that I was told that we'd be needing and starting a mental list of all the things that I don't already have for the coming six months of doom which the guest was predicting from his computer program that he uses to scan all the Internet chatter from around the world. Total collapse of the dollar. No electricity. No gas. Floods. Food shortages. Earthquakes. Volcanoes. Terrorist attacks. Good thing I've got a backup generator. However, when he started predicting, during the third hour of the show, an alien invasion and people disappearing out of thin air, I decided to switch the channel to Fox News. Ch. 121 on XM....and then I switched to Quinn and Rose at around 5 AM. But by 7 AM, I finally concluded that I wasn't going to get any sleep, besides, I could hear Gypsy starting to stir. Actually, I concluded that I wasn't going to get any sleep at around 3 AM but I figured getting up at 3 AM might disturb HTP a bit. Anyway, I'm up. My morning perambulations with Gypsy didn't stop the squirmy feeling in my legs but you don't notice that squirmy feeling as much during the day when you're running around. It's still there but if I keep busy I won't notice it much. However, after an entire night with absolutely no sleep, I'm exhausted. Unfortunately, I know from experience that should I decide to lie down and try to take a short nap, I'd end up just like last night, lying in bed with squirmy legs keeping me awake. I think my squirmy legs may be caused by allergies but the Benedryl I took last night only took away some of the pressure in my sinuses and some of the pain which comes along with the squirmy legs. The squirmy feeling remained.....remains. Hopefully, the feeling will go away by tonight so I can get some sleep. I've got a lot of things that need doing this week. Thankfully, #1 Son will be coming later in the week to help with pulling the dock and boat.

Murphyism of the Day

First Law of Applied Confusion

The one piece that the plant forgot to ship is the one that supports 75 percent of the balance of the shipment.

Corollary

Not only did the plant forget to ship it, 50 percent of the time, they haven't even made it.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you.

- Wayne Dyer

Ms. En Got to Check Out Grandma's Wheelchair this Summer While She Was in The Big City - 2008

Word of the Day

Liquordized - To be drunk on alcohol.

Somehow, with everything else that was going on, blogging slipped my mind. HTP and I met up with Dad and my sister and her husband at the Open Book Meeting (held at the Town Hall)where everyone got to argue with the property assessor. I'm glad we got there early because there were LOTS of people on that sign up list who wanted to argue with the assessor...besides us. The meeting was only supposed to last from 9 AM to 11 AM but from the looks of things, I'm thinking that things didn't wrap up until closer to dinner time. Anyway, HTP and I were able to get something fixed on my brother's assessment. I think they're going to alter a designation on part of our assessment which should lower things a bit but...all this may be for naught. I'm told that the local school in our town has a school referendum pending which means that no matter what the mill rate is....we'll still be paying more property taxes this year. *groan*

So....HTP and I decided to go fishing. Unfortunately, the wind was pretty brisk. I wish I'd worn a winter jacket. Brrrrr!!!!!! Despite the cold and the wind, we did catch some fish which I cleaned up and froze to take back to Arizona with us. Hopefully, we can go out fishing again next week before we have to pull the dock and the boat.

Today? HTP and I (and Gypsy) are driving into The Big City to have lunch with HTP's folks and his sister and brother and their families. #1 Son plans to be there too. This will be the last time that we'll be able to connect with everyone before our return to Arizona. However, I'm hoping that #1 Son will still be able to make it up to The Lake before we leave. We're taking Gypsy to The Big City with us today? It's been so nice that I don't see any reason not to take Gypsy with us. Of course, she'll have to stay in the car while we're having lunch but with the cooler/cold temperatures, she'll be just fine in the car with the windows cracked open.

Murphyism of the Day

The Einstein Extension of Parkinson's Law

A work project expands to fill the space available.

Corollary

No matter how large the workspace, if two projects must be done at the same time they will require the use of the same part of the workspace.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

You are going to let the fear of poverty govern your life and your reward will be that you will eat, but you will not live.

- George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

Hauling Dock Boards

Word of the Day

Linner - A meal eaten late in the day, but early in the evening as a combination of lunch and dinner.

I have over two weeks left here at The Lake. Instead of enjoying these last two weeks+, what do I find myself doing? I'm getting things ready for our return trip to Arizona. I haven't dragged the suitcases out of the closet as yet but I've got my lists and I'm checking them on a daily basis. I'm getting all the canned goods that I plan to take back to Arizona packed and ready. I've already got my garden beds put to bed for the winter...NOT. However, I have preformed this task several times as I've laid there in bed at night, trying to sleep. HTP would tell you that half my mind is already dedicated to our return to Arizona and that mentally, I'm halfway there.

Quite frankly, I'd rather be out fishing. Unfortunately, the last two days have been too windy to go out in the boat and...I'm too lazy to go out and dig for worms. Oh well.... Hopefully, HTP and I can get out in the boat at least one more time before we have to pull it out for storage. We're going to be taking the boat and dock out next week. *sigh* HTP and I found someone who is willing to lift the dock out of the water (the most difficult part of the process) if HTP and I take off all the dock boards. Dock boards, I can handle. Trailering the boat? Not so much...but...on a good day (no wind), we can do it. Sometimes I sound like The Little Engine That Could.

And then, Sis and I have to get the wine bottled. That's on for next week. And then I'll haul the suitcases out of the closet and listen to HTP grumble that there's no way that all the stuff I want to take back to Arizona will fit into the Gator and how nice it would be if we could just pack a couple of suitcases and fly back and forth each year. If it weren't for all my stuff and the dog......

Murphyism of the Day

Parkinson's Second Law

Expenditures rise to meet income.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astounding accuracy.

- Florence Shinn

A View From the Dock at The Lake

Word of the Day

Linkrot - When a link on a webpage becomes extinct.

Ummmmm......I cleaned out the freezer and put the blue ice in the freezer so we can use it on our way back to Arizona? Needless to say, not much has been going on today. HTP and I talked to my Dad when he stopped by to return some of my plastic containers. HTP and I were curious as to the cost of round trip flights to and from Arizona (and Las Vegas). We also discussed property values which...irregardless of market values right now (which are tanking) seem to have gone up more than 60%. What's with that?! Everyone around here is REALLY upset. There's a meeting in town on Saturday. HTP and I are going, so are my folks. I think Sis and her husband are planning on attending the meeting. Actually, I think the whole town will be there with pitchforks, tar and feathers, and maybe a noose and shotguns. When the new value of your home is twice as much as what you can sell it for? WTF?! Someone needs to rethink things a bit. I'm all for being "neighborly"...as Obama puts it when he was talking about taxes the other day with Bill O'Reilly...but people are going to have to sell their homes (not getting the value assigned by the assessor...no where close...), because they can't afford to pay the taxes. How to kill a small town in one fell swoop. This is not a seller's market.

Murphyism of the Day

Parkinson's First Law

Work expands to fill the time available for its completion; the thing to be done swells in perceived importance and complexity in a direct ratio with the time to be spent in its completion.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told, 'I'm with you kid. Let's go.'

- Maya Angelou

Word of the Day

Lingoist - A specialist in the area of lingo terms. Often, these individuals lose touch with society purely because they refer to ordinary things using shortened phrases and acronyms.

Gypsy just can't seem to connect the dots. She just can't figure out the connection between her episode of "sicker than a dog" ness with the toads that she seems to find endlessly fascinating. *sigh* We're only going to be here for another couple of weeks. In the meantime, I'm going to have to be diligent. Last night I ended up playing a game of Toad Toss. Every time that Gypsy would spot a toad on our driveway, I'd toss the dang thing into the woods...thus thwarting Gypsy's attempts at trying to poison herself for the second time in less than 24 hours. *sigh* Flying Toads.

Since The Diet Gestapo has returned, I've lost five pounds! To celebrate, HTP and I went out to eat at Applebee's. *sigh*

Murphyism of the Day

Dehay's Axiom

Simple jobs always get put off because there will be time to do them later.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

The human heart is a strange vessel. Love and hatred can exist side by side.

- Scott Westerfeld

Word of the Day

Lickaspatch - The act of licking the spatula after baking.

Toadily sick. Sick as a dog...which, of course, makes sense since Gypsy is a dog. Gypsy went and found herself a big old toad to play with this afternoon. While I was out picking beans in the garden, Gypsy discovered a toad under one of the blueberry bushes on Blueberry Hill. By the time I figured out what she was playing with it was too late. No, she didn't kill the toad nor did she do much more than bother it a bit but we all know that toads have a rather nasty self-defense mechanism. Poor baby. Gypsy...not the toad. Poor me. I'd hoped that I'd managed to get to Gypsy before Gypsy had gotten to the toad but.... Oh, well.... Not five minutes back inside the house and Gypsy barfed up the entire contents of her stomach and then some. Dog vomit EVERYWHERE! Yuck! I finally grabbed her and took her outside where she could continue her barfing where I wouldn't have to wipe it up. I've got all her bedding in the washing machine, along with my shirt and jeans and some additional towels that were needed for clean up. I threw away the paper towels. She seems to be doing a lot better now...exhausted...but better. I don't think she actually ingested too much of the poison or she'd be a lot sicker. She probably just licked the thing. When I caught her she was just growling and pawing at the toad. Yes, I washed her paws to be on the safe side. Huge toad! I hope this has taught her a lesson. I have my doubts. Gypsy is a sweet and wonderful dog and I love her dearly but....she's not the sharpest crayon in the box.

Murphyism of the Day

Grossman's Lemma

Any task worth doing was worth doing yesterday.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Sound character provides the power with which a person may ride the emergencies of life instead of being overwhelmed by them. Failure is... the highway to success.

- Og Mandino (1923 - 1996)

A View From Our Dock

Word of the Day

Libits - Any piece of bread from the front or back of a loaf that no one wishes to eat.

I hear that Hurricane Ike...or the remnants of what was Hurricane Ike...caused hurricane force winds to blow near where MC Daughter and D Buddy are living on the border of Kentucky. I haven't heard from them since then but I trust that they remain unaffected by the storm.

The skies here have finally cleared. I'm told that the remainder of the week should be nice. I'm not seeing any indication that there will be any frost warning in the near future. My gardens are still producing...slowly. It's been too wet to go out and check on the kennel garden. I'll have to wait until things dry off a bit.

Gypsy is exhibiting and unusual fascination with toads. She goes into major hunting mode when she goes outside after dark. Tail wagging, nose to the ground, racing to check out anything that remotely might resemble a toad. When she actually stumbles across one, she suffers from a major case of tunnel vision....forget about the reason that we went outside in the first place. TOAD!!!! I'm having to walk her on leash at night when the toads are sitting/hunting out on our driveway. Toads are poisonous but there's no reasoning with Gypsy. I suppose if I let her grab one in her mouth, she'd learn. However, I don't want her to get sick. When I was young, we owned a dog who decided to taste a toad. Even though she spat it out immediately she ended up REALLY sick. I thought we were going to lose her. However, she never tried to play with toads after that. I just don't want to risk it. Why she can't exhibit a similar tunnel vision when it comes to squirrels and chipmunks?, I have no idea.

Murphyism of the Day

Hecht's Law

Tere is no time like the present for postponing what you don't want to do.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.

- Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)

Another Overcast Day at The Lake

Word of the Day

Lessless - Without; not having even a lesser amount.

Today is a perfect day for a fire in the fireplace. The high temperature for the day may reach into the 60's....maybe. Actually, yesterday and the day before were also prefect days for a fire in the fireplace but it wasn't until this morning that I finally broke through my laziness and actually hauled in some firewood from the garage and prepped the fireplace so I could build a fire. Done. Fall is arriving. The leaves are just starting to turn. I've got a beautiful fire crackling away in the fireplace. The flames driving away the dreariness of the day and providing a bit of warmth when I refuse to fall back on the furnace. And then Gypsy got suspicious of the flames and decided that they might be something that she needed to bark at. *sigh* Thankfully, I hope I've put an end to that nonsense. I nipped it in the bud. It worked best to distract her with a vigorous bout of fetch. I love having a fire in the fireplace and I'm not going to put up with barking fits any time Gypsy decides to sound off. Hopefully, she'll learn when barking is acceptable and when it's not. We're working on it.

In the news today and yesterday....Hurricane Ike attacked the coastline of Texas. Galveston was hard hit. Houston looks like a war zone. Windows blown out. I've got a friend who lives just up the road a piece from Houston. I'm told that she's doing fine but there is no electricity, there's heavy flooding and people are advised to drink bottled water or boil whatever may come from their taps...if they can indeed get water from the tap...no electricity. Of course, people in Galveston, for the most part, evacuated when they were told to evacuate. However, there are always the few that think they know more than anyone else and decide to risk someone else's life when they find themselves in trouble. I'm thinking that people who place themselves, stupidly, in the path of danger, when there's a mandatory evacuation order in place...these people need to pay all the costs that their rescue entails. Kind of like the stupid motorist laws in Arizona. On the other hand, I'm sure that there were some people who were perfectly prepared for this situation who stayed in Galveston and are probably just fine. No rescue needed. It's those fools that I saw on TV who were partying at one of the local bars before the storm. I saw the same scene (different people, I'm sure) in New Orleans before Katrina. Nothing like a few adult beverages to drive all common sense that one might have out existence. I suppose it's all part of nature. Natural selection. The stupid are weeded out of the gene pool. Too bad they often take a hero with them when they go.

Enough lecturing. I didn't build a nice fire in the fireplace so I could spend my time here in the office...where I can't enjoy the fire.

Murphyism of the Day

Edison's Observation

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

I said to myself, I have things in my head that are not like what anyone has taught me - shapes and ideas so near to me - so natural to my way of being and thinking that it hasn't occurred to me to put them down. I decided to start anew, to strip away what I had been taught.

- Georgia O'Keeffe (1887 - 1986)

Clouds Over The Lake - Today is a drizzly day.

Word of the Day

Leetspeak - A form of written, and sometimes verbal, language used in the realm of savvy computer users, hackers and kiddies. In written language, words are often spelled with a portion of numeric symbols used to represent similarly looking letter counterparts.

As you might have noticed, I added a ticker to the top of my blog. I'm figuring that all the money trailing behind that car is the money that we'll be spending on gas for our trip. A red SUV would have been a better choice since we'll be driving our red Gator but I bet our Gator gets better gas mileage that that muscle car. Me? I'm checking my Packing and To Do Lists and I'll have to start an Inventory List of the things that I'll need here when HTP and I return again next Spring.

Gypsy has way too many toys. I know that I shouldn't keep buying them for her but her eyes light up whenever I bring a new one into the house. She loves them all and I love seeing her delight. Every night I gather up all her toys and put them into her toy basket and every day she sorts through them all and then picks one to play with for the day...maybe a couple. Right now she's playing with her new corduroy frog. Squeakers are a must. I've had to replace several squeakers already. Even HTP gets a kick out of her antics. She fetches, she plays tug-a-war, she even searches her toys out when I've "hidden" them. When she gets tired of running and fetching, she cuddles up with her current favorite.

Murphyism of the Day

Shand's Law

The more efficiently a project is done, the greater the chance it will have to be undone.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Properly, we should read for power. Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one's hand.

- Ezra Pound (1885 - 1972)

Fall Colors at The Lake - 2006 (It feels like Fall but the trees haven't acknowledged...yet.)

Word of the Day

Leet - Elite.

I thought HTP and I couldn't have eggplant but, aside from the carbohydrates, it looks like we can cook up a 1 1/4 pound, unpeeled eggplant for 132 pounds. Guess who's making eggplant tonight? Actually, the eggplant that I picked from my Earthbox weighed about 2 1/4 pounds. I'm thinking of oven-frying it with potato flakes and panko crumbs. I'll add in the calories for my breading, but I'm planning on using cooking spray instead of oil or butter. A salad and some chicken will fill out the meal. Supper tonight. We'll be having our usual sandwich, cottage cheese, and veggies for lunch.

Murphyism of the Day

Harrison's Postulate

For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

People who say you're just as old as you feel are all wrong, fortunately.

- Russell Baker

GI Joe, Ms. En, and DD Daughter - Summer 2008

Word of the Day

Latersohinip - A mixed-up relationship.


Happy


Birthday


GI Joe!


It's GI Joe's birthday today! I hope he has a wonderful day! Though others may memorialize September 11th, as do I, for all those who died due to an unforgivable fanatical and twisted terrorist attack, there are many wonderful things that happened on that day. Heroes were born on that day, finding the strength within to defend, protect and rescue. Babies were born on September 11th and GI Joe celebrates his birthday on September 11th. Happy Birthday GI Joe.

I'm going to have to start reviewing my packing list for our return trip to Arizona. A month from now, I'll be all unpacked, have the fountain running back at our Arizona home, and Gypsy and I will be getting back into our obedience training mode. Out here at The Lake, she's been allowed the freedom of walking and running off leash. No such freedoms are allowed back in Arizona.

I canned seven quarts of tomatoes yesterday. I've got at least that many quarts of tomatoes to can today. One of the nice side benefits of canning tomatoes is tomato water. That's the tomato juice (water) that comes from all the seeds that I removed from the tomatoes before I chopped up the tomatoes for canning. Waste not, want not. I love Bloody Marys made with tomato water...raw tomato juice. Of course, I'm counting every single calorie so I cut back on the vodka but I was still under 1000 calories for the day even though I drank two Bloody Mary's last night. Yummmm!!!!!!

Murphyism of the Day

Ziggy's Law

Do a little more each day than everyone expects and soon everyone will expect more.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming... suddenly you find - at the age of 50, say - that a whole new life has opened before you.

- Agatha Christie (1890 - 1976)

A View From the Dock - 2008

Word of the Day

Later tots - Tater tots that were left in a refrigerator for over a week and have started to turn weird colors.

I bought a bushel of tomatoes last night. One of our local farmers called me and told me yesterday afternoon that she would have a bushel for me by Friday but she called again just as I was frying up my puff balls for supper and told me that she had a bushel of them ready for pick up. She'd prepped them for someone else but that someone else had called to tell her that he didn't want them anymore because he was too busy to can right now. His loss. Actually, they are still pretty green. I spread them out on my counter-top and kitchen table and plan to wait a day or so before canning. I've never bought from this gal before. It looks like she picks when the tomatoes are just blushing a bit and lets them ripen in her barn...which isn't a bad thing because I don't have to rush to can a whole basket of tomatoes before they rot. Actually, I probably could can 1/2 of them today (the ripest) and can the rest tomorrow. I can already see that they're lots riper than when I set them out on the table last night.

Yes, I did fry up my puff balls for supper. I ate half of them with my chicken thigh and salad last night. I reserved the rest of them for tonight's supper. HTP opted not to have any...of course. His loss. They were delicious and aside from the single tablespoon of butter that I fried them up in...calorie free. The Diet Gestapo has returned. I've been keeping a log of every single calorie that passes my lips...and HTP's lips. We're attempting to keep our carbohydrate intake down to 5 servings per day and our calorie intake to ~ 1000 calories per day. I've got my Pampered Chef scale sitting on my countertop and my 1/4 cup and 1 Tablespoon measures are ready and at hand...along with custard cups where I can measure out single servings of jam and salsa.

Murphyism of the Day

Hardin's Law

You can never do just one thing.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at all costs of tedium and distaste. The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labor is immense.

- Arnold Bennett

Giant Puff Balls - 2007

Word of the Day

Lasterday - The day prior to the present day.

I had to can 4 quarts of tomatoes this morning. They were dead ripe. HTP and I couldn't eat them fast enough. With the 4 quarts that I canned previously....that makes a grand total of 8 quarts of tomatoes for the season. Not good. I'm still hopeful that I can buy a bushel of tomatoes from one of the local farmers but...

I went out to pick blackberries but...there aren't any. At least, all the ripe ones are gone. Something has been picking. Looks like I'm lucky to have gotten the few that I already picked. However, I didn't come back empty-handed. I found some puff balls. Not the giant puff balls that I got last year (I'm still keeping my eyes peeled for any of those that might pop up) but just your regular puff balls. I plan to cook them up and freeze them so I can enjoy them at a future date.

As for my 100 Push-up Challenge? I finished Week 6. However, this week has been a real struggle. Unlike the previous weeks, I ended up developing a violent headache during the last sequence and felt dizzy. No, I didn't forget to breath. I finished but.... I'm not sure if I'm ready to go on and do 100 Push-ups as yet. I'm thinking of starting again at Week 4. Maybe...by the time I complete Week 6 for the second time, I won't get the headaches anymore and I'll be able to complete the challenge. So, a day of rest and then back to Week 4.

My gamble of last night (betting that we wouldn't get "frosted") paid off. We didn't get any frost. My plants are fine. It doesn't look like we'll be getting any frost for at least another week...maybe longer, if you can believe the forecasts. Regardless, I picked my beans yesterday afternoon from the kennel garden and Wow! I got lots of beans. I thought they were done! I ended up canning 4 quarts of mixed green and wax beans yesterday, leaving enough so HTP and I still had enough to enjoy for supper last night. There's enough left yet for another meal. If we don't get a frost for a while, it looks like I'll be able to pick again.

I need to pick my Italian peppers again. They've been really prolific this year. I also have a couple of eggplant that should be picked. Tomatoes? They're pretty much done. It's too cold and the blight doesn't care. Oh well...next year.

Murphyism of the Day

Lafta's Lament

Nobody can leave well enough alone.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

It is in the knowledge of the genuine conditions of our lives that we must draw our strength to live and our reasons for living.

- Simone de Beauvoir

Our Log Pile

Word of the Day

Lapdog - 1. A submissive individual who is socially dependent on the leader of the group. The lapdog will always do what the group leader asks without question.

I give up! When the temperature inside reached 62°F and I was thinking it might be nice to continue to wear my winter jacket inside after I'd taken Gypsy outside this morning, I figured it was time to turn on the furnace. Yes, it was cold enough outside to wear my winter jacket this morning but, I should disclose that I don't have any jackets other than my winter jacket. However, if I had a choice as to which jacket to wear, I would have grabbed my winter jacket. Even that jacket didn't provide much comfort on my morning walk with Gypsy. For a while, I considered putting on one of my warmest sweatshirts when I got back inside but it looks like tomorrow will be even colder so today will be our first furnace day. I'm dreading having to go back outside to water the plants on the deck. Hopefully, it will warm up some outside before I take care of that chore. They're predicting frost (maybe) for tonight so I might have to cover my plants on the deck...or maybe I'll just gamble that we don't get frost, like last time. I won that bet. I should pick the beans out in the garden too. Lots to do and if the sun was shining I'd be able to suck a little energy from it to do the things that need doing. Too bad the sun isn't shining. A fire in the fireplace would feel good about now.

It's time for the hummingbirds to start thinking about heading off to warmer climates. I noted that a couple of my hummingbird feeders are empty again. I'm going to bring them inside and wash them up for storage until next spring. There's still two feeders with plenty of nectar for the stragglers out there. I also have my petunias blooming profusely and they seem to like to sip from them as well. But, it's time to nudge them along to a warmer location. Maybe they'll get back to Arizona before HTP and me.

The first day of Fall isn't until September 22nd. I think the global warming theorists need to re-work their facts and figures. Sun spots have disappeared. Now...I'm told....we're heading toward an new ice age. Maybe HTP and I'd better stock up on more firewood. Maybe HTP and I should think about renting a splitter for a couple of days.

Murphyism of the Day

Plutarch's Rule

It is impossible for anyone to learn that which he thinks he already knows.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Sometimes I think we're alone. Sometimes I think we're not. In either case, the thought is staggering.

- R. Buckminster Fuller

Gypsy Loves to Run Free

Word of the Day

Lampoosh - To amble with a limp, either seriously or in jest.

Where did the day go? I'd planned to blog but.....

Before breakfast, I picked Gypsy up from my folks. I was told that Gypsy behaved herself but seemed very interested in that big black dog that lives at the neighbors' place. My Dad was afraid to let her roam outdoors off-leash lest he have to hike down to my sister's place to retrieve my curious Gypsy. She comes when she's called...if she doesn't see something that she wants to check out like that big black dog at my sister's place. It's easier to let Gypsy run loose out here in our yard. No neighbors and very little traffic. Sis has guests and I think my cousin and his family were up for the weekend. They all share a common driveway and you never know when a car be driving in or out. As soon as Gypsy got home, I took her outside and she ran and ran and ran and ran. I'm going to have to see if I can find a dog park in Arizona where we live during the winter. Gypsy really loves to run off leash and that isn't going to happen in our little back yard back in Arizona.

Anyway, HTP and I are back to counting calories. Duly recorded calories. Keeping track in a log book. So far, I've out-paced HTP on the calorie count for the day. If it hadn't been for that little tiny apple (72 calories?), and the fact that my chicken thigh has more calories than his half of a chicken breast....Oh well...I didn't do bad for one day. Logging in at 1059 calories. I got my 1/2 cup of red wine and I get dessert too. Sugarfree butterscotch pudding. Yummm!!!! No...really...it tastes good. Lots better than the sugarfree jello.

On top of the diet gestapo routine....I finished Day 2 of Week 6 of the 100 Push-up Challenge. That last 42 push-ups almost causes a brain aneurysm but it's for a good cause. I'll be able to pick up and hold Ms. En with ease the next time I see her....if I live through this.

I heard from both my daughters today. DD Daughter and GI Joe wrote up an offer on a house and it was accepted....after a bit of dickering. Now for the paperwork. Closing date? October 15th. MC Daughter and D Buddy will be moving soon. Closer to where D Buddy works. This means that they'll be coming to see us pretty soon. They need to pick up things that they have in storage in The Big City and some things that they have here. #1 Son didn't call but he e-mailed. He's got some job prospects lined up. We're keeping our fingers crossed. It sounds like he's really enjoying life in The Big City.

Murphyism of the Day

Kissinger's Axiom

University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Memories can be sad, but sometimes they can also save you.

Takayuki Ikkaku, Arisa Hosaka and Toshihiro Kawabata

If the speed of our internest was as advertised.... It isn't so, no pictures, word of the days, or Murphyisms can be used while here in Laughlin. However, it does look like I can blog. It just takes a while. Our signal strength varies between very low to good and back again.

Good morning from Laughlin, Nevada. As you can see, HTP did indeed insist upon bringing our laptop with us....and....we bit the bullet and paid for a week of internet service which claims to be high speed. Such claims are highly exaggerated but what can one do. At least, we're connected.

HTP and I arrived at the airport in Chippewa Falls at around 5:30 AM. Check-in was a breeze. There was plenty of time to pick up a quick breakfast at the one and only diner at Chippewa Falls small rural airport. The food there is wonderful. I think people actually drive to the airport...just to eat. You can't beat their service or their breakfasts. I can't judge their lunch or dinner food but their breakfast started us on the right track for the rest of the day.

Airline security is what it is. Neither HTP or I had to be subjected to further wanding, but I sure felt sorry for the elderly man who had to stand as airport security wanded his knees, his hips, his shoulders and his head....over and over again. It's times like this that make me shake my head in horror at this airport security nonsense. I'm surprised they didn't drag him off so he could strip and show them all his scars. There were 144 people on our flight. HTP and I weren't the youngest but it was pretty darn close. None of these people raised one complaint as they removed their shoes, knowing that the pain and effort of putting those shoes back on wouldn't be the funnest part of our trip.

We arrived at Bullhead City's airport at around 9 AM (Laughlin time). Since the plane wasn't packed, HTP and I got to spread out a bit...leaving one seat empty between us. After piling off the plane, we were greeted and piled into the bus to take us across the river to Laughlin....Nevada. I was surprised and pleased to see that HTP and I were given a corner room...a suite. Nice. We've got a fridge in our room and plenty of room to kick back and relax. We even have an outdoor deck! Which...with temperatures reaching 106°F yesterday, we won't be using.

HTP and I earned the 50 points on our casino cards that allowed us to eat at The Prime Restaurant last night. Prime Rib. Yummy! We were also happy to find that we had comp points from our previous stay so that we were able to enjoy a really nice lunch at The Riverside Restaurant. Really good food! I'm thinking that HTP and I will have to stop and eat there tonight. We have coupons for lunch. Buy one of their hot dogs and get a free beer to wash it down. Sounds good to me. However, I already have four six-packs of beer in the fridge...in our room.

Six-packs? They're having a special right now here at the casino. Any time you get a natural four of a kind on one of their video poker machines, you get a voucher for a free six-pack. HTP has a few of them that he hasn't redeemed. I stopped asking for vouchers after my fourth four of a kind. How many six-packs of beer can one person drink during a four day stay? I'm hoping to bring at least one six-pack home with me (in my suitcase). It's a special beer that one can only get here at the casino. I figured that Sis and her husband might want to give it a try.

HTP and I haven't been doing all that much gambling. I've got some good books here to read. Our room has a really nice garden tub. And...I've been enjoying listening to the speeches given at the RNC. Thank goodness for C-Span because there was no way that I could actually listen to all of these speeches in real time. One does have to eat and sleep. And Wednesday was a long day and that bed looked really good last night.

Fall Colors Should Be Here Soon - September 2006

Word of the Day

Laminites - Those strange people who show up in the photo sections of brand-new wallets.

I took my first cup of coffee this morning out on Gypsy and my perimeter walk. Normally, on can expect to hear the mournful call of a loon wafting over the lake. This morning? We had the call of the wild....turkey. Gobble, gobble, gobble. Sure startled Gypsy a bit. We never actually saw the turkey but he was making lots of noise. It was like having our own personal rooster crowing at the crack of dawn...only this was a turkey. And then...I hear similar gobbles answering our turkey from across the lake. I'd say that Wisconsin's plan to repopulate the wild turkeys in the area is a definite success. I've been stumbling across herds of the crazy things all summer. They really do look weird. OK. I just looked it up. Turkeys don't run in herds or gaggles or flocks. They run in "rafters"? But if I'd told you that to begin with you'd have thought I had bats in my belfry so....now you know.

I just ran outside to water the plants on my deck before it starts to rain. I know that sounds insane but my Earthbox gardens need special attention when it comes to water. Rainfall ain't going to do much for them. Besides, there's no telling how much actual rain we'll get and since HTP and I are going to gone for a few days, I really needed to get out there and I didn't want to get wet. However, it hasn't started raining yet. Hopefully, I won't get back to find dead and gasping plants.

Gypsy is going to go over and visit my folks for a few days. I'm thankful that my folks don't seem to mind her visits. HTP and I are heading to Laughlin on Wednesday morning. Actually, we're leaving so early on Wednesday morning, that we're going to have to drop Gypsy off at my folks' place this afternoon. Our flight leaves at 7 AM. We have to be there two hours before the flight...5 AM. It takes an hour and a half to get to the airport from The Lake. We'll be leaving at around 3:30 AM. I don't think my folks want us to show up on their doorstep with Gypsy at that hour of the morning. We'll be coming back from Laughlin on Saturday. Our flight returns to Wisconsin at around 11 PM on Saturday night. So...I guess we won't be back to The Lake until Sunday morning (EARLY!). I'll have to make sure that my folks have enough food for Gypsy. Due to flight scheduling, it looks like Gypsy will be visiting my folks until Sunday. However, I'll go pick her up at a more reasonable time than 1 AM.

Actually, HTP and I had decided NOT to go to Laughlin this summer. But....best laid plans....., HTP decided (when the casino called him)that a free trip to Laughlin might be fun. Operative word here is "free". We don't plan to gamble but we do have to pick up the cost of the gas (driving to and from the airport), and food while we're there. I'm packing some good books to read...and my sudoku puzzle books. This is just a trip to remind HTP and me why we wait until October to get back to Arizona for the winter. Even October is still pretty hot....and October is going to be here a lot faster than I'd like. I'm told that I should expect fall temperatures when HTP and I return to The Lake. Highs in the 60's. Brrrrr!!!!!!

Please note, we will not be bringing our laptop (I don't think) with us to Laughlin. Unless things have changed, there is no reasonable internet connection at the hotel where we'll be staying. They charge you for local calls and there's a time limit on those. Wireless? They claimed that they had wireless internet for a fee but HTP and I couldn't access it from the first room they set us up in and it didn't work in the second room either. So...no internet...no computer. No computer...no blog. I'll catch you up on all our fun and frolics when I get back on Sunday.

Murphyism of the Day

Herrnstein's Law

The attention paid to an instructor is a constant regardless of the size of the class; thus, as the class swells, the amount of attention paid per student drops in direct ratio.

Noteworthy Quote of the Day

Blame someone else and get on with your life.

- Alan Woods

It's the first day of September and that means.....



Happy


Labor Day


Everyone!



In celebration of Labor Day, I decided to declare this a labor-free zone....other than the basic necessities of life, like eating and breathing. I'll blog tomorrow. Maybe I'll think of something worth blogging about by then.