Laying in Supplies

The forecast calls for snow/sleet-up to 3 inches. The day grew more and more dark so in high winds we left for Wal-Mart. I had asked several friends if the Riverton economy was on the skids because my previous trips to Wally World found the aisles empty and no lines. They were packed today and of course I realized it is Indian payday-the per-capita checks from their oil royalties arrived. The bad parts of the economy meant that the monthly money had run out about ten days ago.

The new Wind River Casino is doing a soft opening. I will go look. The casinos themselves have been an employment boon. I am sincerely hopeful that the Tribal Business Council members don't suddenly think they are Donald Trumps needing to live large. Based on history that may be too much to hope for but I hope they don't squander the wonderful opportunity they have.

Honey is not a fan of the car yet. I hope that changes before she adds too many pounds because catch and carry is a little strenuous for me. Treats are a part of every trip. She is growing and a stitch. Very funny. I spent some time looking at Pyrenees dog sites on the web. She seems typical in many respects. I hope she has her mother's brains because intelligence is rated as only medium for the breed and she does seem to be a quick study. They are dogs that need to be led-punishment is counterproductive. So that is a good fit. And she is my second little buddy. Likes to be close. Only one accident- that on the first day. She will take care of business promptly but then likes to skylark. That led me on a little chase in the sleet and a branch flipped my glasses off. Had to find my spares. I hope I will find my specs tomorrow. We three had a good play earlier in the socialization experiment. They were kissing and touching a lot. Later Buster got annoyed and I was pleased to see his rebuke was just that-no real teeth threat.

Supplies will last a few days.

Back on the Ranch

The Sandhill Cranes are back so Spring is about to. I have about 6 leaves budding out on my hardy currant bush. It is still all sand, tan and beige but hope is in the air.

Sue tried to convince me that this was my pup but I wasn't buying it. Failing that she said that the pup came with a bonus bum lamb. That didn't wash with me either. Been there, done that.

A name has been chosen: "Honey" for the honey color in the tips of her ears. Then too, she is sweet -most of the time. She and Buster are still "working it out." They spent a lot of time today thwarting each other. One would get in the way and make the other one bark. She is desperate for him to play and is pulling out all of her cute puppy tricks. I think he is catching a glimmer but it may never happen. I keep trying to keep him from making a big mistake. In two months she will probably be bigger than he is. They do pretty well but it is not settled. Fortunately she has no interest in sleeping on the bed-yet. So that is his special time. He is my boy.

Talked to Matt today. The Cage Fight went all right- he announced from a chair but he said he was done in by it. I can see why it was important to him. He gets the announcing fee and his company does the security at those testosterone fueled events. He is needing sleep more than anything.

Domesticity

The constantly moving furball is momentarily at rest after having done her paperwork: making little pieces out of big ones. She is settling in, thinks her big brother is fascinating, though he is still a little aloof and stern. She takes a rebuke but is not cowed. She has exercised her feminine prerogative and re-arranged things to her liking. We all three played on the lawn and that was good. Some little kissies exchanged between dogs. Her little pink belly has freckles. Buster is under the table, she is to my right.

She got carsick this morning but not tonight-conked out and that taught me a lesson: Late day naps charge her batteries. The trip this morning was solely for dog stuff-toys and chews because she is a chewing machine and there is plenty of bad stuff to chew around a farm. Have I said she is adorable? Lest you think me stupid, Buster is sharing in the bounty and the play time and he is acting the protector of the property. Feglers are coming and going a lot and that keeps Buster on high alert and me, too, watching him and "she-who-has-not-been-named."(Barfy?)

Sue had a two hanky afternoon: She had gone to the funeral of a beading friend-a Northern Arapaho woman. At this funeral she witnessed the hair clipping ceremony. Traditional Native culture says the spirit resides in the hair. The descendants of this woman all went forward and had a lock of hair clipped and wrapped in a cloth to accompany her on her journey. Some family members came to see Sue today and they had a nice visit. They brought her gifts in the Native American tradition. She peeked in the top bag and saw the ever useful household items common to a giveaway. After they left she looked in the second bag and all of the woman's beads, beading equipment, leather, etc. had been given to her. The honor of such a gift from a tribal family overwhelmed Sue. It is a huge gift and honor. The woman will live on in Sue's handiwork.

This place can be so ugly and so beautiful. It gets to you.

New Baby

I got my resolve up and took KFC to Sue's vowing I would leave with my new baby. I was horrified to learn that Sue had found homes for all of them and all were waiting on me as she had promised "pick of the litter" to me. In any case she is a chunk already so I am getting as much lap time as part of the bonding as I can. Her daddy is a Pyrenees-below, with her sister. Everything is going well. Buster is jealous but more in the "see me, see me, I am adorable too," sense. (It won't hurt him to try a little harder-he has gotten a little careless about minding lately). I've been a two-handed petter all afternoon. She is a self-contained dog-has a sense of dignity but will cry pitifully if she feels abandoned. She is smart and alert and very good. I put a pretty red collar and a blue leash on her in the van-good idea because she headed under the VW first thing. I am too old and fat to chase a puppy everyplace a puppy can go. I am feeling right now that she will be easy to train if I devote a lot of up-front time to catching her being good. The separation from the good dogs at Sue's went better than I anticipated. I don't think the other dogs hate me-yet. Struggling with names right now. I favor "trait names"" like 'Good-y) because praise and their name together are reinforcers. I will do the Native American thing for awhile and see what names suggest themselves: "Craps-in-Lodge? Rolls-in-Dung? Eats-Like-Horse?" She has already mastered the "don't kill" command.

She "went" outside, like a good girl. She was trying to find a nest so we all went to the bed and that was it. She settled right down for a nap. She seems to get hot pretty easily and is used to sleeping outside albeit with six other furballs so we will have to work that out. Sue took these pictures and sent them.

I'm getting the Medicare thing worked out. Part B and Part D premiums will come to about $110.00 per month but I will save about $150 a month on prescriptions so I am ahead by $140.00. The Medicare site is pretty cool-you plug in your drugs and they tell you how much you will have to pay--up front. Then you check plans. My pharmacist at Walgreen's said they process a lot of Humana ( the best plan cost-wise) but since brother Rich sells Blue Cross this mention is his invitation to bid. ( I have readers in Bosnia, India, Indonesia, New Zealand Norway and Chile and 43 states but my brothers are not among them. (Sorry buddy, you snooze, you lose.)

The Bluebird of Happiness adopted Lori

The Florida kids were swimming today in their pool and this fellow dropped in. He shared some bits of apple (in hand). Neighbors had an unused birdcage and "Bebo" is residing in the Solarium. Juneau thinks he is lunch. He is a Blue Indian ring-necked parakeet. Lots of parakeets exist is South Florida-many escapees. They seem to thrive. He is a handsome devil who knows how to flirt with the pretty girls.

I have been up to Sue's three times and still no pup has returned with me. I have been watching them and know which one I want but they seem so happy as a little band and Mose plays with them-a dogpile consisting of him and six pups is a beautiful sight. It is hard to break them up. Yet, what I know from experience is that this is a critical age for bonding and if they stay as a doggie pack too long, they will not be very suitable pets. So I think tomorrow I steel myself and steal a pup.

Lsst night Sue cooked dinner-Manicotti, which is labor intensive and turned out very well. A very pleasant evening just visiting. Rasty's absence is palpable. As time goes by and Sue deals with the various things that come up in ranch life, on her own, her confidence and sense of new possibility grows. It is nice to see. She got herself a Tom-Tom GPS before her trip south and we discussed how liberating a GPS is. As the old Indian said: "Me not lost, teepee lost." With a GPS neither is lost. Hers found the backroads on the Navajo reservation just fine.

Small town life: I got a call from my mail-lady. She noticed the gate was open. Did I want my held mail? Yes I did. I worked it diligently. I got my love note from Medicare and it threw me into a quandary. Of course I want the part A-hospitalization (no cost to me). Do I want the Part B? That covers tests, and medical stuff and costs about $100.00 per month Since, to date, my Doc visits and tests run about $250.00 per year, the question pops up whether it is better to take it or leave it. Part C is a supplemental plan that I can buy from a provider that may be more generous than part B. Then the Part D rears its ugly head and that is the prescription drug "benefit." With my monthly pill bill running about $240, it would seem to be a no brainer but there are so many plans and variables and co-pays, and you have to pay the premium to the insurance company-it is so confusing. I await further information in a booklet soon to be sent. Of course if this doggone cough doesn't go away (it ebbs and flows) it might all be moot as I am getting very tired because my sleep is interrupted.

Cool and sunny today. Really very nice if a quilted jacket is worn.

The Oregon kid is going in a wheelchair to announce at a cage fight tonight. His Wyoming father is wondering if the knee injury also caused brain damage. If he sets himself back, the flow of sympathy from this end will be measurable with an eyedropper.

No Escaping Winter

We awoke to this scene. Even Buster was bummed. Though it is pretty, a picture would suffice. More of the same is forecast for several days. The good news is our official "last frost day" is May 10 for what that is worth.

I called Sue-she was down with a tank and a hose last night to get water for her sheep and Maya, a Northern Arapaho young man was going to dig out her waterline. This is how things work on the rez on good days: Sue is unfailingly kind. Maya had needed some cash -a pretty good chunk, and she gave him part as a gift and part for "future labor." So he was Johnny on the spot and digging. They got way down there yesterday and still no pipe. Maya's cousin is head of the Tribal Utilities Department. He made a call. Bright and early today, backhoe, Gas Company, and crew began excavation in a snowstorm-smiling the whole time. They took a break for parts because Rasty had put a 3 inch waterline in. She is back in business. Sue was Postmaster at Ethete for many years and her network is vast. She was taken care of pronto.

Around the Valley

House opening exercises: the furnace is working and needed at night-it is 34 degrees out right now, the well was sterilized and some water pumped to make sure the Clorox got to as many places as possible. Buster was on a tear and is in dutch tonight for not coming when called. The Feglers are doing something with the cattle and animal by-products are his favorite thing and my least favorite thing.

Was a slow moving unit because of the wheezes and sore muscles but went up the road to see Sue and her pups. She has a fine crop of pups and has opened her yard to all of her critters. So we watched the sheep, and the llamas, and the dogs who are all very tame and contented. Sue is a gentle soul and they know it. Had fresh brewed coffee and cake she had made for Rasty's birthday. She had taken that and some toys into the home but he did not register much today. He is 81 today. Sue has lost weight and looked more relaxed than I can ever recall. She is eating when hungry, not on Rasty's schedules and sleeping as she pleases (as much as sheep and critters allow) and working on her beading. I heard about her great trip. I went on and on-I must have needed to talk to somebody who knows me because I sat in that kitchen and yakked. Listening is a great gift. Her waterline broke and we messed with that. She has a digger on the line.

Matt called and sounded better for having talked to the doc. No weight on the knee for four weeks as 7 screws and donor bone fuse. He is bored already- Offered to come soon to tapdance for him -he is going to check with the wife unit about that.

Saw Paula and her kids sitting in their yard on my way home. Stopped for a minute and stayed for nearly an hour. Got caught up on valley doings over the winter. The woman has her head on straight.

Home in Wyoming!

Home in Wyoming. Arrived in daylight yesterday. It was like a time warp: Flaggers on 17 Mile Road as construction continues (starts again) Same faces in Wal-Mart.

Somewhere in the uber-windy plains of Texas, the Oklahoma panhandle, and eastern Colorado I got afflicted. I could smell dust the whole way and then my lungs started to fill up and I was coughing and big bubbles were coming out of my mouth. I did not feel sick per-se, just uncomfortable. The dueling Garmins were in agreement that I would reach Arapahoe at 2:30 in the morning so I decided we would stop at the Mulberry Inn in Fort Collins. Coughed all night but did manage to catch some shut-eye.

Managed to catch lunch in Casper with bro Rich and some of his friends. I was still feeling under the weather. The "Service engine soon" light came on and Rich advised me to head on home. So I did. I spent most of the night upright in my chair to alleviate the coughing. I still don't know know if I have a bug or an allergic reaction. My chest is still rattling and my guts are so sore from coughing that I dread each wheeze. But I am feeling some better-tomorrow will decide whether the doc needs to see me or not. I am fairly well equipped with basic meds and over the counter stuff.

It is cold here and still brown-I did not miss a lick of spring. Buster is so happy to be in his own stomping-place of his birth grounds. He had to go out 15 times yesterday as he remembered something else he needed to check out. He didn't raise a response from the neighbor dogs intil very early this morning. He instigated a big barking-fest. He was so pleaed with himself and wanted in the house NOW. He got all mushy and wanted to kiss my face in the night. He was so relaxed when I petted him. This is truly home for him.

Along the Natchez Trace Parkway

This is being written from the Motel 6 in Amarillo, TX. A long stint of horizontality is needed. The pictures were taken yesterday in Natchez, Mississippi and along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Pictures are posted at the web album but not explained, yet. Today's journey was interesting if contemporary. It started with dueling Garmin GPS's. My older expensive one (with the "dominatrix" voice) and the new cheaper one (with the British Secretary voice) were at odds on how to get to Amarillo. The dominatrix insisted on Highway 69. I finally shut the Brit up and trusted in God and Garmin as I was led way north above Dallas. It was the kind of route I love-where real people live and carry on their lives. I almost stopped at a stand to buy "Hallopeenyos." I saw pickup trucks so tricked out I swear the owners were suppressing a gay streak. I saw every cockamamie Christian sect known to man, and some Muslim ones. I passed up a chance to go to "Redemption Camp" and "Holiness Camp." There were dilapidated shacks, single wides, double wides, modulars, regular homes, McMansions, Mini estates and a few genuine estates. Sadly, rich farmland is being gobbled up at an alarming rate for ready-made communities with advertised price ranges. The infrastucture can't keep up with the growth. I avoided the gilded turd of the plains -Dallas, and found myself in drier, but still green, west Texas with more than its share of burgs on their way to becoming ghost towns. More than one farmer has a sign listing his property as "prime hunting land for sale."

Like the Oregon Trail, the original Natchez Trace exists only in remnants and segments (above). "Kaintucks" from Ohio and Kentucky would build large flatbottomed boats and move goods down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Pre-steamboats, they would disassemble the boats and sell the lumber. Then they would walk up the Trace (35 days) or ride a horse if they had done particularly well (20 days) mostly camping out but there a few stopping places in the 440 mile trail. The Indian mound below is evidence the Trace was used way before the white man started trading goods. This one is quite large and was ceremonial-not a burial mound.

This old church is relatively modern in the the history of the Trace. Today there are lots of churches ranging from the decrepit to the grand and seem to be less traditional denominations: "Enough is Enough. Stand Up for Jesus." I don't get it but I do recognize the emotional call to anger.) It made me sad to see in the midst of such rich natural beauty-it is a beautiful drive.

I toured a Plantation at Natchez. The big thing over the dining table is a huge mahogany "shoo-fly." Pre-air-conditioning and fans this device was used to move air and bugs. You can see the rope by the left hand back window. A slave would stand there and pull the rope and the massive fan would slowly do its job. This plantation dates from the 1830's.

Quick Report From Shreveport

A very long day from Gulfport to Shreveport. Toured a Plantation in Natchez but only did about a fourth of the Natchez Trace Parkway. I was loving every minute of it but it was constantly raining and the forecast was for worse so my sleeping rough along the trace like the folks in the 1800's was a wussout. When I saw the turnoff to Vicksburg I passed it, stopped at a monument, and checked weather via satellite radio and read maps and flipped a 180. Here we are and it is a mite nippy at the Fying J.

Matt sounded better and his pain is being managed better. Better go while I still have some battery power left.I'll post pictures and fill in details when I have daylight and a wall outlet.

Shhhh....

Very early in the morning. We are outta here in a short while. Had a great farewell dine out at the Whale's Rib-sort of a Svilar's of fish, local place, almost funky, busy beyond belief, with amazing food. What a season!

We probably won't even make it out of Florida today- it is a long state. The plan is to still try for the Natchez Trace Parkway via Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Matt's surgery went better than expected-they fixed both bone and soft tissue, discharged him the same day and he is home in misery-lots of pain. Percocet and oxycodone are not helping all that much. Bless his heart.

Need to pack up this computer and hit the road, toad!

Boats, Buddies, and Birds and Beautiful Day

This had to be one of the most pleasant days in the year. Warm in the sunshine but kind of cool, breezy and fair. Realized early that the BP med was missed last night and took it, became dozy and napped on the patio. I might have been a little short on sleep because Buster asserted his claim on his dad so there were three mammals bumping butts on the bed last night-only one of which has to get up in the night. Then the war for the warm spot begins. Buster and Juneau are getting close- it has been good for Buster and encourages me that a pup will be a good thing for our family. Juneau under his rambunctiousness is a sweetie and a gentleman.

Buddies

This duck just came paddling by- doing what ducks do and not a bit disturbed by the boat traffic. Jason's boat gets about one mile per gallon idling along. There are much bigger boats, though his has twin 200 hundred horsepower engines, so seeing this little bird economically negotiating the waterway made me smile.

The news says there is flooding in the Natchez, Mississippi area-the southern end of the Natchez Trace Parkway. I called the park headquarters. They said I would have problems if I drove on I-10 near New Orleans but they think the Hattiesburg route will be fine. The Trace should be OK if I avoid the cities!? We will see.

The Blue bird of Happiness and Bob the Possum Hunter

When the weekend rolls around the Hillsborough Canal becomes a busy thoroughfare. All sorts of pleasure-seekers on everything from jet skis to some pretty big boats pass by. There must be a shortage of cigarettes because quite a few of the boaters seem to be sharing them. Some have their music turned up. Sometimes the sheriff brings them in under escort, some get towed in, and there is plenty of commerce: live bait, charter fishing, dive cruises. We know the owner/operators of the "Diversity" and wave up to four times a day as they make two dive cruises when they have the business. I'd like to meet the owner of the "Sea Cup." "Yellow Fever" is a beautiful yellow hulled boat. "Farfromworkin'" sums up one fellow''s attitude.

Buster likes to usurp the king's throne sometimes. There are plenty of comfy places for doggies to be. Busty and Juneau are bonding. They are hunting something that is living in a hole on the point. Juneau is my buddy. He is pretty high maintenance. I enjoy that but I also really appreciate my little "just happy to be along for the ride" pup.

Is this the Bluebird of Happiness? He visits daily.

This is Bob the Pest Control guy/possum hunter. He stopped to check his traps. The difference between Bob and friend Hollis in Wyoming is Hollis is disappointed when his traps are empty. Bob is happy because he has been succesful in eliminating and blocking out his quarry. Same skills sets-there is a fortune to be made in urban trapping because in the West pelts usually have a fixed value. When somebody has a possum in their attic, you can name your price. But Bob is a professional and a nice guy. Very interesting to learn about his trade.

In between entertaining the dogs, I have been busy with honey-do's. Jason truly has no time and I remember those years too well when I lived them. They asked for nothing other than dog-sitting but my trusty tool-set has been busy: fixed the hose spool and hose end, bought Lori a coil hose to water her posies, fertilized and topped the potting soil on the planters, fixed and aimed the decorative lighting, fixed the velcro on Jason's boat storage, scouted and installed some cushions for the boat, tried bleaching the Adirondack chairs, bought them 48 rolles of T.P. because my bathroom was nearly out and I only found one spare roll in the house. All of which doesn't sound like much but this is urban- Target is two stories tall and Home Depot covers half a city block. Just finding stuff can take half a day. Puttering around they calls it.

Out of the Park!

A day early I moved out of the park and put the fair Elante' to bed for the summer. Happily she is going in better than she came out: a good coat of high quality wax, all external fabrics treated and waterproofed, Teflon on the tires and heat shields all around. I even found time to use carpet fresh and vacuum. I bid her a fond farewell.

I took Aleve and powered through the painful shoulders and have less pain today. Bid Greg and Lew goodbye. They are staying through the 20th to celebrate Passover with Lew's folks. Greg is anxious to go home to his gardens and projects.

Dave Welsh followed me to the storage yard where I left the van and then I delivered the Elante' and had my ride waiting for me-slick. Dave insisted on following through though Bonnie had been transferred to Delray Medical Center for a better Orthopedic Surgical team. Same deal with my son Matt- he went to Eugene and the Surgeon said he could call in a standby team or he could do it Tuesday with his regular team. So Matt got a better brace- he can put on underwear and use the toilet now and will go back to Eugene for surgery Tuesday. He will be in the hospital two days if all goes well. ( and it will, it will, it will.)

Jason spent an intense week in Orlando with company annual conference duties but beat me to Deerfield. We three went to Yucatan restaurant for supper and I (unwittingly) ordered an appetizer assortment for dinner and was completely happy with it.

The dock box we ordered came and was quite bulky. Not bulky enough. It was 18 inches shorter than advertised. Will not do as the size was the critical factor all along. Nut's! They were willing to refund, etc. but we would have really liked to have the box as advertised.

The kids were early to bed for a 5:30 a.m. trip to the airport. I got myself situated on the south patio where there were cool breezes and a new view but found myself dozing and asleep on the bed much earlier than I thought it would be. They crept out and are on their way to Arizona and Nevada. They will return late Tuesday and meanwhile there two dozy dogs and a dozy O.F. enjoying watching the parade of boats. Occasionally a lizard will encroach and the dogs get all official. Juneau chased a coon out of the yard last night. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the ghost of the possum....

The Orthopedically Challenged

I am blogging at 5:30 a.m. because I needed to take another Aleve. Struggled like a beached walrus to get off the bed. I took a fall yesterday and my right shoulder is very tender (and the left is twingey) when certain movements are attempted. I am adjusting expectations of myself in getting off the pad here.

My issues are nothing compared to son Matt's who will travel to Eugene, Oregon for surgery to get hardware installed which will help him get some knee action back today. Nor that of Bonnie, previously featured with Lexi, the dachshund, in this very blog. She took a fall after a collision with a road barrier and very likely broke her leg yesterday. They had kindly offered to shuttle me from storage yard to JPP and I went over to confirm a time just as Dave was getting the call. We started out not knowing exactly where to go but saw the fire truck on its way. An ambulance transported her to JFK hospital which is practically just across the street. She definitely blew her knee. How badly I don't know. Lexi was at home, thank goodness. A non-English speaking man responded to Bonnie's call for help and hot-footed it to the office to get help started.

Thursday was pretty productive for me. The Boynton house got a last visit for laundry and for collecting the few items I kept there. The coach started right up and is ready to roll. Most everything is stashed except for a few heavy/bulky items that may prove challenging now. They will hamper movement in the coach so I am just making certain that everything that needs to go home gets into the van. Being assured of a spot next year is allowing me to be a little more relaxed about having some things live in Florida. (hurricanes at the back of the mind). The hurricane season starts on April 30.

Lori was pointing out that I have had nearly 5 months in Florida this season (Why are you counting my dear? Oh, it just seemed like it would never end...). Yet I saw a snow picture from Casper this week. As is my habit I am easing "goodbyes" with anticipations: I am pretty certain I will follow the Natchez Trace, mostly, or in its entirety on the way home. It is sort of a north-south Oregon Trail. I may well have ancestors who used it in its hey-day. I am watching the weather though.

Working and Playing in Paradise

The fair Elante' is nearing readiness for storage. The final section of polish was put on today and she does look pretty good for an old girl-all tarted up. Defrosted and washed the beverage refrigerator, put Old English Lemon oil on all the oak wood and veneer- of which there is plenty, washed all dishes and utensils preparatory to storage, washed and dried all the outdoor rugs and mats, dried out the BIG patio rug and shook the 8x20 foot thing the best I could. I let the sun disinfect it on both sides. Folded it in a pretty good wind. Cleaned and lubed my leveling jacks, splitting my pants in the process. There is a fair pile of stuff outside that needs to come in but it must wait until the end so I can still use the bed and get down the aisle. So there is a little touch of the rez going on outside right now. I have decided to depart the park Friday- still a day early for the park but the last day before the dog-sitting begins. I am old(er) -things take a little longer.

Lori returned my call this morning. She had heard about Matt and Jason had talked to him. She flew her nephew Blake in to scope out the task of babysitting Juneau in July when weddings and things are happening. We laughed ourselves silly. Eve had lost sleep when she stayed in the guest wing because she heard things in the ceiling. Lori called an exterminator (He just has a gift and likes to help people!). A 15 pound possum mama with four babies in her pouch was the first capture. Some big old rats were the next victims (Lori says-I don't want to see them, just get them out of here!) Not included in the realtor's spiel was the bit about- "You live on the water, you will have rats-guaranteed." The exterminator is her new best friend. I had things I needed to offload (including the found girl's bike I had oiled up) from the van before I could on-load some going home things. Lori and Blake wanted to try the Tri Rail to the airport but she suggested we meet for a late lunch after they returned.


She tooks us to JB's on the Beach which was a wonderful selection. Blake is a delight- animated and an original mind, filled with Texas goodness. We had a great lunch. We watched the boats and the people. Since I remembered my camera, I took some pictures for Blake: below.

Productive day that was fun too. Very nice to spend time with Lori. She IS an instigator-Blake resists mostly. But we do laugh. As Blake is her sister's son it is really interesting to see shared family traits and the warm and easy relationship. Blake lost his dear mama but SuperAuntie, is on the job.

Squeeezing the last bits of joy out of JPP

Buster meets and greets a friend. The French Canadian obligingly stopped for his picture. Buster was a gentleman even without his leash.

The campground manager, John, has stopped by a couple of times to chat. Today he stopped to laugh with me about the the camper's curse: accumulation during the season and what to do with the shi..Stuff! I resettled some pop and liquor among the employees. John told me of a Quebecois whom I had noticed working but did not know at what. Turns out he makes custom pens of exotic wood and moose antlers. John gave me an ingenious key ring he had been given and I hot-footed it down to meet Marc and indulge my pen fetish. I love pens and pencils. I have a great collection. John said this might well be Marc's "last season" as his wife has to do all the driving now and she is getting wary of the responsibility.

That would be a shame because he truly enjoys the sunshine and has his rig ingeniously outfitted with his lathe, and tools. He is completely with it but the body is not obliging.

Did do some packing and poking way. Washed the outdoor rugs, waterproofed the small awnings, polished a little-touch up. After divesting myself of unneeded stuff, I walked up the road to the dumpster where a Nakamura bicycle -21 speed, with a little rust, but in great shape otherwise, was waiting for the first taker. That would be mois. I'll see if Lori and Jason want custody of the bikes for the off season.

My first-born had a contretemps in the line of duty and has a broken tibia- serious stuff. I may be heading to Oregon sooner than I think. He says everything is under control- but he fibs about that stuff sometimes.

Lexi is a Basket Case

Bonnie and Dave's dachshund, Lexi, is learning to ride in a bike basket. She hates to be left so the answer was to take her with. At age 10 she poops out on her walks and not in a good way- but it is hot, so the biggest basket possible was found. Owing to her typical doxie physiology it is still not a real good fit but it beats walking. This is a loving and loved dog. She spends a lot of lap time. Today was her first day in the basket and she eventually relaxed.

The weather forecast (wrong again) was for storm cells with winds up to 45 m.p.h. That made me decide to jump ahead two days and disassemble and put away the screen room and put the awning up, storing a LOT of stuff in the process. Coming right along. As this is the single biggest task in getting ready to roll, I feel ahead of the game momentarily. No winds- in fact a beautiful evening.

It got late and home dinner choices were labor intensive. So I started driving and looking. Found a restaurant called "Friendly's" and it was. I had my first really crappy meal in Florida and it wasn't all that cheap. They were out of the sirloin tips, meatloaf was recommended. Think square Wendy's hamburger patties with cornstarch based gravy (canned- clear mucilage), garden vegetables : somehow they were both overcooked and tough, tiny texas toast, limp cole slaw, and two frozen onion rings. $12.65. Phooey. Even Buster was less than enthusiastic.

Second Blog Entry on Sunday

Greg and Lew's neighbor invited us for his daughter's 40th birthday party. They went to Lew's mom's birthday party but I was game for this one. The day broke to rain and they moved the party to the pavillion but they couldn't trick me. I missed the main grub but had ice cream and cake, took pictures, went home and made nice prints and gave them to the birthday girl as the only present I had to offer on short notice. Went partly to see if hare-lips were genetic; apparently not.

Packed outdoor stuff up during the nice part of the day. Progress is being made. Soaped up the patio rug I loaned to Gary and Joyce, thinking the predicted rain would rinse it. Good strategy because there is flood warning for this area tonight. The rain and lightning has been impressive to me and terrifying to Buster. Used up the last package of liver tonight and so strong was its attraction that Buster ate dinner anyway. He usually doesn't eat when he is upset.

Had some funny emails today. Call and email from Joyce-they made it home about noon. Cool and rain on the roof make a good night's sleep a likely prospect. Get her done!

Last Saturday in the Park (probably)

Nami is home in Oregon and delighted to be reunited with her granddaughter. Audrey is a stitch: here she is with helmet, kneepads, rubber boots, sun dress, and long underwear. We are all perplexed where such strong character and originality stems from.

This handsome bird caused a traffic jam when I backed up a city block to snap his picture.

I went to my last "Fresh Market" of the season where a wise person is soon parted from his money. In about ten minutes I was parted from $125.00. I was digging for my last quarter for a beautiful burrito (the hispanic lady offered to let me have it for $5.00, but I knew there was some change down there someplace). Got Lori an annual supply of her favored soap. Bought a loaf of cranberry, raisin, currant, walnut bread, and a table runner for Lori's dining table as woven by the lady above. Only $35.00 and it supplies an average monthly income to the lady who wove it. I can feel good about buying fair trade items like this. It is a beautiful piece of work, too.

Got stopped by the Amtrak train on the way home. This was a windy hot day. Packed up some stuff. Re-upped my rent for the last week. A free day comes at the end of a week's rent so I am actually good until the 12th but hopefully will be gone before then. My space at the storage yard awaits. I thought there was to be a cookout tonight and bought some stuff for it but it did not appear to be coming off. These things happen. The weather was not particularly conducive, anyway.

It has been too hot for Buster to start out the night on the bed but occasional thunderclaps send him running for reassurance. He gets a few half asleep ear scratches and pets and a cuddle. Awoke Saturday morning to find myself nuzzling the wrong end of a dog. Luckily he is fastidious.

Joyce called three times in semi-panic. Gary is very confident but driving a 10,000 plus pound coach, with a Gold Wing motorcycle in a trailer, in overdrive, up the mountains in West Virginia, is going to cause problems. I discussed this with him before he left but Joyce thought he needed a refresher. The coaches that buzz right up the mountains are diesels, not gas. Want to save gas? Drive 55- overdrive only helps on the level with no headwind and it doesn't help all that much.

Tristin Hits the Planet

My much younger brother, Richard (has he been dippin' that comb in Grecian Formula?), became a Grandpa today. His daughter Heather and her husband Tom are the parents of a pretty baby boy. A new baby always puts me in an "Our Town'" (Thornton Wilder) mood: where all is right with the world and the world is warm and filled with people trying to do the righteous thing. Makes me miss my parents who would have been over-the-moon great grandparents. Mother and son are resting comfortably. Nice.

I am solitary in my row- A Ghost Town, Greg calls John Prince Park. I have been a polishing fool. My own RV is shaping up nicely. Not content with that I went and washed Greg and Lew's tonight. Greg was talking of it needing a bath a week ago (understatement as we got into the task tonight though it didn't look that bad to me). They invited me to stay for awhile but I was soaked- came home.

Jason is entering a very busy spell. Lori and I talked logistics for awhile. Jason will leave this Sunday, then return in time for them to go see Chad compete in his Iron-man competition. ( I just don't get it- why would anybody want to put himself through that agony? "To each his own, the farmer said as he kissed his cow." Grandma Mason's saying). Then they will return after a few days and I will bid them and South Florida adieu. I have had a great "season." Sometimes I think I am nearly ready and sometimes I panic. Went to Boating World today to plan some "surprises" for Jason while he is away.

Talk about a fast Internet connection! One of my regulars stopped during his bike ride and allowed a couple of snaps. One of the "good" Quebecois. Nice man- he and his wife travel in a Roadtrek. They are out of here soon and will meander northward. The weather in Montreal is not pleasant.