On traveling

This probably wouldn't be here except for the post over here.

'Nuther untitled post

Posts like yesterday's may someday become a regular feature, but that's not in the current plan scheme.
That's because there really is no scheme.
It's all about whatever strikes my fancy at the moment . . .   so long as it isn't negative.

This caught my attention late yesterday.

I purposely didn't enlarge it because it should be viewed at the source.
Just click the image or the link.

I would venture some of the inspiration for this blog originates on those trains.
I found it ironic that my good friend, BP, was partly on the subject of trains.
Hopefully, his travels will go well.

Friday's cat

source: dailytimewaster

For a time I was making weekly "Friday cat" post over HERE.
(yes, I'll wait whilst you look . . .    it could take awhile)

They will now occasionally make an appearance here.

yes, on Fridays

She was late

My brother in law in Michigan, the Irish one [I'll have to tell that story POCIR] , IMed me last night that he has a new granddaughter.
All I know otherwise is she weighed in at 7lb 10oz
The kid was due about the time I was back there.

typical female

An explanation . . . sort of

I was asked why I post things like this.

It's because . . .

. . . or bagels

'nother untitled post

best speech ever

Things I would never find

. . . unless other bloggers pointed them out.

Rummaging around on the blogs yesterday, I came across this, which, in turn led me to here.
(yeah, yeah, there's a little redundancy)

So now I am intrigued.
I would really like to do this, but kinda with my own spin on it.
I'm pretty sure I know someone in almost each of the lower 48 I could visit.
That would be one of the reasons to go.
The other is there are a lot of places I want to see, some for the first time, some once more.

road trip

I thought I had a topic

Instead it more of a catalogue of Sebastian's antics since the full Moon.

(see what I did there?)

He was pretty much his usual self up to about 3:30am Thursday morning.
That's when I heard him tearing across the roof chasing whatever it is cats chase across roofs on moonlit nights.

I never really went back to sleep.

Then, all day Thursday, the little jerk couldn't decide whether he wanted inside or out.
I spent most of my time opening the door for him.
Though I will say he and I had a quality nap in the recliner Thursday afternoon.

Oh, and his feeding is all out of kilter.
I mean he's eating well, but the timing is way off.

Friday was a lot like Thursday, without the racing on the roof.
In, out, in, out, in, lap, restless, out, in out.

This morning I opened the front door and he sauntered across the yard, taking his on sweet time, finally coming in.
I filled his dish.
He nosed it around and went back out the front door.  

Then I said screw it, looked through a collection of stuff I've accumulated, and found this.

It was right next to all of the bacon stuff.

tsk, tsk

I have a theory

Politics, like radiation, has a cumulative effect.
There's a half life that hangs around, never quite leaving.
It affects each of us differently.
Some can't get enough.
They're like alcoholics, who consistently want more . . .   more . . .   more!
Or, worse, they want to give us more . . .   more . . .   more! [the media]
There's another side of this.
Some are overexposed to the point where their heads are about to explode.

Saw this two weeks ago

still timely

Musical interlude

because

Not quite stream of consciousness

I had no idea what to start with this morning.
Then I remembered I had a medical appointment yesterday.

Notice I didn't call it a doctor appointment.
My current primary is a Physicians Assistant.

We have learned what each other looks like and are on a first name basis.
I am, sometime in the next few days or so, to go in for routine samples to be taken.
Otherwise I am healthy as I was last time I saw a Doc.

Evidently when I posted on f/b that I was at the clinic, I scared a few folks who were paying attention.

Last night around ten o'clock Sebastian announced he wanted to come inside.
I took him about three minutes to realize he doesn't like being inside at night.
He then announced he wanted out.

dunno what to do with him

More news that's fit to post

Still avoiding negativity . . .    mostly!

The cat seems to have adjusted his daily routine.
He likes to come in early, eat some, and then head outdoors, all in about 20 minutes time.
Then, if it gets pretty warm in the morning, he comes back in and makes himself comfy on any one of a number of chairs, the couch, or the loveseat in the front room.
If it stays relatively cool, he curls up on one of the shaded patio chairs.
If I am home in the afternoon, the little soandso whines to come in and waits for me to sit so he can grab some lap time.

After flirting with triple digits last week, the weather dipped into the high 80s yesterday.
The temperatures will begin climbing again and are supposed to hit triple digits again on the weekend.

There is no sports report today.

Last week there was some mention of avocado peelers.
This is why I don't need one:

It also peels garlic.

Last year on this day I posted what may be one of the best sports videos ever.

I may not get to the Churchill bio for awhile.
I'm reading a Daniel Silva thriller that is pretty gripping.

Did I mention I read Bernard Cornwell's Waterloo?
(Thank's Sarge!)
I recommend it because it's better than his fiction, which is tops.

I've another routine Dr. visit.
I get to meet my new personal healthcare provider.
He get's to hear from me that I feel just fine and only need him to write the scrip for my hypertension medication.
Maybe I will tell him how my left shoulder has been bothering me for the past couple of weeks.

that's another daily report

Monday update

Brings up a question.

Why, in the middle of July . . .

 . . . this?

I'm  thinking maybe sometime in September   . . . or for those in the Southern Hemisphere April?
Just not today.

Not that it isn't worthwhile information.

might want to file this somewhere

Found wanting

There was no muse this morning.
I went looking back for inspiration and found little worth dredging up.

However . . .   a couple of years ago, on f/b, I posted this.

Yeah, I reposted it on f/b and used it in a message this morning, too.

there are plenty of cookies

Remembering

A friend posted this meme on f/b.
Some memes make it really easy to come of with a blog post

The year was: 1960-61
1. Did you know your spouse? No
2. Did you carpool to school? No . . .   I hitchhiked
3. What kind of car did you drive? Hah! Car? I didn't even get my license until I was 21
4. What kind of car do you have now? Mustang convertible and Honda Accord . . .  making up for no car in HS
5. It's Friday night, where are you? probably grounded
6. What kind of job did you have in high school? main job was newspaper carrier, but I took on yard work, baby sitting, and watered people's gardens in my spare time
7. What kind of job do you have now? Cat herder.
8. Were you a party animal? Not particularly (see #5)
9. Were you a cheerleader? No
10. Were you considered a jock? No
11. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? No
12. Were you a nerd? No
13. Did you get suspended? No
14. Can you sing the fight song? I know some of the words but singing is a little out of my range of talents
15. Who was/were your favorite high school teachers? Probably Mr. Harris and maybe Mr Reilly or Mr. Austin
16. Where did you sit for lunch? Didn't much sit. Johnny's Smoke Shop or Jiffy Burger were the hangouts, land the picnic table behind Don's Hobby Shop
17. What was your school's full name? Menlo-Atherton High School
18. What was your school mascot? Bears
19. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Probably
20. Did you have fun at Prom? the Prom was Junior year. Senior year was the Ball. I did't go
21. Do you still talk to the person you went to Prom with? I went to the Junior Prom in '60 with an 'arranged' date. Haven't even though about her for more that fifty years
(note: I only went on two dates in my entire HS career. Each of those is a story itself.)
22. Are you planning on going to your next reunion? Yeah, The first one I went to was the 50 year reunion
23. Are you still in contact with people from school? Yes. But it's more like back in contact and it's on f/b.
24. What are/were your school's colors? maroon and gold
 
I'm not gonna tell you to copy and paste.
But you might want to answer the questions for yourself.

About that avocado peeler

Really . . .   I don't need one.

Then the discussion progressed to junk drawers.
I don't have one  . . . at least not they way it was described.
OTOH, my garage may qualify, as it meets the criteria mentioned.

I do have gadget drawers . . .   two of them (maybe three).

One for sharps:

One for pick 'em up things:

One for non-food things:

Okay!
So the last one may have some junk.
 But it doesn't need an avocado peeler

Instead of a junk drawer, I have a garage with a workbench that has so much crap on it that I stopped looking for stuff a couple of years ago.
Last Friday I went looking for the pressure washer.
It hasn't been used since the drought began.
It took four hours to finally find it because it was behind and under an accumulation of things I'd decided I might need.

I already have too many things I don't might need.

In fact, I need help.
I have stuff that I will probably never use.
(yeah, I used the word never   . . . deal with it)

I finally figured out why.
It's because I live in a grandma's house.
She acquired much booty for small visitors to entertain themselves.

Two things happened.
(more than two, but two main things)
Those visitors have gotten older.
They don't visit much.

The real question isn't about what to divest, but where to start.
Even some furniture has to should go.

Sure happy it's Thursday

There's an underlying purpose behind the subject of this post.

That said . . .

nothin' else to see here   . . . move along

I forgot . . .

. . . but then maybe because having the car smogged is, at best, neutral to negative.

Anyhow, yesterday I had to take the first of two in for the biennial testing so it could be registered and the new tags issued.
It passed.
Thank goodness that's the only part I have to do in person.

Didn't watch the game.
Don't know, or care, about the outcome.
There was a Lions Club meeting . . .   okay?

If you can crack an avocado like a coconut, you don't want that avocado.
But, no, you don't need an avocado peeler.
And avocados are really easy to gut.

It appears the cat has decided to remain indoors today.
Good plan, Sebastian, it is supposed to reach at least 100 °F today.
But then, knowing him, he'll decide to go out at the hottest part of the day.

Thought for the day:
When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

Misty is a crappy name for a car . . .    so's Goldy

All the news that's fit to print post

In keeping with our pledge to avoid negativity . . .

The cat came in at 5:55am, got his usual scritches and head rub, sniffed his food, kinda wandered a little, and left again.

The Sun is bright and the temperature is supposed to remain in the double digits one more day.

Giancarlo Stanton turned Petco Park into a bandbox, hittling 61 homers in the derby.

(No, I didn't watch, but I saw the highlights) 

Thought for the day:

"Who needs an avocado peeler, anyway?"

Last year the post was only a little better because it included a link to Suldog.

 I may go reread the Churchill bio.
It has some juicy quotes.

that's the daily report

Monday update

I outright liberated this from somewhere else 

"Say, Pooh, why aren't you busy?" I said.
"Because it's a nice day," said Pooh.
"Yes, but ---"
"Why ruin it?" he said.
"But you could be doing something Important," I said.
"I am, " said Pooh.
"Oh? Doing what?"
"Listening," he said.
"Listening to what?"
"To the birds. And that squirrel over there."
"What are they saying?" I asked.
"That it's a nice day," said Pooh.
"But you know that already," I said.
"Yes, but it's always good to hear that somebody else thinks so, too," he replied.

Stop and take time to listen today! It's a beautiful day!

keepin' it positive

A Sunday morning

Somehow the recent trip has slipped into the background, blogging has become less than important, and some aspects of the World are all upside down.

But, as I sit here this morning drinking coffee, the Sun is shining, birds are squawking (bluejays), ans the cat is purring.
I would venture that, if most folks were to look around, there is more tranquility than strife in their lives.
Savor it.
Enjoy it.
Share it.
It's free.

Yeah, I'm late

Yesterday I read on f/b that me nephew had died.
His brother posted it.
The only thing I know for certain is that his folks were with him when he passed.
I am happy for that.
Nobody should be alone when the leave.
. . . and family can find closure faster when they can be present [DAMHIK].

Pete and I were not close, but we got along pretty well.
We like each other.
We kidded each other.
. . . sometimes too much.

Once, several years ago when I still drank, he and my brother were stopping at our house on the way through.
The subject of wrestling came up.
(can you see where this is going?)
Abridged version:
Pete was a big man, probably close to 300 lbs. at the time.
I might have tipped the scales at 180 then.
I my warped mind I thought I could outsmart him and win by guile and experience.
Alcohol may also have been involved.

I don't fully remember the outcome.
But, he sought a rematch every time we met afterward.
My ribs reminded me for many weeks afterward not to grant one.

I'm going to miss him.
. . . and I am going to remember to cherish the relationships I have.

Random photo* from my recent trip

But first, ask me if I enjoyed myself.

Why yes . . .   I most certainly did.
Well, except for that one thing .
Some folks who were there might think they know what that was.
They'd be wrong.

It was the wi-fi at Minneapolis Airport that really created a little issue for me.
But I guess that's what you get for nothin'.
There was a four hour layover and I had to reconnect almost constantly.
The tablet and the phone dropped the signal constantly.

There were a couple of other things that I might've considered mentioning, but they're only little blips on the radar screen of life.
You know?
No harm, no foul.

Without further adieu . . .

 PHG baked a cake for the party last Saturday.
*yeah one __ so I can stretch this out

I got nothin'

One of the places I visit regulary . . .

. . . regular being a subjective word meaning, when I am sitting at the PC at home . . .

. . . is The Free Dictionary.

Today

what?

My biggest complaint

I really miss the Blogger interface on the PC .
The only thing I like about the tablet is that it's superior to the phone.
Otherwise I find myself correcting errors created by autocomplete.

That's all you get this morning.
I have to pack to head home.

Another untitled post

Putting the cart before the horse (aka, getting previous) is one of thse things I do a lot here on the blog.

Sometimes it works well.
It keeps me focused and on topic.
Other times    . . . not so much.

This is one of those times.
No matter what subject I write in the title,  I can't help but think I want to do anything but write a blog post.

It is also kinda going the same way with taking photos.
I've seen some nice potential shots, but haven't felt  like looking for a place to park and set the scene.
You'll have to trust me that it is, despite being dry here, really green and verdant.

Things I like about America VII

Everything below this paragraph is from a previous post.
I can't remember which July I wrote the original at the end of, though if I looked at the links it might help.
I do this because fireworks are illegal here . . .    yes, all fireworks.

I originally wrote this post at the end of July. I had no idea then it would become an Independence Day tradition. Little has change since the original post. Even the last item holds true, though there will be no further comments.
The other posts are here, here, here, and here.

The lead in to each post is a little different and, of course, the comments change each year.
I have been reminded that Sully's only three hours ahead.
There may be a few other minor alterations, but I really don't expect anyone to look for them.

.

First, let me thank Jim "Suldog" Sullivan for planting this in my head. I'd put a link to his blog here, but there's one on the sidebar to the left and I've already promoted his blog this week anyway, along with that of the Brighton Pensioner, also on the sidebar as Pebbles, who beat this post with his own by a good 24 hours. That may be because he is already eight hours ahead. Gee, now that I think about it, Sully's four hours ahead. So if this was a race I'd be behind from the start.

Enough foolishness [sic]. Let's get underway.


I thought about this for a long time. Then I decided not to number them because some of you might think it was a ranking. Oh, and there are some places where I've listed more than one. Those are bonuses.
Then I thought further and decided I am not required to list them all at one time. I can milk this for a bunch of blog posts... a whole bunch. In fact, if push comes to shove, I can do a series of lists and make this last until next year.

That said, I begin the list in no particular order:

I can do any darn thing I want as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others... and I don't get caught

It is next to Canada, where they turn everything they say into a question by saying, "Eh?" at the end. They also only do a fair job of keeping Winter where it belongs.

There are two oceans... big ones.

Aircraft carriers... they're so freakin' awesome

Cigars

Photoshop!

ESPN

The Food Network

Copy and Paste

Snopes

Bacon... no, not Kevin.

Political Correctness... it gives us something to bitch about

Places we can laugh at when we hear the name... like Cucamonga.

Alviso... see the previous line.

Pulled pork

That the history is only about 500 years, so there aren't so many dates to remember.

Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Andrew Carnegie, John D Rockefeller, John Jacob Astor, Alexander Graham Bell, et al.

Immigration, emigration and migration, or we'd all still be on the East Coast.

Homonyms.

The Grand Canyon.

Hot dogs.

Peach pie.

So many zoos and wild animal parks.

That the buffalo isn't extinct.

Baseball

Creme brulee

Osso bucco

Memphis dry rub

Bluegrass

Jazz

Kazoos

Soft rainfall

San Francisco... warts and all

The Declaration of Independence

Bloggers... well, most of them anyway.

Delicatessens

Basque restaurants

Harry S. Truman

Costco

Libraries

Chinese food

Satire

Mountains

Ol' Glory

Diversity

Rednecks... no, I mean the real rednecks

Choice

Grape, pomegranate and jalapeno jelly

Oreos

Rubber Ducks

Convertibles

Wikipedia, Google and Bing

Open Office... 'cause it's free

Gimp... 'cause it's free

Free stuff

Chocolate

Hartford, Connecticut

Springfield, Massachusetts

Madison, NC

Lists

The Three Stooges... all six

Who's on First

The NFL

Home
600 count cotton sheets

Mexico's cultural influence... and the food!
James Fenimore Cooper, Kenneth Roberts, Richard Haliburton, Shel Silverstein and John Grisham... bet you don't see them lumped together very often

July 4th... just a wee bit more than most other days

Cheddar cheese... yeah I know it's not really from Cheddar

The Rockie Mountains

Mount Shasta... both the mountain and the town

That there are so many things I can't finish this list because I keep Googling them

Harleys

Texas isn't anywhere near California and L.A. is almost in a corner by itself

It is big... but not too big

Chocolate Ice cream

Adirondack chairs

The Coast Daylight

Trains

Golden Gate Park

Bacon! [Yeah, twice]

Zoos... rank right up there with bacon and are even more fun

Iced tea

The National Parks... I can't just pick one

Custer's Last Stand... the indians won that one

Hamburgers

Cheeseburgers

Double cheeseburgers

In-n-Out

French fries... no ketchup [or catsup], thank you

Cioppino

- U.S. Highway 50 (aka The Loneliest Road in America)

Interstate 80... so we don't have to take Highway 50

Jack Benny

Lake perch

Fish and chips (see previous entry)

Real chili [has no beans]

White corn, roasted in the husk

Escargot

The Blue Angels

Calamari

The tiny heads on my sidebar

- and the lovely lady who occasionally comments (aka Grandma Skip)


That's gotta be at least a hundred. Now if I were nefarious, I would post these one at a time. That would carry carry me through to the end of the year because I would have to interject other posts occasionally.

Unnumbered for
the benefit of those
who want to see if
I may have cheated

Now I can't remember what day it is

That would be partly due to a sleep deprivation issue, followed by an OD of sleep.
I shall spare those details.

The other contributing factor is the fireworks.
What is  limited to the actual Independence Day celebration at home occurs daily around here.

I can only guess that it is still something to which I can look forward.

Preliminaries

So . . .
Here I am.

"Where's that?" You ask.
Michigan!

Someone  said, "Party!"
"I'm in." Said I.

That's how one finds themselves on the fringes of the middle of Southern Michigan on the Independence Day weekend.
Of course it isn't just any party.
PHG and her beau are having a ginormous party and folks are traveling from all over, but not quite as far as I have.

Speaking of traveling, the flights (there were three), were entirely uneventful.
Driving has been another issue.

The car I rented has one of those keyless ignition systems . . .
I may figure it out by the time I leave.
I decided I really don't care.

I'm not here

So, there I was*

Wednesday, I had to take my roommate to his boarding facility.
It was also time for a checkup and his feline leukemia vaccination.
As mellow as he is, Sebastian, does not like traveling anywhere.

Anywho . . .  I'd been out running some errands.
When I got home I had to search for him.
I hadn't let him out after he ate because I wanted to be certain he wouldn't totally disappear.
I looked in all of the usual hideouts without much luck.

Then, I went into my bedroom and found him.

I'm not sure if he was guarding the suitcase or hinting that he wanted me to take him with me.He knows how to plant a guilt trip.

The only thing he likes less is being cooped up in the kennel in which he travels [and maybe having his temperature taken].
He can make the most forlorn sounds, unlike any other sounds he makes.

This photo was after he'd arrived at the veterinarian's.
He was spying a dog and keeping extremely quiet.

He's perfectly healthy and weighs in at 11 lbs 9 oz.
The vaccination didn't phase him a bit.
All the ladies at the vet's are in love with him already.

maybe I will just post pics I already have

*SJC