I am experiencing a very magical moment as I have acquiesced to my Son’s and Friend’s wishes and disappeared!!! Jeffy asked me to make a bonfire on the beach and I did so. I got a roaring fire going, chairs around it and out he came with his friends and girlfriend Lacie. He looked at me and asked, “so what are you going to do Dad?” I told him, “Disappear!” Boy, what a smile overcame his face. Little does he know I am sitting up here on the second story, in the dark, seeing every little detail of the bonfire and goings on---it’s like watching a movie, watching teenagers in an aquarium. In any case, I am brought back to being 15 again on Douglas Lake after a day of fishing and water skiing, and having a big roaring bonfire on the beach, trading jibes with my buds, flirting with some girls---wow, what a time. And now, I am watching my very popular, star athlete son doing the same thing only better---it is good to be Jeffy right now. Jeffy is living life to the fullest.
His girlfriend is “drop dead gorgeous” as they say, she has got to be one of the most sought after girls in the 5 county area, no lie. I haven’t had such luck since Botany Class at J.U. when I was mesmerized by a girl named Jomay sitting in the front row, asking all the questions I wanted to ask, but couldn’t formulate the words. She probably never noticed me, although she says she did---I was already an old fart in Mackinac Khakis, shuffling about, thinking I would be a bearded marine scientist in the Florida Keys, living on sunshine and whatever I could catch. I never imagined that I would be the proud recipient of the Worlds Most Beautiful Woman. How did that happen to me? I don’t know, but it’s a lot better than anything on Earth can offer being married to Jomay.
But now, I realize and look fondly on the fact that Jeffy might find his Jomay. He’s smart, talented, cute, athletic and NORMAL!!!!! Isn’t that great???? What more could a father hope for in this chaotic society? I have a son that likes school, math, fishing, football and girls!!!! Wow. Rest assured, I have been over and over with him on the rules of life, respecting women, etc. You know, I think he believes it, I think he has the Christian Heart afterall.
I woke up today anticipating a magical moment. I found so many of them. I just knew when I woke up there would be magic today. I just stepped back and received them. I knew that the moon would be close to full and got the telescope ready to see the man on the moon. I knew I would go to eat breakfast at the Country Girl Diner with my son and then take him to Church, to Worship the Creator. I knew I would come home and close up the work I had to do to be ready for my Contractor tomorrow. I knew that I would have the pleasure to talk to my wife. Indeed, that is the most important part of this magical moment---realizing I already have what most people want. Even, what Jeffy out there at the bonfire wants and is looking for---a life partner, a shining beautiful prize. Hey, already have mine. I certainly pray and hope you find yours too!!!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Water, Winter, Wonderland
I live in a Water, Winter, Wonderland. In fact, that used to be on the Official License Plate of the Great State of Michigan: “Water, Winter, Wonderland.” The turbid, stormy waters of the current financial, stock market crisis in the world parallels my own crisis here somewhat. There just aren’t enough people willing to swim with the tide and they panic and sell and on an on and what fools we are…
I however, have been swimming in well water and mudd. My geothermal heat pump guys told me that there were wide fluctuations in my water pressure and that over time that would wear on the pumps, heat pump and well pump. I have never been satisfied with my water flow here---despite being on one of the world’s most incredible aquifers---my outflow was about 5 gallons/minute at the spigot. My neighbor has about 60 gallons a minute of fresh clear 50 degree water, no lie. In fact, the well people told me they didn’t want to go deeper with my well because of the possibility of finding “catastrophic flows.” They showed me pictures of rivers they have created out here, by tapping into mother lodes of water. They have had to call in special teams that go around the world capping off heavy flow water wells.
Anyway, the geothermal guys were able to adjust the furnace to obtain adequate flows and I still had enough water for living, showering, brushing teeth, etc. However, guests have commented on how you have good flow in the shower for a couple minutes, and then it sort of trickles for awhile. So I went back to my well driller friends and told them my predicament. They told me I need another pressure tank to balance the flows. I had a 6 gallon pressure tank buried by the well and they put in a 10 gallon tank in the crawl space yesterday while I worked. I came home at lunch and they were gone. I went to the sink and had but a trickle of water. I now had about 3 gallons/minute and as the evening progressed, I didn’t have ANY water, nothing. I played with the shut off valve at the well, I went into the crawl space and checked all the fittings---having to dig thru a foot of pea gravel under flashlight, my fingers are still numb. I’m thinking this isn’t going to be good for Jeffy in the morning, needing to shower and smell good for homecoming and his girlfriend. However, I found a gallon of distilled water and put it by the bathroom sink for him and he managed to get ready.
Now, imagine, next to my house is a stream from the aquifer running at about 50 gallons/minute. Out front of my house is Lake Michigan. Less than a mile from the house is a heavily flowing RIVER and I have NOTHING. This can’t be right, I called the well people several times and got the answering machine. I called them at 1300, 1600, 2200 and again at 2400 as I emerged from the crawl space covered in mudd, but no response. At some point, I gave up and went to bed. In the morning I played with the curbside shut off valve some more and was able to get a trickle to clean up Abby’s piddle and make some coffee and brush my teeth. The well guy called, they would be out about 1500 and will work as long as it takes to get my water back. I went into town to the diner and had breakfast and watched their T.V. chronicle all of our losses, flowing like the neighbors well, into the pit. I went back home and busted butt all day finishing the insulation in the garage. The plumbing and heating guys came out to re-check my propane furnace in the big garage and diagnosed it as terminal, more bad news. Heat exchanger shot, not worth repairing, new furnace next week out there.
Anyway, the well guys did show up and dug out my shut off valve down into five feet of earth and found a very frozen ancient shut off valve that was leaking like a sieve. It has probably been leaking for years, just like my mutual funds. That would explain why I never had the water the guy who sunk the well told me I have. He said I should have 12 gallons a minute after the filter in the kitchen sink for crying out loud. But alas, I have only had 5. Now, with my two pressure tanks and new shut off valve, I can supply water to the city of Chicago. I can’t believe it---I have enough pressure to pressure wash old paint away. I only wish in my little microcosm of life that I could do the same for the world’s financial market, just replace a leaky old valve and get the flow back, but I can’t. However, it doesn’t matter, I am surrounded and infused with the best of living water. I can drink it, shower in it, fish in it, console my soul with it. This is a very good thing as I realize I will be the greeter at Wal-Mart in a few years. I can give medical advice as I give people their carts. But, I’ll be a happy man, going home to my little slice of heaven, my little piece of earth on the water.
I however, have been swimming in well water and mudd. My geothermal heat pump guys told me that there were wide fluctuations in my water pressure and that over time that would wear on the pumps, heat pump and well pump. I have never been satisfied with my water flow here---despite being on one of the world’s most incredible aquifers---my outflow was about 5 gallons/minute at the spigot. My neighbor has about 60 gallons a minute of fresh clear 50 degree water, no lie. In fact, the well people told me they didn’t want to go deeper with my well because of the possibility of finding “catastrophic flows.” They showed me pictures of rivers they have created out here, by tapping into mother lodes of water. They have had to call in special teams that go around the world capping off heavy flow water wells.
Anyway, the geothermal guys were able to adjust the furnace to obtain adequate flows and I still had enough water for living, showering, brushing teeth, etc. However, guests have commented on how you have good flow in the shower for a couple minutes, and then it sort of trickles for awhile. So I went back to my well driller friends and told them my predicament. They told me I need another pressure tank to balance the flows. I had a 6 gallon pressure tank buried by the well and they put in a 10 gallon tank in the crawl space yesterday while I worked. I came home at lunch and they were gone. I went to the sink and had but a trickle of water. I now had about 3 gallons/minute and as the evening progressed, I didn’t have ANY water, nothing. I played with the shut off valve at the well, I went into the crawl space and checked all the fittings---having to dig thru a foot of pea gravel under flashlight, my fingers are still numb. I’m thinking this isn’t going to be good for Jeffy in the morning, needing to shower and smell good for homecoming and his girlfriend. However, I found a gallon of distilled water and put it by the bathroom sink for him and he managed to get ready.
Now, imagine, next to my house is a stream from the aquifer running at about 50 gallons/minute. Out front of my house is Lake Michigan. Less than a mile from the house is a heavily flowing RIVER and I have NOTHING. This can’t be right, I called the well people several times and got the answering machine. I called them at 1300, 1600, 2200 and again at 2400 as I emerged from the crawl space covered in mudd, but no response. At some point, I gave up and went to bed. In the morning I played with the curbside shut off valve some more and was able to get a trickle to clean up Abby’s piddle and make some coffee and brush my teeth. The well guy called, they would be out about 1500 and will work as long as it takes to get my water back. I went into town to the diner and had breakfast and watched their T.V. chronicle all of our losses, flowing like the neighbors well, into the pit. I went back home and busted butt all day finishing the insulation in the garage. The plumbing and heating guys came out to re-check my propane furnace in the big garage and diagnosed it as terminal, more bad news. Heat exchanger shot, not worth repairing, new furnace next week out there.
Anyway, the well guys did show up and dug out my shut off valve down into five feet of earth and found a very frozen ancient shut off valve that was leaking like a sieve. It has probably been leaking for years, just like my mutual funds. That would explain why I never had the water the guy who sunk the well told me I have. He said I should have 12 gallons a minute after the filter in the kitchen sink for crying out loud. But alas, I have only had 5. Now, with my two pressure tanks and new shut off valve, I can supply water to the city of Chicago. I can’t believe it---I have enough pressure to pressure wash old paint away. I only wish in my little microcosm of life that I could do the same for the world’s financial market, just replace a leaky old valve and get the flow back, but I can’t. However, it doesn’t matter, I am surrounded and infused with the best of living water. I can drink it, shower in it, fish in it, console my soul with it. This is a very good thing as I realize I will be the greeter at Wal-Mart in a few years. I can give medical advice as I give people their carts. But, I’ll be a happy man, going home to my little slice of heaven, my little piece of earth on the water.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The Color and the Redd
It is with profound sadness that I have said goodbye to my last salmon fishing visitor today. Eddy headed off back to Virginia about 0430, the last of the Marines. I put the Marine Corps Proud Red Flags away in a safe place and then put up my salmon rods for the winter. As I sit here and write and look out at the quarter moon over Lake Michigan, a flood of memories hits me from the journey of the last two weeks. I remember going out on the boat out front of the house and being just as amazed as Colonel Scott W. about the number of salmon jumping around us in 10 to 30 feet of water as we trolled. We didn’t catch anything that morning, but I have to say it was one of the most beautiful and enjoyable moments of fall salmon fishing for me. The wind laid down, the sun came up in it’s glorious fullness---and Scott and I enjoyed the glory of a sunrise on Lake Michigan---all the while listening to our comrades at the river mouth, and seeing them run up and down the beach fishing for the fish going up river.
The shooting was also enlightening. I can’t believe that I can now hit a bulls-eye on a target with a hand gun. I went from hitting the board the target was on with one shot, and the dirt with the other shots---to now hitting the money. Thanks for that Colonel W., I will go back to the range this week with the pistols you arranged for me to shoot and hit a few more centers for my teacher!!!
It was “nagnanimous” to come back to “Camp” by the way Dr. Todd, and have incredible meals waiting for us. I think if Todd decides to give up doctoring, he will give Emeril a run for his money. Did he give us a kick off and change of pace or what? I honestly didn’t know they cut steaks that thick. What was that---almost 3 inches I think. And it was incredibly enjoyable to eat the “maters” and peppers from his very own garden. The kids in town are still talking about the white convertible mustang and the trip to Jeffy’s football game. Thanks for doing that again Doctor! Thanks Todd for freshing up the party and putting up with a bunch of smelly old guys! I now know more about football thanks to Todd than any dumb dad who majored in guitar and girls in high school but never went out for sports.
The salmon cooperated for some of us---most notably Ed, who took back as much fresh and smoked salmon as he wanted. Eddy does like to catch the “bite” at the River Mouth doesn’t he? It’s fun to watch him go!!! Then, there’s Jeffy, who on his first trip to the river at the high gravel, fairly hooked a big king salmon in the mouth on his Grandfather’s Fly Rod and landed it on his first hour on the river. There were many very experienced fishermen with me who didn’t do that this year, so he’s pretty proud of himself. In fact, even those who didn’t catch salmon are pretty happy that happened to Jeffy. The other guys who visited me, Dr. Todd, Mike, Scott, Ron and Ed were a joy and a lot of fun to have around. I was a little anxious about the fireworks off the beach at ONE A.M. at first, but in retrospect realize it didn’t hurt or wake anybody up---and they were quite amazing fireworks.
We all knew that the salmon run was just beginning while they were here. There were scattered fish up on the gravel REDDS, but they were hard to catch, and not the usual number of egg-sucking rainbows present either. I got up early this morning before Church and hit the river, and yes, was dodging salmon around my legs. Sorry guys, you just missed the “mother lode” as Mike said, by a few days. That’s life, always a minute too short I guess. But, that’s one of the reasons I decided to move here---I can watch the fish come up, peak, and fade away and fish when I want to. You’ll just have to come back, and you are invited always, every year, forever if you want to, to help me enjoy and appreciate this incredible water wonderland.
For me, having caught more salmon than I can count, the pinnacle of this year’s fall fishing was Lake Fishing. I had the pleasure to have a “World-Class” Fisherman on my boat, Mike L. Mike helped me go from blue to red in terms of catching fish and “tasting blood”. I have fished with a lot of fishermen, from fishing guides in the Bahamas, Florida Keys to Alaska, but none of them was as knowledgeable and enjoyable to fish with as Mike. For the first time, I watched and saw the water in an entirely new light. In the past, I tried to catch fish and watched the water and if my approach/tackle/technique wasn’t working, I’d start to kick back and call it a day. I resigned myself to the fact that the fish just weren’t biting, and were in deep water somewhere. Mike taught me that the Fish are ALWAYS there and willing, you just have to find them. Water ANYWHERE, even at sewage outflows holds fish. The pics of you catching fish, even trout, in big cities near sewage lines, etc., will always be remembered. You just have to change up, adapt, persevere and you will start catching fish. In fact, I saw him do just that, changing flies and lines and hooking into largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pike, muskie etc. As the Marines in Red, improvise, adapt, overcome, etc.
For me, this is a profound lesson. I now realize the fish are always there, always eating and living and catchable. They are faithful to their own purpose. As I reflect upon my friends and this incredible fishing trip, I am overwhelmed by their perserverance, friendship and how faithful they are to their purpose and the pursuit of friendship. Ed’s thank-you note that I found this morning to me summed it up—“Semper Fi” my brother, “Semper Fi”. Always faithfull, the fish, the friends. The red blood of my friendship, the red color of the Marine Corps Flag, the fish on the Redd. I am overwhelmed and thankful to the CREATOR above for this time. Thank You, and God Bless, and come on back Marines!!!
It is with profound sadness that I have said goodbye to my last salmon fishing visitor today. Eddy headed off back to Virginia about 0430, the last of the Marines. I put the Marine Corps Proud Red Flags away in a safe place and then put up my salmon rods for the winter. As I sit here and write and look out at the quarter moon over Lake Michigan, a flood of memories hits me from the journey of the last two weeks. I remember going out on the boat out front of the house and being just as amazed as Colonel Scott W. about the number of salmon jumping around us in 10 to 30 feet of water as we trolled. We didn’t catch anything that morning, but I have to say it was one of the most beautiful and enjoyable moments of fall salmon fishing for me. The wind laid down, the sun came up in it’s glorious fullness---and Scott and I enjoyed the glory of a sunrise on Lake Michigan---all the while listening to our comrades at the river mouth, and seeing them run up and down the beach fishing for the fish going up river.
The shooting was also enlightening. I can’t believe that I can now hit a bulls-eye on a target with a hand gun. I went from hitting the board the target was on with one shot, and the dirt with the other shots---to now hitting the money. Thanks for that Colonel W., I will go back to the range this week with the pistols you arranged for me to shoot and hit a few more centers for my teacher!!!
It was “nagnanimous” to come back to “Camp” by the way Dr. Todd, and have incredible meals waiting for us. I think if Todd decides to give up doctoring, he will give Emeril a run for his money. Did he give us a kick off and change of pace or what? I honestly didn’t know they cut steaks that thick. What was that---almost 3 inches I think. And it was incredibly enjoyable to eat the “maters” and peppers from his very own garden. The kids in town are still talking about the white convertible mustang and the trip to Jeffy’s football game. Thanks for doing that again Doctor! Thanks Todd for freshing up the party and putting up with a bunch of smelly old guys! I now know more about football thanks to Todd than any dumb dad who majored in guitar and girls in high school but never went out for sports.
The salmon cooperated for some of us---most notably Ed, who took back as much fresh and smoked salmon as he wanted. Eddy does like to catch the “bite” at the River Mouth doesn’t he? It’s fun to watch him go!!! Then, there’s Jeffy, who on his first trip to the river at the high gravel, fairly hooked a big king salmon in the mouth on his Grandfather’s Fly Rod and landed it on his first hour on the river. There were many very experienced fishermen with me who didn’t do that this year, so he’s pretty proud of himself. In fact, even those who didn’t catch salmon are pretty happy that happened to Jeffy. The other guys who visited me, Dr. Todd, Mike, Scott, Ron and Ed were a joy and a lot of fun to have around. I was a little anxious about the fireworks off the beach at ONE A.M. at first, but in retrospect realize it didn’t hurt or wake anybody up---and they were quite amazing fireworks.
We all knew that the salmon run was just beginning while they were here. There were scattered fish up on the gravel REDDS, but they were hard to catch, and not the usual number of egg-sucking rainbows present either. I got up early this morning before Church and hit the river, and yes, was dodging salmon around my legs. Sorry guys, you just missed the “mother lode” as Mike said, by a few days. That’s life, always a minute too short I guess. But, that’s one of the reasons I decided to move here---I can watch the fish come up, peak, and fade away and fish when I want to. You’ll just have to come back, and you are invited always, every year, forever if you want to, to help me enjoy and appreciate this incredible water wonderland.
For me, having caught more salmon than I can count, the pinnacle of this year’s fall fishing was Lake Fishing. I had the pleasure to have a “World-Class” Fisherman on my boat, Mike L. Mike helped me go from blue to red in terms of catching fish and “tasting blood”. I have fished with a lot of fishermen, from fishing guides in the Bahamas, Florida Keys to Alaska, but none of them was as knowledgeable and enjoyable to fish with as Mike. For the first time, I watched and saw the water in an entirely new light. In the past, I tried to catch fish and watched the water and if my approach/tackle/technique wasn’t working, I’d start to kick back and call it a day. I resigned myself to the fact that the fish just weren’t biting, and were in deep water somewhere. Mike taught me that the Fish are ALWAYS there and willing, you just have to find them. Water ANYWHERE, even at sewage outflows holds fish. The pics of you catching fish, even trout, in big cities near sewage lines, etc., will always be remembered. You just have to change up, adapt, persevere and you will start catching fish. In fact, I saw him do just that, changing flies and lines and hooking into largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pike, muskie etc. As the Marines in Red, improvise, adapt, overcome, etc.
For me, this is a profound lesson. I now realize the fish are always there, always eating and living and catchable. They are faithful to their own purpose. As I reflect upon my friends and this incredible fishing trip, I am overwhelmed by their perserverance, friendship and how faithful they are to their purpose and the pursuit of friendship. Ed’s thank-you note that I found this morning to me summed it up—“Semper Fi” my brother, “Semper Fi”. Always faithfull, the fish, the friends. The red blood of my friendship, the red color of the Marine Corps Flag, the fish on the Redd. I am overwhelmed and thankful to the CREATOR above for this time. Thank You, and God Bless, and come on back Marines!!!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
The Smartest Dog That Ever Lived
I always new Abby, our boxer, was smart. She is certainly the smartest dog I have ever known. It started innocuously enough, little things like her greeting you at the door and walking a few feet at a time toward the doggy snacks, twisting and shaking her head and pointing at the pantry with her head. She certainly had the Pavlov’s Dog thing down regarding snacks. It wasn’t long until she associated certain individuals with being more generous about snacks than her own family. For example, Grandma, who usually brought her own doggy snacks in her pocket. Abby would see that red car pull up and greet Grandma and start nudging the purse of the pockets for her snack. Then came Julie, who also figured out where the doggy snacks were and helped to spoil Abby even more. What the heck, it’s ok, she’s the smartest dog that ever lived.
Well, now that Abby is getting old we have had to deal with some geriatric health problems including urinary incontinence. There were just too many accidents piling up on our carpeting on a daily basis. Out comes the bucket, carpet cleaner, towels, vacumn, etc. Thus, we started to confine her to the downstairs bathroom during the day. We put up the folding picnic table in front of the door and a kitchen chair buttressed up against it so she couldn’t push it out. Abby’s sad eyes about killed me when I put her in there, she looked at me with that look that says: “What, you kiddin’ me pops? I’m not a dog, don’t you remember? You always said that Dad. You always told the kids that you aren’t feeding the ‘dog’, you’re feeding Abby, one of the family. And what? You puttin’ me in the bathroom? Whaz up with that Dude?” Well, the first day with this system she persisted in banging up against the folding picnic table so that she could get just enough room between it and the wall and squeeze out. Come home, Abby sleeping on the sofa and more piddle on the floor. Sheesh.
Applied the TWO chair method, same result, she must have pushed against that table for hours, but she squeezed out. She had her bed in there and plenty of water, she could even take a shower if she wanted to for crying out loud, it wasn’t like being outside in a kennel. She could have piddled on the floor all she wanted in there. I only used the picnic table so that she could have a view of the Lake and have a little extra air rather than close the door completely. Anyway, I had to bite the bullet and close the pocket door to the bathroom, latch it, and go to work. I left with her barking, scratching and then came a strange grunting, chewing sound, but I didn’t think anything of it.
Came home, yep, Abby on the sofa, looking at me with those eyes that seemed to say” “Hah, that’s all you got Pops?” She grabbed the stopper block on the door with her teeth and pulled it up at an angle so the wheels in the track popped out above and then banged on the door long enough to release the latch. OK, now I’m not stupid, I know enough to know when I’ve been defeated by superior basic animal intelligence. But I just couldn’t bring myself to put her in her crate because I know dogs really resist piddling in their bed and I didn’t want her in pain. Thus, I took her out to the garage.
The first day she chewed up some insulation I had just cut and placed the mess right in front of the door for me so that I would get a clear message that she was not very happy with me. Keep in mind this insulation was about 20 feet from the door, but she mangled it and dragged it in front of the door for me to see clearly. OK, time for a talk. I explained to her that being in the garage is a good thing, she has tons of room out here. Her bed is on top of two inch foam insulation and she has a heater. I showed her the drain in the floor for piddling in and her HUGE water bowl to drink from and gave her a doggy snack and she smiled at me.
Came home tonight to find Abby very content, I think she actually likes it out here in the garage. I let her out and played with her a bit and gave her a doggy snack in the house. I went back out to the garage to inspect the situation. The insulation was intact, untouched. I went over to the floor drain and there was the piddle, not pee anywhere else, just at the floor drain where I asked her to pee. Now you may think this was coincidence. However, I swear that dog understands English. Come on, this garage is like 30 by 30 feet big, she could have peed in a hundred places, but no, right at the drain where I told her to pee.
Abby is a gentle dog and travels for hours in a car without complaint, she likes her butt rubbed, she likes to lay at your feet. She’ll bark at strangers and protect you. She can tell when it’s time to go to the vet verses the river for fishing. She can tell days in advance when a trip is coming up, watching the luggage come out. It’s almost as if she knows if she’s going or not. In short, Abby is my beloved pet. I’ve determined that rather than “put her down” as I have been advised given her incontinence, Cushing’s Disease, Liver Disease, advanced Osteoarthritis, etc.---I will instead utilize the best that modern doggy medicine can offer and she and I will advance into the sunset for awhile together.
Many have said she’s outlived her usefulness, well, so have I in many ways already. I’ve procreated, I did research, wrote some songs, worked at my job helping people for many years. But the reality is I’m never going to be famous or change the world. If any of that will come it will do so thru my children. Reminds me of a Star Trek episode where the Enterprise goes into a time warp and ends up with an Air Force Pilot from the 1970’s. This is a difficult situation for the crew, because it would be very difficult, possible lethal to ship and crew to get him back. Thus, Spock does some research and finds out “all” he ever did was become a Pilot in the Air-Force and didn’t have any “major” accomplishments. Thus, they opted to just keep him and take him out of his life---until, another screen came up and they saw that his son became very influential in time-warp travel---and his son hadn’t been born yet. Thus, they returned him back to Earth at great peril, but succeeded and they preserved the continuum.
What measure of a man is time-warp travel? A number one song? What measure of dog is winning best of show? All is just a brief hiccup in the continuum of time. What is eternal? The love that dog Abby has given to me, her loyalty, the joy and funny moments she gave me. What will my children remember when I am gone? The big fish I caught? My job? Probably a bit, but most importantly they will remember how much I loved them, how I cared for them and cleaned up after them and helped their mother make HUGE sacrifices in her life for their own betterment. So go ahead Abby, piddle on the floor if you must, I won’t remember that. But, I’ll remember how you came and greeted me after a hard day, and always stayed with me, and loved me, my most wonderful, loyal loving friend, Abby.
Well, now that Abby is getting old we have had to deal with some geriatric health problems including urinary incontinence. There were just too many accidents piling up on our carpeting on a daily basis. Out comes the bucket, carpet cleaner, towels, vacumn, etc. Thus, we started to confine her to the downstairs bathroom during the day. We put up the folding picnic table in front of the door and a kitchen chair buttressed up against it so she couldn’t push it out. Abby’s sad eyes about killed me when I put her in there, she looked at me with that look that says: “What, you kiddin’ me pops? I’m not a dog, don’t you remember? You always said that Dad. You always told the kids that you aren’t feeding the ‘dog’, you’re feeding Abby, one of the family. And what? You puttin’ me in the bathroom? Whaz up with that Dude?” Well, the first day with this system she persisted in banging up against the folding picnic table so that she could get just enough room between it and the wall and squeeze out. Come home, Abby sleeping on the sofa and more piddle on the floor. Sheesh.
Applied the TWO chair method, same result, she must have pushed against that table for hours, but she squeezed out. She had her bed in there and plenty of water, she could even take a shower if she wanted to for crying out loud, it wasn’t like being outside in a kennel. She could have piddled on the floor all she wanted in there. I only used the picnic table so that she could have a view of the Lake and have a little extra air rather than close the door completely. Anyway, I had to bite the bullet and close the pocket door to the bathroom, latch it, and go to work. I left with her barking, scratching and then came a strange grunting, chewing sound, but I didn’t think anything of it.
Came home, yep, Abby on the sofa, looking at me with those eyes that seemed to say” “Hah, that’s all you got Pops?” She grabbed the stopper block on the door with her teeth and pulled it up at an angle so the wheels in the track popped out above and then banged on the door long enough to release the latch. OK, now I’m not stupid, I know enough to know when I’ve been defeated by superior basic animal intelligence. But I just couldn’t bring myself to put her in her crate because I know dogs really resist piddling in their bed and I didn’t want her in pain. Thus, I took her out to the garage.
The first day she chewed up some insulation I had just cut and placed the mess right in front of the door for me so that I would get a clear message that she was not very happy with me. Keep in mind this insulation was about 20 feet from the door, but she mangled it and dragged it in front of the door for me to see clearly. OK, time for a talk. I explained to her that being in the garage is a good thing, she has tons of room out here. Her bed is on top of two inch foam insulation and she has a heater. I showed her the drain in the floor for piddling in and her HUGE water bowl to drink from and gave her a doggy snack and she smiled at me.
Came home tonight to find Abby very content, I think she actually likes it out here in the garage. I let her out and played with her a bit and gave her a doggy snack in the house. I went back out to the garage to inspect the situation. The insulation was intact, untouched. I went over to the floor drain and there was the piddle, not pee anywhere else, just at the floor drain where I asked her to pee. Now you may think this was coincidence. However, I swear that dog understands English. Come on, this garage is like 30 by 30 feet big, she could have peed in a hundred places, but no, right at the drain where I told her to pee.
Abby is a gentle dog and travels for hours in a car without complaint, she likes her butt rubbed, she likes to lay at your feet. She’ll bark at strangers and protect you. She can tell when it’s time to go to the vet verses the river for fishing. She can tell days in advance when a trip is coming up, watching the luggage come out. It’s almost as if she knows if she’s going or not. In short, Abby is my beloved pet. I’ve determined that rather than “put her down” as I have been advised given her incontinence, Cushing’s Disease, Liver Disease, advanced Osteoarthritis, etc.---I will instead utilize the best that modern doggy medicine can offer and she and I will advance into the sunset for awhile together.
Many have said she’s outlived her usefulness, well, so have I in many ways already. I’ve procreated, I did research, wrote some songs, worked at my job helping people for many years. But the reality is I’m never going to be famous or change the world. If any of that will come it will do so thru my children. Reminds me of a Star Trek episode where the Enterprise goes into a time warp and ends up with an Air Force Pilot from the 1970’s. This is a difficult situation for the crew, because it would be very difficult, possible lethal to ship and crew to get him back. Thus, Spock does some research and finds out “all” he ever did was become a Pilot in the Air-Force and didn’t have any “major” accomplishments. Thus, they opted to just keep him and take him out of his life---until, another screen came up and they saw that his son became very influential in time-warp travel---and his son hadn’t been born yet. Thus, they returned him back to Earth at great peril, but succeeded and they preserved the continuum.
What measure of a man is time-warp travel? A number one song? What measure of dog is winning best of show? All is just a brief hiccup in the continuum of time. What is eternal? The love that dog Abby has given to me, her loyalty, the joy and funny moments she gave me. What will my children remember when I am gone? The big fish I caught? My job? Probably a bit, but most importantly they will remember how much I loved them, how I cared for them and cleaned up after them and helped their mother make HUGE sacrifices in her life for their own betterment. So go ahead Abby, piddle on the floor if you must, I won’t remember that. But, I’ll remember how you came and greeted me after a hard day, and always stayed with me, and loved me, my most wonderful, loyal loving friend, Abby.
The Lady Of The Lake
Wow, so much to say today----at random:
1. Bluegrass music on from the satellite dish on the front of the garage, pretty cool out here---sending e-mails over cyber space from the very tip of Lake Michigan in my little sleepy seaport village.
2. Made you salmon fishing guys coming up next week a little living room out here in the Big Garage with the sat tv, internet, easy chairs and couches. Monday the heating guys come to put in the geothermal heat pump in the main house and move the propane furnace out here for you. Gas company already brought the tank and laid the line to the garage and attached the regulator.
3. Mason finished up today---waterproofed the block . Incredible job, fortunately you'll see this very professional footer/block job. I asked him what it would take to lay the block for closing in my alcove on the east end of the Big Garage---I was planning to do it myself, mixing mortar in the wheelbarrow---doing it over several days, putting in the bolts, etc. I have done some incredible masonry work as my outdoor kitchen in Ohio will attest---but I'm tired tonight---so, he said "I dunno, maybe ____ bucks"---DONE I said---and now I have the block laid to close in the alcove too.
4. Wow, bluegrass music is great.
5. I pulled up from work today to see my contractor lighting up a smoke and saying it was "QUITTEN "time. It was then I saw the block laid in the alcove and half joists all laid for both additions and half the floors done and the block insulated with 2" foam on the inside. I inspected the work and thought Wow, this guy is good. It's a family affair--his son, daughter, himself and a hired guy---doing the work at an amazing rate of efficiency---man I'm glad I picked Rich. I guess you can't go wrong with a guy named Rich. I will keep trying to get him to quit smoking!!!
6. Tomorrow they'll finish the floors. Then they start the walls for the dining room/kitchen, working in from the south and once all framed up to the old house, they start tearing off roof. I think you salmon fishing guys will be heading out right about then, so I expect to have a fully functional kitchen still and the laundry room and bunk room available.
7. He's canteleving (sp?) out the floors a foot Eddy---so the downstairs will be bigger---and putting in a vaulted ceiling in Jeffy's room so he can have a loft and a skylight.
8. MOST IMPORTANTLY---I went up to gravel on the river today and the water is high, bringing water and oxygen to more gravel than ever on the river. I wanted to pick some blueberries too, but they are fading....However, I have never seen so many fishing spots below the campground---lots of beautiful gravel with water over it. No fish yet on the gravel---but that's good---because I am sure they are coming soon---we are
catching at the mouth and out trolling. Thus, the fish are staged and should be coming up anyday. Thus, make sure you are rigged for big salmon fishies on the stream, and have a lighter rod for catching the egg sucking rainbows below. We'll have some incredible hours on the gravel. I have smoked salmon ready for you guys to eat (from Jeffy's 16 pounder).
9. I have our brook trout fishing picked out finally. Going to take you into the Seney National Forest to a stream that has a beautiful big pool in the wood fairly accessible that my brook trout fishing nurse told me about today. She told me that she and her hubby fish this pool often and never see anybody else. She told me her husband didn't want to tell me about it---but she told him what a great guy I am etc. and thus they are sharing it with us. We'll fish that, the Fox and the Indian River in one day---they are all on my driving line.
10. Sarah is off to an incredible start in New York City. She has a voice teacher that the acting coach directed them too and had her first lesson. He has coached Brittney Spears, Christina Aguilara and worked with Mel Gibson on movies. Sorry, I barely know those people and can't spell their names, but I know they had a lot of success. He thinks Sarah really has it. Her acting coach is also bringing in some music people to hear her tomorrow and she has her first audition for a paid job already. We have an apartment (I think) in Manhatten that I'll be commuting too---won't that be a contrast??? From the beautiful Cedar Forest of the U.P. to the subway of New York!!!
Two agents already talked to Jomay about signing her. I can't believe how fast this is happening. Looks like I'll have to go to New York City a lot over the next couple years. Jomay really getting a lesson in the subways, finding an apartment, etc. What a woman. This is all so surreal---Sarah came out an artist---I often think of the day I was cutting wood in my shop and she was playing on the floor, I think she was four years old--she was taking the scrap pieces of wood and forming animal shapes with
them---I kept her patterns and glued them to a wood backing and still have them---she's just always had an eye for art. If she couldn't draw it or sing it, she dressed herself up with a variety of scarves and ornaments. What can I say about a kid who can dance, sing, draw, play viola, piano, guitar, harp and act beyond belief. You should see her acting clips---I wouldn't call it acting it, she's just being it.
11. OK, enough dribble. Eddy, get here--Sunday we have to pull the boat out and put in the new GPS/Fish finder and trolling rod mounts and get out on the Lake. Monday I think we'll hit the brook trout pool to scope it out---but it's not really a PLAN---I know you don't like to PLAN on a fishing trip---anyway I always wait for the Big Lake to tell me what to do. If she lays down for me, I caress her with my boat and troll for fish. If she whips up a fit I walk away from her and just observe her fitfull moment and let her vent. She really vented yesterday---waves came up so high they hit the transom of the boat on the shore docker---but she's tied down nicely and isn't going anywhere tonight it seems. Also, nice thing about being here---if she's mad and kicking up waves, I just go to the little water up the road and fish for pike. I let her dictate my life I guess, but let's face it, men are used to women being a great part of our lives.
Blessings, from the Naubinway Nook, no better place to be,
Jeff
Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com.
1. Bluegrass music on from the satellite dish on the front of the garage, pretty cool out here---sending e-mails over cyber space from the very tip of Lake Michigan in my little sleepy seaport village.
2. Made you salmon fishing guys coming up next week a little living room out here in the Big Garage with the sat tv, internet, easy chairs and couches. Monday the heating guys come to put in the geothermal heat pump in the main house and move the propane furnace out here for you. Gas company already brought the tank and laid the line to the garage and attached the regulator.
3. Mason finished up today---waterproofed the block . Incredible job, fortunately you'll see this very professional footer/block job. I asked him what it would take to lay the block for closing in my alcove on the east end of the Big Garage---I was planning to do it myself, mixing mortar in the wheelbarrow---doing it over several days, putting in the bolts, etc. I have done some incredible masonry work as my outdoor kitchen in Ohio will attest---but I'm tired tonight---so, he said "I dunno, maybe ____ bucks"---DONE I said---and now I have the block laid to close in the alcove too.
4. Wow, bluegrass music is great.
5. I pulled up from work today to see my contractor lighting up a smoke and saying it was "QUITTEN "time. It was then I saw the block laid in the alcove and half joists all laid for both additions and half the floors done and the block insulated with 2" foam on the inside. I inspected the work and thought Wow, this guy is good. It's a family affair--his son, daughter, himself and a hired guy---doing the work at an amazing rate of efficiency---man I'm glad I picked Rich. I guess you can't go wrong with a guy named Rich. I will keep trying to get him to quit smoking!!!
6. Tomorrow they'll finish the floors. Then they start the walls for the dining room/kitchen, working in from the south and once all framed up to the old house, they start tearing off roof. I think you salmon fishing guys will be heading out right about then, so I expect to have a fully functional kitchen still and the laundry room and bunk room available.
7. He's canteleving (sp?) out the floors a foot Eddy---so the downstairs will be bigger---and putting in a vaulted ceiling in Jeffy's room so he can have a loft and a skylight.
8. MOST IMPORTANTLY---I went up to gravel on the river today and the water is high, bringing water and oxygen to more gravel than ever on the river. I wanted to pick some blueberries too, but they are fading....However, I have never seen so many fishing spots below the campground---lots of beautiful gravel with water over it. No fish yet on the gravel---but that's good---because I am sure they are coming soon---we are
catching at the mouth and out trolling. Thus, the fish are staged and should be coming up anyday. Thus, make sure you are rigged for big salmon fishies on the stream, and have a lighter rod for catching the egg sucking rainbows below. We'll have some incredible hours on the gravel. I have smoked salmon ready for you guys to eat (from Jeffy's 16 pounder).
9. I have our brook trout fishing picked out finally. Going to take you into the Seney National Forest to a stream that has a beautiful big pool in the wood fairly accessible that my brook trout fishing nurse told me about today. She told me that she and her hubby fish this pool often and never see anybody else. She told me her husband didn't want to tell me about it---but she told him what a great guy I am etc. and thus they are sharing it with us. We'll fish that, the Fox and the Indian River in one day---they are all on my driving line.
10. Sarah is off to an incredible start in New York City. She has a voice teacher that the acting coach directed them too and had her first lesson. He has coached Brittney Spears, Christina Aguilara and worked with Mel Gibson on movies. Sorry, I barely know those people and can't spell their names, but I know they had a lot of success. He thinks Sarah really has it. Her acting coach is also bringing in some music people to hear her tomorrow and she has her first audition for a paid job already. We have an apartment (I think) in Manhatten that I'll be commuting too---won't that be a contrast??? From the beautiful Cedar Forest of the U.P. to the subway of New York!!!
Two agents already talked to Jomay about signing her. I can't believe how fast this is happening. Looks like I'll have to go to New York City a lot over the next couple years. Jomay really getting a lesson in the subways, finding an apartment, etc. What a woman. This is all so surreal---Sarah came out an artist---I often think of the day I was cutting wood in my shop and she was playing on the floor, I think she was four years old--she was taking the scrap pieces of wood and forming animal shapes with
them---I kept her patterns and glued them to a wood backing and still have them---she's just always had an eye for art. If she couldn't draw it or sing it, she dressed herself up with a variety of scarves and ornaments. What can I say about a kid who can dance, sing, draw, play viola, piano, guitar, harp and act beyond belief. You should see her acting clips---I wouldn't call it acting it, she's just being it.
11. OK, enough dribble. Eddy, get here--Sunday we have to pull the boat out and put in the new GPS/Fish finder and trolling rod mounts and get out on the Lake. Monday I think we'll hit the brook trout pool to scope it out---but it's not really a PLAN---I know you don't like to PLAN on a fishing trip---anyway I always wait for the Big Lake to tell me what to do. If she lays down for me, I caress her with my boat and troll for fish. If she whips up a fit I walk away from her and just observe her fitfull moment and let her vent. She really vented yesterday---waves came up so high they hit the transom of the boat on the shore docker---but she's tied down nicely and isn't going anywhere tonight it seems. Also, nice thing about being here---if she's mad and kicking up waves, I just go to the little water up the road and fish for pike. I let her dictate my life I guess, but let's face it, men are used to women being a great part of our lives.
Blessings, from the Naubinway Nook, no better place to be,
Jeff
Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com.
Moving College Students
Howdy,
Just finished unbelieveable few days--but now all is well with a crimson sky and the beautiful blue of Lake Michigan in the corner of my eye. Thursday got to Findlay and packed until 3 a.m. Got up Friday and then packed the U-Haul with Lorhel's stuff for her new apartment at college and did chores around the house and headed to Cincinatti. Got to Cinci about 6 p.m. with a U-Haul full of furniture, tables, mattresses, etc. and parked on an incline hill, with THREEEEEEE flights of stairs to Lorhel's room, TWOOOO flights to the kitchen, ONE to the entry and NOOOOOO friends to help us as promised. Not to mention it was STINKIN HOTTTT. So, I'm sitting there in the U-Haul dripping wet with sweat, looking at the full truck and notice that accross the street are 4 college boys on the porch drinkin Pepsi, seriously, not beer. Now, I'm lookin at the three flights of stairs to my left, and the 4 college boys to the right. Next, I look in my wallet and see I have FOUR twenty dollar bills, yep, Uh, Huh:"Hey Guys, you want to make a quick 20 bucks???" I didn't even finish the sentence and they were at the truck. Man, could I move like that when I was 20? Truck was unloaded in less than a half hour and all I did was point and say take this, take that, here, this one takes two. I was rather pleased with myself of course. Lorhel's apartment is very cool---old solid wood floors, split level, lots of character.Well, the night was just begining, trip to Wal Mart and back $184 poorer with toilet paper holders, toilet cleaners, trash cans, etc. The caulk in Lorhel's bath tub along the tub edge was disgusting---so, I dug it all out, dried it with a blow drier, and laid down beads of new caulk. Yes Ed, I put chlorine bleach mixture in first. Put up her bed, pictures on the wall, etc. Back to the hotel. Next morning back to shopping for Lorhel, then back to Findlay. Got back to Findlay around 4 p.m. just in time to meet the two guys from "E-Movers"---a service U-Haul has for local help. They loaded the freezer, leather couch, chairs, multiple boxes cabinets and tools and even removed and replaced doors as necessary to facilitate moving. Second best $164 I ever spent. They even moved the old couches up from the basement to replace the leather ones that are now here at the Nook. Still, up until 1 a.m. packing more small boxes and tools. All the while I'm thinking, how in the heck am I going to unload this stuff? The Marine I know in Naubinway will be working, where am I going to find a few good men on a work day? How will I unload this stuff????Sunday morn get underway about 1100---stop at Cabelas to get a new fish finder and trolling rig, then Lowes in West Branch for extruded foam for insulating the crawl space. Get back to the Nook about 2100 and Jeffy's already in bed. Up until 0300 unloading what I could, small boxes, etc. Dead beat tired.Monday morn I am awaked by voices walking around the house, two men, masons here to pour the concrete for the footers for the additions. I walk outside, how ya doin? Good, can't start yet though, boss ain't here, delayed. Oh, really? Say, would you mind helping me move a couple things? Yeah, short order made of leather couch, freezer, 4 drawer Oak File Cabinet---and they wouldn't even let me help---I'd try to grab something and they would say, no, let me get that, OH YEAH!!!! They wouldn't take a dime, so I gave them each 20 bucks under the guise of buying them lunch, probably the best 40 bucks I ever spent. Then, to the storage unit to unload some small stuff, drop off the U-Haul. Back to the Nook and into the moldy nasty crawl space under Jeffy's room. I haul out rotted timbers, old lead pipes and SIX 45 gallon contractor garbage babs of nasty old insulation. I cut away the insulation from the heating duct work, glue extruded 2 inch foam to the block walls and lay down a new vapor barrier and duct tape it to the extruded foam now glued to the walls. I put fiberglass insulation along the outer joists and voila, the crawl under Jeffy's room is clean, dry, heated and insulated.Then I haul all the waste back to the dump pile and right now I am so sore I can barely type. Good news is, they were able to dig the big rocks out away from the dining room addition area, dig out the soft dirt, and fill it all with pea gravel and then lay the forms for the foundation. Then, the cement truck came and they took a front end loader to the cement truck, filled the bucket, and made multiple trips to the forms. So, now, the forms are laid and they start the block tomorrow. Decided on a vaulted ceiling for Jeff's room with a skylight and will build him a loft for guests too---will be an awesome room. My contractor is going to cantelevier the floor out and add a foot all the way round his room, and the laundry room. Wow, haven't been this tired since I was a college student and stayed up all night with Ed, Phil, Kevin and the FRAT. The Geothermal heat pump is sitting in the small garage awaiting installation this week. The gas company brought a brand new tank out to the big garage today---and I have the sub-panel sitting there to install. Thus, it looks like my salmon fishing guests will be rather toasty out there. In addition, I have couches and easy chairs out there that were replaced by the Findlay furniture inside the Nook. You should have seen this place about noon. I had the gas company truck lifting the tank with the crane, the cement truck on the road pumping cement, the guy with the front end loader going back and forth---the contractor barking orders, all the grunts with shovels and block, the U-Haul being further unloaded and to boot---I managed to find time to go to Jeffy's school in Engadine to take him his football cleats he forgot---and to the post office. I was almost as multi-tasked and brilliant as Ed today, well, a close second at least.Fishing is awesome right now, they are catching COHOS like crazy at the mouth. Holding off on fishing though until Monday when Eddy gets here, then I'm fishing like mad!!!See you soon!Jeff
Just finished unbelieveable few days--but now all is well with a crimson sky and the beautiful blue of Lake Michigan in the corner of my eye. Thursday got to Findlay and packed until 3 a.m. Got up Friday and then packed the U-Haul with Lorhel's stuff for her new apartment at college and did chores around the house and headed to Cincinatti. Got to Cinci about 6 p.m. with a U-Haul full of furniture, tables, mattresses, etc. and parked on an incline hill, with THREEEEEEE flights of stairs to Lorhel's room, TWOOOO flights to the kitchen, ONE to the entry and NOOOOOO friends to help us as promised. Not to mention it was STINKIN HOTTTT. So, I'm sitting there in the U-Haul dripping wet with sweat, looking at the full truck and notice that accross the street are 4 college boys on the porch drinkin Pepsi, seriously, not beer. Now, I'm lookin at the three flights of stairs to my left, and the 4 college boys to the right. Next, I look in my wallet and see I have FOUR twenty dollar bills, yep, Uh, Huh:"Hey Guys, you want to make a quick 20 bucks???" I didn't even finish the sentence and they were at the truck. Man, could I move like that when I was 20? Truck was unloaded in less than a half hour and all I did was point and say take this, take that, here, this one takes two. I was rather pleased with myself of course. Lorhel's apartment is very cool---old solid wood floors, split level, lots of character.Well, the night was just begining, trip to Wal Mart and back $184 poorer with toilet paper holders, toilet cleaners, trash cans, etc. The caulk in Lorhel's bath tub along the tub edge was disgusting---so, I dug it all out, dried it with a blow drier, and laid down beads of new caulk. Yes Ed, I put chlorine bleach mixture in first. Put up her bed, pictures on the wall, etc. Back to the hotel. Next morning back to shopping for Lorhel, then back to Findlay. Got back to Findlay around 4 p.m. just in time to meet the two guys from "E-Movers"---a service U-Haul has for local help. They loaded the freezer, leather couch, chairs, multiple boxes cabinets and tools and even removed and replaced doors as necessary to facilitate moving. Second best $164 I ever spent. They even moved the old couches up from the basement to replace the leather ones that are now here at the Nook. Still, up until 1 a.m. packing more small boxes and tools. All the while I'm thinking, how in the heck am I going to unload this stuff? The Marine I know in Naubinway will be working, where am I going to find a few good men on a work day? How will I unload this stuff????Sunday morn get underway about 1100---stop at Cabelas to get a new fish finder and trolling rig, then Lowes in West Branch for extruded foam for insulating the crawl space. Get back to the Nook about 2100 and Jeffy's already in bed. Up until 0300 unloading what I could, small boxes, etc. Dead beat tired.Monday morn I am awaked by voices walking around the house, two men, masons here to pour the concrete for the footers for the additions. I walk outside, how ya doin? Good, can't start yet though, boss ain't here, delayed. Oh, really? Say, would you mind helping me move a couple things? Yeah, short order made of leather couch, freezer, 4 drawer Oak File Cabinet---and they wouldn't even let me help---I'd try to grab something and they would say, no, let me get that, OH YEAH!!!! They wouldn't take a dime, so I gave them each 20 bucks under the guise of buying them lunch, probably the best 40 bucks I ever spent. Then, to the storage unit to unload some small stuff, drop off the U-Haul. Back to the Nook and into the moldy nasty crawl space under Jeffy's room. I haul out rotted timbers, old lead pipes and SIX 45 gallon contractor garbage babs of nasty old insulation. I cut away the insulation from the heating duct work, glue extruded 2 inch foam to the block walls and lay down a new vapor barrier and duct tape it to the extruded foam now glued to the walls. I put fiberglass insulation along the outer joists and voila, the crawl under Jeffy's room is clean, dry, heated and insulated.Then I haul all the waste back to the dump pile and right now I am so sore I can barely type. Good news is, they were able to dig the big rocks out away from the dining room addition area, dig out the soft dirt, and fill it all with pea gravel and then lay the forms for the foundation. Then, the cement truck came and they took a front end loader to the cement truck, filled the bucket, and made multiple trips to the forms. So, now, the forms are laid and they start the block tomorrow. Decided on a vaulted ceiling for Jeff's room with a skylight and will build him a loft for guests too---will be an awesome room. My contractor is going to cantelevier the floor out and add a foot all the way round his room, and the laundry room. Wow, haven't been this tired since I was a college student and stayed up all night with Ed, Phil, Kevin and the FRAT. The Geothermal heat pump is sitting in the small garage awaiting installation this week. The gas company brought a brand new tank out to the big garage today---and I have the sub-panel sitting there to install. Thus, it looks like my salmon fishing guests will be rather toasty out there. In addition, I have couches and easy chairs out there that were replaced by the Findlay furniture inside the Nook. You should have seen this place about noon. I had the gas company truck lifting the tank with the crane, the cement truck on the road pumping cement, the guy with the front end loader going back and forth---the contractor barking orders, all the grunts with shovels and block, the U-Haul being further unloaded and to boot---I managed to find time to go to Jeffy's school in Engadine to take him his football cleats he forgot---and to the post office. I was almost as multi-tasked and brilliant as Ed today, well, a close second at least.Fishing is awesome right now, they are catching COHOS like crazy at the mouth. Holding off on fishing though until Monday when Eddy gets here, then I'm fishing like mad!!!See you soon!Jeff
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