A Spoonful of Sugar Makes the Medicine Go Down

A costly trip to the Lander Courthouse but all the cars are registered for another year and the property taxes are paid. Gulp. But I had something pleasant to look forward to: Dinner with Mike and Diana, an autographed copy of her latest book and a good visit. We went to the Little Wind Casino. I went early to put the fix in on who was buying dinner. The older lady at the register was doing it all. Indian payday and some help didn't show. She was melting down. I had a little time on my hands and ample experience so I bussed the tables for her. Helped her get caught up. The place was busy with the hamburger and squealing kids crowd. I employed the old  "educators stink-eye" on a few kids.  We three were in the mood for visiting so the long wait for our food didn't matter and the food was terrific. Delish. Always some good laughs about life and past adventures. Diana's book is getting recognized all over the place. they are going to Billings for an honor soon. She has been nominated for a "Willa" (Willa Cather) by the Western Women Writers group. Mikey is getting amped up for retirement- everybody always wonders how that is going to go. Their son Nick has found a nice soulmate (girl)  and is doing very well at work in Denver. I know many of their family members and we have a lot of history together so we had a good old gab. Made me smile-even after paying my taxes.

Less thrilled were the doggies. Though I bought them hamburgers in Lander and fed them at the Casino, it was a long time in the car. Didn't let them out because of Honey's leg. It took some deck sitting and dinner to bring them around.  Buddy has quickly adapted to regular mealtimes. I have to "catch" Honey on her way out of the van. It works but she doesn't get the "why " of it.

You Don't Have To Be Crazy to be My Friend

But it sure adds to general levity and spice of life. My friend Delores likes to make fun of her West Virginia roots, don her hilly-billy teeth and Glitzy wardrobe. I think a part of being my friend does include the ability to get outside yourself and have some fun. She really does doll up right nice on other occasions. Not that this look doesn't work for me...


Mrs. West Virginia 2010



Makes me laugh!

Honey is being good as gold. Buddy seems to be catching on that play time has to be more restrained for now. Honey is managing quite well. She is either on the porch, on the hill below the deck or under my work table and sometimes on the bed. I am with her always. Not more than 7 steps at a time. I hope that is confined enough. I charged up my netbook so I can compute on the deck. I needed to update some software on it anyway.

I stocked up on some Bufferin a few days ago-and low dose aspirin because the vet said one of those for Buddy's pain issues, if any, and half an aspirin for Honey if no prescription is available. The Bufferin was for me. Lo and behold my nightly Bufferin is helping the legs get smaller and less tight, and I seem to feel better.

Off to Lander to pay license fees and property taxes tomorrow. Then a good visit with Mike and Diana over dinner. Doggies will ride along. 

Bummed

The day started perky enough. Vacuumed parts of the Van then took a quick trip to town for essentials. Stopped at 789 Casino and got my free lunch-a tasty bit of sweet and sour chicken, fried rice (kinda blah) and a green salad. Off to Wal-Mart while it was still cool and got my groceries. I was on my way out of town and thought about Honey still hobbling so we went to the vet. The new Dr. there didn't want to see her last time and gave me pain meds. She said if it is still going on we had better take a look.  All three vets said this is not good. So the girl was sedated, barfed, as they will do, palpated, and knocked out for X-rays. No bone issues but likely a torn knee ligament  which may be worse. She left groggy, wrapped, with a plastic brace immobilizing her leg. TWO MORE weeks of confinement and four meds to dispense daily. One of them sedates so that should help. But life is going on hold again. I did ask for scissors while Honey was out to cut some mats she had. Taeha trimmed them out for me. Honey will let me do it but it turns into a game so I have to work fast. This was an opportunity. Buddy just knocks them all out- Mr. Personality.

With the anaesthetic and the brace, it was tough going at home. Might have been funny if it weren't so pathetic. She would want to turn left and turn right, and get herself stuck. Getting a 90 pounder turned around is not easy. Tomorrow, we'll see how she is managing and I will form some alternative agendas.

Turkey

Cousin Russ and his wife Kristin and another couple are touring Mesopotamia to kick off Russel's retirement. They are kindly emailing pictures and have started a Picasa album. It is really very interesting and since I am unlikely to go there I am Googling for information. Pretty cool to tour from home. This is the "Blue Mosque." Lots of church pictures of all kinds of different denominations.

I am deconstructing the interior of the van. A person ought to do that every couple of years. It is not a simple task. The stuff went in like a Chinese puzzle. I am getting rid of stuff (some) and based on experience, winnowing and packing to make some stuff more readily available. I'll get it in for service when they can access the "doghouse" which covers the engine in that vintage of van. It has a hood but much of the engine needs to be accessed from inside the car. I got in to fix a blind that Honey had discombobulated in her back seat perch. It was not a difficult fix but I was in a fix. I had to reconstruct how I got my bulk into that position and reverse it. I was panicked because the minute I realized it was going to be a little tricky I started getting the urge to "go." The race was on! Buddy is no help. He is a little thief- a magpie who claims intriguing things and prances off with them. He has a thing about socks-maybe that is a good thing because he has found more than I thought I owned. I am about to own more. I have been making-do with Wal-Mart, Dr. Scholl's compression stockings-XL which is really only good to a size 12 shoe. I ordered direct, several pairs for feet my size. The foot really isn't the issue. The "over-the calf" really doesn't rise to the occasion and they tend to roll down. The sores are looking a lot better but haven't really gone away. The list for the annual checkup is getting longer each year.

Honey is still a little gimpy. Pills end tomorrow. I will call the vet.

Beautiful fall days here, today was quite warm. Leaves are turning, the sunset tonight was spectacular. A very pleasant day. I fixed a pot roast. We enjoyed that and have more than enough for tomorrow. The Denver Broncos frustrated me. They have it all but can't seem to score. If they can take care of that minor detail they might do just fine.

After My Own Heart

 The Denver Post carried an article on 85 year old Wanda who is still trying to carry on with the family ranch near Dinosaur National Monument. She summers there tending to 300 cows, fixing fence, growing her own veggies and being a hermit, albeit a friendly one. Independent old cuss. She lets hunters rent her cabin and hunting privileges in the fall because she is near the nubbins cash wise. They put in a cement floor, an indoor potty and a solar water pump. She can't help walking on the floor but the other amenities she ignores.

The pictures were great and the story excellent. In the comments section someone said if you enjoy this, you need to read Diana Kouris's book Riding the Edge of an Era. My eyes bugged out. Diana is a friend of mine-her husband, an even older friend. I had been meaning to get the book from Diana. I have her first one and enjoyed it. So I sent her the link, called to tell her why. She has known Wanda all her life. Long story, short, we will meet for dinner next week for a long overdue visit and a book signing.







Link to the Denver Post article here:
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16139067

Honey is doing better with the meds but she still limps sometimes. To tell the truth, I am getting a little sick and tired of the doggie nursemaid game. I like them better when they are are able to be more independent and I can be too. I can't say enough about how good she has been but every minute of everyday monitoring is getting old. What with Buddy, it is going on 6-8 weeks now.

Reflections on a Misspent Youth

We lived in Steamboat Springs for about  six years when I was growing up. They have reunions every year that encompass a span of years- it was a small school, the town had about 1300 residents then. I attended one reunion as a kind of interloper because I really didn't graduate from there. They invite me back, though and while I don't plan to go this year, they contacted me for the "booklet." I spent some nice hours yesterday remembering and writing about Steamboat years:

Prospecting for garnets on Soda Creek in the river bank-by the bridge near Hubbards.



The party line. We were 46-J or 46-R and Browns had the other one. We could stand by our phone and wave at the Browns on theirs. We had Skype long before computers. Of course we never listened in. Chrissie Fick was one operator for Union and we always said "hi." She had tales to tell but never did.


"Mr. Sandman, Bring me a dream." Played on the P.A. at the Chief Theater before and between the shows.


Playing HORSE with the basketball at the hoop in the alley behind Shearers. (Alice Van Cleve's barn?)


Digging up and making horseradish that grew by the Wither's "summerhouse."


Playing "Kick the Can" and "Hide and go Seek" using the tree in front of Shearers as "the base." And the year "Hide and go Seek," became "Hide and go Kiss."


The Lion's Club Minstrel/talent Show at the Chief (ye Gods!): My dad was Aunt Jemimah. Andrew Mc Dermott popped his "boobs" with a pin. Cynthia Adams sang "Ave Maria."


"Draw a Face on a Dead Man's Back." "Mumblety Peg with our pocket knives." "Parcheesi", and "Clue" on the rug at Shearer's house. Days long Canasta tournaments.


Harold Tucker delivering coal. Taking the clinkers to the ashpit.


Putting carbide near the steam valves on the radiators in 4th grade and watching Minnie Herzog casually open the windows to get rid of the stench.It never worked as well as we hoped.


"Pie Socials" as fundraisers for the band after band concerts. Parents baked and donated the pies, then they sold them by the piece.


The only pizza place in town was Mrs. Workman's at the school lunch serving line. Coach Telk "losing it" over the lunchroom being too noisy and Superintendent George P. Sauer taking him by the arm and escorting him out of the room.


"Tin roof" sundaes for a quarter at Law Drug. Reading the magazines in the corner. The old Samoyed dog that slept outside the door.


Trading "funny books" at the Library.


Putting pennies on the railroad tracks.


Penny candy at the service station after swimming.


Lorna Brown packing a picnic lunch and packing up the kids to take to Marvin and Bill Neish when they were farming.


Docking and herding sheep for Andrew McDermott. Camping by Soda Creek with my dog Bootsie and my pet bum lamb.


My lawn mowing business. My brother Bob calling me "Snowball Junior."
(Snowball was a town character who mowed lawns. Rumor had it he had stepped on a high voltage line in the service.  He was definitely strange.)


Dance lessons in the Rorex basement before 8th Grade Prom. Ruby's squaw dresses-every woman had one. Ruby's were especially colorful. Brightened up the school library.


Marsha Brown catching brook trout above the falls using daisies for bait after our worms ran out.


Reading every Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mystery and Tom Swift book in the Steamboat Library. Trading with other kids.


Winter Carnival- ski-joring, diamond hitches, the Steamboat Ski Band on TV! The flares on Howelson Hill.


The Gleason's Chesapeake Retriever "Tinker Bell" chasing skunks through the neighborhood.


The "Save America" lady working the sidewalk in front of Webber's Appliance.


Trucks going over the edge on Rabbit Ears Pass. One year everybody in town got oranges. Another year a load of pigs went over, Nobody I knew got a pig.


Listening to KRAI, Craig Colorado. "One Man's Family." "The Great Gildersleeve," "Fibber McGee and Molly." The play by play for the Craig vs. Steamboat game. We always got "hometowned" by the announcers.
 
Things are going slow around here. Supervising the doggie is the main task. Honey is doing better at staying calm than I would have ever dreamed. Her lameness seems to be improving slowly. They are both restless and I don't blame them. We are all pretty much housebound.

Strange Day

Five ayem saw us up. There was no more sleep in me-it seemed very warm in the house and it was. It was warm outside: 68 degrees. Coffee was enjoyed in the dark under a million stars. It was awesome. As the dawn came, the temperature started to drop to the mid 50's. Poor Honey was hobbling so it was vet time. I got written instructions from the new vet and some rimadyl. The instructions were for confinement of the dog. Oh great! But it is going better than I thought it would. We had lunch in town and did some shopping. I have to say Wendy's salads even at $5.99 are terrific. They look better in person than the pictures. Surely enough for two people or two meals. Doggies had chicken nuggets-parts is parts.  That put us home in time for a nap. We all three had some bed time-resting the dog leg. It was a good nap. But then it seemed like I crammed two days into one. I am hoping for a conventional night tonight.

Perusing the news around the world, I wonder at people and their childcare. In Florida a two year old "unlocked the gate" and drowned in the family pool. In Australia they found a dead child in a washing machine and right here in Lander, WY a toddler fell in an open septic tank and drowned in waste. "He was here just a minute ago."

Big Day

The day started with some Sandhill Cranes venturing up into the top 40, close enough for some decent photos. I was pleased with that. The birthday party for Tye Eric and McAye was scheduled for 1:00. When I start smelling better the dogs stay between me and the van. I ended up taking them and compromising on the length of my stay. Tye was waiting for me bless his heart. Daryne said Tye said he was going to come get me on the 4-wheeler last night. Tye turned 8, McAye turned 6. A big family brings in family and neighbors and all kinds of good things to eat. I see some of them year to year at these events and others at sundry events. Janet called-they are swamped and they couldn't come but she wanted me to know she found one of the gag gifts from our/her party in the couch. She also told me she was cooking supper with a miner's light on her head yesterday after the lights went out. Too funny.

The above is a self-explanatory birthday picture. Tye is delighted. McAye is a little doll. She was into Hannah Montana this year. Tiny for six and smart as a whip. I didn't recognize the older girls at first. They put their foot down and are styling on their own now. Beautiful girls. I visited with them: In Fremont County Justin Bieber is lame. Lady Gaga is just weird. The meat dress didn't go over with the cattle raising crowd. They are Facebook fans and their parents have access. Sports are cool. Camey decided she would play volleyball this year instead of football. Macey is driving-taking them all to school and is a volleyball referee. They talked teachers and I only recognized one name. Apparently coach Weber is still relying almost entirely on the movie projector for Middle School Social Studies.

Uncle Steven's platter. There is a little competition among the ladies and the food is always very good.

Grandpa Stanley started quoting Rush Limbaugh. I suddenly remembered the dogs were in the car. Had to go. The hermitage was beckoning.

Trivia

1. Got my feet in some new shoes I have had for awhile-they are skinny enough now. The sores are getting better. The socks get a little painful toward the evening but not too bad. Ten pounds of mud in a five pound sack.
2. The remote control for the digital tuner turned up-underneath a Russian Olive tree where the scamp collects his treasures. The grass is drying out so it became visible when I was taking the finch feeder away from him. The remote still works.
3. Honey picked up a sprain yesterday. I've been keeping her as contained as I can, slipping her an ibuprofen in the mornings. That seems to calm her a little. She limps until her alarm goes off then she is full steam ahead.
4. The electrical power went all crazy. I was just about to get in the attic to change fuses when I called High Plains Power. They said they were having trouble-either dim lights or no power west of Riverton. My juice was acting like one leg was out. No cooking so we went to town. I called before we left town and they said the power would be on by 8:00 p.m. I scurried home to take advantage of the remaining daylight to get the lanterns lit, etc. Had just finished that task when the juice came back. The outage fried some of those fluorescent bulbs. It was kind of fun to go into emergency mode. Stuff is still ready. We shall survive.
5. Skyped with Nicole and Andre. They were in Sandwich on Cape Cod. Going to Nantucket on the ferry tomorrow. They really enjoyed Boston. They took the train, subway, and a trolley to see the sights in downtown.
6. It was barely above freezing this morning. Of course I was out in the dark because I went to bed early. Woke up at 5 and went back to sleep. Woke up at 6 and knew sleepy time was over.

Slow Day-but informative

It took 15 minutes of intensive labor but I got the compression stockings on. They are not as painful as the last time I did this exercise but the legs were a little looser this time too. The ulcer was not very pretty. I dressed it.

Beyond that, my removal of the swamp cooler triggered a right warm day for September 16th. I knew it would. The fans are helping cool things off this evening.  There was not a lot of productivity today. Brother Rich graced me with a "boredom call." When he is on the highway traveling for his work, I often get calls. He and Val are going to take the train to San Jose when Brittany graduates next spring. That sounds like fun. I love the trains. It it tempting to head south on the 29th to see the UP's million pound Steam Engine pull the circus train to Denver.  We'll see if the van is A-1 by that time. I Skyped with Matt this evening. Audrey thinks she is getting gypped because kindergarten is only 3 hours. She is ready for full days. Has the routine down and is eager for more. Matt also told me that Jason is driving to Texas with the four birds and Juneau. Lori is already there. They shipped their second best furniture to Pampa where they bought a 4br 3bth/ pool, house. I knew that was a thought awhile ago but I was surprised it happened so quickly and with so little fanfare.  I know that Florida's hottest in 12 years summer was tough for them. Lori will probably use the house for about 6 months of the year-enjoying her family in the area and the cooler? drier climate. They will go back and forth from time to time. I assume the 6 months they will be in Florida will coincide with my time there. They were pushing buying a house in Florida for me to use earlier in the summer but the prospect made me very nervous. I am a low overhead guy. The house is just the beginning. Sweet of them though.

The First "Senior Moment."

The doggies kept sniffing at my left pantleg. I wondered if I had spilled something on them. Then the "bell rang" and I hiked my pantleg. Unbeknownst to me, an ugly leg ulcer had developed due to the edema. It is right on the upper shin where I always have a bang or a scrape so I never gave it a thought or a glance. Having glanced, it is being treated at home and I can see if it improves or gets worse. Good thing the doggies were looking out for me-or calculating how long they had to wait for the real feast. We took a run to Wal Mart this evening for compression stockings and presents.

Things have been much more cordial between this house and Feglers this year. I got an invitation for the party for the two little ones and since I missed the older girl's birthdays I got something for them too. Ember, their cousin is getting married so I got something for her. That is going to be some expensive damn birthday cake but I like those kids. I'll see some folks I only see once or twice a year. It will be a fun afternoon... Sunday...if that is the 19th...and there you have the most recent "Senior Moment."

The Bridge is OPEN

Though it is one lane at a time right now, the bridge did open and we skedaddled for town bright and early. I had lost my Casino Card. That took about 3 minutes at the big Casino. I had a choice of waiting 15 minutes for lunch or taking the breakfast. I took breakfast-scrambled eggs with diced ham, hash browns, toast and jam, and a beverage. It was a great breakfast. Free! On to the bank to transfer money in, then to WalMart for the weekly shop and to Burger King for a treat for my starving dogs. Hint: if you order double hamburgers you will pay $2.00 for each, If you order "Buck Doubles" you will get two patties and a piece of cheese for $1.00 each. Don't ask me, but the doggies are getting Buck Doubles from here on. I got nothing. Cheap visit.

At 789 Casino the (other) Senior citizens were gathering for their Club 55 treats.  Some of those old codgers had on their best jeans, tennie runners or boots, clean shirts, and hats. It was an OCCASION. And it is an occasion-seeing old friends and having a meal out. It made me want to smile and cry at the same time. They were happy but that it took so little to make them happy about did me in.

We were into and out of town in less than two hours. Great! I had a chance to look over the contractor for the bridge. I am pretty sure it was NATCO. The Northern Arapaho outfit. The bridge itself is a prefab-looks sturdy enough but NATCO does not have a shiny track record. They had to redo the highway by the Ethete Store three times to meet specs. They did Plunkett Road and are now redoing Plunkett Road. The first job started to deteriorate within two years. Having a do-over on a road is one thing. Having a do-over on a bridge is quite another-blub, blub.

I spent most of the rest of the day outside, doing little chores but mostly minding the dogs. The traffic was constant and noisy. After so much quiet all summer it was wearing. I have to keep my babies safe, though.

Not Yet on My iPod

Productive day as the fall days and my energy level are agreeable. I finished up with the log oiling project and had enough left over to attack some other wood items. I have kept up with this pretty well and the logs are in pretty good shape. Irritated more than a few spiders which is fine because they are plentiful. They do good work but enough is enough. I did engineer a solution for the Swamp Cooler that will make putting it in a matter of lifting it a couple of inches and sliding it in the casement next year. It blocks a lot of the view from the north window but it does that when it is installed. No big whoop. I can see fine in Florida.

I think the bridge will open tomorrow. They are moving the cranes out. I will be glad. I have been putting off another long trip in hope that it would open. Dog food is to the nubbins. The spoiled brats usually get their cooked meal at night. They were hinting for breakfast and hoping for French toast. They got scrambled eggs and were less than enthusiastic. I may have a sibling rivalry problem on my hands. Buddy led Honey down the highway again tonight but I was quicker on the uptake and called them back. Buddy was being a little stinker. He was growling and nipping at Honey to prevent her from running right home. He is first on the bed and takes prime real estate. Honey came up last night and I shifted to be close to her and pet her for a change. It perked her up but I was dang near deformed from sleeping in that position. Honey is very sweet to him but I am starting to root for her to lay down the law.

Big mail day. My $5.00 shirts arrived and my Hunton Diary. The diary is very interesting but I think the one volume will suffice to capture the flavor. Hunton had rancher interests and was part of that faction in the Johnson County War though he declined emphatically to participate in the war itself. His machinations to get relatives to be proxy for claims and the financing are in the diary. There have been land grabs in this state its entire history. "The meek shall inherit the earth?" I don't think so.

Hermits Have No Peer Pressure

"Hermits have no peer pressure," was on the reader board at the Print Shop. Made me laugh and acknowledge the truth of it. Completely independent.  Then coincidentally I read a piece in the HuffPost about "Empaths" which  also struck home.  It shed some light on the hermit thing. 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judith-orloff-md/are-you-an-emotional-empa_b_697483.html
There is nothing that I didn't know already but she framed it nicely and put a better label than "dingbat hermit" to it.

It was 38 degrees at 7:30 this morning. Coffee was brief on the deck. How many warnings do I need that anytime after the 15th of this month we can see snow? Since my glucose is under better control and I felt pretty good, today seemed like a ripe time to oil the cabin-put preservative on the logs. So I did that on a nice warm afternoon. A nice sense of accomplishment followed and it looks nice. The north facing wall got two coats. It is exposed to the elements more and seems to dry out/weather faster. Tomorrow will include touch-up and putting the Swamp Cooler to bed.

I was ready for some football but the remote for the digital tuner has gone missing. I think Buddy knows something about it but he isn't telling. So I sat and looked at the blank TV and, after my exertions, nature took its course. Buddy asked to come up so we all three had a doze instead of a show.

Greg called during nap time and I let it go. Called him later... they are having a good summer. He will go do labor at a private fishing camp in the Adirondacks next weekend and get fishing privileges for his efforts. All my Florida friends are getting antsy to go south. Not me-this is just wonderful here but I know what is in store if I stay. I was watching Buddy as I chatted and then the doggies were gone. After the call I called them. They did not come. After thirty minutes I was getting panicky. I drove up and down the road and continued to whistle for them. Finally, I was down at the corrals and checking the culverts for drowned dogs and they came running up the road from the bridge end. They have never been down there and never gone for so long. I was upset. They were pleased with themselves-for a minute.You never scold for coming but I was a little cool to them. I pitied them today and took the electronic collars off. Won't happen again.

Blogger friend Denis retired from Pathfinder after umpteen years. He had been considering it but events brought it to a head. Now Denis the professional will become Denis the person full time. Always an adjustment. We'll see how he does. I'm betting on him. Wal-Mart Greeter is always a possibility. (He has a Consulting contract with Pathfinder).

The Florida kids had their 11th anniversary today. Bless them and I wish them happiness for the next 11 and the 11 after that and so on.

Nicole and Andre emailed. The boat is out of the water and cleaned and put to bed for the winter. They got the Rialta serviced and are going to convoy with friends from Quebec to Boston then up the coast through Maine and to Novia Scotia. They were talking of that trip on the way to Florida so I think their plans have changed a little. I hope the leaves are changing.

Cold and Windy

The day was chilly and windy and even Honey spent most of the day on the back porch. I finally got tired of the four walls and took a nearly unnecessary trip to Lander just to do something. Feglers are chopping corn for their sileage. The Sandhill Cranes are loving it. They usually sleep down by my river but forage during the day.

I got better glucose numbers today but still have some work to do. All three of us were on the bed for nap time. No wrestling. It was really very nice-companionable. I'm getting ready to try it again very shortly.

Secret Pleasure

For years I have been reading various on-line newspapers: Salt Lake Tribune, Seattle P.I., Palm Beach Post, The Guardian. Independent, Casper Star-Tribune, Florida Sun-Sentinel, Denver Post, Palm Beach Post, Huffington Post, Village Voice, Toledo Blade, Washington Post, and The New York Times. As a registered user, one is given leave to comment on the content. They make it too easy. One paper keeps track of the posts and I was stunned to see I had commented 293 times. It is probably healthy. I remember my father yelling at the Television or going off on rants. I am getting my two cents out there. Sometimes people respond. Mostly people just talk past each other these days. It  is fun to do. Creates the illusion that your ideas count.

We are getting a little color in the bushes, crisp mornings. and some nice warm days. The middle of the day is usually very pleasant.  The Sandhill Cranes are practicing flying. The harvested fields are very attractive to them. Everything is exposed from seeds to grasshoppers to rodents. The second cutting of hay seems short this year. People are scratching their heads. The sweet corn I am given is top-notch.

I sat in the dark today. There was a cold brisk wind from the west outside making sitting out bearable for short stints. The power went out. I think it was something down at the bridge repair that did it. High Plains went there after quite awhile and nowhere else and soon power came back.

Took a blood sugar reading tonight because I thought it might be low. It was alarmingly high! Six times a day monitoring and curbing the intake starts tomorrow. I thought I was doing great. Things creep up on you when you don't watch.

Not today, or tomorrow

The bridge was supposed to open today. Some traffic headed that way but soon came back. Some highway department people were in front of my drive, so I quizzed them. NEXT Tuesday, tentatively, will see the temporary bridge open. They were siting a sign that will say "Road Work Ahead."  Folks will have to slow down and take it easy on the bridge (music to my ears). One said "There will be accidents." I believe he is right. Hope it is not me.

With that bit of intelligence, I saddled up and headed to town the long way. Pretty straightforward in and out. I have a supplier of goat's milk next door. Thayne made that connection for me. I am pleased. Cow's milk does not do it for me. Goat's milk does. I have used powdered skim milk to cook with but this will do fine. I was encouraged and bought the ingredients for Greenbrier French Toast. (I had milk!)  It is more a bit of knowledge that Delores picked up at the Greenbrier this summer. It really is very nice. Two dogs and one man rated it one thumb up (What did you expect? Dogs don't have thumbs). They were looking for more and I was generous with them. I took that as "yummy!" Anyway, the secret is to mash up some sugar frosted flakes (we use generic) into crumbles-not too fine. Dip your bread in the egg batter, then in the cereal crumbs, and cook in a little hotter pan than usual. Sweet, and caramelly, and crunchy. Muy bueno!

My legs have been getting a little heavier every day. I was determined to stay in bed until 8:00 this morning. Buddy got bored and ate through a strap on his harness. That was on the shopping list too. I got a collar to try. I kind of like harnesses on the littler dogs because I use can use them like a handle in a pinch. We'll try the collar. Honey got hurt/scared today. I didn't see but I heard and she was all for spending the day indoors. I checked her over and settled her. I think she made contact with the electric fence somehow. Back to the edema: I ran out of the new and improved  time release potassium tablets so I reverted to my old ones. Like turning on a faucet-an old leaky faucet.

I read a short article in the Casper Star-Tribune on John C. Hunton-a Civil War vet and early Wyoming pioneer. He was a diarist like my great great grandfather John Montgomery R., and like me, I suppose. There is a website. It was very interesting. I found the last volume of his diary on Alibris for $20.00. I decided to give it a whirl. There are six volumes. The other 5 are a leetle more expensive-$275.00 for the set. If I really, really, really, like volume 6, I may pop for the others and eventually donate them to UW.

Labor Day Weekend

We have been soaking up the peace and quiet before the traffic starts up again. I can say without equivocation that this has been the best summer ever here on the oasis. And I can also say that the bridge repair will be welcome in some ways. If I had to choose, the bridge would be gone. I don't know if it is a function of age or what but my love of this spot, the vistas, the critters, the skies, overwhelms me at times. Buddy is looking good isn't he? I think he is about all healed up. He's put on a little weight, his coat is improved. He is a fast little guy and doesn't appear to get winded. The big girl is an athlete but the little guy keeps up quite well. They took turns chasing each other in the top 40 this evening and they are speedy and funny. Honey is a dear. She stops and waits for him. He has the confidence of knowing he has backup. Bonus: Buddy likes me to sing to him. They both do. Honey used to act embarrassed but if I sing to Buddy, she wants to hear her story too. I sing in the Indian fashion telling them their stories complete with sound effects. I am not alone. Lori sings to Juneau.

The birds are in a feeding frenzy with the cooler weather. My squirrel-proof feeder is not. I found the lid off one day-a dove was trying to get in the top. The next day I saw a squirrel climb right up and try to get the top off again.

Honey is momentarily triumphant with the toy. They were towing each around with it but the game ended when the camera came out. They have pretty much cleared the grass out on the top of the hill.

I was listening to some Debussy Nocturnes under the stars last night on XM radio and they were so pleasant I went right to iTunes and downloaded 50 pieces by Debussy. (Note to self: Wait until you get to Florida for large downloads). Classical music is so cheap on iTunes. I could have gotten the three nocturnes for $3.00. I got 50 for $5.99. Some I know, some are new.

I made a big pot of ham and pinto beans on Friday. Corn bread to go with. Discovered that the butter disappeared with the eggs. Corn bread with peach preserves is good even without butter. The dogs are glad the beans are gone. Not that they got to eat any. We had fried chicken breasts tonight. Had to make gravy because there was no butter-grrr, for the spud.


Downloaded and am halfway through a good book-"The Culture of Fear-revised (updated)" It is written by a sociologist . He was on Oprah many moons ago but for some reason my bulloney detector was going off about something and I recollected this book. I love statistics and this guy is quite good about dissecting "studies" and going for the real stats. It is very readable.  We are complete rubes for the media to manipulate.

I also ordered some shirts from Eddie Bauer-end of season for $5.00. Marilu would be proud of me. Not quite 13 cents a shirt at the thrift shop but $3.00 trousers and $5.00 shirts ain't bad.

Downright chilly in the mornings

We should get an uptick in the weather starting tomorrow. It has been chilly in the mornings-coffee klatch time is over when the coffee gets cold. Buddy goes out to play then goes back to bed before the warm spot disappears. He is going to like Florida. His coat is kind of coarse and not the warmest. He enjoys a lap-sit when it is cold. Honey is furring up. She loves the cool.  Poor Buddy got a tingle from the collar-deserved, and his first lesson on leash walking today. The girl showed him how it is done and the leash work went fine but he was a little subdued today. Not entirely bad. He is definitely testing the limits.

About a week ago the download for the Droid phone came. The new Froyo 2.2 system is much faster and so the battery life is much better-not that it was bad. I was getting a couple of days before discharge before. Three seems to be the new average. Excellent for a smartphone.

Sooz's mission to help Jackie with her knee surgery recovery was put on hold by the doctor who told Jackie to wait until it got really bad. Sooz was willing to come up to help with Van logistics but that should all resolve itself in a few days with the bridge repair. Sweet of her to offer. Sooz will head back to Washington.

SMS'd on Facebook with Greg and Lou. Since returning to upstate N.Y. they have been having a fine time: fishing, a family wedding, a barbecue at their farm. Greg is taking good pictures. They definitely got year-round living in Florida out of their system this year. The Palm Beach Post says last winter was the coldest in many years and this summer has been the hottest in 12 years. I am trying not to take this personally.

Humana is gaming me again. The Benazapril BP med used to come in a little triangular pill with an orange wax coating. The new ones are bigger, white and not coated-very nasty tasting pills no matter how quick you are. We seniors are supposed to be grateful for what we get, I guess- or buy upscale. I am going to ask to see what WalMart has to offer.

Skyped with Matt last evening. It is about as I imagined in Oregon. He is bearing up. Bless his heart. Jason Facebooked with a picture of the dive boat in St. Lucia. The weather looked fine. Earl is scaring the bejabbers out of the east coast and is long gone from the Caribbean. They will be home Friday I believe. Me too.

Brats!

Made it to the store yesterday, decided the outdoor fridge needed a defrost and a scrub so I stuffed the contents into another Wal-Mart insulated bag and proceeded to do just that. While waiting for the ice to fall off the freezer compartment, I  checked the email and surfed a bit. When I went out to start the refrigerator again and re-stock, I found I was missing some things. I found four intact eggs and some empty packages in the yard-the Swiss cheese was gone, the cheap cheese was ignored by Mr. Gourmet cheese-eater Buddy. He was a little anxious when he saw me-he knows...

While energized by the new red blood cells, the blood pressure was high yesterday. I could tell by my temper. Adjustments need to be made. The old kidneys are itchy today. But I am sure they are grateful. After loading doses for two days, I am going on maintenance iron and spacing the BP meds. Feel great.

Buddy's collar arrived and it is on him. He hated it but is accommodating. I paged him (buzzer only) and it worked. I hope I don't have to shock him but if it means not going on the road I will do it in a heartbeat. Maybe the buzzer will do the trick. That is about all I have to do for Honey but she knows what is next. She comes running.

The video from yesterday does not fit in my blog frame. Click on it and you can see more at Youtube. They filmed it in letterbox. A live and learn world it is. I also used a bad word and now Janet can't get the blog at work. I may be doing some revising here.

I get a complimentary subscription to Economist Nouriel Roubini's newsletter. He says the economy is down for the foreseeable future. Can't call it a double dip because it has not really come back. He is the genius who called the downturn when others were being "irrationally exuberant." Says the stimulus was too little and it is now getting too late and the political will is not there. I'll leave it to you to point fingers wherever your prejudices lead you.