ALL CAUGHT UP

THERE REALLY ISN'T ANYTHING TO BLOG ABOUT THIS WEEK! YOU'RE ALL CAUGHT UP ON:

*THE WATER FARM, OH ONE OF THE TWO BASIL PLANTS DIED, BUT THE OTHER IS DOING FINE. MARY CUT A SPRIG OF ROSEMARY TO PUT INTO OUR FOIL PACK OF SHRIMP ON THE GRILL.

* THE WEATHER, YUP IT'S STILL "SUNNY & 80"

* THE DIET, I DID GAIN 15 LBS THIS SPRING AND SO NOBODY HAS REALLY SEEN ME WEIGHING IN AT 205. SO WHEN YOU DO SEE ME YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO TELL I'VE LOST 20 POUNDS. BESIDES YOU REALLY DON'T NOTICE SOMEONE IS LOSING WEIGHT UNTIL THEY LOSE 30 POUNDS, UNLESS YOU'RE SLEEPING WITH THEM.

* COOKING BLOGS HAVE TAKEN THE BACK BURNER SO TO SPEAK, ALTHOUGH WHILE MARY WAS NAPPING THE OTHER AFTERNOON I WAS BUILDING A POT OF RICE SOUP. I WAS USING ONE OF THOSE 30% OFF MONDAY SUPER-WALMART PACKAGES OF MEAT. I REACHED INTO THE CUBOARD AND ADDED A HALF CUP OF WILD RICE. WE HAVING A SAYING HERE IN CAMP THAT "ONE OF US IS INCOMPETENT". TURNS OUT THAT WITHOUT MARY'S ADULT SUPERVISION THAT BAG OF WILD RICE WAS ACTUALLY BLACK ENGLISH TEA........

LIKE I SAID, "YOU'RE ALL CAUGHT UP" AND THERE'S NOTHING TO BLOG ABOUT. I KNOW MY BROTHER'S HAVE BEEN OUT AND ABOUT ON THEIR ANNUAL FALL MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURE, HOPEFULLY THEY WILL REPORT IN THIS NEXT WEEK ON THE BLOG WITH SOME INTERESTING MATERIAL.

TRUE Democrat - Reaching out to those less fortunate...

As I walked down the busy footpath, knowing I was late for an
important meeting, my eye fell upon one of those unfortunate, homeless vagabonds who are found in every city these days.

Wearing what can only be describes as rags, carrying every worldly possession in two plastic bags, my heart was touched by this persons condition.

Some people turned to stare. Others quickly looked away as if the sight would somehow contaminate them.

Recalling some long ago Sunday School admonition to "care for the sick, feed the hungry and clothe the naked," I was moved by some powerful inner urge to reach out to this unfortunate person.

Yes, where some people saw only rags, I saw a hidden beauty. A small voice inside my head called out, "Reach out, reach out!"
So I did..........

SPOONER LAKE

YESTERDAY WAS A DAY "OFF" AND WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR ANNUAL HIKE AROUND SPOONER LAKE. WE HAD BEEN PUTTING THE HIKE OFF, AND WHEN WE REALIZED THAT WE ONLY HAVE EIGHT DAYS REMAINING AT LAKE TAHOE THIS SUMMER, MARY PUT US IN HIGH GEAR AND WE MADE THE THREE MILE HIKE.

IT'S A NICE LEISURELY HIKE, EXCEPT FOR THE LAST QUARTER MILE GRADE AT THE VERY END, AND WE ENJOYED THE SUNSHINE AND PUFFY WHITE CLOUDS ROLLING OVERHEAD.

WE WILL BE SPENDING OUR LAST MONTH DOWN IN THE VALLEY AT SILVER CITY RV RESORT BETWEEN CARSON CITY AND MINDEN. HERE IS A PICTURE OF SPOONER LAKE.

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY ALAN SAUCER !

Update from Nikki in La Crosse

Hi ...it seems I haven't talked to you guys in a long time......

Way to go on the diet Rex.....you're are the biggest loser here at my place...infact your the only loser..ha!

We (Maxine,me,Kathy ,and Layla) went to sesame street live Thursday night, enclosed are a few pics....

Then last night Jesse and I went to the Dave Matthews concert at Alpine Valley. I have driven over 400 miles in the last 2 days....ugh! just for a concert. We decided we are way to old for that anymore! Also it was a valley, and full of mud and people were slipping down the hill like they were on sleds on a hill of ice trying to get closer to the stage. We of course saw one person slide so we choose to stay on cement. That too ended up real slippery and we left before the last 30 minutes of the concert to get to the car before it was a mad house of 80,000 people and probably 75,000 of them drunk. Then the fun part, getting out of the parking lot with all those people and it was very slippery like ice....good thing we made it ! So thats whats been up my way!

Hope you enjoy the pics of the finest cowboys around!!

TGIF!!!

This might be confusing. This blog will be posted and dated Monday August 27th but I am actually writing this on Sunday night AND it's titled TGIF which is short for THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY. When you work in an industry that runs operates 24 hours a day your week end might not fall on the traditional Saturday and Sunday. So whatever day is the day before your days off is your "Friday". Sunday is our Friday and this Sunday was particularly welcome because for the first time in about six weeks we worked 5 days in a row and actually got 8 hours each day. That means we had a 40 hour work week. DAMN......I was getting used to "work 2 days, have 2 days off, work 2 days, have 1 day off, repeat". I am pooped and ready for 2 days off.

I also wanted to comment on Rex's last blog.....his 20 pound weight loss. His beer belly is now just a cute little "pooch" and his skinny little legs are now skinnier little legs...and he still doesn't have an ass!! I think he looks really good and I am very impressed by his determination. He never fails to amaze me when he gets a "wild hair" up his ass to do something totally off the wall. In all the time I have known him he has never expressed any interest in losing weight, but as usual he jumps in with both feet and is very successful at it. What a guy!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIEL SAUCER!!!

HEY REX.....

HEY REX.......


WHAT ABOUT THAT DAMN DIET YOU WERE WORKING ON? DID YOU FINALLY GIVE UP? NOPE!

I KNOW WHY I'VE NEVER DIETED BEFORE. IT SUCKS!!!

OH IT STARTS OFF EASY ENOUGH, AND IT'S EVEN ENCOURAGING AT THE BEGINNING, BUT WHEN I WAS HUNG UP AT 192 POUNDS FOR 10 DAYS I ABOUT GAVE UP. AT THE BEGINNING I WAS KNOCKING OFF A POUND EVEY COUPLE OF DAYS. NOW IT TAKES THREE OR FOUR DAYS TO LOSE A POUND.

IT WOULD BE EASY, JUST WALK 10,000 STEPS A DAY AND DON'T DRINK ANY BEER. A FIVE MILE HIKE EVERYDAY ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN, AND I SURE ENJOY MY BEERS AFTER WORK AND ON MY DAYS OFF.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, I'M STILL WORKING ON IT AND I'M OVER HALF DONE. TO DATE I'VE LOST 10% OF MY BODY WEIGHT! THAT'S 20 LBS OFF AND 15 POUNDS TO GO.

AM I THE BIGGEST LOSER?

RENT PAID?

"HEY MARY, DID I REMEMBER TO PAY THE RENT THIS MONTH?"

(THAT'S OUR TRAILER UNDER THE RED ARROW)

TOMATO SEEDS CAME UP.....

MY CHERRY TOMATO SEEDS CAME UP DURING THE NIGHT. A DAMN SQUIRREL OR STELLAR JAY DUG THEM UP AND ATE THEM.

THESE STELLAR JAYS ARE ONLY FOUND IN THE MOUNTAINS. THEY ACT LIKE THE BLUE JAYS AT HOME. ONE OF THEIR IRRITATING TRICKS IS TO HOP AROUND ON THE CAMPER ROOF EARLY IN MORNING, NOW THAT WILL START YOUR DAY A CUSS'IN.

WE'VE GIVEN UP ON TOMATOES FOR THE TIME BEING AND HAVE ORDERED SOME SEEDS THAT WE WILL TRY ONCE WE GET BACK TO LAUGHLIN.

THE CUTTINGS OF BASIL SEEM TO HAVE WORKED SO WE'VE ADDED THEM TO THE WATER FARM.

Urban Hike

Sometimes I like to hike around town. Last Thursday, when Rex had to work but I had the day off, I hiked to Harvey's and rode home with him. It was a 5.4 mile hike that day!! Anyway I decided to take another "urban hike". So here are some pictures of my "walkabout".



This is a rare commodity in Lake Tahoe....a sidewalk!! For some reason square blocks and sidewalks are almost unheard of.

This is a dirt path through the trees....remember I am in town!!

Lots and lots of people get married in Lake Tahoe every week. This is one of the many wedding chapels here. They are very accommodating--you can even get your marriage license here!!

One of the reasons I like to walk...this mural is on the side of a building and I never noticed it before.....


Mid-day Hwy 50 traffic. Not bad at this time of day but on week ends it is often times bumper to bumper.


This was my goal today....the lake!! I just wanted to sit on a bench and watch the water, boats, seagulls, and enjoy the weather.

This staircase leads down to .........

THE BEACH!!

While sitting on my bench watching the lapping waves, they started calling my name. I couldn't resist dipping my feet in that nice cool water. It felt really good after my three mile hike to the lake!!

JUST LIKE A FARMER.......

JUST LIKE A FARMER FROM HOME COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WEATHER, TOO MUCH RAIN, NOT ENOUGH RAIN, TOO HOT, NOT HOT ENOUGH .......

MARY AND I ARE CONSTANTLY COMPLAINING ABOUT NOT ENOUGH DAYS OF WORK, AND THE TOKE RATE IS DOWN FROM LAST YEAR .........

THE SUMMER HERE AT LAKE TAHOE HAS BEEN PERFECT. WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOUR DAYS A WEEK WHICH ALLOWS FOR THREE DAYS "OFF" EVERY WEEK. WE'VE HAD COMPANY FROM HOME, WITH DELILAH FOR A WEEK, AND CHAD FOR A WEEK. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MY BROTHER NEIL AND HIS WIFE, KATHY, COMING SEPTEMBER 23RD.

USUALLY IT RAINS ONCE DURING THE SUMMER, BUT SO FAR NO RAIN THIS SUMMER. THE SUN SHINES EVERY SINGLE DAY, MAKING OUR GOAL OF "SUNNY & 80" A REALITY.

LIFE IS GOOD !!!

37.9 DEGREES

I WAS UP EARLY THIS MORNING, 7:00 AM, BECAUSE IT'S A DAY OFF. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 37.9 DEGREES OUTSIDE. JUST A LITTLE REMINDER THAT SUMMER WILL END EARLY IN THE MOUNTAINS, BUT BY NOON WE RETURNED TO "SUNNY & 80".

WE TOOK OUR MORNING WALK DOWN TO THE "Y" TO PICK UP MILK FOR BREAFAST, AND WHILE WE WERE THERE I BOUGHT A NEW $50 WATCH FOR WORK, TO REPLACE THE $16 WATCH I HAD BEEN USING.

WE WILL BE HEADED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WITH THE CAMPER ON SEPTEMBER 7TH TO THE SILVER CITY RV RESORT. WE WILL STICK IT OUT AT CARSON CITY FOR A MONTH AND CONTINUE WORKING AT HARVEYS. IT'S JUST TOO HOT TO RETURN TO LAUGHLIN, STILL OVER 100 DEGREES EVERYDAY.

AS LONG AS WE'RE UPDATEING, MARY HAS DECIDED TO START HER RETURN AUTO TRIP TO WISCONSIN ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, THAT MEANS SHE IS WEEK #5.

MAN, THE DAYS OF SUMMER ARE DISAPPEARING!!!

I WAS RIGHT !!!!

<I WAS RIGHT, YOU CAN'T "CLONE" PRODUCE OUT OF THE REFRIGERATOR. SO THE CILANTRO EXPERIMENT ENDED IN FAILURE. THAT'S OK, MY RESEARCH ON GROWING CILANTRO ON THE INTERNET WASN'T VERY ENCOURAGING, SEEMS IT ONLY GROWS IN THE SPRING AND FALL, SO IT WASN'T A VERY GOOD INDICATION OF WHETHER HYDROPONICS WILL WORK ON THE DESERT.

I DID HOWEVER GET THIS ENCOURAGING E-MAIL FROM AN AN OLD DEALER FRIEND FROM THE MISS MARQUETTE RIVERBOAT CASINO:

Hi Rex & Mary,

Read with interest your blog about hydroponics. About 20+ years ago I sold plants on a party plan that were grown hydroponically. It should work just fine in your desert climate. They are the lowest maintenance plants I ever grew. Vegetables will grow just fine this way. Just thought you would like to know.

Dee Malsack

WHEN CILANTRO FAILED I INSERTED CHERRY TOMATO SEEDS INTO THE ALREADY SOAKED UP ROCKWOOL CUBES.

....... AH ...... GOOD LUCK REX !!!!

YOU KNOW I'M SICK OF LOOKING AT THAT EMPTY WATER FARM POT................

SOOO....... I PULLED UP MARY'S ROSEMARY PLANT AND HOSED OFF THE ROOTS AND PLANTED IT IN THE LITTLE CLAY ROCKS OF THE WATER FARM. JUST FOR THE RECORD, MARY WAS AGAINST THIS IDEA. SHIT, WHAT WOULD A WISCONSIN FARM GIRL KNOW ABOUT HYDROPONICS COMPARED TO A COLLEGE BOY THAT GOT A "D" IN CHEMISTRY. AT LEAST I CAN LOOK AT SOMETHING GREEN IN MY FANCY NEW POT.

"REAL TIME" BLOGGING

BLOGGING IN "REAL TIME" THIS WEEK WAS KINDA DIFFERENT. WITH JUST MARY AND I OUT IN NEVADA WE TEND TO WRITE A BLOG AND JUST PUT IT IN THE "DRAFTS" FOLDER. THEN AT NIGHT BEFORE I GO TO BED, I PICK OUT A BLOG ENTRY TO POST FOR THE NEXT DAY. REALLY, WHAT DO YOU CARE IF WE PLANTED TOMATOE SEEDS ON MONDAY OR WEDNESDAY? SOMETIMES THE "DRAFT FOLDER" IS EMPTY, AND SOMETIMES THERE MAYBE SEVERAL BLOGS WRITTEN THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.

BUT THIS WEEK WITH CHAD HERE, WE WERE BLOGGING IN "REAL TIME", AND HIS SISTERS AT HOME WANTED TO READ WHAT CHAD AND HIS MOTHER WERE UP TO TODAY, NOT SEVERAL DAYS BACK. FRANKLY WE DIDN'T DO SO WELL, AND EVEN RECEIVED AN E-MAIL WONDERING IF WE WERE OK? WE HOPE THE NICE WEB ALBUM OF PICTURES MADE UP FOR OUR SLOPPY BLOGGING.

I HAVE RECENTLY FOUND SOME FREE SOFTWARE AT STATCOUNTER.COM THAT ALLOWS ME TO INVISIBLY TRACK YOU, OUR READERS. IT TELLS ME YOUR COMPUTER'S IP NUMBER, BUT NOT YOUR NAME, WHERE YOUR INTERNET HOST IS LOCATED, FOR EXAMPLE WHEN TERESA LOGS ONTO OUR BLOG FROM WORK IT INDICATES THE POSTVILLE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT LISTS DUBUQUE, IA AS WHERE SHE'S AT.

IT ALSO TELLS WHAT TIME YOU LOGGED ON, HOW LONG YOU WERE ON THE SITE, HOW MANY DIFFERENT PAGES OF THE BLOG YOU CLICKED ON, WHICH WEBSITE YOU WERE ON BEFORE YOU CLICKED ON MY BLOG. SO FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW BARBRA IS A DAILY EARLY MORNING READER, AND TO GET TO MY BLOG SHE CLICKS ON A LINK FROM HER BLOG.

I AM ALSO NOW ABLE TO GET THE ACCURATE NUMBER OF READERS EACH DAY, INSTEAD OF JUST PAGE HITS.

MY POINT IS FROM THE OLD HILLSTREET BLUES TV SHOW, "LET'S BE CAREFUL OUT THERE" WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN FRONT OF YOUR COMPUTER. IF I CAN LEARN THIS MUCH ABOUT YOU FOR FREE, IMAGINE WHATS TO BE LEARNED FOR A FEE? WHEN YOU TURN ON THAT COMPUTER "BIG BROTHER" IS DEFINETLY WATCHING.

VIRGINIA CITY

TODAY, IT WAS TAKE CHAD TO SEE VIRGINIA CITY, NV. THE OLD BOARDWALKS ARE FUN TO TROMP AROUND ON. OF COURSE WE TOOK THE TOWN TOUR IN STYLE.

THIS OLD MINING TOWN IS ESPECIALLY FUN TO WALK AROUND, BECAUSE IT'S GENEROUSLY SPRINKLED WITH OLD CASINO BARS LIKE "THE BUCKET OF BLOOD".

WE HAD LUNCH ON THE BALCONY OF THE BONANZA SALOON, AND ENJOYED THE "100 MILE VIEW".

WE HOPE CHAD ENJOYED HIS NEVADA VACATION AS MUCH AS WE ENJOYED HAVING HIM, AND IF YOU RUN INTO CHAD ANYTIME SOON, BE SURE TO ASK HIM IF "GRANDMA JACK" CAN THROW DICE?

Chad's Lake Tahoe Visit Web Album Link, and as usual clicking on slideshow gives the best presentation of the photos,and the album is now complete.

HANGING AROUND CAMP

TODAY WE PICKED UP CHAD AT 2:30 PM AND JUST HUNG AROUND CAMP. ISN'T THAT WHAT VACATIONS ARE FOR?

WE GRILLED SPICY FRESH FROZEN SHRIMP ON THE BIGG gASS GRILL. AS LONG AS THE GRILL IS FIRED UP AND WE'RE COMFORTABLY SEATED ON THE PATIO, WE ALSO GRILLED CHICKEN BREASTS, AND A TINY PORK ROAST.

WE ENJOYED VISITING WITH CHAD, EATING, AND CATCHING UP.

FRIDAY, IT'S OFF TO VIRGINA CITY AND THE COMSTOCK LOAD.

The Eldorado Wine Country

Chad and I went to Placerville Wine Country today. We visited four wineries and one brewery. When you visit wineries and breweries you do a lot of taste testing!! This picture was taken on the deck of the Jodar Winery. Chad bought a bottle of Cabernet there. The lady doing the taste testing was kind enough to take this picture.

Chad is standing by grapevines outside the Madrona Winery....if you look close you can see the grapes.

This is the Jack Russell Brewing Company. Chad works in a brewery so he was really interested in the workings of this very small brewery. He was actually fortunate enough to have a long visit with the brew master.

After our wine/brewery tour we went into Placerville to have lunch and do a little shopping. The last time Rex and I were in Placerville he got a pair of sox he really liked so I got him a couple more pair. They are made out of alpaca wool and really soft. It isn't often that he really likes something so it was actually a treat to find something he does!!

We work at 6AM tomorrow so will pick Chad up at 2PM to hang out at the camper. We intend to put stuff on the grill and just relax. Sounds like a plan to me!

Chad's Lake Tahoe Visit Web Album Link, and as usual clicking on slideshow gives the best presentation of the photos. We will be adding to the Album as the week progresses.

Chad's Tour of Lake Tahoe

Damn, It's good to see Chad!!!

This morning after breakfast we went to Taylor Creek where Chad was able to get up close and personal with Lake Tahoe!!


We stopped at Sugar Pine State Park to tour the Erdman Estate located there. The Erdman's were the founders of Wells Fargo. We ended up not touring the estate because of a special event held there today. The event was a parade of these beautiful old wooden boats. They were truly cool to see.

Inspiration Point Lookout was the end of our tour today. We had a really great time making the 72 mile trip around the lake. It is nice to have Chad here to show him the sights....tomorrows trip....wine country in Placerville!!

Chad's Lake Tahoe Visit Web Album Link, and as usual clicking on slideshow gives the best presentation of the photos. We will be adding to the Album as the week progresses.

CHAD'S IN

WE STARTED THE DAY WITH OUR MORNING WALK, ONLY WE TOOK THE WALK AT THE OLD BALDWIN ESTATE WHERE THEY ARE CELEBRATING THE GREAT GATSBY DAYS. WE WERE TOO EARLY FOR THE DAYS FESTIVITIES, BUT GOT THE GENERAL FEEL FOR IT AND A COUPLE OF PHOTOS.

A TOUR BUS FROM THE ROARING 20'S

A 1931 BUICK CONVERTIBLE

DOESN'T SHE LOOK DAPPER? I BET SHE KNOWS WHERE THE HIDDEN "SPEAK EASY" IS LOCATED TOO.

A ZIMMER, REPLICA FROM THE 30'S

Chad made it to Lake Tahoe today.....believe me it wasn't an easy feat!! He happened to call the airport yesterday to confirm his flight and found out his reservation was for Saturday not Sunday!! Oh My God!!!! He looked at the itinerary from his travel agent and all of his paperwork was dated Sunday August 12th. He was devastated and immediately started calling his travel agent. Of course they were closed on Saturday and he finally got a hold of her....using her home number. She said she would try to correct the problem which obviously she did but it was a very stressful day for him. All's well that ends well and he is here to enjoy a week in Tahoe with Mom!!

CLONING

REMEMBER WHEN YOUR MOM OR GRANDMOTHER WENT NEXT DOOR FOR COFFEE WITH THE NEIGHBOR AND CAME HOME WITH A "SLIP" FROM THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE PLANT? SHE PUT THE "SLIP" IN A JELLY JAR AND ADDED SOME SECRET THING TO IT AND IT GREW ROOTS AND EVENTUALLY BECAME A PLANT ON THE KITCHEN WINDOW SILL.

TODAY, THAT'S CALLED CLONING. IF YOU LOOK UP "PLANT CLONING" ON THE INTERNET YOU'LL GET A TWO PAGE SURGICAL PROCEDURE. OK LET'S TRY THIS.

EXPERIMENT "A", AND THIS WILL NEVER WORK, "MARY GET THE CILANTRO OUT OF THE REFRIGERATOR I'M GOING TO CLONE IT."

THE SQUARE CUBE OF MATERIAL IS CALLED ROCKWOOL. A NEW HIGH TECH INERT MATERIAL RECOMMEND IN THE TWO PAGE SURGICAL PROCEDURE. DID I MENTION CLONING PRODUCE OUT OF THE REFRIGERATOR ISN'T GOING TO WORK?

EXPERIMENT "B" IS TO CLONE MARY'S BASIL PLANT FROM HER CURRENT HERB GARDEN.

I REPEATED THE SURGICAL PROCEDURE A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES SO THAT I HAVE A TOTAL OF FOUR LITTLE PLANTS, MAYBE TAKING ROOT. THE ROCKWOOL CUBES ARE KEPT IN A WET TRAY TO KEEP MOIST.

EXPERIMENT "C", I DUG THE TEENY WEENIE SEEDS OUT OF A CHERRY TOMATO SITTING ON THE COUNTER AND I'M DRYING THEM IN THE SUN. WONDER WHAT THE NEVADA ODDS MAKERS WILL GIVE YA ON THIS BET? THE SEEDS WILL BE DROPPED INTO A WET ROCKWOOL CUBE TO SEE IF THEY SPROUT AND GROW

I CAN HEAR THE THOUGHTS IN YOUR HEAD, ARE YOU TWO SO BROKE AND BOARD THAT THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT?