An evening with Deanna

By Aunt Kathy

I attended a Fund Raiser for Bellin School of Nursing tonight. Guest Speaker was Deanna Favre. I went with my Dear Friends from Altrusa, Mary and Lori. Deanna spoke to about 100 of us ladies about being a breast cancer survivor and reasured us that her husband, Quarterback Brett is doing very well after undergoing ankle surgery today here in Green Bay. She is so awsome, a very down to earth kind of person.

Have a Great Tuesday!! Kathy

Kathy and Deanna Favre

DUTCH OVEN TIME

WRITTEN BY REX

IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE WE'VE LOADED UP THE DUTCH OVEN. YESTERDAY WE LOADED IT UP WITH A BEEF ROAST, POTATOES, CARROTS, FRESH GREEN BEANS, AND BABY BELLA'S.

WE ALSO MADE THE MONTHLY CALIFORNIA RUN TO PICK UP OUR 4 WEEKS OF LOTTO TICKETS, AND ACTUALLY WON $11 ON A $16 BET. OF COURSE A TRIP TO NEEDLES REQUIRES A TRIP BACK THRU GOLDEN SHORES AND A STOP AT HOOCH'S. BEING MONDAY WE SNACKED ON THE .50 CENT TACOS, NOT WANTING TO SPOIL OUR BEEF ROAST MEAL, WE LIMITED OURSELVES TO ONLY 4, INSTEAD OF THE CUSTOMARY DOZEN.

WE FOUND THIS GUY SITTING IN THE BACK CORNER AND WONDERED WHY HE SEEMED SO PISSED OFF? DAYS OFF ARE OVER AND IT'S "HI HO, HI HO BACK TO WORK WE GO!!"

ON THE BACKROAD HOME FROM HOOCH'S WE RAN ACROSS THIS CRITTER STANDING IN THE ROAD.

The Desert Bar

Wow...we finally got to Sunday and a day off!!
We got off to an early start because we wanted to go to Lake Havasu City to the Sunday Flea Market. In past years I have been a vendor there selling my magnetic jewelry but this year until yesterday we worked on Sunday. List in hand I hit the market. I found most items on my list (and some that weren't!), but the one item I really wanted wasn't there. Oh well the AVI Extravaganza starts next week and I am sure I will find what I want there.


Next up on our agenda, was the search for the famous Desert Bar. This was actually why Rex even made the trip. He really isn't into shopping. The Desert Bar is in the Buckskin Mountains,near Parker, AZ., on land that was once a mining camp. See the words "PRIMITIVE ROAD" on the sign. They weren't kidding. It is five miles of rutted, bumpy, rocky road.
In some places the road is definately "One Lane".

This is a picture of the Nellie E Saloon (Desert Bar). It was opened in 1983 in a temporary three-sided structure. Five years later the above structure was opened. The Nellie E name originates from the old mining claim. The bar is only open Labor Day weekend through Memorial Day weekend from high noon to sunset and most holidays. They are only open on Saturdays and Sundays so don't make the trip during the week.

Some of the unique features inside the saloon are windows that are old glass refrigerator doors, bar stools make of steel and sway from side to side (these were my favorite), a brass bartop, and a stamped tin ceiling. The bar is powered by solar, stored in batteries, and run through inverters.

Our trip to the Desert Bar was really enjoyable and a unique experience. For anyone interested in learning more about it they have a website--www.thedesertbar.com--

Those Precious Grandaughters

We are always happy to have guests write in our blog, and today's entry brings us up to date on three of my precious grand-daughters. This entry is done by my daughter, Heather. We loved the picture of Marissa's basketball team. Also the reference about Randy's being deployed refers to his deployment to Kuwait last year. We are all grateful that he returned home safe and sound in November.

By Heather

Last weekend Marissa had her last Basketball game. They finished 3-3. I do have to say that even though they lost their last two games they were the best games that they played as a team. So they were great games. That is the end of our sports now till this summer when Mackenzie will play softball. Last year was her first year and she loved it.

This weekend we were suppose to go to Brookfield WI. for guards. Randy was going to be released from the 1-128 ( the unit he was deployed with) back to the 132 which is what he is usually with. Since we are expecting very bad weather, it was cancelled. They called about 30 minutes before we were leaving so we were glad that we were here to get the call. The girls were a little upset since we would not be staying at a hotel for the weekend and using the pool, but they will get over it. Now he will have to go March 17 & 18th for drill in Oconomowoc after which he will be returned to the other unit.
I have also started a new exercise program. We got an Elliptical machine and so I will be doing that everyday. I am not sure how long at first but I will do it for how ever long I can. I hope it helps... I need all the help I can get.
We really haven't been doing much other then the normal work and school for the kids. I have to register Alisha for pre school this week. she will finally be able to go this fall, she has been waiting for so long. Marissa will go to the middle school next fall too. Nice for her since it is right across the street.

The Normal One

Rex asked me to blog today....I am Mary and he referred to me as the normal one???? What's up with that? Maybe he means the more conventional one or maybe he means the less adventurous one..who knows. In my opinion, I am the back ground person and he is the fore ground person.

Rex has had an exciting day...it is our first day of being listed on Hitch Itch and he is beside himself with excitement at the number of hits on our blog. When I think about his decision to start a blog, I think in the back of his mind he had the idea of being listed somewhere and being read by many. It would sure explain the great deal of time he has devoted to starting, maintaining, and designing our blog. Just look at the right hand column. The map showing the states we have visited, the temps of various locations, a listing of upcoming events, favorite pictures, and various other information---not to mention "The Picture" of us. Maybe at this point I should explain that picture. In November of '04 we went to Belize with Rex's brother Hans (the guest author of some of our blogs) and his wife Wendy. We vacationed on Amerigas Caye and stayed in a condo that had this really great pool. Smack dab in the middle of this pool was a bar. Among their specialty drinks was one called a "dirty banana", I had SEVERAL of them, after all they tasted just like a banana malted milk. That picture was taken about half way through the afternoon. Anyway Rex really likes it so it is prominently displayed.

I would also like to mention why Rex always types in caps. He is a hunter and a pecker (does pecker look quite right?). Anyway he uses caps all the time because he doesn't like to be bothered to use the shift key at the beginning of sentences, etc.,etc., etc. I, on the other hand, know how to type and prefer to do it properly.

Rex and I have been together almost 10 years and I truly wish we had kept a blog or journal from the beginning. We have had some really incredible trips and some really great pictures. We have been "full timers" for seven years and have met some really creative and wonderful people. When we are introduced to people I usually give them a helpful hint to remember our names--Rex rhymes with sex and Mary--a famous virgins name. Should be easy!! I told this to one guy and he went home and told his wife that he met "cherry Mary and sexy Rexy".....We have really met some witty people!!!

WELCOME WELCOME

WRITTEN BY REX

WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR NEW READERS FROM HITCHITCH.COM. WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE MADE THE LIST OF RV ADVENTURE BLOGS. WE HAVE BEEN READERS FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW AND BECAME INSPIRED TO START OUR OWN BLOG LAST SPRING. OUR BLOG IS AUTHORED BY US BOTH, AND YOU CAN EASILY TELL WHOM IS WRITING BECAUSE REX ALWAYS USES CAPITAL LETTERS AND MARY IS NORMAL. OUR INTERESTS INCLUDE DUTCH OVEN COOKING, OUTSIDE GRILLING ON OUR BIGG gASS GRILL, DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY, MAKING MAGNETIC JEWELRY, BLOGGING, ROAD TRIPS & COCKTAILS, READING, GEOCACHING, HAM RADIO, AND OF COURSE THE FULLTIME RV LIFE STYLE. THANKS FOR CHECKING US OUT, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE HITCHITCH COMMUNITY OF BLOGGERS.

FUTURE OF VEGAS (HONEST!)

BY REX

TODAY LAS VEGAS IS IN THE MIDSTS OF A BUILDING BOOM. MGM IS BUILDING CITYCENTER, A CITY WITHIN THE CITY AT A COST OF $7 BILLION DOLLARS LOCATED ON THE STRIP. CITYCENTER WILL INCLUDE A 4,000 ROOM HOTEL CASINO AND FOUR HIGH RISE CONDOMINIUMS TOWERS. LAS VEGAS SANDS CORP. WILL OPEN THE PALAZZO LATER THIS YEAR WITH 3025 ROOMS. WYNN HAS BEGUN CONSTRUCTION ON ENCORE A $1.4 BILLION 2000 ROOM RESORT RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO HIS NEW WYNN CASINO RESORT. BOYD GAMING RECENTLY CLOSED THE OLD STAR DUST CASINO AND AFTER IMPLODING IT, WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON ECHELON PLACE, A SWISS THEMED CASINO RESORT , WITH A COST OF $4 BILLION DOLLARS AND 5300 ROOMS. OFF THE STRIP, STATION CASINO WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON ALIANTE STATION IN NORTH LAS VEGAS.
IT TAKES 2.5 EMPLOYEES FOR EVERY ROOM BUILT. THAT’S 113,500 NEW JOBS. LAS VEGAS GROWS AT A RATE OF 7300 NEW PEOPLE MOVING TO VEGAS EACH MONTH, AND AT THAT RATE THE LABOR POOL WILL BE SHORT. SO, DO YOU NEED A JOB? BUT BEFORE YOU PACK UP THAT U-HAUL, LET ME REMIND YOU IT’S A DOG EAT DOG WORLD OUT THERE! WHEN WYNN OPENED THE NEW WYNN CASINO THERE WERE 9000 NEW JOBS AND 110,000 APPLICANTS. THESE APPLICANTS CAME FROM EXISTING CASINO JOBS AT THE OLDER VEGAS CASINOS, SO BE PREPARED TO TAKE AN OLD JOB AT LOWER PAY. THE RIPPLE EFFECT WILL CREATE A TSUNAMI IN THE LABOR MARKET AS AN EMPLOYEE FROM THE MIRAGE WILL TAKE A NEW JOB AT THE CITYCENTER AND AN EMPLOYEE FROM TREASURE ISLAND MOVES UP TO TAKE THE JOB AT THE MIRAGE, FOLLOWED BY AN EMPLOYEE FROM THE SILVERTON TAKING THE JOB AT TREASURE ISLAND, ETC. ALL ALONG THE WAY YOU NEED “JUICE” TO GET THE GOOD JOBS.
HELP KEEP NEVADA GREEN, BRING LOT’S MONEY !!!!

THE FUTURE OF VEGAS

BY REX

STATUE OF BENNY BINION AT 2AND AND OGDEN AVE DOWTOWN VEGAS.

REMEMBER BENNY BINION? BENNY BINION, WAS A TEXAN WHO RAN A TRAVELING CRAPS GAME THROUGH OUT TEXAS STAYING JUST ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE TEXAS RANGERS. HE SHOWED UP DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS WITH TWO SUITCASES FULL OF CASH MONEY AND OPENED THE WORLD FAMOUS BINION’S HORSESHOE CASINO. ON DISPLAY JUST INSIDE THE DOOR WAS A MILLION BUCKS IN $1,000.00 BILLS. HE STARTED THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER. HE’D COVER ANY BET ANYTIME ON THE CRAPS GAME. HE WAS THE FIRST TO OFFER FREE DRINKS TO ALL PLAYERS. WHEN HE DIED THE CASINO WAS TAKEN OVER BY HIS KIDS. JACK WENT ON TO BECOME , AND STILL IS, A VERY SUCCESSFUL CASINO EXECUTIVE. TEDDY WAS MURDERED OVER HIS COCAINE HABIT AND THEY ARE STILL SEARCHING THE DESERT AROUND PAHRUMP FOR AN UNDERGROUND VAULT FULL OF SILVER. BECKY RAN THE CASINO UNTIL FEDERAL AGENTS AND THE NEVADA GAMING COMMISSION CAME IN AND LOCKED DOWN THE CASINO CLOSING IT. WHEN THE WORLD FAMOUS HORSESHOE WAS CLOSED THE CASINO GIANT HARRAH’S STEPPED IN AND BOUGHT THE JOINT FOR 40 MILLION. HARRAH’S RAN THE CASINO FOR ONE YEAR AND SOLD IT FOR 20 MILLION. WHEN THEY LEFT THEY TOOK THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER TOURNAMENT AND THE FAMOUS “HORSESHOE” NAME. TODAY IT’S CALLED BINIONS CASINO, AND REPORTED AN OPERATING LOSS OF 2.5 MILLION FOR THE MOST RECENT QUARTER.
BUT WAIT, I THOUGHT TODAY’S BLOG WAS GOING TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF LAS VEGAS?

AH……..

SORRY…………

I GOT SIDE TRACKED. TUNE IN TOMORROW?

I PROMISE.

VEGAS BABY !!!

BY REX

OVER THE SEVEN YEARS I’VE BEEN IN NEVADA, YOU SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THAT I’VE QUIT INVITING YOU TO LAS VEGAS. I USED TO BRAG ABOUT GIVING THE “$2 TOUR”. IT WAS CALLED THE “$2 TOUR” BECAUSE THAT WAS THE PRICE OF A CITY BUS TICKET. THE TOUR WOULD START BY DRIVING TO THE HARD ROCK AND THE RIO CASINO FOR THE AFTERNOON PARADE ON THE CEILING. FROM THERE WE WOULD PARK THE CAR BEHIND THE TROPICANA AND TAKE THE FAMOUS #303 BUS UP AND DOWN THE STRIP ENJOYING THE MANY FREE ATTRACTIONS. TODAY YOU JUST DON’T GET ENOUGH “BANG FOR YOUR BUCK”!! CASINOS USED TO PROVIDE ATTRACTIONS, CHEAP ROOMS, AND CHEAP FOOD TO GET YOU INSIDE THEIR CASINOS TO GAMBLE. TODAY ROOMS AND FOOD ARE CONSIDERED MAJOR PROFIT CENTERS TO THE LARGE CORPORATIONS RUNNING THE CASINOS. IN THE OLD DAYS YOU COULD SCORE A ROOM AT THE VACATION VILLAGE OR CATCH AN INTERNET SPECIAL AT THE TROPICANA FOR A REASONABLE PRICE. TODAY YOU CAN’T GET A ROOM ON THE STRIP FOR UNDER $100, MORE LIKE $200/NIGHT. NOW WHEN WE GO TO VEGAS IT COSTS US OVER $40/NIGHT TO CAMP, OR WE STAY DOWNTOWN ON A WEEK NIGHT AT THE OLD VEGAS CLUB FOR $40/NIGHT. TO SEE A SHOW? BE PREPARED TO SPEND BETWEEN $125- $250 PER PERSON IF YOU CAN GET TICKETS! REMEMBER THOSE CASINO BUFFETS? NOW IT’S LIKE $40 PER PERSON.
SO WHAT’S IN THE FUTURE FOR LAS VEGAS? TUNE IN TOMORROW AND I’LL REPORT.

CHILL'N

WRITTEN BY REX

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE OUR "HODGEPODGE" APPROACH TO BLOGGING? I BET YOU BRING UP THE BLOG JUST TO SEE WHO WROTE TODAY AND WHAT THE SUBJECT IS?

TODAY WE'VE JUST BEEN CHILL'N IN THE CAMPER. IT'S OUR DAY OFF AFTER WORKING SIX DAYS IN ROW, AND IT'S ONE DAY "OFF" AND THEN BACK TO WORK FOR ANOTHER FIVE DAYS. NOT EVEN MARY WENT ON A RUN TODAY, I HOPE SHE'S NOT SICK. THE BREAD MACHINE CAME OUT THIS MORNING AND WE HAD A FRESH HOT LOAF OF ONION BREAD TO MAKE CHEESE SANDWICHES FOR LUNCH. THEN MARY GOT BUSY MAKING MAGNETIC JEWELRY. SHE'S SOLD A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS WORTH THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND WAS BEHIND ON SOME ORDERS. SHE'S BEEN SENDING ALL THE JEWELRY MONEY TO HER CREDIT CARD TO PAY OFF HER NEW LAPTOP. TONIGHT IT'S FIRE UP THE BIGG gASS GRILL FOR CHOPS AND BURGERS.
THIS SIMPLE RV LIFE JUST CAN'T BE BEAT !!!

Melanoma / Volleyball / Osteoporosis

by Uncle Hans

Thanks for the melanoma warning. This picture shows me seriously endangering my life by ignoring that warning. This is a volleyball tournament in Belize I was in last year at this time. The quality of the play was quite uneven. My team from here in Spooner would easily have won the $500, and we are an average team here. The problem is that Belize is, like most of the world, soccer crazy. In that game one must never, never touch the ball with one's hands. So making the switch to an "all hand" game like volleyball is hard. These were all young and very good athletes, Manyon, San Pedro's semi-pro soccer (or "football" as they like to call it) team. They naturally play by "international" rules, which allow hitting the ball below the waist. We are just getting to where we allow that now. In this tournament I was set for spikes, reasonably well, off peoples knees and feet. Takes some getting used to.

Now, about the melanoma. Seems we have all been warned and are taking heed. We don't go out without our sunscreen and we protect our kids in the same way. We now see a new phenomenon: not enough exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D is converted to it's active form (D3) by sunlight passing through our skin. D is part of a poorly understood mechanism of absorbing and utilizing calcium. It is very complex and involves parathyroid hormone, growth hormone and several other factors. The result of the system failing over time is the dreaded osteoporosis. This is a topic of much debate and advertising as we Boomers head toward the age of osteoporosis. It is possible that our fear of melanoma is causing us to be too careful about sunlight exposure and this may contribute to osteoporosis risk. Also, two weeks ago, a large University of California study was published showing that Vitamin D reduces cancer, specifically colon and lung. So, as usual,medical science is sending us mixed signals.

These mixed signals are perverted by the food and supplement manufacturers, to make wild and unsubstantiated claims that we believe, because they make sense. Taking Vitamin D and Calcium seems like it would help prevent osteoporosis. The problem is that there is very little science to prove it. Even the promising-sounding new medications for preventing osteoporosis have very few convincing studies in print. Those studies are all paid for by the drug companies, which makes them suspicious from the get-go. All the studies that show a correlation to that product and fracture reduction coincidentally have moderate exercise included in the regimen. I think a normal diet and lots of moderate exercise will prevent osteoporosis. Not just walking, or even running, but something that uses all your muscles. I think all the other claims are to sell products that have not been proven to work, without exercise. But there is no profit to be gained from teaching people to exercise, only pills and products make profit! So what sort of exercise can a Boomer do that is fun and safe and uses all your muscles? Why, volleyball, of course! Most towns have bar league sand indoor pick-up leagues. It's very cheap and provides camaraderie and competition we all need. And they play it in Belize, well, sort of...........

So what has this got to do with the poor girl that Rex has used to warn us about too much sun? I just think it raises the question that, if any of the men reading this blog were to be walking down the beach and we saw this poor suffering girl, who among us would not feel compelled to lie down and shade her for a while?............

Hans

Melanoma Warning !!!

WITH THE RETURN OF "SUNNY & 80" WEATHER MY CONCERN BROTHER, THE DOCTOR, FORWARDED THIS WARNING:

Melanoma Warning !!!

We are all aware of what the Sun can do to our skin... this is a good reminder to put on Sun Screen when outdoors. Melanoma Warning for those of us who spend a lot of time outdoors in the Arizona sun!! Even though summer is over, the risk of exposure to the damaging rays of the sun persists. The following medical photographs clearly document the risk to the epidermis of prolonged exposure to sunlight. Study these graphic images carefully so that you can keep them in mind the next time you venture outdoors.



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Reading

Reading has been one constant my whole life. I remember the first book my Dad bought me. I was 8 years old and we were at the dime store in Boscobel. He wanted to buy me something, and this is hard to believe, I know, but I couldn't think of anything I wanted. We happened to be in the aisle that had books so Dad pointed to them and said how about a book? I got one, it was a "Trixie Belden" book. The first in the series, "The Secret of The Old Mansion". I have been hooked on mysteries ever since.
There are lots of authors out there with recurring characters and series. Some of my favorite authors are John Sanford, Stuart Woods, Robert Ludlum, Lincoln Child, Douglas Preston, Jeffery Deaver, and Agatha Christie. There are others of course, but the list is to long for this blog.
I am sure it would be mind boggling to know how many hours I have spent reading. I have come to realize that while reading is wonderful in many ways it also has a few drawbacks. For one thing, it is a very solitary activity. The hours spent reading don't exactly hone your social skills or give you much physical exercise. While I don't exactly regret the time I have spent reading, I have come to realize time is finite and some of it could have been used more productively. Perhaps pursuing dreams..........

MOHAVE VALLEY (PART 5)

NOW TO THE OTHER END OF OUR VALLEY, NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA. THE ARRIVAL OF THE RAILROAD AT THE COLORADO RIVER IN 1883, ACTUALLY CAUSED THE FOUNDING OF THE TOWN ON THE SHORES OF THE RIVER. THE NEW SETTLEMENT WAS NAMED “THE NEEDLES”, TAKEN FROM THE SHARP MOUNTAIN PEAKS AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE VALLEY. NEEDLES WAS AND IS A RAILROAD TOWN AT HEART. IN DAYS GONE BY THE TRAINS STOPPED AT NEEDLES TO ICE DOWN THE CALIFORNIA PRODUCE ON IT’S WAY EAST.
NEEDLES, LIKE DEATH VALLEY, IS KNOW FOR EXTREME HEAT DURING THE SUMMERS. TEMPERATURES IN NEEDLES ROUTINELY REACH 120 DEGREES IN LATE JULY AND AUGUST. THE RECORD WAS SET AT 125 DEGREES, JULY 17, 2005.
IN THE COMIC STRIP PEANUTS, CREATED BY CHARLES SCHULTZ WHO LIVED IN NEEDLES, AS A BOY, OFTEN CARTOONED SNOOPY’S BROTHER SPIKE LIVING IN THE DESERT OUTSIDE OF NEEDLES.
NEEDLES IS ALSO WHERE THE MOTHER ROAD, ROUTE 66, CROSSES THE COLORADO RIVER, AND MANY OF THE OLD MOTELS AND CAFES ARE STILL AROUND.
OUR TRIPS TO NEEDLES ARE MONTHLY TO PURCHASE CALIFORNIA LOTTO TICKETS.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

WRITTEN BY REX

I REALLY SHOULD HAVE MARY, A GUEST, UNCLE HANS, ANYBODY ELSE BUT ME WRITE ABOUT VALENTINE'S DAY. I'M JUST NOT A VALENTINE TYPE OF GUY, HAVING BEEN IN THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS ALL MY LIFE, I DO KNOW THAT VALENTINE'S DAY IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS. I ALSO KNOW THAT VALENTINE'S DAY MEANS THE RETURN OF "SUNNY & 80" WEATHER AFTER OUR SIX WEEKS OF WINTER HERE ON THE LOWER DESERT. I REALLY WISH YOU WERE ALL HERE TO ENJOY IT WITH US!!!

I PICKED UP MY NEW GLASSES YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND HAVE BEEN BUSY BOBBING MY HEAD AROUND TO FIND WHERE THE BIFOCAL STARTS AND ENDS. I'M SURE THE SURVEILLANCE OPERATORS AT WORK LAST NIGHT WERE WONDERING WHAT KINDA DRUGS I'M ON. I EXPECT I'LL MAKE THE RANDOM DRUG TESTING LIST SHORTLY.

WE ALSO GOT THE NEW FENDER INSTALLED ON THE CAMPER YESTERDAY, IT LOOKS GOOD, BUT JUST ISN'T REINFORCED LIKE THE ORIGINAL WAS. I HOPE IT HANGS ON GOING DOWN THE ROAD? AT ANY RATE IT'S SOMETHING TO CROSS OFF THE LIST, AND I SEE INCOME TAX HAS MADE THE LIST OF "THINGS TO DO".

ENOUGH RAMBLING FOR TODAY, DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOUR SWEETIE IT'S VALENTINES, (OR NOT).

(SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PICTURES ON MARY'S ENTRY "THIS AND THAT", LOST IN CYBERSPACE I GUESS?)

DEAR ABBY.......

Dear Abby:
My husband is a liar and a cheat. He has cheated on me from the beginning, and, when I confront him, he denies everything. What's worse, everyone knows that he cheats on me. It is so humiliating. Also, since he lost his job five years ago, he hasn't even looked for a new one. All he does all day is smoke cigars, cruise around and bullshit with his buddies while I have to work to pay the bills. Since our daughter went away to college he doesn't even pretend to like me and hints that I may be a lesbian. What should I do? Signed: Clueless

Dear Clueless:
Grow up and dump him. Good grief, woman. You don't need him anymore. You're a United States Senator from New York . Act like one.

This and That

"The hole in the rock where the sun shines through, underneath the red, white, and blue and red golden rose too!!"

The above description appeared on the geo cache listing we went in search of today. The pictures show the hole and the golden roses, but the "red, white, and blue", which I think was probably a flag located there at one time is no longer there.




We were successful in finding the cache, but it did take some searching!

Rex asked if I was going to piss and moan about our schedule this week. Our schedule runs from Monday to Sunday. The last few weeks we have been having Thursday and Friday off. For some reason this week we have today off.....and it is the ONLY day off we have this week. That means we will be working from Tuesday through Sunday on this schedule and, if we go back to Thursday and Friday off on the next we could potentially work NINE days in a row. That will make Mary a very crabby girl.......


We had last Thursday off so we had grilled lobster. Rex also had a small ribeye. He is spoiled!!! I bet I hadn't had lobster for 30 years and while we were in Belieze in November of '04 we had it a couple of time and since then we really like to have it 3 or 4 times a year--well maybe a little more often.


I got a new laptop last week with Microsoft Vista. I am completely lost and am now looking for "Vista for Dummies". It is suppose to burn CDs and DVDs and I sure hope I eventually get it figured out, afterall, that is the reason I bought it.

Ice Fishing Contest

by Uncle Hans

Today was the annual ice fishing contest on Cable Lake. It is sponsored by the Tamarack Tavern in Spooner. I thought I would do a photo-essay for blog readers who may not be familiar with the ice fishing thing (proving they are mentally stable). It starts at 0630, when the temp was -12. I never noticed those cobwebs by the thermometer before!..........

.........my day usually starts like this. A cell phone for the vindictive nurse or patient who gets a kick out of waking me up at 0630 or making Wendy bring the phone from the bedside cradle out to me in the hot tub (Wendy doesn't usually wear a smile at that time--proving her mental stability). There is always a coke, but at -12 you have to drink it fast or dip it in the hot tub from time to time...............
.................I took a bunch of pictures which all failed, due to the high tech marvel of an automatic digital camera I have. My old stupid camera would have allowed me to dial in the appropriate settings and get a great sunrise shot. This one is the twelfth attempt over 20 minutes. It has more computer power than a space shuttle but could not figure out the settings and the flash for steam coming out of the hot tub and partial darkness of a sunrise. Old Stupid would have patiently put the needle of the exposure meter inside the "C" and allowed a perfect shot on the first try. I love new technology. Did you know that "new" is the same word as "improved"? Yes, they want you to think that new means improved. Ever try to catch an action picture with a new and improved digital camera? With old stupid you just adjust, aim and shoot. You get, "click, nice action shot! "With new and improved, you aim and shoot. You get, "click. Wait a few seconds while I consider if you are worthy of this shot............Nope, too late. Try again!" So you have to ask someone to roll their snowmobile over again because you missed the picture................ .......eventually I got some sunrise color............ ...................it wasn't that painful waiting, actually............ .....as I sit there, I face north. The shadows stretch out from the right,which is east. The windsock is bored, indicating no wind and what should be a great day for ice fishing. The vehicles in the distance are the headquarters of the contest. Someone told me the other day it was illegal to leave your dock and boat lift in over the winter. I know it is risky for damage, but was not aware of the law. Now I don't have to lug it out, face the certainty of eventually having it all smashed to smithereens by the ice(I am in my 7th year of good luck), and now to find out it is illegal too?That's like a beer commercial! It doesn't get any better than this!!................. ......here is my contribution to "team Cable Lake" (Jake and his friends). I am cooking up a big pot of "Taco Beans" a recipe remotely resembling chili, but tasting like a taco. There is usually so much beer involved in these contests, that I could make Brussels sprouts and cake frosting and they would not notice. One needs beer to fortify you against the cold and boredom of watching a motionless tip-up for hours on end............... ....here is the contest in full swing. It is -7 so turnout is about half of what one would expect. You can see about 2/3 of the fishermen. Team Cable Lake is not in the picture, because they are in a little bay next to the guest house. The wind is picking up, but the fishing is not........... This close up of the headquarters shows a little of the lengths to which these guys will go with this thing. Some lakes, Mille Lacs Minnesota comes to mind, has cabins so elaborate that they are laid out in streets and blocks. They have LP delivery, pizza delivery, sewage pickup, and delivery "escort service". I would not know about that, I take my ice fishing way to serious for a distraction like that........... .................this is , at last, team Cable Lake, fishing in Callie Bay with the house and guest house in the background. They are using the guest house for their ice shack, watching the flags go up from the windows there. I think they have about a dozen holes in action. It is about 1000 hrs, and they are in second place at this time, having caught a 2lb, 7oz fish. It may have been the second fish caught in the whole contest, they were a little unclear to me about that......... ...........this is Jake drilling a new hole with a gas powered auger. My Dad is rolling over in his grave. He drilled by hand, swearing off such new and improved nonsense. The ice is nearly 20 inches thick, about average for this time of year. The shaft on the average auger is 24 inches and there have been some years that they would not be long enough to get to thewater........... .....this was about the high of the day. The cobwebs are starting to thaw.........
.........this is the goal, although, admittedly it is not from today. This is one Jason caught a couple of years ago at Christmas. This fish would have won $100 today, but that is how it goes................

.........this is Hannah kissing Jason's...er..fish. You know, this is just way off topic and too weird to pursue...........

.........speaking of off topic, here is Wendy at her new desk, which is a step stool just high enough to allow her to write without moving her recently operated shoulder. She has not missed a day at work, managing our business in spite of her temporary but nasty disability. She, however, did not fish with Team Cable Lake..........

.....here is everyone leaving, including the headquarters. I did not hear any whoops of joy form the guest house, indicating we probably did not win. Everyone goes to the tavern to warm up and draw for prizes and bitch about the poor fishing and cold while drinking more beer. It is all very predictable and orderly. Men like their events that way, they actually don't like drama...........

........after they left my buddy Dave landed his 185 like an eagle looking for frozen fish left behind by the contest. Also he lives on the lake. Nice day for flying.............

.........all is calm and the lake is back to normal. Even the windsock is peaceful and content. I have no idea how it got into that configuration. Thus ends the Tamarack Ice Fishing Contest for 2007..................

Hans