BLOG NOTE

WRITTEN BY REX

JUST A FEW BLOG NOTES TO TRY AND KEEP YOU ALL STRAIGHT. MARY IS BACK IN WISCONSIN AND WITH HER LAPTOP. AS TIME AND WI-FI HOT SPOTS ALLOW SHE DIRECTLY POSTS TO THE BLOG.

I'M GOING TO BE ON THE ROAD WITH THE PICKUP AND CAMPER HEADED TO CARSON CITY FROM MAY 1ST UNTIL MAY 6TH. WI-FI HOTSPOTS MAYBE DIFFICULT TO FIND AND I MAYBE OFF THE INTERNET A FEW DAYS. TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO WITHOUT YOUR DAILY "HAPPY CAMPERS" FIX, WE WILL FALL BACK ON AMY TO KEEP UP ON THE DAILY POSTS. WITH ANY LUCK AT ALL SHE MAY EVEN WRITE AN ENTRY AND INCLUDE A COUPLE OF PICTURES OF MY GRANDSONS.

DAILY HITS ON THE BLOG HAVE SETTLED IN AT ABOUT 40 READERS A DAY. THIS IS THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN THE INTERNET GOES INTO "SUMMER MODE", ALMOST HIBERNATION, AS SUMMER WEATHER PROVIDES A BUSIER SCHEDULE AND MANY BETTER THINGS TO DO INSTEAD OF BEING A "MOUSE POTATOE".

WE THANK ALL OUR READERS FOR CHECKING OUT THE "HAPPY CAMPERS", AND PUTTING UP WITH OUR HODGEPODGE STYLE.

A Late Entry From Friday!!

Mary in Wisconsin

***I wrote this Friday but couldn't post it then because I don't have internet access in Mt. Hope.

Friday Night in Wisconsin

So if you were in Wisconsin on Friday night what would you be doing?? The right answer is eating fish!! So I had fish and it was great!

I took my Mother out for lunch today, we went to a Mexican restaurant in MacGregor. It is located in the Alexander Hotel and it must be relatively new, at least it wasn’t there the last time I noticed the Alexander. Mother went with me to run some errands, I had a package to mail to Mississippi and had a bunch of change to take to the bank. Banks in Nevada don’t have coin counting machines because the casinos do, so I had a bunch of change that I wanted converted to bills. Actually it was $62.00. I was surprised, I didn’t expect it to be that much.

Then I went to Mother’s house to do some yard work. You know pull weeds, rake the gravel out of the lawn that the snow plow threw in it all winter, stuff like that. So then I decided to mow the yard, I just did it Sunday, but with a week’s worth of rain it needed mowing again. I was so happy that I was able to get the mower started after only three pulls …that must be a record. Imagine how disappointed I was when one of the back wheels fell off after about 10 minutes. OK, right across the street is a guy that has a repair shop. Nope he can’t put the wheel back on because he doesn’t have a bolt big enough. But he did sent me to another guy that sells and repairs stuff. That guy does carry Honda engines, but didn’t have a bolt like the one that fell off but could order one that would probably be here in week, but did I know where “Jim’s Small Engine Repair” was? No can’t say that I do…but he gave me directions and said he would help me put the wheel on if Jim had the proper bolt. So off to Jim’s I went. Lo and behold, Jim had the bolt!!
Back to the other guy…he did help me by putting the wheel back on. So after 2 hours and about 20 miles, I can get back to lawn mowing. Ah, the great country life in rural Wisconsin!! Gotta love it!

LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN

BY REX

THIS IS THE 25 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN. WHAT STARTED OUT 25 YEARS AGO AS A WEEK-END HARLEY RUN ORGANIZED BY THE SAN BERNARDINO HARLEY - DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP IN MARCH, 1983 HAS TURNED INTO THE LARGEST MOTORCYCLE RUN ON THE WEST COAST. IT'S CONSIDERED #3 BEHIND STURGIS AND DAYTONA. 70,000 TO 75,000 MOTORCYCLES HAVE ROARED INTO OUR MOHAVE VALLEY TO PARTY ON, UNTIL SUNDAY.

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS TIGHTENED IN RECENT YEARS FOLLOWING A DEADLY BRAWL AT HARRAH'S LAUGHLIN DURING THE 2002 RUN THAT LEFT THREE BIKERS DEAD AND SEVERAL INJURED. OF COURSE THERE ARE DEATHS EVERY YEAR FROM TRAFFIC FATALITIES TO THE "TAKE IT TO THE DESERT" FIGHTS AND MURDERS.

THE ENTERTAINMENT LINE UP, IS ALL GEARED UP TO THE BIKERS, AND THE MUSIC IS FIRED UP, AND LOUD - LOUD - LOUD !!! THERE ARE MANY VENDORS, TRADE SHOWS, POKER RUNS, AND EVEN DRAG RACING ON THE INDIAN RESERVATION SPONSORED BY THE AVI CASINO.

OUR RV PARK SEEMS TO GATHER THE TRUE RIDERS, AND NOT THE PARTY ANIMALS. THEY COME IN EARLY AND RIDE, BABY RIDE. THEY RUN TO YUMA AND THE MEXICAN BOARDER, ROUTE 66 THROUGH THE BLACK MOUNTAINS AND TOWARD THE GRAND CANYON, HOOVER DAM AND LAS VEGAS, DEATH VALLEY, AND LAKE HAVASU.

LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS A VARIETY OF TOOLS THEY EMPLOY, "STEAL ME" BIKES ARE POSITIONED AND FITTED WITH GPS TRACKERS TO CATCH MOTORCYCLE THIEVES, THERE IS A 6 PM CURFEW ON CASINO DRIVE IF YOU ARE UNDER AGE, NO CANS OR BOTTLES OUTSIDE, EVERYTHING IS SERVED IN PLASTIC CUPS, SOBRIETY CHECK POINTS, DRUG SNIFFING DOGS, AND OF COURSE THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS BOTH VISIBLE AND UNDER COVER GROWS TREMENDOUSLY. ARIZONA HAS NO HELMET LAW , BUT NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA DO.

WELL IF I'M GOING TO GET INTO BIKER MODE:

"SOCIAL OUTCAST" CLOTHING MUST BE MY FIRST STOP.

OR MAYBE............................

I SHOULD "EXPERIENCE THE PAIN"............

AND JUST TO COMPLETE MY NEW LOOK, I'LL PUT ONE OF THESE "BOSS HOG" V-8'S BETWEEN MY LEGS.......................

Xanthelasma Update

(EDITOR'S NOTE: SORRY THE NEWEST PICTURE OF NIKKI MUST HAVE BEEN LOST IN CYBERSPACE.)

Mary in Wisconsin

Today it is four days post op for the xanthelasma removal. Nikki is looking pretty rough. In fact Rex said she looks like one of the corpses on a slab on CSI. As I said, she looks pretty rough!! Most people think she was in a bad car accident (although she tells everyone the other guy looks worse). Monday she gets the stitches out so it should feel a lot better. I will have another update then.

It rained all day Thursday.............what a dreary atmosphere that is!!

Today I am going to take my Mother to lunch and then stay most of the week end at her house. I plan to visit my bother and sister-in-law also.
I mowed Mother's lawn Sunday and with all of this rain I suppose it will need it again and the weather this week end is suppose to be good. Good thing I like to mow lawn. Of course you always enjoy chores you don't have to do all of the time!!

Where Is The Sun??

Mary in Wisconsin

I don't think I have seen the sun since I arrived in Wisconsin. It seems I've become totally acclimated to the Western weather and the sun. I'm grumpy and sleepy and I think it is because of lack of sunshine. And it is COLD. Needless to say, I don't like that either. Oh well, I am thrilled to be here visiting my family regardless of the weather and there is bright news on the horizon....should be in the 80s and sunny for the week end. That should be good for the morrels I hope to take back to Nevada for Rex.

Now I am beginning to worry about Rex. Yesterday our good neighbors, Steve and Meryl, left so he is out in the desert by himself. Last man standing as it were. Thank goodness he only has three days of work left, then two days to get everything packed, secured, and ready. We do have a checklist which we refer to so we don't forget to do anything that needs to be done before hooking up and moving down the road. But he is doing it by himself and we both know "two heads are better that one". I will worry until I know he has safely landed in Pahrump. Then he will have some quality time with Paulie and Bailey. Oh and of course he will be going to the winery to pickup up the case of wine I ordered.

I GOT A SHOT......

BY REX

YOU KNOW WITH ALL THE COLD WEATHER, SNOW EVEN, IN THE MIDWEST I'M BEGINNING TO THINK I GOT A SHOT AT MORREL MUSHROOMS????? NOW I KNOW FROM YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT THE MORREL MUSHROOM SEASON ENDS ON MOTHER'S DAY, BUT IF THEY ARE HAVING A LATE SPRING? AND MARY IS LEAVING WISCONSIN ON MAY 14TH, THE DAY AFTER, IF SHE CAREFULLY SCORES AND PACKS THEM IN THE COOLER...................?

I GOT A SHOT AT FRESH MORREL MUSHROOMS WHEN SHE GETS TO CARSON CITY !!!!!

IN THE MEAN TIME, AS I CRAVE THESE SPRING TIME DELIGHTS, I'LL SURVIVE ON SUBSTITUTES, HERE I'M FRYING BREADED BABY BELLAS AND SHRIMP.......

MY MOUTH IS WATERING FOR THOSE MORREL MUSHROOMS AND "I GOT A SHOT"..............

WEEK #1

BY REX

IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO I HAD A POST TITLED "WEEK #23", TIME SURE SEEMS TO MOVE FORWARD FASTER AND FASTER.

OF ALL THE WEEKS, #1 IS BY FAR THE MOST INTERESTING. THE LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN IS A MOTORCYCLE RALLY THAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE USA. THEY COME IN ALL SIZES, AGES, AND COLORS!!! DEALING WITH THESE PEOPLE AT THE CASINO IS REALLY ENJOYABLE. THEY HAVE THE MOST FANTASTIC ADVENTURE STORIES TO TELL, AND THE CASINO GAZING IS AT IT'S BEST. THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR NEXT WEEK-END DURING THE RUN IS 100 DEGREES, AND I'LL SEE SUNBURNED PLACES WERE I'VE NEVER SEEN PLACES! I'VE GOT THE CAMERA IN THE TRUCK, BUT YOU REALLY GOT TO BE HERE TO EXPERIENCE IT!!!

SO I'M SURVIVING WITHOUT MY "CAMPING BUDDY" MARY. ACTUALLY I REALLY WON'T BE MISSING HER TILL THE NEXT WEEK WHEN I'M DONE WORKING. GHOST HUNTING IN GOLDFIELD, NV WON'T BE MUCH FUN WITHOUT HER.

I GOT THROUGH MY TWO DAYS "OFF" WITHOUT MARY'S ADULT SUPERVISION. MONDAY IS .50 CENT TACOS AND I HAD A FRIEND, GARY, MEET ME THERE TO EAT UP $5 WORTH. IT WAS HIS FIRST TIME AND HE WANTED TO KNOW IF I'D HAVE TIME NEXT MONDAY TO DO IT AGAIN?

xanthelasma

Mary in Wisconsin

Today was the day Nikki has been waiting for for a long, long time. She has a condition called xanthelasma. In the picture below, they are the yellowish things in the upper corner of her eyelids by her nose. These are actually cut out, not lazered.

This picture is was taken when we got home from the clinic.

This picture was taken about three hours after we got home.In order to avoid swelling, she has had to rest at a 45 degree angle all day with wet gauze on her eyes. She didn't realize everything this would require. She isn't suppose to lift over twenty pounds for a month (having a two year old, makes this a hard one) and the stitches are staying in for a week. This is going to be a long week for her!! I hope she is happy with the result.

Mom, The Park, and Eddie

Mary in Wisconsin

First of all Happy Birthday to Eddie Saucer!!

This is Marissa going down the slide in Mt. Hope, my home town. Mt. Hope has a population of 183.

Maxine's turn on the slide.

Marissa on one side of the teeter

Maxine on the totter....

This is my Mother and me. I took her out to lunch today. I think she enjoyed it, I know I did!
It was worth the 1,800 miles!

Gun Show in Spooner

by Uncle Hans

I had set aside this afternoon to do my Belize blog entry. But first a situation that cries out for a blog entry! This is the weekend of our annual Indianhead Rifle and Pistol Club gun show...........

..........it is an ever popular event, this is half the parking lot on Saturday afternoon.............

......and quite professional, as well. This is the actual entrance sign..................

.............the show has a nice inventory of guns of all types..............

..............vendors of all types.............

............ammo and accessories of all types.

So, where is this annual event?..............

........Is it in the Wisconsin National Guard Armory? The Guard has a nice facility in Spooner and often rents out the space to community groups and clubs. A gun show in an armory seems almost appropriate, even an armory with it's flag at half mast for a horrible gun massacre this week. Was it at the armory? Nope............

...How about the Civic Center? It is a project built by volunteers specifically for events like this and to serve our youth with an ice arena, swimming pool, health club, etc. It usually runs in the red, so wouldn't it seem appropriate to receive the business of the gun club?.............

.........this is the picture of the beautiful and spacious arena at the Civic Center on this Saturday afternoon. No gun show here...............



........How about the High School? The gymnasium is overbuilt and hosts events like this from time to time as a show of community support and involvement. Although the presence of guns in school sends a shiver up your spine, right? Especially afer the events of this week. Nope, the High School is no place for a gun show...........

.............no, this is the site of the show. If you squint you can read that it is the Spooner Elementary School. I am not making this up. It happens every year. We have been the butt of jokes on Jay Leno with pictures in the past, yet the gun club refuses to come to it's senses and move the event to a more logical spot. This is not a rant about gun control. It is a rant about the total insensitivity of a gun show in a grade school during the week of the worst gun massacre in US history and the week of the anniversary of Columbine, just 8 years ago. Yet there is no outrage in this community. No letter to the editor. Gofigure................Just go figure............What a sad thing. I hope none of the grade school kids ends up on the cover of Time. Either as a shooter or a victim!!

Hans

BLACKSTONE RV PARK

THIS IS AN ARIEL SHOT OF OUR RV PARK, BLACKSTONE RV PARK. IF YOU CLICK ON THE PICTURE IT WILL ENLARGE THE PHOTO. AS YOU CAN SEE THIS PARK IS CARVED RIGHT OUT OF THE DESERT. THIS DEFINES THE CAMPER'S PHRASE, "SUN PATCH" . NOW YOU KNOW WHY WE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE HEAT AND GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE IN THE SUMMER. OUR SITE IS INDICATED BY THE RED ARROW, ON THE END OF THE STREET WHERE THE LOTS ARE A LITTLE BIGGER, AND WE ONLY HAVE NEIGHBORS ON ONE SIDE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE BIG RED PARKED NEXT TO THE TRAILER, AND IF YOU LOOK REAL CLOSE, YOU'LL SEE THE CHIMEA SITTING ON THE END OF THE PATIO.

THE GRADED AREA BEHIND THE PARK IS FOR EXPANSION, BUT THE OWNERS HAVE BEEN BUSY THIS YEAR PURCHASING TWO ADDITIONAL RV PARKS, ONE IN KINGMAN, AZ, AND ONE IN CRESENT CITY, CA. WE'VE SPENT THE LAST SEVEN WINTERS IN THIS RV PARK AND REALLY ENJOY THE OWNERS AND AND NEIGHBORS WE HAVE IN THIS PARK.

On The Road - Day Three

Mary in Wisconsin

Wow, the motel didn't call us at 5:30 like they were suppose to, but fortunately, I woke up at 6:00 anyway. Which is pretty remarkable since I didn't go to bed until midnight.

Day's Inn had a breakfast which included waffles. They were pretty good!! Anyway we were on the road by 6:45. Since we put in the time and put on the miles the last two days, we pulled into La Crosse at noon.

Trip over safely!!!!

HASH BROWN EXPLOSION

WRITTEN BY REX

I'VE GOT MY HALF FROZEN HAMBURGER FRYING ON LOW ON THE HOT PLATE IN MY FAVORITE NEW EGG PAN, AND MY HASH BROWNS FRYING ON THE STOVE IN THE OLD TEFLON SKILLET. AFTER FINALLY FINDING THE BLACK SPATULA TO USE IN THE TEFLON PAN, IT WAS IN THE LEFT HAND DRAWER, I WENT TO TURN MY HASH BROWNS, AND SNAP!!! IT MADE A CRACK LIKE A BASEBALL BAT BREAKING AT A BREWERS GAME, AND BROKE IN HALF AS EASILY AS A WOODEN STICK MATCH. THE HASH BROWNS FLEW UP LIKE A BOMB EXPLODED ON TOP OF THE STOVE. AW SHIT !!!!

SO THIS MORNING I'M FINALLY DOING DISHES, I HAD TO TAKE THE STOVE APART, AND EVERY KNIFE OUT OF THE KNIFE RACK, AND SCRUB THE COUNTER ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHERE THE FRUIT BASKET SITS..........................

SO WHEN YOU GET HOME, USE THE BLUE SPATULA, AS THE HARD TO FIND BLACK ONE IN THE WRONG DRAWER, IS GARBAGE.

(AND LIFE WITHOUT MARY CONTINUES FOR A WHOLE MONTH!)