Animal Kingdom

Do you ever watch  animal programs on TV?  They are pretty interesting and I must admit that sometimes, I see similarities in behavior between the 4 legged animals I see on TV and the 2 legged ones I live among.

I particularly find dominance interesting.  You know when you see a lion or elk or deer or big horn sheep during mating season?  According to my recollection, a dominant male (you know, the guy with the big dick) has his female harem, group, pride, or whatever the proper term is rounded up for his "amorous" attentions during mating season.  The dominant male has earned the right to be "the one" by defending his position by "might" or by fighting off all rivals, year after year after year.   This is natures way of procreating the species with the traits of the fittest.

OK that makes sense and on some of these animal programs I have been  sad witness to the downfall of a male that has been dominant for many, many seasons. Watching one of these magnificent males have to concede and slump off the landscape is heartbreaking.   It is sad, but the way of nature.

Why am I writing about this??  Because today's Viking game reminded me of this phenomena.  At least in nature the animal under attack is given a whole season to recover.....humans, barely a week.

HAPPY CAMPER BEER

ON OUR RECENT ROADTRIP TO NEW MEXICO, AMY AND MARY, WHILE OUT SHOPPING, FOUND “HAPPY CAMPER BEER”.

 

UNFORTUNATELY, THE BEER IN THE CAN SMELLED SO BAD, I DIDN’T EVEN TASTE IT.  IT WAS A DARK AMBER BREW AND DANIEL SAID IT WAS VERY YEASTY TASTEING.

I LOVE THE FRONT OF THE CAN, RIGHT OFF THE NEW MEXICO STATE FLAG.

 

FALL “TO-DO” LIST

THE FALL “TO-DO” LIST IS THE SAME AS ALWAYS THE LAST TEN YEARS, WASH, WAX, CLEAN, ETC.  PRETTY BORING BLOG MATERIAL YEAR AFTER YEAR.  IN CASE YOU NEED A REFRESHER, HERE ARE A COUPLE LINKS TO PAST FALL BLOGS.

CAR TECH WAX

SCRUBBING

PINE SAP REMOVAL

BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW I’M WORKING AT THE LIST AS USUAL.

TRUST ME THE FALL ROADTRIPS THIS YEAR ARE MUCH MORE FUN!!!

Spooner Bird Feeder

By Uncle Hans

Something I have always wanted was a good birdfeeder to watch in the winter.  Having Grandma Jean here gave me the reason I needed to do what I should have done years ago.  Here I am attaching the ropes to a beautiful feeder I got from my  mortgage broker the last time I refinanced the house.  It has been gathering dust in the garage............

.....now a Rechsteiner project is simple, and usually involves complicated danger and poor logic.  So out comes the ladder.......

......................I want the feeder to hang right in front of the window, inches from my face and constructed so the squirrels won't get in it.  It must be easy to access so it can be filled without repeating the whole illogical complicated dangerous ladder thing.  So we have a sturdy hook in the edge of the roof (small silver thing in the picture) and some pretty yellow rope............

......then we tie the rope to the feeder (I sure hope this knot holds....God-damn Eagle Scouts!!)............

.....and UP SHE GOES.............

 

....after some testing we lowered it to fill it.............

.....we raised it into the final position............

.........Here it is, just as planned, a few inches from my face.  Will the birds find it??  more pictures later, I am sure.......

By Uncle Hans

LAST GAME

IT’S BEEN A BONUS TO WATCH BRETT FAVRE PLAY ONE LAST TIME AT THE HOLY LAND, LAMBEAU FIELD, IN GREEN BAY.

I’VE ALWAYS SAID THAT I’M NOT A FOOTBALL FAN, BUT I AM A GREEN BAY PACKER FAN. THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I’VE HAD TO ADD THAT I’M ALSO A BRETT FAVRE FAN.

MY MEMORIES OF CHEERING THE PACK GO BACK TO NUMBER 66 (RAY NITCHSKI) AND NUMBER 15 (BART STARR).  WE’D LAY ON THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR AND WATCH ON BLACK AND WHITE TV, WISC CHANNEL 3 MADISON TV WITH THE “OD”.

MY MEMORIES OF BRETT FAVRE GO BACK TO HIS FIRST COMPLETED PASS TO HIMSELF, AND LOT’S SUNDAY AFTERNOONS WATCHING THE GAME WITH MY OWN SON AFTER BRUNCH AT THE SUPPER CLUB.

INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL SPIRIT MOUNTAIN RUN, WE ORGANIZED A TAILGATE PARTY ON THE PATIO AND WATCHED THE GAME OUTSIDE.

I COULDN’T LOSE, EITHER THE PACKERS OR BRETT FAVRE HAD TO WIN, AND I HAD TO SMILE AS BRETT SUCCESFULLY COMPLETED THREE PASSES TO THE GREEN AND GOLD. I GUESS IN FOOTBALL LINGO THOSE WOULD BE INTERCEPTIONS.

THE PACK WON (I AM A PACKER FAN), BUT DAMN….BRETT DIDN’T EVER GIVE UP,  THAT IS PART OF HIS MAGIC AND AND ONE OF THE REASONS SO MANY OF US REMAIN “BRETT FANS”.

#4 A PACKER LEGEND FOREVER!

Grandma Jean

By Uncle Hans

In the fall we usually get a visit from Grandma Jean.  She stays a couple of weeks and we ride a motorcycle, just to say she can as the OD was dead set against motorcycling.  She broke her hip in August, so I guess the motorcycling is out.  She spent a week in the hospital and a month or more in a nursing home in Green Bay recovering and in rehabilitation.  She came home to her condo and had Kathy staying with her for help.  Then she came to Cheesedays with Neil and Kathy and came back to Spooner with us for her annual visit.

....she got a last ride of the season on the pontoon.............

....it seems weird to be in parkas on the pontoon, but it was a gorgeous day.........

..........there is always a lot of work to do around this place and Grandma pitched right in.  Here we are sweeping the garage.............

......the motorcycles get moved to the back (damn!) and the snowmobiles get moved to the front (can't wait!).........

.....then there is the shopping.  Here she is at the Economart............

.....Cooking, cleaning, these Cable Lake people are slavedrivers!!  But her visit is going well, except for the nasty virus she picked up soon after she arrived.  She is still fighting it and somedays spends most of the day in bed.  Her appetite is poor and her memory is suffering with the illness as well.  But it is, I believe, and infectious problem and therefore a full recovery is expected. 

................of course there is always time to sit in the sun and read my magazine.............

.....until then, she is marooned here on Cable Lake.  Talk about bad luck!.....

 

By Uncle Hans

COMEDIAN ARGUS HAMILTON

By Argus Hamilton

Brett Favre was grilled by NFL investigators Tuesday over those lewd photos of himself sent to a N.Y. Jets cheerleader. It's all innocent. The photos that Brett sent to the cheerleader were intended for his wife but, Brett being Brett, they were intercepted.

Cars And Bass

By Uncle Hans

Recently,  the Tamarack Tavern had a poker run for vintage vehicles.  We rode along as it was a nice fall day, even if I was on call..............

....we somehow ended up on a pontoon on Long Lake, and we rode past the summer home of Larry the Cable Guy……..

....when we came back to the landing, they were just finishing up a one-day bass fishing contest.  Lots of $50,000 bass boats moving around for the big weigh-in...........

....they have a big board where they post the weights so everyone can follow the action............

....they have a weighing station, which I felt it was kinda tasteless for me to be too close to with a camera.  It might have offended someone.  So this picture is from afar..........

..........the next stop was a bar in someone's garage.  This is not that uncommon in Wisconsin.  We were just about to go inside when I got paged to go and operate on some poor soul.

I guess that's the end of this blog..........

 By Uncle Hans

LOS ALGODONES, MEXICO

WE FINALLY MADE THE TRIP TO ALGODONES, MEXICO FOR SOME SHOPPING.  WE DROVE DOWN THE CALIFORNIA SIDE OF THE COLORADO RIVER AND BACK ON THE ARIZONA SIDE.  IT MADE FOR AN EXCELLENT ROADTRIP.

YOU PARK YOUR CAR ON THE USA SIDE OF THE BORDER IN A PARKING LOT OWNED BY THE LOCAL INDIAN TRIBE FOR $5.  THEN YOU WALK ACROSS THE BORDER INTO MEXICO.

MARY WAS READING THE MANY SIGNS POSTED BY THE US GOVERMENT, ONE OF WHICH, SAID NO PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE BORDER CROSSING AREA.  SO THIS MAYBE ONE OF THE FEW PHOTOS OF THE CROSSING.  I WAS NOT ARRESTED BY HOMELAND SECURITY.

THE REASONS YOU VISIT THIS QUAINT LITTLE BORDER TOWN IS SHOPPING, DENTAL WORK, EYEGLASSES, BOOZE, DRUGS,AND CIGARETTES, ALL AT GREATLY REDUCED PRICES.

I WAS INTERESTED IN PERSCRIPTION SUN GLASSES. IN TWO HOURS I HAD THEM ON MY HEAD. POLARIZED, BI-FOCAL, AND NICE AND DARK, $160.

MARY WAS DRUG SHOPPING.  YOU CAN BUY ANTIBIOTICS LIKE PENICILLIN RIGHT OFF THE SHELF FOR A FEW DOLLARS A BOTTLE.  THERE IS AN ANTIBIOTIC CREAM  MARY SOMETIMES USES THAT COSTS $60 A LITTLE TUBE AFTER THE DOCOTOR WRITES A SCRIPT, AND SHE GOT THAT FOR $6.

IT DOESN’T TAKE LONG TO SAVE MUCHO DINARO.

WE STOPPED FOR A COLD ONE AT AN OUTDOOR PLAZA WHILE WE WAITED FOR THE SUN GLASSES.

SOON THE VENDORS WERE DROPPING BY OUR TABLE HAWKING THEIR WEARS AND JUST BOTHERING US.  I WAS HAPPY WITH A BUD LIGHT AND MY ASHTRAY, AND MARY ENJOYED INSULTING THE YOUNG MEXICAN VENDORS WITH OFFERS OF $5 FOR ANYTHING THEY WERE SELLING.

SHE ENDED UP WITH GOLD AND SILVER JEWELRY, NOT $5, BUT THREE FOR $20.  THIS ROCK ROADRUNNER STARTED OUT AT $28 AND THE GUY WAS SO INSULTED BY MARY’S OFFER OF $5 I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO CLUB HER WITH IT.

SUSIE WAS PRETTY INTESTED IN THE ROCKING STONE ROADRUNNER UNTIL IT CLUNCKED HER IN THE HEAD. (AH, HEATHER, BETTER MAKE MORE ROOM ON YOUR MANTEL FOR ANTHER ROADIE).

NOW IF YOU READ INTO TRAVEL TIPS ON ALGODNOES, ON THE INTERNET YOU’RE BOUND TO RUN ACROSS STORIES ABOUT AVOIDING A TAVERN CALLED THE “GREEN DOOR”. 

THIS EARLY IN THE DAY, THE SIX MEXICAN VIRGINS WHO USUALLY RIDE THE STRIPER POLES WEREN’T OUT OF BED YET. I LEFT THEM MY E-MAIL ADDRESS.

I DOUBT THAT THE GREENBAY PACKER ORGANIZATION WAS PAID ANY FRANCHISE RITES ON THIS PAINTED ROCK WE PICKED UP.

DON’T FORGET THE BOOZE….

ADIOS

CHECK THIS OUT

BE SURE TO CHECKOUT AMY'S BALLOON FESTIVAL BLOG AND PICTURES.

Jake’s Birthday

Last week, Jake had a birthday (Which means Amy had the same birthday).  Laurel and Annie threw him a party.  Here they are putting the finishing touches on the cake...........

...........While the lasagna baked, Annie showed Renee and Hannah how to put together a giant floor puzzle..............

....Jake got a new remote control airplane for his birthday.  Here Hannah helps him to apply the decals she made for him........................

....serial number ELWOOD00001………….

....Annie had to show her fish to Grandma Renee (the "Grandma with the big dog"---Annie has so many grandparents, she classifies them).............

.....if she has a classification for Grandpa Hans, she is wisely  keeping it to herself.......

....the dinner was great and it gave another chance for Grandma Jean to get out and visit after her recovery from her broken hip.  She is staying with us for a while in Spooner.  How long is a while?  Stay tuned.  It sounds like a blog, anyway.........

    This picture is so damned good you will probably see it again and again..........

By Uncle Hans

BLOG VIDEOS

I'VE NEVER OWNED A VIDEO CAMERA.  UNCLE HANS AND AUNT KATHY ALWAYS TOOK THE VIDEO IN OUR FAMILY AND THERE IS VIDEO OF AMY AND PAULIE RIGHT BACK TO THE BEGINNING. I LOVE IT, BUT FOR SOME REASON JUST NEVER GOT INTO IT.

I DON'T USUALLY PAY FOR MY INTERNET SERVICE, AND IT'S A CASE OF YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.  THE SLOW CONNECTION MAKES UPLOADING SLOW IF IT WORKS AT ALL.

MY DIGITAL SONY CAMERA TAKES SHORT 30 SECOND VIDEOS, COMPLETE WITH SOUND, BUT I SELDOMLY USE THE FEATURE.  I'VE LOADED A FEW VIDEOS ON THIS BLOG  OVER THE YEARS AND LOVE TO WATCH THE 30 SECOND VIDEOS OF MY GRANDSONS THAT AMY POSTS ON HER BLOG.

RECENTLY UNCLE HANS UPGRADED HIS HIS FANCY CELL PHONE, AND WITH THE UPGRADE CAME HIGHER QUALITY DIGITAL PHOTOS FOR THE BLOG, ALTHOUGH I THINK IF HE USED TWO HANDS AND HELD THE PHONE  (CAMERA) MORE STEADILY THE PHOTOS WOULD WOULD BE EVEN SHARPER.

THE NEW CELL PHONE ALSO TAKES SHORT VIDEOS AND UNCLE HANS WANTED TO KNOW IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO GET THE VIDEO FROM HIS CAMERA TO THE BLOG?  AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS I THINK WE FINALLY GOT IT.

THESE VIDEOS WERE SHOT BY UNCLE HANS AT CHEESEDAYS AND BASICALLY THIS IS A TEST BLOG TO SEE IF WE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

PERFECT WEATHER

NOW IS THE TIME TO BRAG BRAG BRAG ABOUT THE WEATHER.  IT WAS SO NICE TODAY THAT I SAT OUTSIDE AND WATCHED BRETT FAVRE AND RANDY MOSS ON MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WITHOUT A SHIRT ON!

IT WAS A RIBEYE AND FRIED COD FISH OFF THE GRILL AT HALF TIME.  IT MAY NOT BE PRETTY OR EVEN A WIN, BUT IT SURE IS FUN WATCHING FAVRE PLAY FOOTBALL.

WE TOOK A NICE DRIVE NORTH ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE COLORADO RIVER TODAY ON A RUFF DIRT ROAD WITH THE PICK-UP.  IT WAS ONE OF THOSE BLOG-ABLE TRIPS THAT ENDED RIGHT ON THE RIVER'S EDGE AND A BEAUTIFUL BEACH.

I'LL GIVE YOU ONE GUESS WHO FORGOT THE CAMERA.......

"SUNNY & 80"

THAT DAMN CAT

SUSIE-Q CAT IS ONE STUBBORN CAT.  WE HAVE BEEN  HOUSE SITTING THE LAST FEW DAYS AND DECIDED TO TAKE SUSIE WITH US TO STAY IN THE MASTER BEDROOM AND BATH.

WHEN WE ARRIVED SHE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF HER CAT GARAGE.

AFTER 4 OR 5 HOURS I FINALLY TALKED HER INTO COMING OUT AND SHE TOOK OFF AND HID UNDER THE BED.  SHE STAYED UNDER THERE FOR 36 HOURS WITHOUT FOOD, WATER, OR THE LITER BOX. 

FINALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SECOND NIGHT WE HEARD HER SCRATCHING AROUND IN HER LITTER BOX, AND NOW SHE’S BURROWED UNDER THE SHEETS OF THE BED AND WON’T COME OUT.

NOW I LOVE MY CAMPER AND DON’T LIKE TO SPEND THE NIGHT AWAY FROM HOME EITHER, BUT THIS DAMN CAT IS TRULY A HOME BODY.

IN THE END, THE DAMN CAT WON, AND MARY TOOK HER HOME ONE DAY EARLY.  SHE RIPPED AROUND THE CAMPER LAUGHING AND SMILING -- GLAD TO BE HOME AGAIN.

Organic Fashion

By Uncle Hans

At the airport, we had the mandatory delay and some time on our hands.  we did not get home until 0230 and Renee was due at work, opening the fitness center in the Civic Center, at 0500.  short night.


Anyway, they had this cool display for all the people spending time during THEIR mandatory delay to look at.  This lady makes wearable fashion out of articles we discard in the trash. 


  I thought it was worth a blog.............










Uncle Hans