I’m Still Here

By Susie-Q

I noticed that the Happy Campers haven’t mentioned ME in the blog lately, so I thought I’d take matters into my own paws and check-in.

Mostly I just lay around sleeping away 70% of my life like most cats.

Recently the Happy Campers were gone a week house sitting.  No big deal, Steve, the neighbor, keeps an eye on me, and even comes over and leaves the door open so I can look outside. Look who showed up to torment the shit out of me.

Yup, It’s that Damn Roadrunner.  We were both busy giving each other the Evil Eye and Tail Twitching treatment.

Allow me to get off on a side bar here and tell a story about this Damn Roadie. Last year He was next door tormenting Scruffy, Steve’s housecat, when Scruf was fed up and pounced on the screen door, the door flew open and Scruf was out of the motorhome. Scruf, like me, is strictly an indoor cat and was lost outside for over a week with no food.  There was an all points bulletin and everyone was searching high and low, day and night for poor Scruf.  We were all might happy when somebody spotted Scruf living in the wheel well of a motorhome two streets over, and Scuf was mighty happy to put on the feedbag and get back inside.

Another advantage to the Happy Campers leaving for a week is that Mary always buys me a new toy to play with while they are gone.  This time it was a rubber ball that lights up when I bang it around with my paws. What fun!

That’s it for today, now I’ll check for that Damn Roadie, then I’ll head back for a little cat nap.

Susie-Q

 

THANKSGIVING WEEK

WE'RE SPENDING THANKSGIVING WEEK HOUSE SITTING.  WE HAVE TWO HOUSE SITTING CLIENTS AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR SITTING THIS BEAUTIFUL HOME.  THE HOME OWNERS ARE OFF TO SPEND THE HOLIDAY WITH FAMILY OUT OF STATE AND INSTEAD OF SENDING THEIR DOGS TO A KENNEL THEY'VE INVITED US TO SPEND THE WEEK.

MARY ENJOYS A FULL SIZE KITCHEN SO I'M SURE YOU WILL SEE SOME COOKING BLOGS NEXT WEEK WHEN WE GET BACK ON-LINE IN CAMP.

ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY FEASTS.

FOOTBALL

SUNDAY AFTER SUNDAY WHILE WATCHING BRETT FAVRE PLAY FOOTBALL, THE QUESTION COMES TO MIND?  WHO SCORED THE MOST POINTS FOR THE GREEN BAY PACKERS OVER THE YEARS?

THE ANSWER IS CLEAR, IN 9 YEARS WITH THE PACK (1997-2005), HE SCORED 1,054 POINTS. THE MOST FIELD GOALS IN GREEN BAY PACKER HISTORY, 226.








RYAN LONGWELL

HE PLAYED WITH PACK IN SUPER BOWL XXXII, WHERE HE KICKED THREE EXTRA POINTS AND ONE FIELD GOAL.
IN HIS SECOND GAME WITH THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS HE SCORED ALL 16 POINTS INCLUDING A 16 YARD TOUCHDOWN PASS.



LONGWELL IS CURRENTLY 36 YEARS OLD, AND HAS SCORED 1549 POINTS IN HIS CAREER SO FAR.

Slow Blog Day

So on the way home from work last night Rex asked if I had any blog ideas.  Not really I said, but I got up this morning with a thought.....

I recently read a book by Bill Harris.  It is a large book with over 700 pages and it took me 3 months to read, mostly because it has a very small font  and I mostly read it at work on my breaks.  The book is "First Lady Fact Book".  I must say I am amazed at how interesting most of these women are.  I am so glad that I took the time to  learn about these incredible women.  So on slow blog days, I will share with you some of the  things I have learned about our esteemed "First Ladies".

Since I don't have the book here with me today, although I have requested it from the library again, I will tell you a couple of facts I found interesting about Lucy Ware Webb Hayes.

Lucy Hayes, wife of 19th President Ruterford B. Hayes, was known as "Lemonade Lucy".  She got this moniker because during the Hayes administration, alcohol was banned from the White House.  According to this book, that ban was the President's idea not his wife's.  His predecessor, Ulysses S. Grant, had the reputation of having a very corrupt administration which included wild, drunken parties.  President Hayes wanted to distance himself and his White House from that association.  While it is true that Lucy was temperate, she had no problem with other people having a drink.  So the "Lemonade Lucy" title was undeserved.

Another very interesting fact about this lady.  In December of 1877 Lucy and Rutherford had just moved into the White House and were about to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversay.  They decided to renew their vows.  This amazed me, I thought vow renewal was a modern idea--guess not.   And the really amazing part of this, Lucy wore her original wedding dress.  This was a woman of the 1800's that had had EIGHT children!!  Her dress still fit!!  That is just  astounding. 

KINDA SLOW AROUND HERE

MARY WAS GOING TO WRITE A BLOG THIS WEEK-END ABOUT A COIN AND STAMP SHOW SHE WAS ATTENDING IN LAUGHLIN.  SHE EVEN HAD THE CAMERA IN HER POCKET.

I ELECTED TO WALK ALONG THE RIVER WALK ENJOYING THE MORNING SUNSHINE AND LOOKING FOR A CRAPS GAME TO WIN A LITTLE SPENDING MONEY.

TO SUM THINGS UP QUICKLY THE STAMP SHOW AND THE CRAPS TABLES WERE BOTH A BUST!!  WE GRABBED $7 BURGERS AT THE REGENCY CASINO AND HEADED HOME TO CAMP.

SUNDAY I ENJOYED ANOTHER BRETT FAVRE FOOTBALL GAME, ONLY SEVEN MORE GAMES TO WATCH THIS FIRST BALLOT HALL OF FAMER PLAY THE GAME.  I’M SURE GONNA MISS HIM!!

MONDAY IT’S A TRIP TO THE BARBER SHOP WHERE MARY AND I BOTH GET OUR HAIR CUT BY THE SAME BARBER.  THE BARBER CHARGES ME $7 AND CHARGES MARY $13. AM I WORTH $6 LESS, OR IS MARY GETTING RIPPED OFF?

NEXT THE $100 STORE (WAL MART) AND WE WILL BE READY TO GO BACK TO WORK FOR ANOTHER WEEK.

FOR THOSE OF YOU EXPERENCING YOUR FIRST SNOW FLURRIES, YOU’LL BE GLAD TO KNOW THE SUNNY & 80 WEATHER HAS SLIPPED US BYE AND WE ARE NOW INTO SUNNY & 70, WITH BLUE JEANS AND SWEAT SHIRT WEATHER COMING ON NEXT.

Pomegranate

 It’s pomegranate time here.  I know that because they have suddenly appeared in the grocery stores and are cheap enough to buy.



Isn’t it pretty??



 Lucky for me it came with directions!



The first step is to cut off the top.  See those membrane lines going from the center to the edge?



 You cut sections along those lines.



 Then, using a spoon you scoop the seeds into a bowl of water.  The seeds, which is what you eat, sink to the bottom and the white membrane floats which makes it easier to scoop it out for disposal.



This is the container of seeds that I ended up with.  As you can see, this is a somewhat messy process but I like them so it isn’t a big deal.

A lot of the people we work with say that when they were kids growing up in California, pomegranates grew wild and they could just  pick them up and take them home. Although most thought they were just too much work and messy.  Now that they are said to be healthy and have become expensive, they seem to be more in demand.  Go figure!

OLD PICTURES

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AMY TOOK ALL OF JUDY’S PHOTO ALBUMS AND SCANNED THE PICTUERS ONE BY ONE.

THESE ALBUMS ARE AVAILBLE FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE AT THIS LINK:

http://picasaweb.google.com/jeanrechsteiner

THANKS AIM FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.  NOW LITE A FIRE IN THE FIRE PLACE AND SMILE SMILE SMILE……..

PACKERS EMBARASS THE COWGIRLS

THE PACKER GIRLS, MARY AND DAWN, DECIDED TO TAILGATE AGAIN THIS WEEK AND INSTEAD OF THE NICE BOTTLES OF CALIFORNIA WINE THEY USUALLY SIP ON, THEY DECIDED TO DO SHOTS OF TEQUILA.

 

MARY’S FIRST SHOT LANDED ON HER CHEST….

BUT SHE IMPROVED AS THE GAME WENT ON. MARY ALSO HAD A NEW RECIPE FOR EGG ROLLS THAT ARE BAKED INSTEAD OF FRIED.

NOT BAD, BUT I STAYED WITH THE BRATS & BEER.

THAT’S THREE IN A ROW FOR THE PACK!

SUSIE THE CAT EVEN JOINED US OUTSIDE FOR MOST OF THE GAME.

CORNFEST

WE CHECKED OUT THE BULLHEAD CITY KIWANS CORNFEST HELD AT THE MOHAVE CROSSING.  THEY HAD A LIVE BAND OUTSIDE IN THE BEER GARDEN AND A SECOND LIVE BAND INSIDE.

INSIDE THE ARENA THEY HAD ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS, INCLUDING A MECHCANICAL BULL, BUNGIE JUMPING, AND LIVE PONY RIDES.

THEY ACTUALLY HAD SWEET CORN FOR SALE AT $3 OR $4 AN EAR.  DEMAND WASN’T ALL THAT HIGH AND THERE WAS NO NEED FOR A SALT SHAKER TREE AND BUTTER VAT LIKE IN THE MIDWEST AT A SWEET CORN FEST.

WE DIDN’T STAY ALL THAT LONG AS KIDS ARE STILL KIDS. WE RETURNED HOME TO CAMP AS OUR NEIGHBOR MARTY WAS WORKING ON OUR DOOR PROBLEMS FROM LAST SUMMER. MARTY DID A GREAT JOB REHANGING THE POCKET DOORS AND REPLACING THE DOOR KNOB ON THE BATHROOM DOOR.  THE PROJECTS EVEN CAME IN UNDER BUDGET WHICH LEFT MARY LOOKING AROUND FOR SOMETHING ELSE TO HAVE MARTY DO……

Ducky Dice

By Uncle Hans

We don't have the casinos, or the glamour, or the glitz in Spooner.  But sometimes it gets so quiet in the bar that we break out a game they call "Ducky Dice" and I have no idea why.

Everyone crowds around the pool table (Is it my imagination or does it start to look like a craps table?)  You start with three dollars and you shake one die for each of the dollars you have in front of you.  If you shake a 4 you pass a dollar to the right.  If you shake a 6 you pass to the left.  If you shake a 5 you put a dollar in the middle or pot.  If you shake a 1 or 2 or 3 you pass the dice to the next and do nothing else.

When you have no dollars left you don't shake, but you are not out because someone could pass money to you.  Winner of the pot is the player with the last dollar in front of them.

.....someone invariably spills their drink on the pool table..............

.......the other crazy thing we do is called "Hobo dinner"  where they throw a bunch of fix'ins into a garbage can and cook it for several hours.  Usually during a Packer game.  doesn't Renea look excited to eat out of a garbage can?.................

Uncle Hans

CLIMATIZED

LAST WEEK ONE DAY I WAS MAKING FUN OF MARY WHEN SHE PUT ON A HOODIE SITTING INSIDE. 

YEARS AGO I BEGGED PAULIE FOR AN INDOOR/OUTDOOR THERMOMETER FOR THE CAMPER FOR CHRISTMAS.  I THOUGHT IT WOULD MAKE HIM FEEL GOOD REMEMBERING CHRISTMAS AND PUTTING FORTH THE EFFORT OF BUYING A PRESENT.

IT WAS THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CASINO WORLD AND I HAVE SINCE COME TO REALIZE THAT HOLIDAYS LIKE CHRISTMAS, THANKSGIVING, AND NEW YEARS ARE JUST ANOTHER WORKDAY, AND THE HOLIDAYS MAKE THE CASINO CUSTOMERS A LITTLE MORE GENEROUS AND SO THEY TOKE BETTER.  SILLY ME, SHAMING MY SON INTO BUYING ME A CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

NOW DAYS I SEND AMY AND PAULIE AN ANNUAL “FRANKLIN” AND MY THREE GRANDSONS A BI-ANNUAL “PAYCHECK” ($50 SAVINGS BOND).

GEES, HOW DID I GET OFF ON CHRISTMAS?  THE INDOOR/ OUTDOOR THERMOMETER FROM PAULIE WORE OUT LAST SUMMER SO WE BOUGHT A BIGGER ONE. 

THE UNIT INSIDE IS BATTERY OPERATED AND THE SENDING UNIT OUTSIDE IS SOLAR POWERED.  HERE YOU CAN SEE IT’S MON 11/1 AND AT 5:04 PM IT’S 86 DEGREES INSIDE AND 81 DEGREES OUTSIDE. NICE !!!

OMG, CAN YOU TELL IT’S A DAY OFF AND I’VE BEEN DRINKING BEER (S)?  ANYWAY BACK TO MARY AND THE HOODIE.  I LOOKED UP AT THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE WHEN SHE PUT ON THE SWEATSHIRT AND IT SAID 75 DEGREES.  MARY’S COLD AT 75 DEGREES?

A FEW DAYS LATER I WAS FEELING A LITTLE CHILLY AND WENT TO PULL ON MY SWEATPANTS, AND THOUGHT ABOUT TEASING MARY AT 75 DEGREES, AND THE THE THERMOMETER SHOWED 72 DEGREES!

AFTER TWO SUMMERS ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT I GUESS WE’VE BEEN CLIMATIZED.  YEARS AGO WE USED TO RETURN TO ARIZONA IN OCTOBER AND RUN OUR A/C.  NOW WE PACKED UP THE A/C AND PUT IT IN THE SHED THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER.  WE USED TO LAUGH AT THE LOCALS WEARING PANTS AND JACKETS WHILE WE WERE IN SHORTS AND T-SHIRTS.

NOW IT’S US, GRABBING HOODIES AND SWEATPANTS AND SMILING WHEN THE TV WEATHERMAN’S FORCAST IS MID-90’S. 

THING 1

OPPS…. I FORGOT TO WISH YOU A HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!

ISN’T THIS THE CUTEST “THING 1” YOU’VE EVER SEEN?