TRAVEL NAZI

IT’S 1,750 MILES FROM OUR SPOT IN ARIZONA HOME TO WISCONSIN. THE FIRST DAY EAST IS 500 MILES TO STOP AND SEE AMY AND FAMILY. THE SECOND DAY I THOUGHT WE WERE WITH UNCLE HANS THE TRAVEL NAZI.

WHEN YOU TAKE A ROAD TRIP WITH UNCLE HANS YOU CLIMB IN THE CAR AND DRIVE FROM POINT A TO POINT B STOPPING ONLY FOR GASOLINE.  IT DOESN’T MATTER IF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN POINT A AND POINT B IS 200 MILES OR 2000 MILES, YOU DRIVE STRAIGHT THROUGH STOPPING ONLY FOR GAS.  THAT’S WHY UNCLE HANS EARNED THE NAME TRAVEL NAZI.

ON THE SECOND DAY OF OUR TRIP WE DROVE 935 MILES, IN 15 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES, THRU 6 DIFFERENT STATES.  NEW MEXICO, TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, KANSA, MISSIOUR, AND IOWA.  THAT’S A LONG TIME IN THE SADDLE, AND I FELT LIKE A TRAVEL NAZI.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE THIRD AND LAST DAY WAS ONLY 300 MILES, A REALLY EASY DAY COMPARED TO THE DAY BEFORE.  

THE NEW 6 CYL HONDA DIDN’T GET THE THE GAS MILEAGE THAT THE OLD 4 CYL DID, ALTHOUGH IT DID TOUCH 30 MPG ON THE KANSAS TURNPIKE DOING 78 MPH.

NOW WE’RE HOME IN THE MID-WEST WHERE THE LAWNS ARE NICE AND GREEN AND THE LEAVES ON THE TREES ARE RIGHT ON THE VERGE OF CHANGING TO THEIR BEAUTIFUL FALL COLORS.

WE ENJOYED OUR VISIT WITH MARY’S MOM (90 YEARS YOUNG) IN MT HOPE, AND TONIGHT WE’RE IN LA CROSSE FOR THE TORCHLITE PARADE AT OKTOBER FEST.  THE BEER TENT, COMPLETE WITH A LIVE BAND WILL ALSO BE ON THE AGENDA.

Lucky

Yesterday I was looking at our blog and sometimes I will reread some of them.  One that I reread yesterday was the one about why I bought a car.

I got to the last line about "could I convey how sad I was that I had to get rid of my car", when I scrolled down and saw the picture Rex has of me as an avatar I burst out laughing……a very sad,sad (in so many ways) picture indeed!

Thank you Dear, for making me laugh everyday and at the most unexpected times.  I am a very, very lucky lady!

AMY’S BIRTHDAY

 

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIM !!!

HIT THE ROAD JACK !!

IT’S FINALLY SUNDAY AND TIME TO START THE ROADTRIP HOME TO WISCONSIN.  YAHOO!!!

THE NEW GPS, TOM TOM, SAYS IT’S 520 MILES TO AMY’S HOUSE. WILL WE GET THERE IN TIME TO CELEBRATE AIM’S BIRTHDAY OR WILL WE HAVE TO STOP AND DRINK 10-20 BEERS WHILE THE PACKERS BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF THE BEARS?

TOM TOM SAYS WE’RE TRAVELLING 76 MILES AN HOUR, AND THE SPEED LIMIT IS 75.  WOW THIS GADGET IS COOL, NOW WHERE IS THE PACKER GAME AND THE BEER DRINKING SETTING?

HEY UNCLE NEIL COULD YOU SET UP YOUR LAPTOP SO “AZ” CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE BLOG AND OUR ROADTRIP?

OH YA, AND IT’S SUNDAY, ARE YOU TAKING “AZ” TO CHURCH WITH YOU?

HEAD’N DOWN THE HI-WAY….

A BIG THANK-YOU !!!

A REALLY BIG THANK-YOU TO UNCLE NEIL AND AUNT KATHY FOR TAKING THEIR TIME TO DRIVE TO WAUSAU, WISCONSIN TO BUY US THE NEW CAT, “AZ”.

WHILE TALKING TO THEM ON THE PHONE THEY BOTH SAID THEY HAD SOME GREAT BEER DRINKING STORIES TO TELL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF PICKING UP THE NEW KITTY.

I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO HEAR KATHY’S VERSION.  LIKE NEIL ALWAYS SAYS, “I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER”.

REGULAR BLOG READERS MAY NOT KNOW THAT UNCLE NEIL IS A VETERINARIAN, AND THEY RETURNED THE NEW KITTY TO HIS OFFICE.

 

THEY GOT “AZ” ALL SET UP TO REST COMFORTABLLY.

HE COULDN’T BE IN SAFER HANDS, THANKS AGAIN.

REX AND MARY

HANG ON LITTLE BUDDY, DON’T ALL ROADS IN WISCONSIN LEAD TO TITLE TOWN, USA?  WE’LL BE ALONG TO FETCH YOU.

INTRODUCING “AZ” (CONTINUED)

I MAY HAVE TURNED OFF COMMENT MODERATION ONE BLOG TOO EARLY.  MARY WAS EVEN A LITTLE UPSET ABOUT YESTERDAY’S BLOG AND POINTED OUT THAT MANY SERIAL KILLERS TORTURED ANIMALS IN THEIR CHILDHOOD.

IT WAS A DIFFERENT WORLD 25 AND 50 YEARS AGO. INSTEAD OF VIDEO GAMES AND FACEBOOK WE PLAYED MUMBLY PEG. I BOUGHT A HOUSE IN FRANKVILLE THAT DIDN’T HAVE KEYS TO THE DOORS.  IF THE OLSMOBILE OMEGA WAS MISSING FROM IT’S PARKING SPOT, I COULDN’T REPORT IT STOLEN, IT WOULD TAKE A MONTH TO CHECK WITH ALL MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO SEE IF SOMEBODY JUST BORROWED IT, CAUSE THE KEYS WERE ALWAY IN THE IGNITION.

BACK TO INTRODUCING “AZ”

AS THE SPOTTED CAT DEADLINE DRAWS NEAR, THE LAST WEEK ACTUALLY, I FOUND  BENGAL KITTENS LISTED ON E-BAY OF ALL PLACES.  THE KITTENS ARE AFFORDABLE AND LOCATED IN WAUSAU, WISCONSIN, BUT THERE ARE ONLY TWO REMAINING OUT OF A LITTER OF SIX.

UNCLE NEIL AND AUNT KATHY COME TO MY RESCUE.

HEY UNCLE NEIL, THIS IS YOUR BROTHER FROM NEVADA, COULD YOU DRIVE OVER TO WAUSAU TOMORROW AND BUY ME A NEW CAT? 

THANKS TO AUNT KATHY, WE HAVE PICTURES.  ALTHOUGH I HAVEN’T MET THE CAT YET,  I’M GOING TO NAME THE CAT ARIZONA, “AZ” (PRONOUNCED A-ZEE) FOR SHORT.

 

JUST LOOK AT THOSE BEAUTIFUL SPOTS!

WHAT WILL SUSIE THINK OF HER NEW BOYFRIEND? WILL IT BE LOVE AT FIRST SITE?  ARE THERE CAT FIGHTS IN OUR FUTURE?  ALL BLOG FODDER FOR NEXT MONTH I’M SURE. MEANWHILE “AZ” WILL BE JOINING US FOR THE THREE WEEK WISCONSIN ROADTRIP.

HEY UNCLE NEIL, DO YOU THINK “AZ” WILL GET CAR SICK AND THROW UP ALL OVER MARY’S NEW CAR?

IT’S GOING TO BE INTERESTING, BUT ISN’T A ROADTRIP TO WISCONSIN ALWAYS INTERESTING?

INTRODUCING “AZ”

MY WHOLE LIFE I WAS A “DOG PERSON”, AND WAS DEFININTELY NOT A “CAT PERSON”. I HAD SEVERAL MINATURE DACHOUNDS, AND SALLY THE YELLOW LAB WILL ALWAYS BE A FAVORITE.

EVEN THOUGH PAULIE ALWAYS HAD A CAT IN THE HOUSE  GROWING UP, MY REPUTATION WITH CATS WAS MORE SINISTER.

AS A LITTLE KID I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY CATS I KICKED UP IN THE AIR TO SEE IF THEY REALLY ALWAYS LANDED ON THEIR FEET?  THIS WAS ESPECIALLY COOL TO DO IN THE BARN, TO SEE IF I COULD GET THEM TO LAND IN GUTTER.

ONE WINTER IN FRANKVILLE I DECIDED THE FERAL CAT POPULATION WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND MADE IT MY PERSONAL MISSION TO SHOOT THEM.  I USED THE SAME .22 VARMIT GUN UNCLE HANS RECENTLY BLOGGED ABOUT TRIMMING HIS TREE.

UNLIKE UNCLE HANS I WAS A TERRIFIC SHOT AND HAD 21 DEAD ON HITS, OUT OF 21, INCLUDING ONE IN THE DARK.

LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION, AND BETWEEN THE TWO OF US WE HAD KILLED OVER 40 CATS.  WHEN THE LOCALS BEGAN QUESTIONING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF CATS AT THE MORNING COFFEE HOUR, WE BOTH HUNG UP OUR GUNS AND RETIRED BEFORE WE GOT CAUGHT.

IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS LATER HAVING A COLD ONE THAT THE SUBJECT CAME UP AND WE TOLD EACH OTHER OF OUR SHOOTING SKILLS IN THE BACK YARD.

TERESA COULD TELL YOU A COUPLE OF CAT STORIES ABOUT REX, AND ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS KILLED IN THOSE STORIES I WAS INJURED BY ONE ONE THE LITTLE DEVILS AND TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO HEAL.

ANYWAY AS THE WORLD TURNS AND I GREW UP, THAT ALL CHANGED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WITH THE ADDITION OF SUSIE-Q, THE CAT, TO THE HAPPY CAMPERS GROUP. SUSIE HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT PET CATS. HELL, I EVEN SUBSCRIBE TO THE CAT FANCY MAGAZINE, AND RECENTLY RENEWED WHEN MY GRANDSONS WERE SELLING MAGAZINES AT SCHOOL.

ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO THEY FEATURED SAVANNAH CATS IN THE MAGAZINE AND I’VE BEEN WANTING A SPOTTED CAT EVER SINCE.  SPOTTED CATS GET THEIR SPOTS FROM HAVING WILD LEPOARD BLOOD LINES.  THE SPOTTED CATS ALSO SEEM TO BE MORE DOG LIKE, SMARTER, LIKE WATER, LOYAL, AND MORE OUTGOING THAN YOUR AVERAGE CAT.

I THINK OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF I’VE READ EVERY THING WRITTEN ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAVANNAH, OCICAT, AND BENGAL BREEDS.

THIS SUMMER WITH THE ADDITION OF THE PORCH, I NOW HAVE ROOM FOR A SECOND CAT AND DOUBLE DOWNED MY EFFORTS TO FIND THE PERFECT SPOTTED CAT THAT I COULD AFFORD.  KNOWING I WAS GOING TO BE IN GREEN BAY ON OCTOBER 1ST AND COULD USE UNCLE NEILS SERVICES TO CUT DOWN ON THE VET BILL THE DEADLINE WAS SET.  IT IS NOW OR NEVER.

AS THE DEADLINE GREW NEAR, LAST WEEK I TOTALLY PISSED OFF A BENGAL CAT BREEDER IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA. SHE WAS NOT AMUSED WHEN I RAISED MY $250 OFFER TO $300 ON HER $750 KITTENS.  HER LAST E-MAIL TO ME, GAVE ME A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF A FLAMING E-MAIL.

INTERNET SEARCHES, CHECKING THE CRAIG LISTS OF ALL THE MAJOR TOWNS WE WILL TRAVEL THOUGH TO GET TO GREEN BAY, HUMANE SOCIETIES, BENGAL RESCUE GROUPS, PET FINDER, WANT-ADS,AND FINALLY E-BAY.

LIKE AN OLE FASHION SOAP OPERA THE STORY CONTINUES TOMORROW

BLOG COMMENTS

I DON’T GET A LOT OF COMMENTS ON MY BLOG.  THE REASON I DON’T GET A LOT OF COMMENTS:

#1. I DON’T LEAVE ANY COMMENTS ON OTHER RV BLOGS THAT I READ. THE REASON I DON’T, IS BECAUSE I HATE ALL THE HOOPS YOU HAVE TO GO THRU.  ESPECIALLY THAT ANNOYING  SCRAMBLE  WORD VERIFICATION. I JUST CAN’T SEEM TO TYPE THE RIGHT LETTERS OR NUMBERS.

#2.  THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I’VE WRITTEN LESS ABOUT RV TRAVEL AND MORE OF A REPORT TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD, FAR AWAY IN ARIZONA/NEVADA.

DESPITE LESS RV’ING TOPICS MARY, UNCLE HANS, SUSIE, GUESTS, AND I, STILL GET ABOUT 100 HITS A DAY ON THE BLOG.  THANKS TO ALL OF YOU READERS.  IN FACT OUR COUNTER IS OVER 140,000 HITS SINCE THE BEGINNING.

RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN A LOT SAID ABOUT COMMENT VERIFICATION IN THE BLOGSPHERE.  THEY CLAIM THAT THE SPAM FILTER WORKS GREAT, SO I’VE TURNED OFF BLOG MODERATION.  NOW WHEN YOU MAKE A COMMENT, YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TO UNSCRAMBLE A WORD, AND YOUR COMMENT SHOULD DIRECTLY POST TO MY BLOG, NO LONGER WAITING FOR MY “OK”.

I HOPE THIS TREND CONTINUES AMONG BLOGGERS, AND MAYBE I’LL START MAKING MORE COMMENTS TO THE MANY RV BLOGS I READ DAILY.

WEEK #1

IT’S SUNDAY AND THE BEGINNING OF WEEK #1.  IT’S BEEN AWHILE SINCE WE’VE COMPLETED A WEEKLY COUNT DOWN TO A VACATION AND A ROADTRIP TOGETHER, 18 MONTHS TO BE EXACT.

THE LAST WEEK LOOKS TO BE AN EASY ONE WITH ONLY FOURS DAYS OF WORK SCHEDULLED. WE SHOULD GET AN EARLY START NEXT SUNDAY FOR ALBQUERQUE, AND AMY’S BIRTHDAY.

THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS THIS FINE SUNDAY MORNING (92 DEGREES) IS THE PACKER GAME AT SPIRIT MOUNTAIN CASINO.  THE GAME STARTS AT 10 AM, BUT IT’S REALLY NOON IN GREEN BAY, SO SUCKING DOWN BEERS IS IN ORDER.

 

10 or 20 BEERS LATER …

DESPITE NOT SHOWING UP FOR THE FIRST QUARTER, A PACKER VICTORY !!!

The Rest Of The Story

Rex did a great job yesterday of giving you the punch line.  Yes I bought a beautiful (almost) new Honda Accord.

But…

this is how it all came about.

On July 27th, we were on our way home from Laughlin and I kept saying that my air conditioning wasn’t working.  Since it was HOTTER THAN HELL, Rex thought it was just taking longer to cool down the car.

As I was turning the corner to come into the RV park, smoke started rolling out from under the hood!  Of course, being 2 mechanically challenged people NEITHER one of us  bothered to check out the H/C gauge.  Needless to say, we parked immediately.

The next day I put water in my radiator and took it to a garage, not the Honda dealer 100 miles away, just a local garage. 

According to them the overflow bottle had developed a very, very small hole and instead of the coolant falling to the ground, it blew into where the air filter goes.  I am sure there is more to this, but I ended up with a new radiator and a bill for $1036.15.

Anyway, I got my car back in working condition.  My car has 182,000 miles on it and it is safe to say that I have driven AT LEAST 175,000 of them.  In other words I KNOW HOW MY CAR FEELS.  It just did not feel right after this  “repair” and began to make noises.

I  started thinking about our upcoming 4,000 mile trip and my unease began to grow.   I drove home to Wisconsin in May by myself and had not one instant of hesitation that my car would be any problem to me whatsoever.   I no longer had that feeling of utter confidence in my car.

Now you know the rest of the story, I just wish I could convey how much it saddened me to get rid of my 2002 Honda Accord. 

 

 

NEW TO US

IT’S A TYPICAL MONDAY, OUR DAY OFF, AND WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE VFW BAR DRINKING, SMOKING, AND GAMBELING WITH BOTH HANDS.  YES, IT’S AFTER 11:00 AM.

WE GET INTO A DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR UPCOMING ROADTRIP HOME TO WISCONSIN. YOU KNOW WE ARE A LITTLE SHORT OF TIME AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR VISIT.  LET’S LEAVE ON SUNDAY INSTEAD OF MONDAY AND SURPRISE AMY ON HER BIRTHDAY IN ALBUQUERQUE.

WE CONTINUE DISCUSSING THE TRIP AND PREPARATIONS. YOU KNOW I NEED TO GET A HAIRCUT, I ALWAYS GET AN EXTRA SHORT HAIR CUT BEFORE I SEE MY MOM.

MAYBE WHILE YOU’RE IN THE SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX AT THE BANK YOU SHOULD GRAB THE TITLE FOR YOUR CAR AND STICK THAT IN THE GLOVE BOX.  AFTER ALL THAT HONDA IS 10 YEARS OLD AND HAS 182,000 MILES ON IT, AND WE ARE DRIVING 2,000 MILES, HALF WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WHAT IF IT DUMPED US, WE’D BE PREPARED.

WHEN WE GET HOME I’LL CHECK ON THE INTERNET FOR THE BLUEBOOK PRICE SO WE WILL KNOW WHAT THE CAR’S WORTH.

BACK AT HOME I DO A SEARCH FOR LATE MODEL USED HONDA ACCORDS AND FIND ONE AT THE DODGE DEALER IN KINGMAN.  LOOK AT THIS MARY, AND IT’S A V6 INSTEAD OF THE 4 CYL YOU’RE DRIVING NOW. IT ONLY HAS 13,200 MILES ON IT.  LET’S DRIVE OVER AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

CAN MARY STILL WALK INTO A CAR DEALERSHIP LIKE SHE SHE DID 10 YEARS AGO, AND BUY A NEW CAR WITHOUT ANY MONEY OR HER CHECKBOOK?  THE DAYS OF FREE CREDIT AND THE ECONOMY HAVE CERTAINLY CHANGED SINCE THEN.

THE ANSWER WOULD BE “YES”, BUT IT TOOK HER TWICE AS LONG TO DO THE PAERWORK.

SO HOW DO YOU LIKE MARY’S NEW (TO US) HONDA?

IT FINALLY DIDN’T HAPPEN

IT’S HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL SEASON IS UNDERWAY WITHOUT THE OLE GUNSLINGER, BRETT FAVRE.  I KNOW, IT HAD TO HAPPEN SOMETIME, AFTER ALL HE TURNS 42 NEXT MONTH, BUT STILL THE NFL WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT HIM!

I’M GONNA BE LIKE THE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME AND WAIT FIVE YEARS BEFORE I GIVE UP HOPE THAT HE WILL RETURN.  SOMEBODY COULD BE INJURED HALF WAY THRU THE SEASON AND LET’S FACE IT, THE NFL IS STILL SHORT OF QUARTERBACKS. IT COULD HAPPEN.

MEANWHILE IT WAS REPORTED THAT HE TOOK A 25  MILE BIKE RIDE WITH HIS WIFE LAST SUNDAY, AND ONLY WATCHED THE GAME HIGHLITES ON TV LATER.

DAMN I’M GOING TO MISS HIM !!!

ON THE OTHER HAND MARY IS GLAD I’LL ONLY BE WATCHING ONE FOOTBALL GAME A WEEK, INSTEAD OF TWO GAMES EVERY SUNDAY.

GO PACKERS !!!

Tree Trimming

By Uncle Hans

Here is today's project.  If you look close, you can see that this beautiful pet Colorado blue spruce has two "head buds".  Normally a coniferous tree has one bud on the top each year that goes on to be incorporated into a taller trunk.  On occasion, like injury to a top or head bud, two will form in it's place.  It results in a split or forked trunk, unsightly in a pet tree in the front yard.  Now when the tree is 6 feet tall, this is easy to fix by simply snipping one off.  But when the tree is 30 feet tall,..............what to do?....

..........well you take the OD's little "varmint" .22 up on the roof and "snip" one off from a distance.........

......(the tractor is handier than the ladder)  Well, this is not as easy as it looks............

And it looks pretty hard, considering the target is thinner than a pencil, and the distance is about 40 feet.......

  .........but with a little patience, I got the extra head bud................

.......I have seen lots of "trophy shots" but never one celebrating a victory over a tree...........

.............in 2004, a tornado damaged the head bud and the next year I had to shoot an extra one off.  It took 7 tries.  This time Tinker has 8 new shiny toys to play with.
So I am consistent in my poor marksmanship.

(and thanks to Renee for bravely climbing the tractor to take the pictures!)

By Uncle Hans

THE PORCH IS DONE !!!

WE ARE OFFICALLY OPENING THE PORCH, AND CALLING THE PROJECT DONE !!!  OF COURSE A PROJECT LIKE THIS IS NEVER ENDING AND MARY IS TALKING ABOUT REPAINTING THE INSIDE AFTER WE GET BACK FROM VACATION, AND REX NEVER DID GET THE STEPS STAINED, YET.

NOW, FOR MARY’S FUTURE EPISODE OF ON HGTV I OFFER THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES:

THE NORTH END BEFORE-

 

AFTER-

 

THE SOUTH END BEFORE-

 

AFTER-

 

WE RECENTLY ADDED A COUCH FOR MARY TO SLEEP ON WHILE SHE CHANNEL SURFS, AND AN OAK COMPUTER DESK FOR REX TO USE IN THE WRITING OF THIS BLOG.

WE ARE BOTH HAPPY WITH HOW IT ALL TURNED OUT, AND I’M NOT GOING TO MISS ALL THOSE THRIFT STORE TRIPS.

Lobster

  A little while ago the Smith’s grocery store had “whole cooked lobsters” on sale for $5.99 each.  Just out of curiosity I had to check them out. 

 Aren’t they cute in that red netting?  Who could resist?  Obviously not me.

 Actually they are cute from all sides, not very big, but cute.

 

 

 

Quite honestly there was not much “meat” on them but it was good, I made sort of a half-assed lobster roll and it was a nice change of pace meal.  Then to be frugal, all the shells and guts went into a pot along with some Old Bay and a bay leaf to make some lobster stock.  This winter when we are hungry for soup, lobster bisque will be on the menu!

HAPPY LABOR DAY

HAPPY LABOR DAY EVERYBODY!!! SO ENDS THE SUMMER OF 2011.  IT WAS A VERY TRYING SUMMER FOR THE HAPPY CAMPERS WITH THE AUGUST HEAT WAVE, BUT WE PULLED THROUGH.

WE’D NEVER MADE IT WITHOUT THE ADDITION OF THE ARIZONA ROOM / PORCH THAT WE ADDED LAST SPRING.  WE USE IT NEARLY DAILY AND WE ARE WONDERING HOW MUCH IT WILL GET USED IN THE WINTER MONTHS AHEAD.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS A ROADTRIP HOME TO WISCONSIN WITH MARY’S HONDA.   WE WILL BE LEAVING THE MOHAVE VALLEY ON SEPTEMBER 26TH AND RETURNING ON OCTOBER 16TH.

THE FIRST STOP, NOT COUNTING MARY’S DENTIST, IS THE TORCHLITE PARADE AT OKTOBERFEST IN LA CROSSE WISCONSIN ON THURS SEPT 29.

FOLLOWING THAT WE WILL BE IN GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN TO CATCH UP WITH AS MANY RECHSTEINER’S AS WE CAN FOR THE WEEK-END.

VISITING OUR MOTHERS, IS A BIG PRIORITY OF THE TRIP ALONG WITH OTHER FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  THE SCHEDULE IS LOOSE, WEATHER DEPENDENT, AND UNDER FUNDED.

ON THE WAY BACK WEST WE NEED TO HIT SOUTH DAKOTA TO RENEW OUR DRIVER’S LIC, AND WE PLAN TO SPEND A WEEK-END WITH AMY, DANIEL, AND THE BOYS IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.  THIS YEAR OUR VISIT IN ALBUQUERQUE IS ONE WEEK LATE FOR THE GRAND BALLOON FESTIVAL, AND LAST YEAR WE WERE THERE TWO WEEKS TOO EARLY.  MAYBE NEXT YEAR, WE’LL GET IT RIGHT?

OK, ALL YOU SNOWBIRDS OUT THERE, START PACKING UP YOU RV’S AND PLANNING YOUR ROUTES.  WE WILL BE WAITING TO DEAL YOU A BALCKJACK IN THE WARM WINTER WEATHER OF LAUGHLIN, NEVADA.

REX AND MARY

 

Spooner Tails

By Uncle Hans

This is Fiona.  Renee had pet Rats, too,  when she was younger.  (I hope she did not have baboons or alligators, this is all getting a little strange, and it gets worse........) 

She sez once you get one by the tail, they make great pets, and only live a couple of years. well we bought Fiona from the pet store for $5 and got quite a bargain, as you can see..........

..........so, about two weeks after we got her, she started building a very elaborate nest.  And on Sunday morning she delivered 9 "pups".   This is Monday morning.  If you look close there is one pup underneath the pile and it looks a little dusky............

.......but it was all OK, because Fiona ate it and the other 8 are very healthy.  More rat stuff later.

I bet you can't wait!........

By Uncle Hans