Bear Hunting Season

By Uncle Hans

It's bear season in Wisconsin! The other night, Renee was alone at home as I was out doing surgery. She walked out into the sun porch and was confronted with a large bear, about 15 feet away, and only a thin pane of glass separating. It was a moment!!

A few days later, the neighbors (actually, it was Jason's Uncle Joe) shot a bear. It was not Renee's bear, it was taken miles from here. They called us over for a "photo-op"

Here are a few pictures. Renee thought the bear needed bright red nail polish. The hunters were intent on finding the slug, which in this case was a copper shotgun slug. I didn't know one used a shotgun for bear, but they reminded me that they were from downstate where the law mandates shotguns for safety reasons (in deer season) and that they had gotten used to the weapon and were comfortable using it on bear......

By Uncle Hans

THE BRICK BUILDER

ONE OF THE EXTRAS THAT CAME WITH THE MOUNTAIN PARK MODEL IS A PILE OF BRICKS.  THE PILE WAS AN ENDLESS SOURCE FOR JOEY THE BRICK BUILDER.

    “SUNNY & 75”

MOUNTAIN CAMP-OUT

AFTER THREE STRAIGHT WEEK-ENDS IN VEGAS, IT WAS TIME TO HEAD OUT ON A ROADTRIP TOWARD THE EAST, AND THE MOUNTAIN.

LOOK WHO WE FOUND AT OUR PARK MODEL ON THE MOUNTAIN.

TURNS OUT OUR NEW PLACE IS HALFWAY BETWEEN AMY’S AND THE MOHAVE VALLEY.  A PERFECT PLACE TO MEET UP FOR A WEEK-END CAMP OUT.

TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF THOSE OUTINGS YOU MEASURE IN HOURS INSTEAD OF DAYS, BUT WE HAD PERFECT WEATHER AND ENJOYED THE VISIT.

 

THIS IS A PICTURE ON THE PORCH. YOU CAN SEE “AZ” TRYING TO AVOID ANOTHER ATTACK BY A GRANDSON.

WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME SITTING OUTSIDE AND EATING.

GRANDPA REX HAD HIS HANDS PLEASANTLY FULL MOST OF THE TIME.

   “SUNNY &75”

The Last Ski

By Uncle Hans

A few months ago, Rex was visiting Cable lake and mentioned that he hadn't water-skied "in years". In this case, the boat was old and the skier older, so two skis were in order............

.....still, the skier was up to the challenge!

.....Yes, Rex and Amy enjoyed their time on Cable Lake.

The problem is, that was NOT Rex skiing, it was my neighbor Danny. And AMY was the brave one, and she tubed even though the weather was cool. Rex will have to ski next year. That will be a blog challenge...........

......I got up this year, after being bugged by my friend for years to get up on skis. And Renee and I tubed yesterday, the last of the season as we pulled the boat.

By Uncle Hans

LOAD IT UP !!!!

OK, OK, LOAD IT UP, I’LL TAKE IT!!

JUST TO PROVE SOMEDAY IN THE FUTURE THAT IT WAS NEW, HERE IS A PICTURE WITH ONE MILE ON THE ODOMETER.

NOT ONLY DOES IT LOOK NICE SITTING AT HOME OUT FRONT OF THE PORCH, BUT IT’S SURE TO BE A LOT OF FUN TO PLAY WITH.

CAN YOU GUESS WHO WANTED THE FIRST RIDE ON THE NEW SCOOTER?

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   “SUNNY AND 101”

THE SCOOTER STORE

BACK TO VEGAS FOR THE THIRD WEEK IN A ROW, AND THIS WEEK’S TRIP IS ALL ABOUT SCOOTERS.

THEY HAVE BOTH COLORS OUT ON THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR.

YUP !!! I’M THINKING THE RED ONE.

BUT BEFORE I COWBOY-UP, AND BUY A NEW SCOOTER, CHECKOUT “GRANDMA JACK” AND THE INDIAN.

IS SHE CELEBRATING THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SCOOTER? OR LEARNING HOW TO RIDE?

 

PCX150

THE NEXT BIG PROJECT THIS FALL IS THE NEW SCOOTER.  I PUT THIS OFF ALL SUMMER, BECAUSE IN THE HORRIBLE HEAT THE SCOOTER WOULD HAVE JUST SAT THERE ON THE PORCH. KINDA LIKE BUYING A SNOWBLOWER IN JULY IN WISCONSIN.

I’VE HAD IT SCOPED OUT FOR MONTHS, AN ITALIAN MADE HONDA SH150i. I’VE READ EVERYTHING ON THE INTERNET AND EVEN HAD PICTURES ON THE BLOG OF MARY AND I SITTING ON ONE AT THE DEALER IN LAS VEGAS.

 

WITH THE AIRPORT RUNS TO VEGAS, WE FOUND TIME TO STOP BY THE HONDA DEALER TO CHECK ON THE NEW SCOOTER.  WE ASKED THE SALESMAN ABOUT THE SH150i , AND HE SAID, OH YA, WE HAVE ONE RIGHT OVER HERE.  AS SOON AS WE BOTH SAW THE SCOOTER WE REALIZED IT WASN’T THE RIGHT ONE.  WELL, EXPLAINED THE SALEMAN, HONDA DROPPED THE SH150i AND REPLACED IT WITH THE PCX150. 

THEN HE WENT INTO THE SALES PITCH, NEW, IMPROVED, MORE STORAGE, BETTER WIND RESISTANCE, BETTER GAS MILEAGE, LIGHTER, BETTER TOP END SPEED, AND ON AND ON.  OK, GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE.  THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE NEW AND IMPROVED SCOOTER IS PRICED $1,000.00 …..LESS !!! 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  FIRST I BUY MY RETIREMENT TRAILER ON THE MOUNTAIN FOR $5,000.00 LESS THAN EXSPECTED AND NOW MY NEW SCOOTER IS GOING TO BE $1,000.00 LESS?   HOW CAN THAT BE?

CAN I GET IT IN RED?

SHARK REEF AQUARIUM

WE WON ENOUGH MONEY ON THE CRAPS TABLE TO TAKE A TRIP OUT ON THE STRIP. WE TOOK THE EXPRESS BUS OUT TO MANDALY BAY, AND PLANNED ON USING THE DUECE BUS TO WORK OUR WAY BACK DOWNTOWN MAKING STOPS WHEREVER.

FIRST STOP WAS THE SHARK REEF AQUARIUM AT MANDALAY BAY.

WE WERE ALL IMPRESSED WITH THE SEVERAL TANKS OF FISH.  ALL THE FISH LOOKED HEALTHY, AND NOT ALL BEAT UP AND PALE.  THE SHARKS ARE THE HIT OF THE AQUARIUM.

THERE WERE TWO GLASS TUNNELS WHERE THE FISH LITERALLY SWAM RIGHT OVER YOU.

OF COURSE “GRANDMA JACK” HAS TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMETHING.

THEIR BIGGEST TANK HELD 1.3 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER, AND AS OBSERVERS IT APPEARED YOU WERE ON THE DECK OF A SUNKEN SHIP.

TAKING PICTURES OF BEAUTIFUL FISH THRU GLASS IS NOT SOMETHING EITHER HEATHER OR I REALLY GOT THE HANG OF.

NEXT IT WAS OFF TO THE MINUS –5 ICE BAR.

DON’T EVER SPEND YOUR YOUR COLD HARD CASH TO DO THIS!!!  IT WAS A SMALL ROOM, TWICE THE SIZE OF A WALK-IN FREEZER. IN FACT, THAT’S JUST WHAT IT IS.  THEY CHARGE YOU $17 TO RENT A COAT AND BOOTS, AND THEN SELL YOU DRINKS FOR $10 EACH WHILE YOU’RE STANDING IN THE FREEZER.

YOUR DRINK IS SERVED IN A GLASS MADE FROM A PIECE OF ICE, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ICE SCULPTERS TO LOOK AT. THE FURNITURE, AND THE BAR ARE ALL SOLID ICE.  THE ONLY GOOD THING I CAN REPORT IS THAT IS THE COLDEST BEER I’VE EVER HAD.

TO PRESERVE THEIR RIP OFF, THEY MAKE YOU SURRENDER YOUR CAMERA AND CELL PHONE, AND THEN TRY TO SELL YOU PICTURES AT THE END.

LOOK AT THE PICTURES ON THE INTERNET AND CROSS THIS OFF YOUR LIST OF THINGS TO DO IN LAS VEGAS!!!

WE WALKED OUTSIDE IN SEARCH OF THE BUS STOP TO FIND THE CITY IN THE MIDDLE OF A MONSOON RAIN THAT LOOKED LIKE A HURRICANE.  WE WAITED INSIDE FOR OVER AN HOUR AND IT WOULDN’T LET UP, SO WE HIRED A CAB TO RETURN DOWNTOWN.  BECAUSE OF THE STREET FLOODING IT TOOK WELL OVER AN HOUR TO GET BACK ON FREEMONT STREET.

HEATHER IN VEGAS

DAMN, THE WEEK JUST FLEW BY WITH HEATHER HERE VISITING.  IT’S A LOT OF FUN HAVING COMPANY FROM HOME, ESPECIALLY FAMILY WITH GRAND-CHILDREN STORIES.  HEATHER WAS BRAVE CONSIDERING THE HEAT AND MONSOON STORMS, BUT I DOUBT SHE WILL DO A RETURN VISIT IN THE SUMMER AGAIN.

WHAT’S A TRIP TO NEVADA WITHOUT A COUPLE OF DAYS IN LAS VEGAS?  SO WE SPENT THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS ON FREEMONT STREET.

OF COURSE HEATHER HAD TO “ZIP”…

THAT’S HER SECOND FROM THE RIGHT, WAVING AT THE CAMERA.

SHE TOOK THIS PICTURE FOR RANDY, HER HUSBAND, TO SHOW OFF THE VEGAS BARTENDERS AT THE GOLDEN GATE.

AND MANAGED TO FIND A HARD BODY OF HER OWN…

WE MET UP WITH HER TRAVELING COMPANIONS FROM LA CROSSE, AND THEY ENJOYED THE CUSTOMARY TOURIST FOOTBALL DRINKS OUT ON THE STREET.

WE DECIDED TO DO A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THE STRIP, THE SHARK REEF AQUARIUM, AND A BAR CALLED MINUS –5. I’LL GET YOU UP TO SPEED ON THOSE IN THE NEXT BLOG.

FOR YEARS NOW I’VE BEEN GOING DOWNTOWN VEGAS AND HAVE OFTEN READ ABOUT THE FAMOUS SECTION OF THE BERLIN WALL IN THE MEN’S ROOM AT MAIN STREET STATION.

WELL ON THIS TRIP I FINALLY STUMBLED INTO THE RIGHT MEN’S ROOM.

IT RUNS BEHIND A WALL OF ABOUT 10 URINALS. THIS IS BEST PHOTO I COULD GET WITHOUT SHOWING YOU NINE OTHER GENTLEMAN LINED UP DOING THIER DUTY.

THE OLD ADAGE, “THE GIRLS ALL GET BETTER LOOKING AT CLOSING TIME”, IS STILL TRUE

I’LL LEAVE YOU WITH THE AMERICAN PIE VIDEO ON THE BIG OVERHEAD SCREEN,  “BYE, BYE, MISS AMERICAN PIE, FROM THE CHEVY TO THE LEEVE….”

NOW YOU’LL HAVE THAT OLE TUNE IN YOUR HEAD ALL DAY ….

   “SUNNY AND 98.5”

PACKER POOL PARTY

WE DIDN’T GET A PACKER VICTORY, BUT WE SURE HAD PRIME SEATS AT OUR PACKER POOL PARTY.

 

SINCE DIRECT TV OFFERED A FREE SUNDAY OF “SUNDAY TICKET” WE WERE ABLE TO WATCH THE PACK ON TV AT HOME.  DAWN AND COLE CALLED AND INVITED US TO A PACKER POOL PARTY.

COLE HAD A FLAT SCREEN MOVED OUT TO POOLSIDE AND GRILLED WISCONSIN BRATS AT HALF TIME.  ONCE THOSE BRATS STARTED SMOK’IN ON THE GRILL, BOTH HEATHER AND I AGREED THAT ALTHOUGH IT CERTAINLY DOESN’T LOOK LIKE HOME, IT SURE SMELLS LIKE WISCONSIN!!!

HERE’S OUR FAVORITE PACKER FAN ALL DECORATED UP……..

AND OF COURSE THE POOL…….

GO PACK !!!