CAR SHOW

THE LAUGHLIN CASINOS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PERFECT SPRING AND FALL WEATHER TO HOLD OUTSIDE EVENTS.  LOT’S OF CAR SHOWS, BBQ COOKING, AND FESTIVALS. IN FACT TOBY KIETH IS PERFORMING LIVE OUTSIDE ON OCT. 19TH., SORRY THE TICKETS HAVE BEEN SOLD OUT FOR WEEKS.

RECENTLY I FIRED UP THE SCOOTER TO CHECK OUT THE “RODDIN’ THE RIVER” CAR SHOW AT THE RIVERSIDE.

 

SO SET BACK, OPEN A COLD BEER, AND GET READY TO REMEMBER WHEN…….

 

DO YOU REMEMBER RALPH NADER’S TARGET CAR THE CORVAIR? IT WAS AN UGLY CAR, BUT “REALLY”?

 

MY GRANDFATHER ALWAYS BOUGHT OLDSMOBILE CARS. OF COURSE GM DOESN’T MAKE OLDSMOBILES ANY MORE, PERHAPS ALL THE GRANDPAS OF THE 60’S ARE NOW DEAD?

 

I LOOKED HIGH AND LOW FOR A LITTLE RED GREMLIN LIKE THE FIRST CAR I BOUGHT, BUT NEVER DID FIND ONE…..

THE FIRST CAR I DROVE WAS A BLUE CHEVY NOVA, THREE ON THE TREE, AND A STAIGHT SIX, NOT EXACTLY LIKE THIS ONE, MY MOTHER WOULD HAVE SHIT A BRICK.

 

A ROADRUNNER OF COURSE.

 

OH THE MEMORIES THAT CAME FLOODING BACK WHEN I RAN INTO THIS “CRAPBIRD”.  I THINK I WAS ONLY 17 WHEN I RAN OFF WITH A COUPLE OF COLLEGE AGE GUYS AND DROVE THE FIREBIRD TO FLORIDA. WE WENT TO THE BAHAMAS AS STOCKHOLDERS IN HOLIDAY INN. I WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE LIQUOR STORE WAITING FOR IT TO OPEN SO I COULD BUY BOOZE. LATER IN THE EVENING UNDER THE INFLUNCE THE LAST THING I REMEMBER WAS THAT I WAS GOING TO SWIM TO SPAIN. IN THE MORNING, WHEN I WOKE UP, I HAD TO RETURN TO THE BEACH IN SEARCH OF MY CLOTHES, AND THE NATIVES WERE BURYING THREE SHARKS ON THE BEACH…….

 

I KNOW IT’S TUFF BEING A KID TODAY AND JUST SAYING “NO” TO DRUGS, ETC. BACK IN MY DAY OUR DRUG WAS “SPEED”, HELL THE O.D.’S FAMILY PONTIAC WENT 140 MILES AN HOUR. GAS AT THE CLARK STATION WAS .24 CENTS A GALLON, AND CIGARETTS WERE .25 CENTS A PACK, OR WAS IT THE OTHER WAY AROUND?

THINGS HAVE SURE CHANGED, TODAY I’M RIDING A RED HONDA SCOOTER THAT GETS OVER 100 MILES TO THE GALLON. GAS IS $3.50 A GALLON, AND CIGARETTES ARE $6 OR $7 A PACK.

YOU MAYBE SHAKING YOUR HEAD AT MY SCOOTER, BUT WHEN GAS IS $8 A GALLON HERE IN THE USA LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD YOU’LL SEE A LOT MORE SCOOTERS AND UNDERSTAND MY PURCHASE.

ENOUGH WITH THE OLD CARS AND MEMORIES, LIFE IS GOOD HERE ON THE BANKS OF THE COLORADO RIVER…..

STILL HERE….

I SEE WE HAVEN’T BLOGGED FOR AWHILE, AND I’M LETTING YOU KNOW THAT WE’RE STILL HERE.  THE TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES LEFT US ABOUT A WEEK AGO, SO WE’VE STARTED WORKING ON THE FALL “TO DO LIST” BETWEEN PACKER GAMES AND SCOOTER RIDES.

AFTER REPLACING SOME FILTERS AND HOSES, WE DIVED RIGHT IN ON VARNISHING.  THE FURNITURE ON THE PORCH TAKES  SOME RAIN DURING THE MONSOON SEASON, BUT THE WORST IS THE WIND AND SAND.  IT’S LIKE SAND BLASTING YOUR FURNITURE.

THE FIRST PIECE IS DONE, BUT WE’VE STILL GOT STAIRS, CABINETS, AND MY DESK LEFT TO DO.  NEXT WEEK BEING THE PACKERS BYE WEEK MAY BRING ON MORE PROGRESS.

  “SUNNY & 97”

The Mountain(s)

We have learned, like millions before us, that the place to be in the summertime is THE MOUNTAINS.  In the good old days when we spent our summers in Lake Tahoe, we learned to appreciate the absolutely perfect weather.  Here is what what I mean by that:

1.  You can wear shorts every day, but at night you need a blanket as the overnight temps are usually in the 40s.

2.  No need for air conditioning.

3.  It only rains once or twice so it’s sunshine every day.  The moisture they need comes from winter snowfall.

4. No humidity.

AND the best thing about summer weather in Tahoe

5.  NO BUGS!!  I absolutely loved that!!  You could have the doors and windows open and didn’t even need screens.  It was unbelievable for the Wisconsin native that was used to mosquitoes and flies.

It was easy to understand why so many of the wealthy people from San Francisco built big mansions and estates in the Tahoe area during the early 20th Century.  We toured some of these places when we were there.  One of my favorites was the Ehrman Mansion which is located in Sugar Pine State Park.  Some of the others are Thunderbird Lodge, Vikingsholm Castle and Pope House.  Pope House had separate building for various uses such as laundry, sewing, schooling, cooking, and a carriage house.  They also has two boat houses which housed unbelievable watercraft.  How much fun it must have been to live there!!

Of course the drawback of Lake Tahoe is the expense.  Very pricey to live there!

Rex did his research and found a more price friendly place for us in the White Mountains and I love it there too.  The weather isn’t quite as nice as Tahoe as it rains a LOT more but it is still a lot cooler that the desert.  We haven’t spent enough time there yet to know if there are estates and mansions but in the coming years I am sure we will be finding out about that.

Of course the best reason to go to the mountains is cooler temps and if you have ever experienced temps in excess of 120 degrees you understand that.  Besides it’s also nice to see a lot of green instead of desert brown.

MONSOON SEASON

IT’S BEEN A WEIRD MONSOON SEASON HERE ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT.  USUALLY THE SEASON RUNS FROM MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY AND PROVIDES THE DESERT WITH IT’S ANNUAL RAINFALL OF 3 – 4 INCHES.  THIS YEAR THERE WASN’T A DROP OF RAIN UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST AND IT SEEMS TO BE COMING IN BUCKETS EVER SINCE.

I DON’T HAVE THE NUMBERS BUT THE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE FILLED THE WASHES SERERAL TIMES AND DONE A LOT OF DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND ROADWAYS.  WHEN YOU’RE USED TO SUNSHINE EVERYDAY, IT CAN GET OLD QUICK….

OUR BOUNDRY CONE AS ANOTHER THUNDERSTROM ROLLS OVER THE BLACK MOUNTAINS FROM THE EAST.

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty

 I am not a pet person.  Growing up on a farm meant that there was a lot of animals around, but they were all outside.    I never thought about indoor animals.

I knew that Rex had had indoor pets in the past, mostly dogs but they did have a cat also.

Now fast forward to 4 years ago when we  were camped at a house construction site for the summer.  Unfortunately, mice decided that our camper looked pretty darn inviting, also unfortunately, I am the stereotypical screaming woman on the table top  when it comes to mice.  I find that fact aggravating because I am not afraid of most critters.  Anyone remember when we had a snake in the camper (at that same construction site) and  I took a picture of it before trying to get it outside???  So why do mice freak me out??

Anyway, Rex cleverly used the mice to sneak a cat into our lives……  

 

 

 Here she is (she’s the one without a silver head), our black beauty, Susie.

 

 A slightly better picture of Susie.  Actually I am thrilled to have a reason to put Susie on the blog because I think people don’t realize we have 2 cats.  Rex is obviously biased toward AZ so AZ appears on the blog regularly.  In fact I  said I was going to take of picture of Susie with a dated newspaper so people realized she was still alive but I couldn’t get her to hold still long enough on my lap with the newspaper.  She is skittish and not a ham like AZ.

 

 Speaking of AZ, here he is - - photogenic as usual.  I am very glad we got AZ now but I was not really sold on the idea at first.  Now that we have 2 cats, I realize how much his presence has helped Susie.  Since he came to live with us, she has become more active and social, although she still hides when someone strange comes into our home.  Somehow 1 cat became 2 and

 then they just seem to come in pairs….

 or colors…..

 or pairs and colors…..

 These are just so damn cute I had to show another picture of them.

Ditto!

I sure am glad Rex takes care of the litter and feeding chores for Susie and AZ.  I feel comfortable taking care of the other cats…..all they need is dusting!  That’s a division of labor I can live with.

I guess maybe I am a pet person after all.

GOD DAMIT “AZ”

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I BOUGHT MARY A KINDLE, BUT KEEPING MARY OUT OF THE LIBRARY IS IMPOSSIBLE, AND BESIDES I LIKE THE KINDLE BECAUSE YOU CAN INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE PRINT. A QUICK CHECK OF THE KINDLE SHOWS IT’S LOADED WITH ABOUT 150 WESTERNS.

I LOVE READING OLD WESTERNS, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE FREE TO READ LIKE ZANE GRAY. IN THE CURRENT WESTERN I’M READING THE HERO’S NAME IS “HELLER” AND HIS HORSE NAMED “GODDAM”.  MAKES FOR SOME FUNNY LINES IN THE NOVEL.

THE NAME OF THE HORSE GOT ME TO THINKING THAT “GOD DAMIT AZ” WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER NAME FOR MY BENGAL CAT.

I COULD BLOG ABOUT “AZ” EVERY WEEK, ON THE TROUBLE HE’S IN, TROUBLE HE’S CAUSED, OR HIS CLUMSINESS. RECENTLY IT TOOK “AZ” THREE WEEKS TO HEAL UP FROM A SPRAINED SHOULDER HE SUSTAINED OUT ON THE PORCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.  IT WAS MIGHTY SAD WATCHING HIM WALK AROUND ON THREE LEGS FOR TWO WEEKS, AND THEN SPENT ANOTHER WEEK LIMPING.

IF I THOUGHT “AZ” WAS CLUMSY ON FOUR FEET, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE SHIT HE KNOCKED OVER ON THREE LEGS……

 

HEY, AT LEAST OUR EYES ARE WIDE OPEN!

 

 

 

LABOR DAY

LABOR DAY IS THE HOLIDAY THAT CLOSES OUT THE SUMMER OF 2013.  I THOUGHT I’D DO A QUICK RECAP……

THE HI-LITE OF MAY WAS A ONE WEEK TRIP HOME TO WISCONSIN AND A 1,000 MILE ROAD TRIP WITH THE O.D.’S CADILLAC.

JUNE BROUGHT A TERRIBLE HEAT WAVE TO THE  DESERT WITH TEMPS AS HIGH AS 125 DEGREES. THAT WEATHER WAS A TERRIBLE START TO OUR FIFTH AND LAST SUMMER ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT.  IT WAS SO HOT THAT THE A/C ON THE ROOF STOPPED WORKING AND WE ALMOST LOST A CAT TO THE HEAT.

IN JULY AND AUGUST WE SPENT 16 DAYS OF EACH MONTH ON “THE MOUNTAIN”.  THE RELIEF FROM THE HOT WEATHER WAS WONDERFUL.

THE SCOOTER HAS BEEN AROUND A YEAR NOW, AND I PUT 2200 MILES ON IT THE FIRST YEAR. WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD WHEN YOU CONSIDER IT WAS OUT OF COMMISSION FOR 8 WEEKS.

BESIDES LABOR DAY MARKING THE END OF SUMMER, IT ALSO SIGNALS THE START OF ANOTHER NFL FOOTBALL SEASON. GO PACKERS !!!

ON THE DOWNSIDE LABOR DAY MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE FALL “TO DO LIST” WHICH IS ALWAYS LONG, AND IN BETWEEN PACKER GAMES NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED BY THANKSGIVING OR SHORTLY AFTER.

LABOR DAY ALSO MEANS THAT OCTOBER IS ON THE WAY, AND APRIL AND OCTOBER ARE MY TWO FAVORITE MONTHS ON THE DESERT AT “SUNNY & 80”.