USED MEAT

PART OF OUR DAILY MORNING ROUTINE IS TO WALK OVER TO WALMART. THE ROUND TRIP CLICKS UP 2500 STEPS ON THE PEDOMETER. INSTEAD OF KEEPING A FULL REFRIGERATOR AND CUPBOARDS WE LET WALMART STORE OUR GROCERIES.

IF YOU GO ABOUT 8:00 AM THE MEAT DEPARTMENT HAS JUST CHECKED ALL THE CODES ON THE MEAT IN THE DISPLAY CASE, AND ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE EXPIRATION DATE IS MARKED DOWN 30% SO IT SELLS QUICKLY. I CALL IT “USED MEAT”.

AFTER CHECKING THE SELECTION OF “USED MEAT” WE DECIDE ON THE DAY’S MAIN MEAL. TODAY’S SELECTION LOOKS LIKE COUNTRY FRIED STEAK.

 

WE’VE SCORED SOME GREAT MEALS. A BEEF ROAST THAT FEED US THREE DAYS, AND BIG CHICKEN WE ROASTED IN THE DEVIL’S EGG THAT ALSO FEED US THREE DAYS. A SIRLOIN STEAK ($6) THAT WE SEARED ON THE DEVIL’S EGG FOR ONE AND A HALF MINUTES ON EACH SIDE AT 600 DEGREES, AND THEN MOVED UP TO THE TOP WARMING RACK TO COOK FOR ANOTHER SIX MINUTES AT 450 DEGREES THAT ENDED UP A PERFECT MEDIUM RARE AND FORK TENDER.

SCOUTING OUT THE “USED MEAT” IS A GREAT WAY TO STRETCH YOUR FOOD DOLLARS AND EVERYDAY IS A SURPRISE.

TRACKS

MARY AND I HAVE JOINED THE LAKESIDE-PINETOP TRACKS ORGANIZATION. WE ARE IN THE TRAIL MAINTAINENCE GROUP THAT GOES OUT INTO THE NATIONAL FOREST ONCE A WEEK AND WORKS ON THE TRAILS.

AH, WHOSE IDEA WAS THIS? I HAVEN’T WORKED LIKE THIS SINCE THE DAYS OF CANYON CAMP, BSA. THIS IS LIKE A CHAIN GANG. I KEPT LOOKING UP FOR CLINT EASTWOOD, AND THE GAL WASHING THE OLD CAR WITH SOAP AND BUBBLES.

I’LL BE OFF TO THE RANCH STORE LOOKING AT  WORK BOOTS, OR AT LEAST LEATHER GLOVES.

HERE WE ARE BUILDING A NEW TRAIL ALONG THE OLD ONE ACROSS THE MEADOW.

THIS PARTICULAR TRAIL IS USED HEAVILY BY MOUNTAIN BIKERS, AND IS PART OF A RALLY IN OCTOBER THAT 450 PEOPLE ATTEND AND BIKE 35-50 MILES.

I WAS SURE GLAD TO SEE 10:00 AM COME AND THE SIGN OUT SHEET.

WE HAVE ALSO JOINED, THRU TRACKS, THE “UP THE HILL GANG”   SENIOR HIKING GROUP. I’M PRETTY SURE THAT “OVER THE HILL” DOESN’T REFER TO AGE, BUT MORE LIKE “OVER THE MOUNTAIN” HIKING. MORE ON THAT GROUP IN ANOTHER BLOG.

 

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION

USUALLY I DON’T MAKE ANY SERIOUS NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS, MORE LIKE SEX 3.4 TIMES A WEEK. THIS YEAR I RESOLVED TO LOSE 40 POUNDS.

SINCE THE YEAR IS HALF OVER, I DECIDED TO REPORT. SO FAR I’VE LOST 25 POUNDS AND HAVE 15 POUNDS TO GO.  THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS I WATCHED WHAT I ATE, AND AVOIDED THE  EDR (EMPLOYEE DINING ROOM). THE FIFTH MONTH, I WAS ON VACATION IN WISCONSIN, AND I MOSTLY JUST PRAYED I WOULDN’T GAIN A BUNCH OF WEIGHT BACK. MY PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED AND I CAME BACK FROM VACATION 2 POUNDS LIGHTER. WHEW!!

THIS LAST MONTH, ON THE MOUNTAIN, I’VE BEEN WALKING AT LEAST 10,000 STEPS A DAY.

“SUNNY & 86”

BEFORE AND AFTER

BEFORE:

 

AFTER:

 

BEFORE:

 

AFTER:

POKER GAME

WEDNESDAY NIGHT IS POKER NIGHT. IT’S A NICKLE, DIME, QUARTER GAME WITH A FIVE DOLLAR BUY-IN. SEVEN CARD STUD, OMAHA, FIVE CARD DRAW, PASS THE TRASH, AND TEXAS HOLD’EM ARE THE MAIN GAMES. RE-BUYS ARE ALLOWED, AND THE GAME GOES TWO HOURS.

I PLAY EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT ALONG WITH THE SAME OTHER SIX GUYS. I ENJOY THE GAME AND IT’S ANOTHER OF THE PARKS WEEKLY EVENTS.

MY LUCK HAS BEEN RUNNING ABOUT AVERAGE, BREAKING EVEN, OR DOWN A FEW DOLLARS AFTER PLAYING ALL MONTH.

DAVE AND CINDY

OUR FRIENDS DAVE AND CINDY DROVE UP FROM PHOENIX ON THE WEEK-END TO ESCAPE THE TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES OF THE VALLEY OF THE SUN.

THE WEATHER WAS SO PERFECT WE SPENT MOST OF THE TIME ON THE PATIO, COCKTAILS IN HAND.

THIS PICTURE IS ACTUALLY MORNING COFFEE SO WE HAVE LIGHT JACKETS ON.

WE ENJOYED THE SUMMER DAY WITH JENGA, DECK ADJUSTMENTS, AND PIZZA OUT OF THE DEVIL’S EGG.

SEE YOU GUYS IN A MONTH OR TWO WHEN WE STOP DOWN IN THE VALLEY FOR A SWIM IN YOUR POOL.

STOOP BUILDING

AFTER DEMOLITION COMES STOOP BUILDING. BOTH STAIRWAYS NEEDED TO BE RE-BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP. YOU CAN BUY PRE-MADE RISERS AT HOME DEPOT.

 

THE TOP OF THE STOOP HAD TO HAVE FLOOR JOICE ADDED ON 16 INCH CENTERS, AND THE NEW TREX MATERIAL WAS LAID ON TOP.

 

MY GRANDMA ROTH WOULD BE SMILING …..

WE’RE GOING INTO THE THIRD WEEK ON THIS PROJECT AND WE STILL HAVE SOME TRIMMING AND SKIRTING TO DO. WE’VE DECIDED TO HIRE THE METAL RAILING REPLACEMENT.

   “SUNNY & 80”

STOOP DEMOLITION

OUR MAJOR PROJECT OF THE SUMMER IS TO REBUILD THE FRONT STOOP.

IT’S HARD TO TELL FROM THESE PICTURES, BUT THERE ARE TWO STAIRWAYS, ONE ON EACH SIDE. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A TREND A FEW YEARS BACK TO COVER YOUR OUTSIDE STOOP AND STAIRS WITH OUTDOOR CARPET. BAD IDEA!

THE CARPET HELD THE WATER AND SNOW CAUSING THE WOOD UNDERNEATH TO ROT OUT FASTER.

NEITHER OF US ARE REALLY “DO IT YOURSELF” TYPE PEOPLE, BUT WITH LOT’S TIME ON OUR HANDS WE DECIDED TO TEAR INTO THIS PROJECT BLIND. SO TO SPEAK.

FIRST THINGS FIRST, DEMOLITION!!!

 

HERE COMES THE FIRST ON MANY CHALLENGES. SEE HOW CROOKED THE CEMENT BLOCKS ARE HOLDING UP THE STOOP?

WE BETTER STRAIGHTEN THIS UP FIRST.

I’D SAY THAT DURING DEMOLITION AND RECONSTUCTION, WE SET AND RESET THESE CEMENT BLOCKS AT LEAST FOUR TIMES.

ONE OF THE AMENITIES OF THIS RV PARK IS A FULLY OUTFITTED WOOD SHOP, COMPLETE WITH TABLE SAW, RADIAL ARM SAW, ETC. THAT MEANS AT LEAST WE’RE NOT OUT BUYING A LOT OF TOOLS.

BOTH STAIRWAYS ARE SHOT AND WE’RE BUILDING NEW ONES.

DON’T LET THIS ONE BLOG FOOL YOU, DEMOLITION WENT ON ABOUT 3 – 4 DAYS.

I’LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THE PROGRESS, VICTORY, OR DEFEAT.

“SUNNY & 86”

JENGA AGAIN

WE’VE BEEN WANTING TO INTRODUCE BAR JENGA TO THE NEIGHBORS IN THE RV PARK, SO MARY AND I BUILT A SET. WITH A RADIAL ARM SAW AND BENCH SANDER IT WASN’T AS EXCITING AS BUILDING THEM IN GREEN BAY, AND TOOK ABOUT ONE THIRD THE TIME AND WORK.

 

WE HAD THE NEIGHBORS OVER FOR THE TEST RUN.

 

THE COCKTAILS AND THE GAME WERE BOTH GREAT!

 

IN ONE OF OUR GAMES WE EVEN GOT TO 28 LEVELS TALL, BEFORE …..

 

Formula 1 Auto Race

By Uncle Hans

Neil, Jake,  Barry , and I recently had a road trip to Montreal to the Formula 1 auto race there.  Neil found a four star hotel online for cheap.  We drove all night and checked in to the hotel on Saturday.

  It took us a long time to find a bar ("You're not in Kansas (Wisconsin) anymore, Dorothy!"), and when we did it was a brewpub where NONE of the beer was drinkable.  But it had a huge TV with the qualifying races on.....

Sunday, bight and early we set out to find a parking spot and found we had to walk a mile or more with our coolers slung over our shoulders.

  We crossed this bridge over the Hudson river with a nice view of downtown Montreal.....

We found a great spot, accidentally, along the fastest straightaway in the road course about 20 feet away from the cars.

  The first race was Formula 3 (like the minor leagues) and it took me 30 tries to catch this car with my fancy phone camera. (gotta love new and improved technology , one try with my old film camera at 1/1000th would have produced a perfect shot, not this blurry mess).  Yes there is a car in there, it is white.

 

  The next race was for only Ferrari "stock" cars and this took another 30 tries to catch this car.  The lap times were about 1 minute 40 seconds for around 2.4 miles per lap......

The feature race started at 2PM with an elaborate ceremony before.  They paraded the drivers around the track riding vintage English Austin Healy Mark 3000's.

  The race itself was fun and interesting.  The lap times dropped to 1 minute and 14 seconds, so I gave up trying to photograph one of those blurs.  Take it from me, they were fast, approaching 200+ just 20 feet away from us.  This guy was fascinating.  With his big belly, camo hat, missing teeth, Budweiser can, and Earnhardt Senior shirt, he was the poster child for NASCAR.  But he spoke only French!......

....After the race (The car from Red Bull, a Swiss company,, powered by Ferrari won), it is a tradition to walk the track.  we dicided to join in.

 

Jake was so carried away by emotion (Bud Lite) that he kissed the track.  We had a great trip and drove through the night to get back to reality.  2300 miles round trip and one sobriety checkpoint, which we somehow got by.......

By Uncle Hans

TUESDAY COFFEE

IF IT’S TUESDAY, IT MUST BE COFFEE HOUR AT 8AM.  THIS A WEEKLY EVENT, WELL ATTENDED BECAUSE ALL THE SOCIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE MADE. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON, YOU NEED TO ATTEND THE TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE HOUR.

I COULDN’T GET BACK FAR ENOUGH TO GET EVERYBODY IN THE PICTURE. NORMALLY IT’S 90 – 100 PEOPLE FOR TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE. DONUTS ARE PROVIDED.

Graduation

 My Granddaughter Marissa Ann Besl graduated from high school on May 24th.  I was lucky enough to attend her graduation!!  I have held off on blogging about it until now because her actual party is Sunday, June 14th.

This is Marissa on her big day…doesn’t her beautiful smile look full of hope??  She is definitely as nice and innocent as she looks!!

 

This is Marissa with her proud parents!!  She is such a treasure to both of them.

 

Marissa getting roses from her proud Dad, Randy.

Marissa with her cousin, Delilah, who graduated last year.  I really didn’t realize they were about the same height until I saw this picture…go figure.

Due to poor planning, Marissa has to go to work at 8 A. M. the day after graduation so the 4 of us went out to eat after the big event.  Sorry Marissa that you didn’t get to go out an party with your friends….

I feel so privileged that I was able to see Marissa graduate.  She is a beautiful girl inside and out!!  (Grandmother’s bias not withstanding)!    I wish you all the good things life has to offer…you certainly deserve them!  Love you and am so very proud of you!!