Reflections on the Lake

By Mary

My actual mood is pensive (although I am pretty lucky) but angelfire doesn't have that mood selection.

As we finish up the 2006 season at Lake Tahoe, I can't help but compare 2005 to 2006. Last year we did a LOT more hiking, of course this year we worked more hours so we had less time to hike. I really missed hiking and hope we can do more next year. Also this year from Memorial Day when we started working, until the end of July we didn't have consecutive days off and we usually had a 6 AM start the day after our day off. You have to go to bed really early in order to get up at 4 AM.

In late July we did plan a trip to Placerville and the surrounding wineries. I am really glad we made that trip, it was fun and the scenery was awesome....really made me think of home. I also think Rex did a nice job with the web page--loved the picture of the wine we got.

Of course I have to talk about the summer weather at Lake Tahoe.....it is PERFECT. We wore shorts every day but NEVER ran the air conditioner, I think it rained once so blue skies and sunshine every day, NO humidity, and the number ONE best thing about summers in Lake Tahoe...NO bugs..that's right,no flies and no mosquitoes. It is any wonder I say the weather in Lake Tahoe is perfect?? I will be glad to leave because I am very anxious to see my family, but I know I will be ready to come back to "The Lake" for the summer of '07.

WISH IT WERE.........

WE THOUGHT WE'D JUST TRY THIS "EASY BUTTON" AND SHORTEN THE TRIP HOME TO WISCONSIN.................THINK IT WILL WORK?

A NICE SURPRISE

WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK TODAY THE CELL PHONE WAS BLINKING AT ME. THIS IS A VERY ODD OCCURRENCE AS FEW PEOPLE ACTUALLY KNOW THE NUMBER. BUT THESE CELL PHONES ARE REALLY SMART AND I KNEW THERE WAS A VOICE MAIL FROM MY SON-IN-LAW DANIEL. WHEN I CALLED TO RETRIEVE THE VOICE MAIL, THE VOICE WAS THAT OF MY BROTHER NEIL............

A CALL TO FLORIDA REVEALED THE MYSTERY, UNCLE NEIL & AUNT KATHY DROVE FROM GREEN BAY TO SURPRISE AMY AND DANIEL BY SHOWING UP FOR DANIEL'S PINNING CEREMONY TO MAJOR. CONGRATULATIONS TO MAJOR DAN !!!

ENJOY YOUR VISIT UNCLE NEIL & AUNT KATHY, AND OF COURSE THIS MEANS I'LL BE ABLE TO SEE VIDEO OF THE CEREMONY. THANKS KATHY!

BUSY DAYS

WRITTEN BY REX

IT'S BEEN A FLURRY OF ACTIVITY THESE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS OFF.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THESE HUGH OLD PINE TREES. LAST YEAR WE WERE SWAMPED WITH YELLOW POLLEN DUST FROM THE TREES THAT GOT INTO EVERYTHING. THIS YEAR IT'S, LIKE RAINING PINE SAP ALL OVER EVERYTHING. IT TRACKS IN AND RUG WASHING IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DOING EVERY OTHER WEEK IT SEEMS. IT WASHES OFF THE VEHICLES WITH SOAP AND WATER, BUT DURING OUR LAST SIX DAYS OF WORK, IT'S JUST GOING TO COLLECT ON THE VEHICLES AGAIN.OH WELL..........

ANOTHER THING I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS HOW AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, PACKER FOOTBALL PLAYERS STILL CAN'T HANDLE THE SPEED AT WHICH BRETT FARVE THROWS A FOOTBALL. ISN'T HE GETTING OLDER AND SLOWER LIKE THE REST OF US? ANYWAY THEY LOOKED TERRIBLE ON TV LAST NIGHT. I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT OFFENSE, BRETT WILL WORK HIS MAGIC, BUT THE DEFENSE HAS TO IMPROVE. AND THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON WILL BE AGAINST THE DA' BEARS, AND I'LL BE IN FRANKVILLE WITH MY FAVORITE X-COUSIN-IN-LAW, TERESA?

I PREDICT THE WEATHER THAT SUNDAY AFTERNOON WILL BE "DRUNK" OUT !!!

AND HERE'S MARY............

This is the last day off before hitting the road and it has been BUSY! We were both up by 6:30 and working on the to do list. The laundry here doesn't open until 8:00 AM so I had time to vacuum, clean the mirrors, and pack away stuff that usually sets out. In anticipation of my trip to the Farmer's Market I prepped the stuff I had on hand for salsa. Then it was laundry time and the last time I have to wash my black pants...I am throwing them in the dumpster when I get off work next Monday!!

When I got done with laundry it was off to the Farmer's Market and to get a hair cut.

Oh I almost forgot, another item on my "to do" list was to reapply the rear view mirror in Rex's truck. It fell off last week. I have successfully reattached rear view mirrors in the past so I knew I could do it. I did get the bracket up but it has to set for at least 18 hours before putting the mirror on it. I'll let you know tomorrow if it sticks!

It has been a busy but productive day so I know we will be ready!!

The countdown.....7 days to lift off!!

Grease or not?

By Mary

I think I mentioned yesterday that we are trying to get a head start on little chores that need to be done before the trip home. Today on the way home from work, I decided to clean up the Big gASS Grill and put it in the carrying case for the ride home. We got that done except for putting it in the carrying case as it was all wet and needs to air dry first. So THEN Rex decides to grease the wheels, something that should be done twice a year. First he got the grease gun out of the storage shed (truck). Ya know Rex just isn't the mechanical type. Give him a computer or any electronic toy and he is good but mechanical stuff just isn't his forte. Anyway he can't remember how to use the gun so he unscrews the spring end and then we can't get that screwed back on. For some reason we unscrew the other end and a big and I mean BIG gob of grease pops out. This is not going well and Rex is getting really frustrated which isn't fun. While trying to wipe up the grease which squirted out, Rex cut his finger. So in answer to "Grease or Not"...it is NOT.

We only have 8 days of work left....that means we are in single digits for work..Yea. Well I can't think of anything else to write about today so the countdown is now 11 days to liftoff...