It has been different weather lately.  No rain during February but here it comes in March.  Today was a good solid rainy day.  Not sure how much, will have to check with the national weather service later.

So anyway, I got out of bed around 0730 this morning to the sound of rainfall.  Morning meds taken it was hit the shower to get all clean.  Then Ginger and I headed for the park for our morning walk.  It was a nice one, even though the rain made it a coolish one.  But I had put on my rubber overshoes before we left the house so no mud collected on my shoes.  Had to use the next to the last car towel to dry off Ginger.  I keep 7 of them behind the front seats just to wipe her off.  Water and muddy paws need to be removed.

Then I decided to check out the parking lots of the stores in town.  WinCo and Cost Co were about 1/2 full...quite a change from two days ago when the lots were overfull with folks parking on the surrounding streets where they were allowed.  The stores those days (all of the grocery stores in town) were filled with shoppers who were panic buying.  As in their carts were loaded with stuff to overflowing.  Like about 6 inches above the rim of their carts.  I heard that Cost Co was the same.  Along with the store parking lots I checked out the fast food joints in the area.  All of them had closed their seating areas and were pretty much just drive-thru.  All for the "flu"... I know, I know, folks are dying from this virus, but so are folks dying from the "ordinary" flu.

Back at home I checked out email and read stuff.  Then Ginger and I headed out for some lunch.  Los Gordos as usual...but not really as usual.  Very small number of folks eating.  The virus has folks staying away from restaurants.  Even in Los Gordos there were changes-chips were only available via take out bags, the salsa bar already had containers filled with the various salsas with closed lids, and no dinner ware.  Now it is paper plates and plastic forks and spoons.  Oh yeah napkin holders were only available at the salsa bar area, no longer one container at each table.  Still great food and good conversation with the employees.

After lunch we headed for our local Barnes and Nobel book store.  I have been wanting a book by David Weber for awhile and thought they might have it in stock.  That is if they would be open.  They were but no book, looks like I will be visiting ABE's Books on-line to find a copy.  Back home we headed.

Time to collect the garbage and put it into the gray cart.  The recycle stuff goes into the blue cart.  I take both carts out to the street.  Start to compose this missive and Kathy arrives home.  We spend some time talking about our days.  Then Kathy gets a phone call from her boss.  Sounds like Cal-Trans is going to do some "quarantine" stuff.  Maybe stay at home stuff, not sure yet as she is still talking.

Supper tonight is leftovers.  Kathy cooked up a pot of beans the other night and we will be polishing them off.  Good stuff.

Then some TV or reading, not sure just which one yet.  Either way...

I swear it don't get no better!

I came back to continue the saga of Tuesday stuff for me.

Got up around 0700 this morning.  The sun is coming up a bit earlier now so the light wakes me.  Took some morning meds and headed for the shower.  Shower finished and all dressed for the day, Ginger and I headed out for our morning walk.  But first I decided to fill up with gasoline.  I use Chevron so the price for me has been between $3.50 and $3.80 per gallon for regular.  Fuel tank filled we headed for the park.

A bit chilly with a wind blowing so jacket is necessary for me.  The trail we walk lately seems to be used by few folks.  As in not all at once but spread out through out the day.  Makes it kinda nice.  Ginger gets to find plenty of new smells.  Even followed one scent trail for about 50' or so.

Back home we headed.  Kathy will be coming home and leaving her car here for a couple of days while she attends a meeting for work in Sacramento.  So we will be batching it here at home.  While waiting for 1130, or so, to arrive Ginger announces a visitor.  As in she hears someone outside and barks at the door.  At the same time I hear a truck backing up...wait that is in our driveway.  Crap-ola, I think it is the bottled water company.  Look out the front door and sure enough that is who it is.  I wait for the delivery man to walk up and ask him "did we leave an empty out?"  No you did not he replies.  Not too worry I will grab the one we have.  Seems like neither one of us checked the Mount Shasta Water delivery schedule.  Glad we were home to make the exchange.  He most likely would have left the one bottle anyway but better to keep the records easy.

Kathy arrives and after some lunch we load up in the car and head for her office.  She and several co-workers will be heading down.  The have to stay out a ways and the person who was supposed to make hotel reservations did not do it in time.  Kathy's co-worker did it herself.

Back at home I started on the garbage.  Got the cans emptied into the grey cart.  The recycle stuff went into the blue cart.  No green waste this week.  I will be taking both carts out to the street in an hour or so.  Get it done early.  I have left-overs for supper tonight.  Had Chinese food delivered last night.  There will be food for a couple of days yet.

Decided to compose this missive early.  I will do some reading later.  But first I have to clean up my competition pistol.  Then tomorrow take it to a local gunsmith to fix the front sight.  That about wraps up my day for now.  After Kathy calls this evening it will be time for some TV.  Then to bed.

I swear it don't get no better!

It may be Wednesday, but it is Garbage Day.  Because of the holiday our collection schedule is one day later...so here goes.

Speaking of the Holiday - Happy New Years everyone!

It being New Years Day, I slept in a bit longer than usual.  Like about 0930.  It took me a while to get going so my shower was delayed, like really delayed.  I finished my shower and got dressed about 1115 this morning.  Kathy was walking Ginger so the house was quiet.  We puttered about (wonder where the term "putter about" came from"), with Kathy reading while I checked email, news, and of course facebook.  One of my friends had posted a picture/meme of aoc saying motorcycles should be banned.  Immediately below the picture was a post by someone who had checked with Snopes to find it was a false piece.  Another example of the necessity to check the validity of stuff being passed around on social media.

I have a small presence on fb now.  After my 55 year high school reunion, one of my friends sent me a message about the passing of one of our classmates.  He got that from a group related to our high school.  Said he recommended me but maybe I should use my real name so they would know who it was instead of "WTF".

That took me up to lunch which I had at home.  Kathy had headed over to her mom's to work on some stuff.  I decided it was time to collect the garbage and put it into the gray cart.  The recycle stuff went into the blue cart.  And the green waste was already in the green cart.  I will take the carts out to to the street when I finish here.  Then it was time to work on paying the bills.  For some reason that seems to take me some time.  What with making sure I have the ledger filled for areas that I save for upcoming bills.  Like insurance, taxes, etc.  That way the money is there waiting to be payed out instead of me trying to scrape up the funds when a big bill is due.

I did some reading in one of David Weber's books on the War God series and decided to write a bit here.  Not much going on today.  It is a bit cold outside, like in the low 50's.  Yeah, yeah I know, not like in other parts of the country.  Those folks have my sympathy but still does not make it any warmer for me.

Kathy will get home in a while.  We will be slicing some "pill meat" for Ginger.  We get a roast and slice it thin to wrap around the pills we need to give her.  Did the math and found it to be cheaper than buying the Dog Pill Pocket Treats.  Plus it is plain old raw beef.  We already owned a nice slicer so it is just the cost of the roast.  Buy those on sale at CostCo.  We originally bought to slicer for making our own lunch meat slices from Turkey or Chicken.  Also comes in handy for slicing salami.  Not really good for cheese.  Did not want to spend the extra for a slicer that would do cheese.  For the pill meat we freeze the roast for several hours.  Cuts easier and better.

After that will come supper followed by some reading and TV.

I swear it don't get no better! 

And to you and your family Merry Christmas and a Great New Year!  Loved your card.

So today you get two weeks worth of "Tuesday".

Last week I got up around 0515.  Staggered into the shower and got woke up...with a warm water shower.  Not into that cold water "invigorating" style.  So why did I get up so early you ask.  Simple a friend was picking me up at 0630 for a trip north.  We had an appointment to make in Klamath Falls, Oregon at 1100.  We had to make the appointment about 3 months ago.  With the forecast weather for the travel area, we wanted to have plenty of time for the trip.  Anyhow it was about 0645 when we left my home.  Up I-5 to Hwy 97 to K Falls we went. 

I-5 was good for traveling.  97 okay for the first 30 miles and then it started to spit snow.  But we made it to the location area around 0930.  Instead of finding a coffee shop, we decided to at least ask if we could be seen early.  The folks there were very welcoming and said of course they would see us then.  Some paperwork to hand over for their review and a short wait.  Then they called us in one at a time and we were finished about 1030.

So do we grab a bite to eat or head home.  Well since the spitting snow had increased a bit, home won out.  Now it is 70 miles from K Falls to Weed, CA  That took us 3 hours as the snow started to fall a bit harder, plus very high wind gusts.  We fell in behind a semi and had a fairly easy time on road as it broke trail for us.  Then traffic thru Weed was very slow and backed up a little bit where we merged onto I-5.

Back on I-5 there was snow but not too back.  Traffic moving along south towards Redding.  (70 miles to Redding)  Moving that is until Dunsmuir when the snow fall became heavy.  In fact so heavy that north bound traffic was stopped cold (pun intended).  South bound was okay but slow.  It took us 2 hours to go Redding.  Lucky for us we left K Falls when we did because we would have been stopped in Weed due to snow accumulation and spin-out accidents on the freeway.  (you may have read about the freeway closures for that Tuesday 11/26)

Back at home not much to do.  Well I did collect the garbage and put it into the gray cart, the recycle stuff went into the blue cart, and the green waste cart was filled with leaves.  I took all three carts out to the street.  Read a bit then got ready for supper.

Supper was left-overs.  Ravioli, green beans, salad, and french bread.  Good stuff.  Dishes washed we settled down in the front room.  Time to talk about each other's day before it was TV time.  Some re-runs of the Red Skelton show.  Finally bed time for both of us.

This week was a bit more normal.  Got up around 0700 and hit the shower.  Time to walk Ginger so we headed out for the preserve.  A good walk if a bit cold.  Back at home in time for the handyman to arrive to finish up the fence replacement.  At least as much as we could have done at this time.  The other two fences will require involvement with the neighbors.  As in they will pay for one half of the materials and labor.

While he was working on that project I worked on my check book.  Then I cleaned up my project room.  Time to collect the garbage and put it into the grey cart.  The recycle stuff went into the blue cart.  I no longer have a need for all of the animal watering troughs I used as QT when I was actively buying, raising, and showing koi.  So instead of trying to sell them I thought why not see if the local FFA chapter can use them.  I stopped by the high school district's AG Farm where the chapter is selling Christmas trees and asked them if they could use same.  The answer was an emphatic yes.  I said I would drop them off after if clean and sanitize them.  But first I needed to replace one of the drain plugs that I have misplaced.  I used that drain as a hook up for filtration and can't find the plug.  After asking at the FFA farm I headed to Lowes to buy a new plug.  Then I headed for the grocery store to buy some stuff for supper.  Cube steak, mashed potatoes, sausage gravy, and corn.  I'm doing the cooking tonight as we had run through the leftovers Monday night.  Got started when Kathy made it home.  She jumped right in to help which sure made it easier.  Plus she fed Ginger so I could work on our meal

It was an enjoyable meal. Both the eating and the fixing.  Dishes washed we watched "The Rookie" TV show.  Then bed time for Kathy.  I read for a while and then headed off to bed my self.

I swear it don't get no better!

Today started off around 0645.  Up and at-em (sort of).  Shower finished and morning meds taken it was time for Ginger's morning walk.  We headed off to the preserve and found our favorite parking space vacant.  Yea!  It is close to the trail and at the end of the parking spots line.  That way I can park over the line and have one half of the parking spot for Ginger to get out and in to the car.  A bit cool this morning, somewhere in the mid 50's.

Walk finished we headed for home.  Plenty of time to open the side gate for the handyman along with time to check morning email.  He shows up just before 0900 and gets to work.  We are working in an area where we will be installing a new gate in the back fence.  So that is taking some time to figure the placement of the gate along with the width size.  Then to make things interesting we have a twisted and bent post(s) to work around.  Work around as in replace to keep the fence line mostly straight.  I leave him to it.

I head inside to load the garbage into the grey cart, the recycle stuff into the blue cart.  Then I start on the front yard with the leaf blower.  Of course first I have to line the trailer with a blue tarp to make it easier to unload the leaves.  That done I complete getting the leaves into a pile.  I then rake them onto a drop cloth for transport to the trailer.  The front yard leaves fill up one half of the trailer.  Then I remember there are a large number of branches from an overgrown shrub/hedge alongside the house.  I had to cut them out of the way for access to a sprinkler repair man.  That took me about 10 trips to the trailer.  The branches laid about 3' above the sides of the trailer...until I strapped them down with my el cheapo ratcheting cargo straps from Harbor Freight.  The strap brings the load down to about 6 inches above the sides.  I then cover the load with a blue tarp so I can head to the transfer station.  I use an elastic cargo net to hold the covering tarp down.  At the transfer station I am informed that their credit/debit card access is not operating.  Luckily I have the cash which makes the lady behind the window happy.  Then I drive to the dump site.  Get the trailer backed in okay and off loaded.  Off loading is easy because all I have to do is unstrap everything, lower the tail gate, grab a hold of the blue tarp liner and pull.  It all slides off the trailer easily.  Then I roll up the straps, cargo net, and tarps prior to heading for home.

The handy man and I confer about the size and location of the gate once again.  He will be working on the gate tomorrow.  Also need two more posts for replacement along with a bag or two more of concrete mix.  The good news is we are about half way finished.  It has been slow going these past few days on the fence building.  What with one thing or another we have only been able to complete 16' each day instead of the planned 32'.  Once the gate is finished we will be able to get back to the 32'.

Handyman leaves for the day.  I move all three carts out to the street.  We-being Kathy had filled the green waste cart with branches and other trimmings on Sunday.  I head inside where I found a message from our computer folks.  It seems my 10 year old laptop will take at least 3 hours to load windows 10.  I can buy a new one for just a little bit more.  Apparently my laptop is very slow operating wise.  So I head off to pick it up and bring it home.  No charge for figuring it out.

I stop off at the corner market to pick up a side dish to go along with our crock pot cooked pork rib meat.  Good stuff leftovers.  Easy supper clean up.  After supper we will chat a bit and probably watch some TV or maybe read.  But at least I this missive finished for this week.

I swear it don't get no better!

Hi Pam, me too on the MIA stuff.  Not much has been going on with me lately...besides of course taking out the garbage.  One of the Hallmark channels was running episodes of Fraiser for awhile but seems to have ended that run.  Kathy found some reruns of Red Skelton's show.  Different times and a different style of comedy.  Have been enjoying them all the same.  Back to our regularly scheduled program...

I woke up around 0700 this morning.  That is about the time the sun rises enough to wake me up lately.  Hit the shower and got dressed for the day's activities.  Kathy had already fed Ginger her morning meal, so she was ready for her morning walk.  We headed out for the preserve.  It was a good walk, a bit cool but not cold.  The weather has been interesting lately.  NO rain since March I think.  Fall weather has been interesting too.  Daytime high in the low 80's with overnight temps in the 40's.

Got back home in time to meet our handyman.  He started on replacing our back fence today.  Some 225 feet need to be replaced.  I am helping a bit too.  He is doing the replacement of the the cross pieces, sets the boards, and I finish screwing them tight.  We are using doug fir pressure treated 2 X 4's for the cross pieces.  Hopefully this will help the fence last longer than we will be here.  We are doing the fence in 32 foot sections.  Figure that is about as much as we can do in one day.

Since I am not needed constantly in the construction I was able to get some other stuff done.  Like empty the garbage cans into the gray cart.  The recycle stuff into the blue cart.  The green waste is not yet filled up, later today.  After the garbage collection I headed out to Los Gordos for lunch.  My usual fish taco.  Just good plain food that is very tasty.  After lunch I headed for my local drug store to order refills for my meds.  I have them all on the same time frame so it makes for just one trip.

Back at home it was time for me to start to contribute to the fence construction.  Drill in hand and screws in a belt pouch I began.  Since we are using 1 X 8 X 6' boards they take three screws for each cross piece.  Hopefully that cut down on any cupping of the boards as they dry out.  These first two sections of 16' each were the hardest.  We had to work alongside a storage shed I put up many moons ago.  So the space was tight to work in, which slowed us down a bit.  Tomorrow should be different.  But finished for the day we picked up our tools and our handyman headed for home.

Me, I picked up the leaf blower and started on the front yard.  Yep, while the weather is different this year, the falling leaves need to be picked up.  While I was clearing the yard, Kathy arrived home.  Finally all in one pile I moved the green waste cart close so I could load it.  Kathy came out to help.  She picks up the leaves and dumps them into the cart while I compact them.  I use a medium garbage can of the heavy plastic type.  It is round and fits into the cart.  We fill the cart and still have leaves in the pile.  So I grab the gray cart and we finish picking up leaves for disposal.  All three carts are now in the street for pick up tomorrow morning.

We could have another green waste cart but the city is now charging and extra $4 per month. Just Not Worth it for the 8 months of the year it doesn't get used.  From November thru January I can haul leaves to the city transfer station for free.  Right now the trailer is half full of trashy stuff so it is not available for a leaf run.  Soon as I can get to the transfer station it will be empty.  Then I line it with a cheap blue tarp and load leaves.  Of course they need to be compacted.  After about a month of loading leaves the trailer is ready for a trip to the transfer station.

Time for supper.  An excellent meal of leftover beef stew.  Kathy fixed it the other night and it is very tasty.  Plus leftovers make for an easy meal fix.  No desert for me tonight.  After dishes are rinsed and put in the dishwasher it is time for some TV.  Recorded half hour shows for us tonight.  Re-runs of current comedies.  Kathy heads off to bed.  I sit down to write this missive as I have actually been busy today.

I swear it don't get no better!

Today started off around 0630.  Had to get up and help Kathy with putting some medicine in our cat's eye.  He apparently got involved in a cat fight while out and about a week or so ago.  I get to hold him and she puts the drop onto the eye.  But today he managed to get to a hiding place before Kathy could pick him up.  Oh well we will do it later this late afternoon.

Kathy heads off to work and Then Ginger and I head out for the preserve.  Since fall is making its appearance lately it has been nice and cool in the mornings.  Not too many folks out on the section of trail where we walk lately.  Nice and peaceful.  Then we head for the gas station to refuel.  With the cooler weather I can take Ginger with me more now than when it is 80 at 0730+.  On the way back home I stop off at my mechanics to ask him about this "ticking" noise I have been hearing coming from my dash area.  He believes it is probably one of the small electric motors that opens and closes the doors that circulate and guide the heat and a/c.  Not much to do about it until it fails completely. 

I know I have not been writing much every week.  For some reason I have not had a great many things to do during the days lately.  Today was another one with just a few things to do.  I do have a few things to do today.  Return a couple of audio books on CD to the library and get some replacements, stop by Sportsman's Warehouse for ammo cans.  I need some smaller ones (.30 cal) to hold rolls of coins.  I save my change and when I get enough for something cash them in and the ammo can is the right size to hold them.  Also needed one for shotgun shell boxes.  I have been shooting trap lately and theses particular ones have been sized for the boxes.  Somewhere amongst these few chores I head for Los Gordos for lunch.  They are short a cook and may have to close because of that small problem.  One of the cooks has headed back to Mexico and they are having a slight problem finding a replacement...oh well such is life.

Then I swing by Safeway store to get some bread to go with our supper tonight.  I am fixing spaghetti and will put homemade Italian sausage into the sauce.  The bread loaf I bought is a Kalmata and green olive style.

Back at home I collect the garbage and put it into the grey cart.  The recycle stuff goes into the blue cart.  The green waste cart already has some tree branch trimmings.  I take all three carts out to the street.  Kathy arrives home a bit early as she needs to drop off some fresh eggs from a lady who raises chickens.  Then she needs to get a head light replaced on her car.

Supper time is here so I start to cook up the sausage and boil the spaghetti noodles.  The bread needs buttered and toasted under the broiler.  Some salad and it will be a nice meal for us.  Then time to wash the dishes.  Followed by some TV.  We have been watching recorded episodes of Frasier.  Tonight will be the last episode of the series followed by the premier episode.  Then Kathy heads off to bed.  Me, I sit down to write his missive.  Then I will head to bed my ownself.

I swear it don't get no better!

Once again not much has been going on for me on Tuesdays.  Garbage day is still here so that little task gets taken care of each week.

Today I woke up just before 0630.  It will be another hot (100+) day so I need to get Ginger's and mine daily walk finished before it gets too hot.  Not too many folks out at the preserve that early and most of those seem to just walk on the paved trail.  We of course brave the hard packed decomposed granite trails.  Walk finished and Ginger's business taken care of, we head for home.  Back at home Ginger gets some breakfast.  I get ready for some morning chores.  I make sure I have water in the car.  Load up stuff for the Post Office and things to take to Kathy's mom.  Then I head out.

First the Post Office.  Then the Gym.  I have been going at least 4-5 days a week for several months now.  On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I work the weight machines.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays I spend some time punching bags.  These bags are round, about 16" in diameter and about 6" thick.  They are attached to a heavy rectangular box-like frame and don't move.  One of the frames has 3 of them to work out with.  Two are at head height and the third is about stomach height.  I have to wrap my hands before putting on gloves.  Then there are sequences to follow.  The one today was Jab, Cross, Left Hook, Cross, Body uppercut, Left Hook, and Cross.  Then repeat.  There is a timer that I set for a 2 minute round with a 30 second rest.  I can do between 5 and 7 sets.  Then I am punched out and very sweaty.  Need to shower afterwards.  My trainer was a former MMA Pro.  She is about 5'2" and weights somewhere around 130.  Amazing to watch her move.

After the Gym I head to Kathy's mom to drop off some stuff.  Then I stop off at this little cafe for some lunch.  Good stuff from nice folks.  Then I head to the library to return some books on CD.  Not paying attention to the railroad tracks I turn towards the crossing.  Only to find a train coming through town.  Too late to bypass the crossing.  And not able to safely back out of traffic.  Something to do with the cars behind me.  I wait and wait because the train has stopped to wait for an oncoming train to pass through.  Takes about 15 minutes or so.  Then over the tracks and headed into town for the library.  I need to return two audio books on CD.  That finished I head for home.

Tuesday Night Steel has been canceled once again.  We have been doing that a lot this summer.  There has been only one Tuesday in the past month+ where the temp has not be over 100+.

I sit down for a bit with Kathy.  Kind of a bad choice as I nod off for an hour or so.  Finally up and at em I start to collect the garbage and put it into the gray cart.  The recycle stuff goes into the blue cart.  No green waste again.  What with the temp hovering 100+ and the yucky humidity, I am just not in the mood to mow.  Then I take both carts out to the street.

Back inside I decide to start this missive only to have Kathy remind me it is time for supper.  Supper break it is.  Scrambled eggs, potatoes, and crumbled sausage.  Kathy is on a soft food high protein diet.  She had some minor surgery and needs to eat stuff like that for awhile.  Dishes rinsed and put in the dishwasher I finish this weeks note.  I will sit in the living room and watch some TV with Kathy until it is bed time.

I swear it don't get no better!

Today was another one of those hot days.  Not as hot as it has been but still hot.  I woke up around 0630.  Got dressed and headed to the preserve for our morning walk.  I like to take Ginger out this early to avoid most of the heat.  The radiant heat seems to be hitting me harder lately.  But it was a nice walk and I managed to get a shady spot to park the car.  Then it is back home for my morning meds, check email, etc.  etc. in this case involves taking a late shower and putting on fresh clothes.  If I did all of that first then it would be hotter during our walk.

Then it was time for the gym.  A twenty minute boxing workout results in sweat soaked clothes.  That of course means another shower to help cool down and clean off the sweat.  Luckily the showers at the gym are nice ones.  So all of this means it takes me a total of at least one hour (and usually another 30 minutes +) for 20 minutes or so of actual work out.  I have to wrap my hands before putting on the gloves and of course roll up the wraps afterwards.  And I do tend to move a bit slower than most folks. Oh yeah don't forget the rowing machine.  That leaves me warm and breathing a bit hard from the 2:30 to row 500+ meters.  Then of course there is chatting with either staff or a friend or two.  All in all a good time.

Then I head to ACE hardware for some screws.  I need to replace the screws on the hinges of the exterior door to our garage.  The ones in there now have gotten the wood stripped so they don't hold and the door will sag as they work loose.  I also need a lag screw or two to hang a prop 65 warning sign up out at the range.  The pres bought two of them and asked me to post one at the entry gate to the rifle and pistol ranges.  prop 65 is more stuff from the peoples republik of commiefornia.  All businesses have to warn their customers that there are chemicals in the establishment that can cause cancer.  And not just the stuff you would think, but things like french fries and coffee.  Did you know that the brown crispy delightfulness of a french fry is full (JUST FULL) of acrylamide.  And coffee has just been added to the list.  For us at the range it is mostly lead exposure, but we do serve coffee in the clubhouse.

I grab some lunch and brush my teeth for a long bit.  I have a dentist appointment afterwards.  That goes well, no need to a follow-up appointment to fix something.  But for some reason I'm not in the mood for TNS today.  The temp while hot is not so hot that TNS was cancelled but I think I will stay home.  I can spend the time with Kathy and Ginger very nicely.

In the mean time I collect the garbage cans and put the contents into plastic shopping bags and the bags go into the grey cart and the cart goes into the garage for later.  The recycle stuff goes into the blue cart. I will take both carts out to the street later.

Kathy arrives home and we greet her at the door.  Ginger just loves it when she gets home.  Supper is left overs.  Kathy made some pasta with shrimp the other night and it is wonderful.  So the meal was excellent and the clean up was easy.

We retire to the front room for some more conversation and of course some TV.  We have been watching reruns of Frasier lately.

Kathy heads off to bed.  I remember to take the carts out to the street for pick up tomorrow.  Then some reading for me before off to bed I go.

I swear it don't get no better!

Wellp, it has been a while since I last wrote a bit.  I have not been all that busy lately.  Somewhat due to the hot weather we have been having and just not much other than inside stuff to work on.  Not that our weather has been hot like the high temps and high humidity going on in the eastern half of the country.  But for us it is a change and it looks like this is the new normal.  In fact with the temperature running near 100 each Tuesday the club has been canceling TNS here lately.  When it gets that hot attendance seems to fall off.  Plus when it is so hot that your brass does not cool off before picking it up from the bay floors, it may be time to wait for cooler weather.

In my last missive I wrote about getting a bid for replacing our skylights.  That work was finished after about a week later.  The new frosted and tempered glass skylights are very nice.  No more sun glare beating through the skylights.  The light transmission has the same appearance as a neon light fixture.  Plus the guy who installed went above and beyond with the repairs.  He fixed a ventilator that had been dented during the hail storm and also applied some caulk around the rubber gaskets on our vent pipes.  I am pretty sure we use them to re-roof the house in a year or two.

So back to today...I got up just before 0700.  Got dressed, took my morning meds, and loaded up Ginger for our morning walk.  The radiant heat from the sun was not too bad.  The air temp was above 70 and rising.  We still made it for our usual 1+ mile walk.  Ginger even hopped right back into the car for our ride home.  A/C going almost full blast.  Even with the car parked in shade it was still a bit warm inside.

Back at home I hopped into the shower to get all clean.  Then time to check email, both ours and the RGC that I said I would handle.  Some bills to write checks for and get ready to mail.  That taken care of it was time for me to head out for a couple of morning chores.  First I headed to the Post Office to get them sent off.  Then to the bank to deposit a check from the insurance company.  It seems my MD is no longer a "preferred provider" so there is no agreed upon amount and the insurance company pays me the percentage.  Then I a pay the full amount due for the visit.  Which has almost doubled this year.  Oh well, that is the way it goes.

After the bank I head to the gym.  On Mondays and Fridays I have a weight training (with weight machines) routine.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays and I work out on the punching bags.  So far I can get in 5, two minute, rounds of jab, cross, and left hook with a 30 second rest period between each round.  That is enough, but each time gets a bit better.  Of course I warm up on the rowing machine first...500+ meters at a 2:40 pace for the 500.  To pass the time easier I count each row and work to  100 rows.  So it works out to a bit more that 500 meters.  It takes me about 15 to 20 minutes to get ready to start what with having to tape my hands and get the gloves on...but before putting on the last glove I must start the timer.  Kind of hard to push the on switch with a boxing glove on.  So it cycles through one round before I start.  I usually do two rounds of jab, etc. then start on the heavy bag, then back to jab, etc.

The gym has a trainer who used to fight MMA professionally.  I paid for a training session with her to learn how box the pads and bags.  I am still learning but it is a good workout.  Today I turned away from the boxing pads and she was in the doorway to the room of the punching equipment work area.  She had been watching me work and had some comments/advice for me.  I needed to turn my body more and fully extend the striking arm.  She also suggested I work the heavy bag in a slow motion routine.  That would help me develop muscle memory for the work out.  Finally finished (as in had enough), I took off my gloves and rolled up the hand wraps.  Then shower time.

After the gym it was time for lunch at Los Gordos.  My usual fish taco and some pico-de-gallo.  Then back home after a stop at a gas station.  That cost is going up here in commiefornia.

Back at home I worked on the computer some more, then my check book a bit.  Then some couch time with Ginger while reading a Spenser book.  Kathy arrives home and Ginger and I great her.  Ginger gets so excited when Kathy arrives home.  We chat a bit and I decide it is time to pick up the garbage.  I empty the cans into the gray cart and put the cart in the garage.  The recycle stuff goes into the blue cart.  I put that cart in the garage also.  I will take them out to the street later.

Time to fix supper.  Tonight it was sauteed fish, rice, beans, and vegetables.  Good stuff.  Then some TV, recorded episodes of Frasier.  Kathy heads off to bed.  I take the carts out to the street and then sit down to compose this missive.  Almost finished.  Well maybe time for some Red Breast Irish Whiskey.  Then take Ginger out for her evening business.  Then bed for myownself.

I swear it don't get no better!

 Today started off around 0645.  It has been hot, hot, hot lately so I must get out early to walk Ginger.  Out of bed, first morning meds taken and dressed.  Will shower later.  Ginger's collar on we get loaded into the car and head off to the preserve.  The sun is up (of course) and the angle provides shade where I like to park.  I park at the end of the row so I can straddle the parking spot line.  That gives me enough room to take Ginger out of the car and then jump her back in when finished with our walk.

There is a slight breeze blowing but still hot with the radiant heat from the sun.  Not too bad so the walk was enjoyable.  The heat seems to affect Ginger a little bit more lately.  She is about 10 years old and I think that is just the way it is for her.  Walk finished we head back home, with the A/C running full out.

Back at home Ginger crashes on the tile kitchen floor.  As for me it is time for a water change in the pond.  It takes me a short time to hook up the pump discharge hose and start to dump the water.  I lay the hose so it discharges onto the lawn.  Then it takes about an hour to pump out enough water for a 15-20% change.  It then takes about 4 or 5 hours to fill the pond back up.  In the meantime I have some computer work calling.  We have a company who works on our pc remotely and there was a little problem.  This filter program they installed (called Webroot) has started to stop me from viewing some news articles and one of my favorite sites.  It called a news article about a female deputy sheriff pornography and "news of the weird" is a cult and occult site.  My buddy who owns the business tried to fix the problem yesterday but it didn't take.  So today he disabled/removed the program.  Along the same line he relayed to me that another customer had the same problem...this man's wife like to shop at victoria's secrete online and it called that pornography.  So much for protecting us from ourselves.

So checking email, reading news, and getting the pc worked on took me up to lunch.  I checked the pond water level and figured I could be gone for 45 minutes or so easily.  Off to Los Gordos I headed for my usual...a fish taco and some pico-de-gallo.  Lunch over I headed home.  Really wanted to go to the used book store to find a copy of one of Walter Mosely's books, "Down the River unto the Sea".  I like his stuff.  His first book was Devil in a Blue Dress, which was made into a movie starting Denzel Washington.  So far all of his books I have read have been very good reads.

So I read a bit before calling a roofing company.  We have to get our skylights replaced after the golf ball size hailstorm a while back.  I have some questions about the estimate we were sent.  Need more information about the replacements.  I get a hold of the estimator and he explains things nicely.  Then he needs to check on the availability of frosted glass.  This will cut the glare of the sun a little bit.  He calls back shortly and lets me know what the new cost estimate will be.  He will bring a copy of the new contract by the house in a couple of hours.  I have to hang out while the pond fills.

I briefly (very, very, briefly) consider mowing the front lawn.  Nope ain't gonna happen.  100 temp is too much for this old guy.  In the mean time I sit down to read more in the Guns of Navarone.  The door bell rings and it is the estimator.  I invite him in and then notice the pond has filled.  Ask him to wait inside a bit while I turn the water off.  Then the contract is signed and he is on his way.  I will about a week until the skylights are in then they will install same.  Then out to the pond I head.  Turn the pumps on, after checking the leaf baskets, and making sure all the valves are open.

Then I work on the garbage.  I empty the cans into the grey cart and move the cart into the garage for later movement to the street.  The recycle stuff goes into the blue cart and it goes into the garage also.  Not enough green waste in the cart to move it to the street today, maybe next week.

I head to the store to pick up some strawberries.  The season is almost over and we still have some pound cake left.  Back home I rinse and cut up the berries for later tonight.  Then I decide to compose this missive a bit early.

Tonight's supper will be leftovers.  Good stuff.  Kathy will be home a bit later as she has an exercise class at the gym I go to, it is called "Skinny Jeans".

After supper and some strawberry shortcake we will head off to bed.  It has been hot weather but things are good.

I swear it don't get no better!

One of our range Board Members, who is also a Veteran, has his company sponsor a day at the range for retired Veterans who live in the local Veteran's Home.  These are all older gentlemen who enjoy a day away from the home.  I helped this year.  We set up two bays, one for pistol and the other for rifle.  Today we used .22 LR firearms.  Last year there were also some service rifles.  But this year we had a smaller group and the decision was made to only use 22's.

I assisted with the rifle groups.  The oldest was 94 a WWII vet and the youngest was in his 70's and a Korean War vet.  One man was blind and was able to shoot with the help of one of the VA's assistants.  Basically the assistant would line up the rifle and pistol and then tell the vet to lower or raise the firearm before shooting.  He was able to hit the target with this help.  We shoot into berms that are 40' high.  That plus a slow rate of fire for this gentlemen assured safety.

All of the others were great shots.  Full of cheer and enjoyment at getting out of the home.  Plus the fact that we were Veterans and it was our way of saying thank you that helped make the day a very nice day for our guests.

We fed them lunch afterwards and enjoyed more good conversation.

Kathy was camping this week but with the sun's early rising I woke up just before 0700 anyhow.  So it was hop into the shower to wake up even more.  But before that I needed to give our resident cat his morning snack of a small can of food.  Come to think of it, it was his loud meowing that helped to wake me (0630 is just before 0700, isn't it???).  Then I headed out for a bit of a walk just to keep up with some exercise since Ginger is on the camping trip.

Back at home I worked on my checkbook entries and made sure my ledger was up to date.  Sometimes I forget to keep proper track of the items.  Makes it harder to balance.  I had a doctor's appointment late morning.  Needed to get a shot for the neuroma in my foot.  Has been quite a while since I last got one and the foot is getting a bit painful.  He had a nice long talk about all of the treatment options and progression (if any) of this little item.  No surgery for me so it was shot time.

Then I headed out for some lunch.  Los Gordos as usual.  A stop at the ATM for some cash for TNS.  Even though it is a warm day and predicted to be 95-100 I will be there.  A stop at the WinCo store to pick up something for supper tonight.  Selected a nice piece of wild caught smoked salmon and some guacamole to go with it.  Then I head for home.

Back at home I gathered the garbage and put it into the gray cart.  The recycle stuff goes into the blue cart.  No green waste this week.  I did however do a little bit more shrub trimming.  Those cuttings went on top of the pile from last week in the trailer.  When I get the trailer filled I will take it to the transfer station.  They will shred it there for compost. 

With the chores finished for now I load the car with my PCC and all of the stuff that goes to the range.  Make sure I have plenty of water in the cooler bag.  Then I head out to the range.  I get there early enough to help set up a stage.  Mine is a simple and fast stage.  21 rounds from one shooting box.  No need to re-set targets by using static plates and one rectangle plus a stop plate.  I do spread them out bit and three of the targets are set out about 60' from the shooting box.  So there is some skill required.  I also fill the club cooler with ice and water bottles.  With the hot weather we want to make sure there is plenty of water available.  For me, I also drink a serving of electrolyte supplement plus 1/2 to 1 gallon of water during the match.

Even with the shot in the foot I am ready to head for home when the match is over.  Since I helped set-up I don't feel bad about not tearing down the stages. 

Back at home I give Kathy a call before I eat supper.  We chat about our day and she lets me know they will be coming home tomorrow.  Good news. They had nice relaxing time at the camp ground at Siskiyou Lake.  That is about 60 miles or so north of us. After supper I finish by moving the carts out to the street.  The cat is in for the evening and I watch a bit of TV.  Then it is bed time for me.

Tomorrow I have to make sure I am ready for Thursday's Veteran's home annual shoot at the club.  This year it is on June 6, the 75th anniversary of 'D' Day.

I swear it don't get no better!

Mine started of a bit early, well not too early.  I checked my email and then did some self consideration of those who served and did not make it home.  Two very good friends were lost in Vietnam.

Then it was time to head out to pick up my refills for my medications.  That included a stop at Home Depot for some shrubbery herbicide.  I needed that to get rid of the last two crap myrtles in our yard.  We planted 5 of these crap myrtles when we built our home.  I call them by this name as we weren't told that this shrub attracts aphids like a magnet attract iron, they shed leaves and flower petals all summer long, and grow, grow.  Finally got them cut down and 3 of the five killed off last spring/summer.  The last two we sprayed today.  Kathy helped me spread plastic drop cloth over the surrounding shrubbery to protect same.  Her help made the task go 3 times faster than if I had done it by myself.

I also headed out to buy some strawberries.  First I headed south to one of our local strawberry patches, they were closed.  Then I headed north to the other end of the city for another local patch...closed also.  Okay, I really want some strawberry shortcake tonight.  So I stop at the corner market.  They only have some pricier "organic" strawberries.  They don't look like they are all the way ripe but I figure I can still get some fruit out of them.  Back home it is into the sink to soak a bit.  As I begin to remove the leaves and core I quickly discover that they are not really ripe.  Silly me.  I figure these things were picked before any ripening and placed in a gaseous atmosphere to "ripen".  I know this can be done.  Oh well...there is some strawberry flavor and I added splenda for sweetener.  Lesson learned.

Before I sit down to write this note I take some more time to think. 

We will have a nice supper, some TV, and desert.  All the while enjoying just being together.

Never forget those who serve and pay the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.