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My thoughts released; a mind set free |
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These pages contain my thoughts, from meandering ideas and persuasions to deep cerebrations and serious mentations. Why, for what purpose? To release my mind and set creativity free. Somewhere inside the constraints of my mind dwells a writer, a poet, an artist who paints with words. In here I release those constraints and set the artist free. Perhaps, lost somewhere in the depths of thought, is a story or a poem, waiting to be written. |
| The recipe for pizza casserole as you requested. I was going to post it in the Newsfeed, but then I thought, why not get a blog post for the day as well. We have made alterations to the recipe a few times, but I will post the original as it was given to us. Pizza Cassarole Preheat oven to 350 0 FOne pound sweet Italian sausage, browned and crumbled Eight ounces of grated mozzarella cheese Two cups medium shell pasta, cooked about half done (al dente) One fifteen ounce can Chef Boyardee pizza sauce Mix browned sausage, pizza sauce, and two-thirds of the cheese together in a casserole dish. Spread remaining cheese on top, cover with foil (or lid) and bake for twenty minutes. Remove foil and bake another ten minutes or until cheese on top is bubbly and turning light brown. Remove and let rest another five minutes before serving. We substitute Contadina Pizza Sauce and either Bow Ties or Reginette pasta. We also add chopped onions, diced black olives, pepperoni, and even chopped cooked bacon. We also use a blend of cheeses (usually grated pizza blend) and a bit more than in the recipe. I would also add mushrooms and peppers, but my wife isn't fond of mushrooms and can't eat peppers. The original recipe is good, but substituting your preferred pasta, sauce, and adding anything you like on your pizza will make it even better. Oh, and don't forget the cheesy garlic bread. |
| It's been mentioned before, but what is the difference between a hot-dish and a casserole? I always thought they were one and the same. Perhaps it was relative to where one lives, or what one's parents or grandparents referred to it as. In my family, the two terms are interchangeable. Or so I thought. Tuesday, my wife cooked up pizza hot-dish, a recipe given to us by a friend; pizza hot-dish is what she called it. The recipe, like many we have, was modified to put more pizza ingredients into the dish to suit our liking. Also, it was originally designated to serve a family of four, with only two of us, there are leftovers. This time around, instead of having leftovers, I decided to take some, fresh and hot, over to our neighbor to enjoy. My wife dished some up in a container and I carried it over while she set the table. He was excited to get the hot meal since he hadn't even thought about dinner yet and asked what it was. "Pizza hot-dish," I answered. He took the lid off and looked at it, smelled it and replied, "It smells wonderful, thanks." Then he set the container on the table and asked me to stick around for a minute. "Our dinner is on the table, I should get back." "This will only take a minute. I want to show you the difference between a hot-dish and a casserole." He ducked into the bedroom and returned with a magazine which he opened to the center and unfolded a poster of a very attractive woman. "This is a hot dish, that (he pointed to the container on the table) is a casserole. Now, do you know the difference?" He started folding the hot dish back up and closed the magazine. "Oh yeah! I definitely see the differences, Steve." "Good. Have a nice evening and thank you again for the pizza casserole" I nodded, "You're welcome." Then I headed out the door and back home. Once home my wife asked if he was happy about the hot-dish. "Yes, but he showed me the difference between a hot dish and a casserole. When you make a casserole, you stir it, but when you make a hot-dish, you fold it." I had to explain it in more detail, but I think you al get the picture. |
| The rest of the week is supposed to be mild and nice, but Friday evening a winter storm is forecast with six to ten inches of snow before it blows itself out Saturday evening. I know I should be disappointed that spring hasn't sprung yet, but this is northern Minnesota and we always get that one last storm before winter gives in and to springs determined arrival. I really can't remember a spring that didn't get interrupted by one last furious attack of winter. Every year, the Robbins return and can be seen in large numbers scouring the ground for food. Then, a winter storm covers the ground with deep snow. They shelter in the strip of sumac that runs the length of our yard and fly back and forth to the bird feeders. We put meal-worms out for them and the other song birds who can no longer feed from the ground. But, within a few days to a week, the snow is again gone and the green spring grass emerges from it's winter slumber. So, I can't be disappointed in the foretasted winter storm, perhaps this is winter's last dying breath. |
| It's late and I didn't get into the site until just minutes ago. It's cooler today, so a nice day to work inside. My wife had today off so we didn't push ourselves, but still got a lot done. Tomorrow it's suppose to be warmer again. In fact the rest of the week looks nice. I'm thinking about putting a gas bottle in the HiLo and start getting it ready to work on, It looks like my winter break is over. |
| It's another beautiful day, temps in the mid 60s F here with hazy sunshine; we have had spring like weather for over a week now with it barely getting down to freezing at night. But, it's not spring yet and tonight the temperature will plummet down to the teens and tomorrow we may see it rise to thawing—maybe, before it drops down into the single digits. Wednesday we again will be in the fifties to low sixties; for the rest of the month we will see this teeter-totter effect. Most of the snow is gone, very little ice is left, and mud has taken it's place until the frost is driven from the ground and the moisture can soak in. I'm not complaining, it's typical northern Minnesota weather, the period between winter and spring. Some years it' short, a couple of weeks, other years it can last for a month or more. Yes, it's the temporal rift between seasons, a time with no formal name. A period of time that is neither spring nor winter, the fifth season. My neighbor described it yesterday in terms I have not heard before and I share this with hopes it does not offend anyone. "I call this time of year, Mother Nature's period and all we can do is put up with her mood swings." It's not an exact quote, he can be a bit more crude. I would call it something different, myself. Maybe a combination of the two seasons in rift: Wing (Winter/Spring, but that may confuse some, "Hey Charles, have a nice wing." Reversed would also work: Sprinter, but again it could be misunderstood by some. No, I think a new term should be coined to describe, and name, this temporal rift. Since we have snow and mud, I shall call this fifth season Smud! |
| Indeed, where did my day go? First of all, I was up quite late (or early morning) so I didn't get up until eleven, bu now with the time change, it's noon. Although not morning, I still needed my morning coffee to start the day, so I enjoyed my first cup while talking to my wife who is off today. It was a beautiful day and by the time I finished my first cup of coffee it was fifty degrees out, so I took my second cup on the patio enjoying the nice weather and watching the dogs play. Next, I checked the HiLo to see if there had been any moisture leaks or problems over the winter; my wife joined me. It was dry, it's sealed well, but while in there we started talking about ideas to get it ready to try it out this summer. Then, another cup of coffee on the patio and it's three in the afternoon. After, I walked over to my neighbors, whom I haven't visited with for some time as a result of being sick. Finally, back home and it's six o'clock and time to work on dinner. After dinner I worked on a few things I needed to get done today and then into WDC to work on my achievements and see what everyone is up to, only it's late (10:45) and not much time if I want to earn my badges. Just like that, the day is gone. |
| How is this even possible? There has to be a mistake! Is it something with the upcoming, and always dreaded time change? Did some fiendish creature of the night creep in while I was sleeping and delete it? There has to be some kind of explanation—there's just no way I could have forgotten. I have been diligent about writing in my blog, one or the other, everyday. But, somehow there is no entry for yesterday! Somehow, I missed the message in my email reminding me to make an entry. Somehow I messed up! What can I say? "Todd Gammit anyway!" On the bright side, The StoryMaster   , in his infinite wisdom, grants us a badge for both comments and entries, so my streak is preserved. It is for this very reason I'm pleased that blog comments count.This time I can honestly say, I have no excuse. But with the warmer weather arriving, it won't be long and I'll be busy working on the HiLo camper again. I also have some work to do in the mobile tent (pop-up camper). I mean well, but when I get working on something, I tend to get lost in my work and often don't stop until it's dark, or my wife makes me. By then, I'm tired and just not up to blogging. We'll also be camping, likely remote camping in the mobile tent with no electric, which means I won't be able to bring and charge my laptop; this results with me doing very little typing for my Writing.Com activities as my fingers are too fat to type on my phone and tablet (I'm seriously thinking about getting a buetooth keyboard). So, for now, while time is on my side, I really need to focus on blogging daily. |
| In today's blog I decided to write on the 48-HOUR CHALLENGE: Media Prompt. As I listened to the song I found myself thinking of two hearts joining together, hopes and dreams of a life together; a love song. The music was pleasing and I discovered my foot tapping along with the beat. The video of two young people dancing and in love was inspiring. It also brought back memories of my own past and falling in love. Although the first time I fell I found myself in the same state of mind, I discovered over the years that things change and the dance can end. I found myself thinking of another song that described this: Thankfully as I began to loose myself in a bottomless depression our three children refused to let me sink into complete despair. I wrote this poem at that time in my life: "Loneliness"  Written for note "Note: 48-HOUR CHALLENGE : Media Prompt Deadl..." Word Count 163 A proud member of "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group" "Reading soothes the soul, writing sets it free." T.J. |
| Yesterday and last night we were forecast to get four to six inches of snow with some pretty stiff winds. Friends and family who live in Minnesota shared pictures of the snow they received in southern and central Minnesota; as predicted four to six inches with blowing, drifting, and even some reported blizzard conditions. Today most of what they got dumped on them had already melted off with temperatures near fifty degrees. Here, we had a few light flurries through the day, few enough I think I could have counted the flakes blowing around. This morning I looked outside expecting to see a few inches of snow, if not more. Instead the sun was breaking through the clouds and there was just enough of a dusting of snow to show we had gotten any at all. By noon it was gone and we were near thawing again. Being further north, it's not as warm here, yet. But, it's predicted to be forties by tomorrow and fifties by the weekend. I don't mind when they're right with their fair weather forecasts and I love it when they're wrong with the foul weather forecasts. They were wrong, but still pretty close! My wife drove into a nearby town south of us to pick up her medications, a mere five miles south. She said the edge of the storm had stopped about a mile south of us. One mile south there was at least six, maybe even eight inches of snowfall while here, just a little dusting. I don't think it even snowed here, I think it was they're snow blowing over... |
| Yesterday I shared a memory of a mouse who befriended me. Since people tend to like stories of this kind, I thought I'd share a tale (true) of another little critter whom I befriended. It was about the same time frame while I was living in the little town of Hazel, SD. It was in the spring and a very nice day. I opened the windows to let some fresh air into the old house I lived in, sat down with a cup of coffee and started to work on a story here in WDC. Shortly after a bird started chirping and scratching at the window screen. Distracted, I turned to see a robin on the window ledge chirping at me, scratching and pecking the screen as if it wanted to get in. I went to the window, but as soon as I was up, it flew away. I pondered it's behavior for a moment, then pushed the interruption from my thoughts and returned to my writing. Within a short time I was again distracted and a bit irritated by the same bird. Again it was chirping, pecking, and scratching at the window. I stopped writing, swiveled my chair to look; it was almost frantic at it's attempts, or so I thought at the time, to get into the house. As soon as I got up it flew off again, so I sat and waited. Soon enough it was back and even more determined to not let me focus on writing. When I got up the robin flew off again. I went to close the window so it wouldn't distract me but when I got there I saw the robin jumping up and down by the side of the house. It was chirping and making a ruckus, but there was also the sound of plastic rustling. I couldn't quite see what it was after from my window vantage point so I let the dogs out and walked around the house to investigate. As I rounded the corner Hyko, my wife's Golden Retriever, started barking. I thought at first he was barking at the bird, but instead saw he was focused and barking at a plastic grocery bag that had blown and tangled in the gas meter. It was a bit breezy, but the bag seemed to be blowing erratically and much to intensely for the breeze. My thoughts were just a tangled bag that for some reason had upset the robin; he was still attacking it. I proceeded to untangle the bag, and as I did I discovered there was something in it; not just something, but something alive and fighting to get out. Once untangled and untwisted I looked inside. There was a female robin lying on the bottom, panting and looking a bit rough from her fight to get free of her imprisonment. Carefully I reached inside, expecting to get pecked, but she let me lift her out and carry her back to the patio. I set her on the table wondering if she was injured, but after a few seconds she flew to the birdbath and took a long drink. Her mate, the robin who had come to the window crying for help joined her while she re-hydrated then both flew back around the house. I followed and watched her vanish into the branches of the lilac bushes while he sat contently on a branch. I stepped closer and discovered their nest. She was now sitting on the edge of it, her three babies snuggled by her breast. She had cut her breast and carried the scar in her feathers the rest of her life, but otherwise was fine. The check-mark on her breast made her easy to identify and she returned every year. Quite often, when we sat out on the patio, she would sit atop the privacy fence for a spell as if to thank me once again for coming to her rescue. The following spring I helped a Morning Dove and made another feathered friend, but that's a story for another day. |
| Have you ever had the feeling your being watched? I'm sure at some point we've all felt eyes upon us. Most times, it's just our imagination, but there are other times we discover we are being watched. Many years ago I had this happen; feeling I was being watched, only to discover, I was... It was around 2005 while I was staying at my brother's house. He had moved in with his girlfriend and wanted me and my wife to stay at his house so it wouldn't sit empty. The deal was, no rent, we paid all the bills, and we maintained it for him. We started having some issues with the water heater down in the basement. It would go out (it was natural gas powered) and I would have to relight it at least once a month. Everything seemed fine with it, but it soon began going out more often and eventually I discovered it was leaking and putting the pilot light out. I notified him of the problem and told him I would purchase a new water heater and install it if he would use his pickup to haul it and help me get it into the basement. This wasn't much of a basement, but more of a root cellar with a steep and narrow stairway. It was a tight fit but with both of us we got it into the dirt floored basement. The following day I tackled the job of installing the new heater. I shut off the gas and the water, drained the old heater into the sump, and unhooked the water and gas lines. While I worked, I kept getting the feeling I was being watched! There was just one light bulb down there so it was shadowy and it got me feeling kind of off, but there wasn't anyone around. I fought with the scaled ridden old heater to get it moved, then set the new heater in it's place. Still, I could feel someone, or some thing watching me. I blew it off and went to work hooking up the gas line and checking it for leaks. Next I installed a couple of new valves for both the inlet and the outlet pipes, then began hooking them up to the new tank, all the while feeling those eyes on me. After everything was hooked up and double checked, I turned to the main water line coming into the house to turn the water back on. There in the shadows I saw them, two little eyes reflecting the dim light of the single bulb. I turned my flashlight to them and there on the ledge was a little deer mouse watching my every move! Even when I reached next to him, or her, it stayed perfectly still and watched me. No, not perfectly still, the nose twitched as it sniffed at me. I finished my job, put my tools away, and cleaned up my work area all the time keeping an eye on the little mouse. It never moved! I turned off the light and carried my tools up the narrow steps only to find the mouse had beaten me to the top and was now on the ledge by the door watching me again. It followed me into the house through the basement door and when I set my toolbox down, jumped on it and watched me. We always had mice getting into the house, seeing how we lived across the street form a grain elevator, so we would set a live trap and transport them out to the country. But, it was mid-December and cold out. I didn't have the heart to trap and throw this curious little creature out, besides, it was almost Christmas. Instead, I dug out an unused hamster cage and set it down with the door open and put some bird seed inside. Maryweather (yes I named it) ran right in and started eating. Maryweather stayed with us until spring. He, or she, never minded the hamster cage and especially enjoyed the wheel. I didn't interact much with our guest knowing in time I would return the little critter to it's natural life. Even after being caged, Meryweather would sit and watch me for hours. After the weather was nice, I released Meryweather out by the garage, knowing he would likely be right back in the house. But to my surprise he took up residency in the old garage. Many times I would see him sitting on a shelf watching me while I worked on various projects. |
| We took the dogs over to Maplewood State Park for the afternoon. We usually just drive into the main camping area and let them run while we walk the loop they maintain for winter campers, but with the weather as nice as it is, there was actually someone set up to camp. We parked opposite them and let the dogs out for a bit, but another vehicle showed up with the same plans as us. Our dogs listen pretty well, but we didn't want to risk the other dogs coming over, not knowing how well they would get along, so we packed up and drove to a secondary, non-electric camping area. The road was still closed, so we parked along side the main road and walked back in. There wasn't anyone back there, so the dogs got to run and frolic while we hiked the partially snow covered road. It was a bit more difficult of a hike, despite being a gravel road; some places had wet snow, other places it was ice, and still others were muddy. But it was a nice mile hike back into the camping area. By the time we returned the dogs had run themselves out and we were all ready to return home. I had thought about packing some food and having a picnic, but it's still not quite nice enough. Another week or two of this weather should open up the road and we can purchase some firewood and have a nice picnic while we enjoy a fire and maybe even roast sausages over the flames. |
| As you likely already know, we now have a Consistency Achievement for blogging which you can check on by going to your Achievement Page. I'm already listed for this first day towards my blogging badge, but it's for commenting, not for blogging. Yes you get the badge for writing blog entries or commenting on them. I would prefer to get the badge for actually writing an entry and not from just commenting, so I thought I better hustle my butt over here and write something. But, I also believe that getting the badge for commenting is also a nice reward to motivate others to leave comments. Also, I know how easily one can get behind in bliting (blog-writing), seeing how this cold has kept me from making any entries for a few days now, we can maintain the streak by leaving a comment as well as by bliting. I'm sure some will cheat and just drop a few words either in their blog or in a comment, similarly to how they post the day in the Newsfeed just to get the consistency badge. But, for us who actually write something, or leave a "real" comment, the reward is in knowing the badges are earned. |
| As I posted in the Newsfeed, we are under a windchill advisory until Wednesday. We stocked up on supplies today trying to get our shopping done before the temperature dropped and the winds moved in. We almost made it; the temp held at 2oF until we made our last stop. The wind had started blowing, but it wasn't strong yet at that time. But, as we left the town we were shopping in and started our forty-five minute drive home, the temps began to drop as the wind picked up. About halfway home, we came upon a vehicle on the side of the road with it's flashers on. I stopped to assist and found a young woman and her very young daughter in the car huddled together. Neither were dressed for cold weather; light jackets, not hats or gloves, and regular footwear. The woman told me the car had started to run rough and then died, they were also almost out of gas. I suspect the fuel lines froze up, but it could have been a lot of other things as well. The woman had forgot her phone at home and the daughter's phone was dead and they didn't have a charger in the car. They were as unprepared to be out on the roads in Minnesota in the winter as they could possibly have been. And, she told me they had sat there in the cold for almost an hour already, no one would stop. Of course, it's not a busy road and being Sunday and very cold, there wasn't much traffic. There was nothing I could do for the car, but we had decided to take the Yukon shopping so the dogs could ride with; we had plenty of room for two more even with the dogs and groceries. It took a few minutes to get the dogs settled down and then I drove them back home. They thanked me and offered money. I turned them down asking for something else for payment. "What?" The woman asked with a slight hesitation. With a smile I told her, "I want you to set up a winter survival kit for your vehicle with extra cloths and some of those disposable hand warmers in case you and your daughter ever get stranded in the winter again. "Sure, I will do that." She smiled, thanked me again and they went to the door. I waited in the driveway to make sure they got inside. But, after a few minutes of trying, they couldn't get the door open. The woman went around back through the deep snow and vanished. I got out and asked the daughter to sit inside where it was warm. she didn't hesitate to jump back in. As she did, her mom reappeared around the house. "I can't get the doors open." I had her get back in out of the cold, but with her slip on shoes in the snow, she had gotten snow into them and her feet were already starting to lose feeling. She explained that the key would not go into the locks and turn. I put on my gloves, my facemask, and buttoned up my coat to my neck. Then I took her keys and tried the doors, sure enough the locks were frozen; the gusting wind had blown powdery snow into the door lock where it must have melted until the temps dropped and it froze. I didn't have a lighter with me and doubt if I would have been able to get it lit in the wind if I had one. I thought for a minute about my options, then put her house key in my shirt pocket to warm it up, I re-buttoned my vest, re-zipped my sweatshirt, and then buttoned up my coat again. I thought I may have to take them to my house if I couldn't get the inside of theirs. I let the key warm up for a few minutes with my back to the bitter wind, then got ready to take it out and use it. But right before I did, I took my gloves off and wrapped my hands around the doorknob to warm it as I blew warm breaths into the lock. After I thought I may have melted the ice enough, I hurriedly stuffed the key into the lock and turned it. It resisted at first, but then I felt it turn a little. I turned it back and forth, feeling it move a bit more each time. Then, click, the lock tumblers turned and the door was open. I double checked that the door was still unlocked and would reopen before I closed it and stuffed my already frozen fingers back into my gloves and returned to the Yukon. Once inside I remembered the hand-warmers in our survival kit, I could have used them to thaw the lock. Oh well, it was done, my hands were cold, but not frostbit, and they were able to get inside. She thanked me again, offered money again, and again I turned her down. After they were inside, the lights on and the door shut, I backed out and went home to put groceries away. I hope she will take my advice and put a kit in her vehicle and dress accordingly before going out in the winter. |
| We headed out yesterday for St. Cloud, or close to it anyway. It had snowed all day so the roads weren't the best, but still fair. We reached our destination about midnight, talked with family for a half hour or so, then went to bed. Bed yes, sleep no. Very little for me, I just kind of dozed on and off. Then up early to go to the basketball playoffs. But, all that's for another day when I'm not "butt-ass tired". Yes, I said that. I'm so tired I'm unable to focus my thoughts properly. My wife asked if I had finished my blog entry and my answer was, "No, I'm too damned butt-assed tired to write anything. If I try it's going to come out "poopious"! "Poopious? is that anything like crappy?" "Yes. It's one and the same." "Why don't you write that?" "Write what?" "What you just said about it being poopious because your butt-assed tired. I'm sure anyone who reads it will get a good laugh." "Yeah" I replied, and then added, "And think I've completely lost it." So, I included my last sane thoughts for the night to explain why I'm so tired, and what happens when I get very little sleep. |
| Years back when my wife and I first began kayaking, we went out every chance we could, often at lakes close to home. One very hot day we went to a Lake Pelican and began paddling around the lake. This was in eastern South Dakota with few trees and a lot of open land, so there was little shade. We reached the opposite side from where we had started and found a small, sandy, and shallow bay that was isolated and had a lot of trees. It was a great place to stop for a break. We sat on shore and drank some water, snacked on some protein bars we had brought with, and enjoyed the shade. Despite the shade, it was still hot. The water looked very inviting so we rolled our pants up and waded out; it felt wonderful. There wasn't anyone around on land or on the lake so we decided to strip down and go skinny dipping. We waded out about twenty feet or more before we could dive into the refreshing water. We splashed around and cooled ourselves for a few minutes then headed back to shore. We hadn't brought a towel, so we sat on our shirts and let the warm air dry us before getting dressed and heading back out in the kayaks. We had just reached the area where the water was deep enough to dive when we heard muffled voices from behind us. "We got out of there just in time." I said to my wife. She replied, "Yes, we did." We continued on our way not thinking anything about it. Shortly after rounding the bed of the bay, we saw we were alongside Lake Pelican State Park. We went ashore to investigate the park; we had never visited it and were curious if it would provide us a place close to home for camping. We left the kayaks on shore by a beach and fishing area, then walked up the road. We came to a trail that went right and followed back to the bay where we had just been swimming. The trail ended at a small, wooden, overlook tower were we met two park workers who had just finished clearing some brush and cleaning up the area. As they walked past us one asked, "Hows the water? Did you enjoy your swim?" |
| I still have a half hour to get this in for a daily entry. That's my time, but for site time, I'm a half hour late. Oh well, some days are like that. My eldest son called, his daughter, my granddaughter is playing basketball this year and wants us to come and watch her play. Of course, like most kids, she's a bit late in asking; the only game/games she has left are the playoffs this Saturday. Not much notice. Not much time to set things up, and we are in a another cold snap with temps barely getting above zero during the day. I don't like traveling when it's sub-zero, it's hard on vehicles, and dangerous; it seems if something is going to break or go out, it's during a long drive in cold weather. But, it's also very hard to tell her no, we can't make it because of the cold and short notice. So, my wife will take off a couple hours early tomorrow night so we can get to St. Cloud before midnight. Then Saturday, it's up early, we have to leave my son's by nine to catch the first game. Depending on how well they do, it may be one game or it could be more. I'll have time to get my stuff done in here as well as my other daily tasks before we leave, but I'm not sure about Saturday. I could log in on my phone, but I'm pretty limited because of the screen size. Then again, I may just take this laptop with and see if I get any time. Between visiting, games, and driving back home, it may be a full day. I wonder if anyone would notice I'm on the computer during the game? |
| I know, a brisk walk means a moderate-intensity walk that's faster than a leisurely stroll but not so fast that you can't carry on a conversation. Yesterday, however, I discovered what a "brisk" walk really is. It was sunny and my wife had the day off, so we wanted to take the two dogs out and let them burn off some energy. By noon it was only five degrees Fahrenheit, and there was a slight wind blowing, so we bundled up before headed to the State Park. After getting there we let the dogs out to play and walked the campground loop they keep plowed. It's adjacent to the lake and the wind was coming across without anything to block or slow it. The snow off the road was up to Max's belly, and for Bellah it was almost as deep as she is tall. but they ran, jumped, and enjoyed themselves as well as keeping us entertained as we walked. But that wind went through our clothing and soon we were chilled and ready to go. The dogs fared better and would have enjoyed staying longer, but it was just too cold for us. Listening to the radio as we drove back home we were informed we were under a wind-chill advisory with values of minus twenty-six below! The temperature had continuously dropped, not risen, and the wind had intensified. Yes, it was a enjoyable walking, but our pace was brisk as we hurried back to the warm vehicle to get out of the brisk winter air and the brisk wind chilling our bones. |
| Twenty-three years ago I met my wife. No, silly, she wasn't my wife then. But she would become my wife later. Actually, I met her for the first time on February eighth, but it was on the ninth that we actually talked to each other. She had moved to the area with her two daughters, who had become friends with my daughter in school. Soon they were coming over regularly. On one visit, there mom stopped to pick them up, but they weren't watching, or perhaps just ignored her so she had to come to the door. I had a five-week old puppy at my feet, so I scooped her up and answered the door. I introduced myself and my puppy, then held the door for her to come in. She looked me up and down, told me her name and spoke past me to her daughters telling them they had a couple minutes to get to the car or they wouldn't be coming over again. She turned and went back to the car to wait for them, I closed the door and announced to the room, "Definitely the anti-social type." A line I had picked up from the movie, "Kelly's Heroes." The next day they came over again, and she again stopped to pick them up. This time they convinced her to come in for a bit because they were still waiting for my daughter to get home and didn't want to leave before they talked to her. Shortly after, the kids began talking about going to the Eelpout Festival in Walker, about an hour away. Of course, my future wife's daughters wanted to go as well. They weren't dressed for an ice-fishing festival, but I had plenty of winter gear and soon it was decided they could go with. We, my future wife and I, sat and talked for hours getting to know each other. Before we knew it, the kids were back home and it was about nine hours later! After that, we quickly became friends, then began dating, then she moved in with me, and eventually we were married. It wasn't until some time later, after we were a couple, that we learned my daughter and hers had planned the whole thing in order to bring us together! Forget Cupid, we have daughters... |
| The sun broke out a bit today, the first time in at least a week. Starting last weekend we had a forecast for a dusting to an inch of snow; we got about two. Midweek another forecast for a dusting to an inch of snow: we got two more. Thursday the forecast was for an inch or two of snow followed by a cold but sunny weekend. We didn't get any snow. We didn't get any sunny weekend either... Friday afternoon there was a winter storm warning–two to four inches of snow by Saturday. It finally stopped snowing early this morning, as predicted, but we have six to eight inches. Thankfully our landlord pays for snow plow services; he's been here Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and now this morning! I started shoveling walkways and around vehicles, there's about a foot, maybe more, of snow that's fallen through the week. I'm thinking about going over to the neighbors and seeing if I can use his four-wheeler. It has a plow on it and it would make cleaning up so much easier. It would make it fun, too. |
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