A Good Time Was Had by All, Wooo Hooo!!

Well Gang, without too much information or T.M.I as it's sometime known as I survived . They say when you turn 50 years old you need to have it done and I am 11 or 12 days away from being 53 years old.....waited long enough, so I got it done. Or as they say here "Getter Done"! For those of you who have not done it yet it is not as bad as your mind could lead you to believe. A few days prior to the procedure you meet with the Dr. in my case in "Her office". The Dr. asks you a few questions about your History and I told her......,,,,,,Jen corrected me and advised me the Dr. was speaking about my" Medical History" which I knew, but it adds some levity to the visit. At that visit they give you a prescription for some pills and 255 grams of this white powder that you mix with water or some other drinking solution , in this case I used Gatorade. I felt good after that visit, the Dr. seemed to be very informed and assured me that she had done this procedure numerous times and that I had nothing to worry about as long as I followed the 4-5 pages of typed instructions (Front & Back), Starting on the day prior to the procedure. So I felt good, and Noticed that the Dr. , she, had small hands which made me feel good!!!! Cause that matters!!!!! The day prior to the procedure at a given time as per instructions you take these 4 pills and "WAIT"........ Well within the hour in my case the wait was over. Over the next two hours I did a lot of reading in the library. After two hours I had to start drinking 64 oz of Gatorade mixed with that proscribed white powder. Drink an 8 oz glass every 15 Min's.. The 1st couple glass are OK and with the Gatorade it did not taste bad. By the 6th glass you get pretty bloated. Oh I forgot to mention no eating the day before. For the rest of the day and night you get a lot of reading in. So jumping a head this is the worst of the "entire procedure"...just so you know! OK...jumping back, on the morning of the procedure no drinking, no coffee, no nothing. I had to be at the hospital at 8 am and not a tough day and not so hard to stay away from coffee, tea or what have you since it was so early. I had Jen with me to keep me calm... and for support. We checked in and both of us taken to a room for me to change into the backless gown. Some further tests, blood pressure, heart rate, insert an I.V. and lungs checked .....All good. They tell me that it wont be long and I'll be taken into another room for "The Procedure"! Now I'm gettin a little tense and the location that the procedure is going to happen is starting to feel like that" water tight" crab's A%&.. which I know is not going to help this up coming "Procedure"! Remember I have not realised that the worst part is over, the part yesterday, the 64 oz that had to be drunk and of course all that "reading" Well the nurse walks me down the hall , my backless gown, paper shoes, black socks and I.V. pole into the room for "The Procedure"! I'm expected to meet my lovely small handed Dr. for "The Procedure"! I meet Nurse Bruno ! Large Nurse Bruno with the "Catchers Mits" for hands We talk, as he gets me up on the table.., reassuring me that it's all going to be OK! The other nurse is prepping and as of yet I have not seen the Dr.. Then the sleepy time drug is pushed into the I.V. and I awake in recovery. I feel good and guess what? The worst was the stuff that took place the day before! After a short time Jen was at my side holding my hand in recovery and telling me all was ok. So Gang......Get the test done if you have been waiting because of fear...was not bad really! From what I understand I will be receiving a Christmas card from Nurse Bruno this year!!! Who Loves ya Baby!!!! Til Next Time..........Jerry

Post-Surgery

Well, the colonoscopy is behind us (no pun intended) and we are looking forward to a quiet day. I was truthfully very impressed with the whole hospital - they had these colonoscopys running like a car wash - one in one out - moving us along with split second precision and effective care. I have to make this appointment myself, and have pledged to do it by the end of this year - that gives me until December. I actually don't mind any surgery, it's the prep I'm afraid of. Watching Jerry go through it all yesterday, my stomach was turning for him. We're searching online to see how often this test is recommended, because we'd like to start the dread process immediately. As I told Jerry, he's not a perfect asshole because they did find a polyp. Most likely benign but being tested anyway. So, we'll wait. Optimistically, but we'll wait. He never seems to appreciate my humor. He was half out of it anyway (which makes you also half in it?) Who came up with that anyway? Discussing with the nurse how he is quite capable of driving home. No problems there. Yes sir, I'm sure you are. But your wife will drive you anyway. . . OK? I have had so many surgical procedures that I can't remember them anymore, I have to pull out a sheet of paper with the dates, etc. I'm just pointing this out because the questions that are asked are for information purposes, and you begin to understand this when you've been doing it over and over. High Blood Pressure? "I've been going to a new doctor since we moved here from Long Island, and he seemed to think my blood pressure was a little high, so I was testing it at home for him. After I took the results back to his office, he decided against prescribing the blood pressure medicine for me, but I don't think the readings were high anyway. Alot of people I talk to have much higher readings and . . . yada yada yada." The correct answer here would have been "Yes" or "No". There is a verbal shorthand that you develop when you are an experienced patient - and it does make the procedures move along more quickly. It also keeps you from having too many in-depth conversations with the hospital staff. Jerry has not developed this shorthand. He is a chatty and personable kind of guy who likes to engage people in conversation. Anywhere. He does this at every venue we are at - the grocery cashier, the movie ticket gal, any type of sales person at all is a target for Jerry's easygoing and humorous conversation skills, and his jokes. After loading the grocery register with obviously 20 or 30 bags of grocerys, he says, "Keep it under $20 would ya? And laughs everytime. It can be a charming and whimsical way to engage people, or not. I have actually said to him "Don't speak" when we have arrived at a store. Sometimes I just want to get in and out. Quick. Joking with the staff is not my idea of in and out. So, we disagree on occasion. Only today I am driving and I am in charge. Don't speak, don't move, don't walk the dog, don't take out the trash, don't do anything. It's going to be his day for R&R. If he lets me. There is not enough hijinx going on here to satisfy him. I will have to bring in some outside entertainment. Maybe the fed-ex guy? Maybe Dan can come and play? He's not going to be happy just talking to me. I might have to medicate him. Or me. We'll see.

No pictures

Where does he get those little moving pictures? Yesterday was a Monday all day. Everything I went to do was simply not meant to happen. The more I tried to do it, the less happened. Finally at 2:00 I decided that a nap was the answer to this quirky day, and so that is what I did. Just because I can. Angel went home last night and Daphne has been walking around like George Bush on the bow of a destroyer, with a "Mission Accomplished" splayed across the bridge. She wasn't mean per se, just her loving little self. Angel was not a bit intimidated, although she was quite happy to see her folks and just as glad to get home I'm sure.

For all the thrill and suspense of Joyce Carol Oates' "The Falls", the ending just kind of limped in to a really lame finish. Quite disappointing entirely. I had invested alot of time in this book, and just kept turning the last page and thinking "that's it? What kind of crap is this?" I will take on a new book today and hope that the ending is more satisfying. We had an inch or two of snow yesterday, but even as it was falling it was clumping together in spring like snow fashion. Nothing to really be excited about, except that all the mud had a lovely coating of white over it. Much better I think. Today is Jerry's colonoscopy "prep day". I've heard all about the prep and its effects working at the PD and am not looking forward to the next two days. But I am glad that he is having it done. Bravo Jerry! Commendable!

And so, the day begins. We're off to Meat World this week (or something like that) to get the corned beef for this weekend. We are hoping to see 1/4 of the Long Island contingent and in preparation I have been scouring the dog aisles at Wal-Mart. Blue is my grand-dog and we spoil him whenever he comes. I am almost looking forward to the come-uppance due Daphne for her poor treatment of Angel. When Blue walks through the door, I can almost see her face and will enjoy her confusion. "Him again?" I love it. Prom season is gearing up and I'm looking forward to participating in "The Cinderella Project ". It is a volunteer organization for seamstresses (sp?) and anyone else who can spend a day altering and embellishing gowns that have been donated. If anyone has any gowns out there and your prom days are over, let me know - I can find a new life for them here. They will go to a deserving young lady who would not otherwise have a prom gown. Even older gowns can be re-sewn and updated. Somewhere there is a shoulder pad graveyard from the 80s, and a new dress for a high school senior. I cannot think of a more worthy way to spend the day, and I'm looking forward to meeting these Cinderellas - just to compare notes with my own Cinderella. How else would parents get to see if they are really "SO overprotective and SO annoying" than to spend some time with other teenagers and their parents? I'm putting off spring cleaning until I can turn off the pellet stove and throw open the windows! We're a long way off from THAT! No point in spring cleaning unless you can really get 'er done! (As Walter says). And so, another book off the shelf. Enjoy the day.

Lost weekend?

Well Gang......., Time to blog again as it has been a few days since my last. Friday last I did my trip from the Adirondacks to Long Island so that Allison could visit with her dad for the weekend. Allison's every other weekend...Mostly It's very important that she spends time with him. Over 200 miles one way. This weekend I stayed on the Island and did not make the over 200 mile return trip on Friday night after dropping her off. I did not then return Sunday afternoon, the over 200 miles to pick her up and then I did not drive us home to the Adirondacks Mountains , another 200 miles . The over 800 plus miles in a weekend. I stayed on Long Island, "ONLY" about 400 plus miles this weekend! OK Gang lets hear it for Jerry...Clap...Clap!!!!! OK..................., enough of that! I had some HONEY to deliver and took advantage of being on the Island. I stayed with my brother in law and sister in law , Joanne and Clint. Thanks Guys!!!!!! Saturday I also took care of getting the dreaded tax returns done by the accountant...Glad that's done...Always hangs over my head until it's done......Guess it's the not knowing if you are going to pay or get a little($$$$$) something back. Luckily our account has a sharp pencil and most times we do get a little....Never anywhere near the obscene amounts that are taken out. I had Lunch on Saturday with Brian & Ashly at "Louie's" outside patio for a few hours, Walter and Jackie could not make it...Sorry Guys you missed out on a great Lunch. I did get to visit with Walter on Sunday morning at his job and got to see Walters new 20 ft. center console boat...WHoo HOooo.. LQQKS great Walter, Enjoy! I stopped by my old work place , delivered some honey to Dom. It appears that all of the detectives are flourishing in the office due to ..."Way excellent" supervision and it appears no "dots" turned into "circles" At least none drawn on the chalk board. Keep up the good work and listen guys............Lets Stay Safe Out there! That hour move forward in time over the weekend really made time fly and before long it appeared that the weekend was over and it was time to pick up Allison and point the pickup north towards back home, The Adirondacks. Ali had a good time and visited with her friends in Glen Cove over the weekend... Ali's got the trip down, reads, listens to music or im's her friends for the 4 hour trip home, gets a little sleep in too. Jen, I knew was home waiting for us and keeping the home fires burning as she was watching our 3 dogs and dog watching Dan & Jenny's dog , Angel, that's four dogs she had for the weekend. Jen reports that the weather was nice in the Adirondacks and we had some snow melt causing some MUD. That's OK, spring can't be too far away and that 30 plus inches still on the ground will melt away soon! Jen worked hard over the weekend just taking care of the dogs , the walking two at a time and feeding and them barking at every little noise that this old house makes at night. Here's to Jen........Clap...Clap!! So much for spring it snowed again today, a wet heavy snow , about an inch. Winter is fighting the change but I expect that soon it will have to release it's grip and spring will flourish. Until next time Gang.................Jerry

Spring Forward - Fall behind

It's officially mud season. We're contemplating how to get the dogs to wipe their feet at the door - some type of foot bath would work on the porch. They are just too filthy to be coming and going willy nilly without washing their feet. We have established the inside shoes/outside shoes program, and that is working well. Right now, if you don't own Wellies (wellington boots) you are looking around wondering where to get them because truthfully, nothing else works. I did buy Allison a pair last year, and although she was less than happy, she does wear them outside. It's like stepping off the porch into five inches of sludge. I was out walking the dogs this evening and stepped out of my boot, putting my stockinged foot down into a snow/mud pile. Yuk. I needed to come in and throw my sock and jeans directly into the laundry. Do not stop go, do not collect $200. This mud season thing takes all the glamour away from country living. The roads are dirty and the snow is taking on that blackened yuk look. I'm not a big fan of winter thaw, and that is what we have going on here. Add to that the daylight savings time insult this morning, and basically, I'm not in a good mood. Now that the big secret is out and we have established that the farmers have nothing to do with Daylight Savings Time (see July - thanks Noah!) it fails to enlighten me as to exactly why we are having this loss of one hour. And honestly, why not put it into effect on a Friday afternoon at 4:00 PM? That would make alot of people really happy, get the weekend off to a nice start instead of taking away that hour on Sunday morning when you are just getting into the sleep mode and starting to enjoy a real comfortable Sunday morning REM sleep and WHAM! the alarm goes off one hour earlier and your weekend r&R is essentially over. bummer. Now if you did it on a Friday afternoon, what harm would that cause really? How much is really being accomplished ANYWHERE on Friday between four and five? Let my people go! It would be a much better compromise and would serve all of us quite well. Now, I will be missing that lost hour until November when they return it back to us, usually around Halloween weekend. Thanks for that! Fire up the kids with sugar and then give us that extra hour to deal with them on a Sunday morning. Whoopie. Who is in charge of this program anyway? Something is not right with this. Can I complain to someone? This is just one more reason why I think the Amish have it right. They just are not participating. Simple as that. Sorry, not happening here. Today for them, it is still 7 PM. Of course, they won't be missing any Broadway shows (8 o'clock curtain) and their schools are all run by their elders, so they are all on the same page, time wise. Actually, everything wise. The whole concept of Amish is that they are all doing and thinking alike. Imagine the chaos that would ensue if we all decided to choose our own time? Actually, we are sort of operating that way with Time Warner cable. We can choose On Demand whenever we want a program to start. If we missed ten minutes, we can just re-start and it will take that command. So really, the only one negatively impacted at this point is Allison, cause that bus is coming at 6:40- their time.

Slowly I turn. . .

I'm reading a book called The Falls, by Joyce Carol Oates, and although it is not a thriller in the true sense, there is definitely something weird going on. I am without Jerry and Allison this weekend. To say that I am "alone" is simply not true; but I am without human interaction and that can get to you - especially when you are reading a Niagara Falls Suicide Mystery. I just finished reading The Red Tent and highly recommend it. If you are a woman, you must read it. If you are a man, you won't want to. Leave it at that. I have laid out before me today a long day of solitude, and I'm doing my best to fill it up. Even shopping (which filled up yesterday afternoon's lonliness) wears thin after awhile. I do enjoy shopping alone, because I can get lost in details, ignoring time. I can check prices, check patterns, go back and check things I already checked. If I were with someone else during this type of shopping trip, they would be pulling their hair out. Truly. But since I'm not, I allow myself this huge luxury and look at EVERYTHING! Even the auto parts department. This type of shopping allows me to later be a hero when someone says "I'm looking for such and such" and I can say "OH, I've seen that!" It's at Wal-Mart and it's $???. See, how forward thinking I am? Anything I can do for the home team, that's me. While I was wandering, Bailey got new food bowls because yes, he's staying. He's entitled to his own food bowls. Daphne had little bowls that were constantly being robbed of fresh water by who knows? (I suspect the other dogs, but It could have been the mouse). So I got her a small dog bowl that has a water feeder (a soda bottle upside down that continuously feeds fresh water). She will love this. It's too much trouble for the other two, who will lose interest and go back to their own bowls. Jake had his own bowls, which now he can use without having to share. This all took a tremendous amount of brain muscle to figure out, and to pick the best bowls for the dogs. Angel came with her own bowls, and will continue to use those, although Bailey is quite interested in all HER food. I tell ya, it's a full time job. I may have a mani-pedi today, because I hold a gift certificate that is burning a hole in my pocket. Picking out a color to match my hands AND toes could take hours - I better get started. Enjoy your day - spring is springing!

I'm feeling like the Nadya Suleman of the dog world. We're up to four, albeit temporarily. Angel, our friends dog is spending a few days here while they head off to a quilting show. Angel truly matches her name - she is no problem. A real sweetheart who listens and pretty much acts on command, unlike our group who needs coaxing and threats to do anything we ask. So things are for the moment, a bit overwhelming. We'll settle down, I'm sure. But I have come to the conclusion (thank God) that four dogs is beyond our limit for permanence. There just isn't enough room on the bed. Temp at 16 degrees - it's a heat wave! Allison and I have dance class tonight - we're getting awfully close to St. Patrick's day, and I still don't know the steps! ARGH! Well, there is always next year. Céad Míle Fáilte!

Making Hotel Reservations

Making Hotel Reservations ..... Our daughter ,Nicole is getting married next month down on Long Island and since we live so far away we will be staying in a hotel on long Island for the Wedding and the Pre- Wedding Festivities . Besides making hotel reservations we also have to book in the dogs at the sitter because they ( Jake ,Bailey and Daphne ) have not received an invite nor would we want them there....Just kidding ,Jake , Bailey and Daphne. We love ya Guys! The hotel reservations have been something that we have been talking about for a little while since we received the formal invite and booking in the dogs too. Well today I grabbed the" Bull by the Horns" and started making phone calls to get this ball rolling as the date is coming up soon!!! 1st call was to book in the dogs...all 3 of them at Liz the boarder on Long Island and we are still waiting on the response as all I have been able to do is leave messages with her...(Hope she calls or the dogs will be coming to the wedding.) The 2nd call was to the hotel near where the Wedding will take place and where Mike & Nicole have reserved a block of rooms for people coming from out of town.... (1st before the call we looked on the Internet at the hotel rooms). The rooms as seen on the Internet did not show all angles so you have too guess a little when you are trying to figure out how Jen,Ali and me are going to fit for 3 days.. also friends of ours may visit and it would be nice to have some sitting room area. We ended up getting a Jr. Suite which will work.... All set , Name, Address , Phone Number ,Credit Card information and confirmation #'s given. AFTER hanging up the phone ....What discounts did you get on the room? I am asked by my lovely wife , Jennifer who is seated next to me the whole booking event. ME MAN !!!!! we don't ask for No Stinking Discounts!!!! Jen, knowing all too well that I did not ask for any because she was seated along side of me. So back on the phone I go to the Hotel.... not speaking to the same person again nor have they ever heard of her before..... Not being able to speak to the same person at reservations I go thru the whole..I.D. and reservation stuff..., reading back the 41 digit reservation #'s .. Giving my name , address , phone number , placement on SAT's score, shoe size, etc. as if some one is lurking in the back ground to FOIL the reservations plan. When I get back on level ground, same playing field, with the new reservations operator, the place that I was at when I made the reservation before, I explain that I was looking for that "Discount"" that I forgot to ask for earlier and that I'm here now calling back for it. I ask for that AAA Discount....No sir we don't give AAA Discounts.......Hum???? How about Government Employee Discounts? "No sir we don't give those kind of Discounts either!!!" Hum!!!! How about Father of the Bride Discounts??? Response " No, Not really sir" all the time I am giving Jen the answers that I'm Hearing . BEING A MAN.... that would have been it and I would have said thank you and ended the call...No Discounts. I passed the phone over to Jen and long and short of it she hashed out a DISCOUNT with the reservations lady... Score one for Jennifer.... She is good! Think it comes from all that tough work that she had to do being an assistant to that Police Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, Three Police Commissioners and Helping out the entire Detective Div. Til next Time Gang....Jerry

The cure could kill ya

Ten below again. No comment. Yesterday was a wash. I started a new medication called Pletal. Let me tell you - three days of that stuff and I am off it forever. Whatever the benefit is not worth the side effects. Not just nausea, but mind blowing nausea reminiscent of pregancy (which by the way never lasted only three months for me - nine months was more like it). I thought I was gonna die. Anyway, that being said, today should be much improved because truthfully, it can't get much worse. I think Allison and I will venture into town for haircuts. We have found a place that we both like, which is no small task. I always had a problem on the Island because my haircuts were something of an impulse buy. I never knew in advance when I wanted a haircut, I would simply wake up in the morning and have a bad hair day, and that would establish the need for a haircut. So off I would go in search of an establishment that could take me that day. Sometimes I would find a great place on the off chance that they had an opening, and the next time I tried to go back, I would need an appointment three of four days later. TOO LATE! I NEED IT NOW! So back to the drawing board - finding a new place. Sometimes this worked out, sometimes this left me getting a haircut that I hated. All the "Walk-Ins Welcome" signs were usually just a draw to get you in to make an appointment. Or a two hour wait. Here in Johnstown, there is a "Walk Ins Welcome" place called Fantastic Sams, which is a haircut chain. And they actually prefer walk ins. That's US! And we both like the women who's done our hair in the past. So this works. As a result, I am going through the grow your hair out phase, and quite reluctant to get my hair cut at all. It figures right? I just go to get the ends done for healthy growth. How boring. It seems like a shame to waste a perfectly good hairdresser on split ends, but that is how it shall be. I have come to the conclusion that a ponytail is the best way to deal with hair here. It can be done up nicely when you're going out, and pulled back quickly when you're not. Working around with honey, spinning wheels and hopefully livestock, hair hanging in your face is not a great idea. Back out of the way and safely tied is much wiser. That being said, Jerry is growing his hair out - much longer than it has been in years. I would like to see a beard, but that's just my opinion. Maybe a moustache? Facial hair seems to mark you as an outdoors type of guy. I like that. On men. Women? Not so much. Anyway, as you can tell, we're digging pretty deep for discussion material. Winter rolls on and on. There is an old saying that you know you're old when you start discussing your medications. Hmmmm. Since we have exhausted all topics but snow today, I'll just let it go at that. News Flash - Bailey has taught himself how to open the back door and let himself in. It is really a brilliant piece of eye-paw coordination, and I couldn't be prouder. He's only been here for a month or so and already established himself as the deep-thinker of the canine population. The fact that he was able to figure this out and act on it is truly a slap in the face for Jake, who has been standing at the door for five years now (including weekends and vacations) and never figured out how to open it himself. Makes him look bad. Bailey is also quite vocal, although he rarely barks. Is that a pointer/hound trait? I have to look that up. He tends to whine and shape his mouth into what he perceives as words, and speaks to us. Jake has started to do this, although he continues to bark when needed. Jake has a window rattling bark that really gets your attention. Now with his newly acquired "whining/speaking" skill, we are getting quite alot of opinions from the floor. Daphne just continues to rule from the bed. Which is where I'm headed for awhile. Did I mention it's ten below?

We're suffering from a rewind of winter. Well, not exactly suffering. There is nothing better than burrowing into a nice warm bed when the outside temp is 10 below. That is today's plan. We're waiting on the bus, and the outerwear argument is just about to get started. Today, I stand my ground. No matter what. My goal today is to spin alpaca I'm way behind and need to really crank that spinning wheel. I'm actually thinking that one of the Snuggys would work, but really, if you just turn your robe around backwards, it's the same thing. We have this discussion all the time, the benefits of snuggys compared to your backwards robe. I'm starting to see the snuggy in different eyes. I guess that can only be attributed to Cabin Fever. Scary. I wonder what colors they come in?

Seasons

Well, yesterday's walk left me with serious shin-splints. I just can't seem to get out of my own way. We had a lovely weekend though, and spent a good amount of time outdoors which was nice. The snow is slowly receding and patches of grass are turning up here and there. As soon as the temperature rises a bit more, we will be in the throes of mud season, which I already know is going to make me crazy. There is nothing I like less than mud. It is drearier than rain, which at least cleans everything; mud leaves everything filthy and well, just plain muddy. However, right behind that comes spring, and I am fairly excited about that one. I am already dreaming of a substantial garden, beautiful flower beds and rich brown soil. Once all that snow is gone, we'll see how the pasture fared over the winter. Hopefully, we'll have a strong base of nutrient grass and will be able to move forward with pasture animals. Won't that be a thrill? We've spoken to a number of people who feel that the "Right to Farm" law will supercede any problems that the town of Caroga may have with our livestock plan. I am gearing up for permit-attempt number two, and hope that it will be uneventful. After that comes fencing and a barn. Spring brings much work. So I am enjoying these last few weeks of winter. Soon enough we'll be outside and this party of reading, sleeping, relaxing, movies, and winter laziness will be over. I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch and watching the grass grow - literally. I do feel kind of left out today - no snow here. Apparently, the whole mess just blew around us. Jerry is happy, because that means no plowing. I never thought I'd replace People Magazine with Seed catalogs. That's a switch. Enjoy the day!

Snow Day...... NOT!

Well this is a change....We are getting no snow here in the Adirondacks and the east coast is getting numerous inches of snow. Our friends and family ( and Web Cams) reporting the snow. Walter go get um. Take the day and go have some fun...Build a Snow Man...When was the last time you did that? Til Next time gang....Jerry

Sunny Day at the Apple Orchard & a Walk with the dogs

Jen, Jenny , Dan ,Ali and Me took advantage of this sunny day here in Caroga Lake. Stopped down at Roger's Orchard and picked up some apples (Must be a Cop , Distance away from person being interviewed and hands at waist, Dan is up front and within kick distance) Jen and I walked the dogs to get some Fresh Adirondack Air!!!

A short Blob today...I hear people on Long Island gettin a little snow

Til next time gang......Jerry

Well, that bar-b-que looks like it's toast. I'm no expert, but spending a winter under snow can't be good for the workings of that baby. I have a few things next year that I will be covering much better. I used to look at the wrappings of small lawn ornaments and think "well isn't that just a tad compulsive?" Now I know better. Cover everything, cause it isn't coming out again until May. At least. We have a campfire somewhere. Somewhere. . . Jerry had the foresight to bring in the adirondack chairs and stack them under the deck. Thankfully, they will have survived the winter when we're ready to get them on the porch. I now understand what I used to think was just silly. The appearance of Christmas Decorations in March. It's not that they're new, it is that they are just becoming visible under the snow-melt. They've been gone since the week after Christmas. I thought they had been taken down. Not so. They have just reappeared from under a snow pile. Who knew? Thankfully, our Christmas decorations were place inside, as the outside was still under construction. Still is, as a matter of fact. Still will be in May. That's OK. Construction is a season here. We're just not at that season yet. The dogs are getting a little weird today. I have the camera out because there is just no telling what will happen next. The personalities are getting a little "cabin fever". Everyone wants to be top dog. So far, Daphne is winning, but Bailey is running close behind. Jake just doesn't care. But every so often he has a barking fit just on GP.

Sitting on Jerry's lap has become more of a contest then a comfortable spot. Who is top dog? The one on Jerry's lap, of course.

It just doesn't stop. In the morning, the games begin again.

Bailey seems to be winning this one. This next shot shows Daphne not being friendly with Jake as you would think the photo is showing, but Daphne placing herself IN FRONT of Jake, just in case a line was forming. Watching her cut this imagined line was an amazing dis on Jake, who just looks confused - "Line? What Line? When did a line form?" He needs self-defense training.

As you can see, Daphne is winning all over the place. She has no fear. None. After placing herself in the front of Jake's "Line", she decided that Bailey needed to be shown who was boss, and moved herself to Jerry's Lap. For a 15 lb dog, she can make her presence known quite effectively.

She is just gently (?) pushing Bailey off Jerry's lap. As I write, Bailey is now on the floor with Jake, and Daphne is enjoying Jerry's lap - alone. The games go on and on. . .

We're out for a walk today - maybe snow shoes? Enjoy the storm on Long Island. I hear you may get 10 plus inches. Welcome to our world!

Caroga lake Updates

Well gang , back again and searching for substance.....of which I have none! It's another" Wunderbar" of a Day here in Caroga Lake. Sun is shining , just about 30 degrees outside, the dogs and I have taken our walk out on the frozen pasture and they have worked off the built up energy since our last walk a couple hours ago. Was thinking about making it over to the Bee Yard and checking on them...Hoping in the next couple- three hours (( MY slang)) the temperature rises up so that they take a cleansing flight . We will see. Jen and I looking to get out and soak up some sun shine. Ali has a birthday party to go to in town, one of her classmates. Yesterday we stopped by the Montgomery County Soil & Water Conservation District and placed our order for Blue Berry Bushes...20 plants for $70 , 18 to 24 inches tall. What the heck......the bears can't just live on Honey alone!!!! ( Those S.O.B. 'S) Still ticked over them getting the hives last May... Hey, I hear, bear meat is quite "Tasty"!!!! Dan ( the Bee Guy ) and his wife, Jenny came up last night to the camp and we had dinner and watched a movie. Dan made a Pea Soup and I made.............Hamburger Helper. A great time was had by all. I thinking it's getting time to dig out that BBQ and do some Q ing. Looks like I can open it...Just cant reach the gas tank valve. Til next time gang......Jerry

Stained Glass Project !!

Back again Gang.. This is my 1st

Stained Glass Project . My Lovely Bride , Jennifer knowing that I had interest in doing Stained Glass located a Stained Glass studio in Gloversville and enrolled me as one of my Christmas gifts. Thanks Jen!

For my 1st project it's a little rough, but ...it's my 1st. Sort of looks like "Weed"... Don't it?

Getting started Tuesday night on my 2nd project.

We are both sort of suffering here with" joint" pain ( No pun intented and we did not smoke the stained glass project...LoL ) , we are waiting for the change of weather that is coming, causing the pain. No tree tapping today because of the pending weather change.

The weather still warm and they say that we are going to hit 50 today but along with the warm weather comes rain.

Til next time gang...........Jerry

TGIF

TGIF. We've had a very full week, and I am looking forward to a planned uneventful weekend. No road trips, no appointments, no ideas. Those are the best kinds of weekends for me. Although I have been feeling quite good lately, I must admit that my shoulder/arm has become a rather reliable barometer, and this is quite literally, a pain in the shoulder. The snow that fell this week was of the lightweight powdery type, but the weather that followed each snowfall rendered it heavy and humid. This in turn makes my shoulder hurt, alot. Which in turn makes me grumpy and unmotivated. Which in turn makes Jerry annoyed and grumpy. Which is why I say TGIF. Let's just start a new week, and put this one behind us.

I was reading my favorite blog (besides ours) The Yarn Harlot (see link on the sidebar). She is a canadian knitter/author who has a ripping sense of humor about knitting, teenagers, life in general. I get her. She is one of those people who understands why beer must sometimes be considered breakfast. Only under extreme circumstances of course, but there are days where that is simply the only possible solution to anything. Now that I am essentially unable to have any adult beverage of any type (due to the fact that I take so many medications and mixing medications with alcohol is quite possibly the most unwise choice I might ever make, in a sea of unwise choices) I do miss that resource for relaxation. It's Five O'Clock Somewhere is not simply a line that gets a good laugh. It is a viable policy based in fact. Sometimes, it just needs to be five o'clock. The reason is unimportant - if you are in that pitiable frame of mind, you need an antidote. Beer is a inspired antidote. But alas, for me, not so. Now I simply read about others antics, and enjoy them vicariously. I can have that five o'clock sensibility without actually participating. It is truly just a frame of mind. I treat myself to sparkling grape juice and kick back. It does the trick. TGIF!

Sun Set In Caroga !!!

What the Heck...I can do a second post for the day!!! Weather is still warm and the sun coming through the trees moved me. Here is what we are seeing through our back door. Enjoy, we do! Jerry

Learning to make Maple Syrup

Well Gang It is a beautiful Day here In Caroga Lake.....52 degrees and the sun is shining. Dave (also goes by Dan too) lives down the road from us, has started to do some making of Maple Syrup on his property , I was lucky enough to be able to help and learn how it's done. Today we tapped some maple trees, something that I have never done or witnessed how it was done. There is at least a couple ways of tapping the trees...One is to hang a bucket under the tap and the other is to tap the tree and connect the trees after tapping by using a hose to bring all the sap to one location for collection. This is us tapping trees and using hose the empties into a bucket (Dave in photo) More of trees that we drilled holes into the connected together for collection.

These are his neighbors trees that we started, sap was running as we drilled and was running thru the hoses

Back on Dave's property tapping more, Brian you know this road, we walked it during hunting season, back to the tree stands.

Tree tap and hose leading into green bucket.

In the old days they used buckets, Dave is using plastic jugs... trees tapped and sap running in through side of jug for daily collection.

We will doing more on Friday morning and Collecting sap to be boiled off at a later time.

All though it was very warm today some spots I had to use snow shoes to get to the trees, if you didn't you sank down to your waist..

Til next time gang...... , Jerry

Deep thoughts in the morning

The plow is passing by this morning, as we have received "a couple three" inches of fresh powder (Jerry's slang, although I've heard others use it too - never heard it before him. Interesting.) Even so, I spotted a moth on the window shade this morning so that must mean that the dormant insects are coming to life. I purchased a box of Miracle Grow the other day because I'm feeling the need to feed the plant life that is all around the house. All of these things indicate one thing: SPRING! I am not desperately waiting as some of our friends are; I am still enjoying the snow and all that comes with it, but the thought of spring and all that comes with that is rather exciting as well. I guess what I like most is the change of seasons. Allison and I are both enjoying a fresh cup of coffee, and sharing our love of coffees and flavored beverages. This time in the morning is precious to us, we spend a few moments together and just talk about whatever moves us. Sometimes we don't talk at all, which can be a bit uncomfortable for us, but the fact that we can get past that is encouraging to me, whenever that happens. It shows that we can get through the circumstances of menopause and adolesence ocurring at the same time. It also shows that God has a serious sense of humor, and never fails to enjoy it. He's laughing now. Even though my daughters gave and continue to give a real bumpy ride through their teenage years, I would not miss it for a million dollars. There is nothing like a teenage girl to put your world in perspective. They take away all your power and all your rationale. You are reduced to your real self, and forced to use your personal resources like never before. No sense of humor? Get one. Fast. Low self-esteem? You need to toughen up and pull yourself together, or they will eat you alive. Feeling bad about something? You will be hard pressed to find a better friend or a softer shoulder to cry on. They are the best of us, and the worst of us. They are us, reflecting back what we have chosen to reveal to them. It is the most volatile and real relationship you may ever endure and enjoy, and it is worth every tear and every gut-busting belly laugh. These are our daughters and they are the future of our world. They will be teaching the next generation how to love and how to resolve conflict. They will pull from their experiences and use that knowledge to raise their own children, and their daughters will use that knowledge again. It is a massive responsibility, a thankless task, and a love that knows no boundaries or limits. There is no more complicated relationship than Mothers and Daughters. What a trip, eh?

This is the road to Irish Dance Class. At the top of the hill is a barn, where we kill ourselves for two hours on Thursdays. I have gone down this hill sideways, and this is the driveway where I learned the benefits of four-wheel drive. You may not see it in this picture, but it is a long slopey icy path. My driving skills have improved tremendously since we've lived here this winter. I am no longer intimidated by snow or ice (although I do make sure our AAA membership is current). I just get in the car and do it. Otherwise, it will never get done. If you wait till the weather improves, you'll be waiting a long time.

The barn where we dance is cold and sparse, but it gets warm as soon as we start hopping around. It's a great way to exercise, because who can resist a good reel or jig? Hearing all the hard shoes slamming the floor in unison is a thrill. Somewhat like tap dancing, but without all the flash. All the moves come from your legs and feet. They are doing all the work, and your arms and upper body are just along for the ride. It's quite a challenge and I am still struggling with the steps. Allison is not struggling, she is flying. I keep reminding her that I have 36 years on her, and to stop smirking. She just laughs. Well, enough philosphy this morning. Drive safe, have a great day and try to fit in a jig when you can. It helps alot. Jen