Gramps's latest shot . . .

Higher and higher . . .

Water off of our wall.
Flowing over the wall where Alice used to live.
Much higher at Kaman's.

These poles are now starting to bounce up and down on the water so they'll be launched soon. Grampa just came back to tell me about it!
What a mess! Puppy's Pop tells me that roads in the the center of Central Village are over run with water. Route 12 at the end of our road is almost completely over run. The two fields on either side are so full of ground water that they've met in the road! Lot's of roads have been closed besides South Main.

And the rains came down and the floods came up . . .

Down the bank in front of our house.
From the new bridge at Sandy Hill toward our house.
Lukin's house taken from the bridge going up to Sandy Hill.
Auction field in Sterling. Notice the basketball court!
Kiddo's Sterling playground.
Wacky Pond overflow. Notice the picnic table.
Water streaming down the hill in the yard.
Bridge from Grove Street.
Kaman parking lot from Grove Street. Where we used to wade across and fish!
South Main Street looking toward our street. It's much worse now. This was early morning before they closed the street and the logs floated to the middle of the road!


Repeat as necessary! Wow, incredible amounts of rain, wind, cold, misery but still exciting! Puppy's Pop took some photos earlier today and then went off to play horseshoes in East Hartford. I decided to go to Lizzy B's by myself so I could look around town a bit to see the waters! Went by Starkweather Road and the water is very deep in a couple of spots. The pond on the left is now connected to the marshy area the beavers have made. One humongous lake! You can see the rest in the photos. The canal at Kaman is also streaming across the parking lot and back into the river. And what is the Administration going to do about this? Gee, willikers, I half expected to see Obama out there walking! Perhaps later when it really floods. It's still pouring cats and dogs. I may not recognize him as I imagine he'll be dressed in his white prophet robes.

Quote: Raillery is a mode of speaking in favor of one's wit against one's good nature. __Montesquieu

Addendum: Just looked out the window and the water is so high that Kaman's closest building has water running into it! It's got to get worse because the rain is coming down very hard right now and besides hearing the rain I can hear the river roaring by. Yikes! It's not supposed to let up until tomorrow.

Rainy day trip . . .

View from the McKinley Chalets.

Took a very wet drive to Bolton to get my Easter candies from Munson's. They have such good chocolate. Had trouble picking out what a needed and what I wanted! Settled for what I needed! We stopped for a muffin and coffee at the Hop River Cafe in the little strip mall on Route 6 in Andover. It's changed hands quite a few times since youngest child was at UCONN and used to bring home the best muffins ever. They're still good! That's a pleasant surprise. Hard to believe that they can make a living in that spot. From there we ended up at Friendly Spirits in Danielson to get the Easter wines; a sturdy Cabernet-Sauvignon for the Prime Rib and a nice Riesling for desert. I'll pick up the rest of the "stuff" Wednesday after a stop at Zip's. I like to go to the Sunshine Shop on Maple street for my flowers. Yep, I'm getting in the Easter mood.

Speaking of Easter mood the singing at the Palm Sunday Mass yesterday was superb. I love to listen to the 10:30 Choir. They work so hard to prepare the beautiful music for the Children's Mass. It's a calm and peaceful hour each week. I do look forward to the serenity. Met one of the 17 cousins after church. She raises Palominos, sheep, rabbits etc and she dropped by after church with her 10 years old daughter to finally pick up the two sets of really nice riding boots and never worn fancy type rodeo shirt that youngest child had to leave here. They'll fit her perfectly! I'm sure they are greatly appreciated.

Puppy's Pop is spending this rainy afternoon watching the postponed Martinsville race. I'll just get caught up on my reading. I'm always behind!

Quote: Echo -- The babbling gossip of the air. __Shakespeare

Eureka . . .

Nenana River. Our Chalet was on the Nenana.

Groton daughter called and the lost Nintendo DS has been found! I had checked the cushions on the couch but had not picked up the couch to look under it. It seems that son-in-law's cell phone had fallen into the couch cushions and he couldn't find it until he lifted the couch up and Voila. The couch had eaten both the phone and the DS. It's good news and yet bad. I had made a deal with Kiddo that if he learned to tie his shoes I'd replace the DS. Now I'm sure his incentive will be nil. I've got him making good knots but the bows are rather painful. Oh, well. And this too shall pass.

Started out sunny but it's getting cloudy. Supposed to have more of that rainy stuff by tonight. If we do the rivers, which are still extremely high, will probably really flood. Perhaps the gov'mint can send us some of the newly printed dollars to help out. We could use a patch for that leaky bottom step in the basement. Not sure why it's acting up. Grampa fixed up the other leak which was much worse and this one has popped up. Water just loves to travel its own way.

UCONN women playing at noon. Hoping they're on their game. Tennessee lost so we'll certainly not be playing Pat Summit any time soon. Too bad. She's a lot of fun. Just whines a bit too much about Geno. Will also be able to send in those hateful tax forms. Son has given us great help with his Turbo Tax. What a blessing! All I've had to do is make copies and they'll be on their way. Good riddance.

Quote: Abused patience turns to fury. __ Quarles

And what can brown do for you . . .

View of places to stay in Denali National Park.

Oh my. I decided to go up the hill and rake the leaves near the wall so I could uncover the daffodils, iris's and green runners Aunt C had given me last year. What a lot of leaves. Grampa came out with the shredder to help get rid of the huge piles I had and I used my lovely, sturdy brown wagon. What a neat wagon it is! I can dump the wagon with a special handle just like a dump truck. I didn't know that. What a nice surprise. It a whole lot easier than the barrow or a regular wagon. I'm all hot and sweaty, even got the hat band damp! Now that's a lot of work. Grampa even took me walking today so I should sleep like a baby tonight.

Had a slight catastrophe yesterday. Got a call in Groton to come and pick up Kiddo at school because he had fallen off of the top step to the slides and right down into the wood chips. He hurt his head and so we had to be careful of a possible concussion. I had to wake him up twice during the night just to make sure he could wake up. Fun. He's a good kid and a trooper and we all survived. Of course I brought him to the Hobby Shop and we bought Connect Four and two new Bakugan. He plays a pretty impressive game of Connect Four. He's starting to "strategize!"

Well Puppy's Pop is all finished with his shower and making sure he didn't get any ticks so now I'll clean up too. Then pepper steak on rice for supper.

Quote: Never rise to speak till you have something to say; and when you have said it, cease. __Witherspoon

Same old . . .same old

Not much going on today; gray, rainy, cold, miserable but a bit of sunshine at Lizzy B's as we bumped into Puppy's Pop's older brother and his wife. I'm going to try to download an article that I got off of a motorcycle forum. It's really quite funny. To read it click on it once or twice and it should magnify so it is legible.

Quote: For health and the constant enjoyment of life, give me a keen and ever present sense of humor . . . __G H Cheever

Rhubarb's peeping, jonquil is in bud . . .

Rhubarb is peeping out, a single jonquil is in bud, it's cold, windy, cloudy, sunny must be Spring! Got this week's shopping done and have ordered the Prime Rib for Easter and the salubrious Chocolate Cake from Greg's in North Kingston. Only have walking and reading left to do. Came home from Norwich yesterday in no mood to cook dinner so Grampa ordered take out from Hong Kong Star. The sesame chicken was "delicieux." Haven't had Chinese since Fall visit to Louisiana when we also had some "beignets fantastiques."

After I pick up Kiddo today we"ll scour his home looking for his Nintendo DS. I hope it's only been misplaced and not lost. If it was lost in a restaurant or other venue I imagine it's a goner because someone could have easily picked it up and kept it.

Quote: Losses are comparative, imagination only makes them of any moment. __Pascal

A desperate rant . . .

"Northern boreal forest borders Denali. The taiga is a quiet northern forest where plants, fungi, and animals are joined by invisible ecological threads. The treeless tundra is where Denali's living tapestry seems magical, a carpet of colors and textures that unrolls as far as the eye can see. Where tundra and taiga form a diverse mosaic, animals hunt or feed in one zone and nest or hide in another."

Rant! Still steaming! Bought expensive cotton sheets from JC Penny on line. Washed the new sheets before using them as instructed .One edge of the top sheet unsewed and unraveled. One pillowcase solid cream color had a clever red line through it! Called JC Penny. After going through the robot routine spoke to a person who told me to return it to the store. I politely declined to drive over 40 miles to drop it off. So, I was issued a UPS label through email. Good, you say. Not! The UPS label was not for a pick up. When I spoke with UPS I was told I had to go out and "Stop one of their drivers" or bring it to a drop off which is about 15 miles away or pay $11 for a pick up. (I admit I do live in the boonies.) So . . . I called JC Penny again, ended up almost yelling at the robot until my sanity came back and I punched (literally) 0. OK Another lady told me to just stop a driver et cetera. Politely I explained I wanted the sheets to be picked up. Today UPS will come by for the package. If the replacement sheets are defective I may have to commit "hari kari!" I tried to put this frantic rant on Facebook but it takes too much effort to figure out how to get it all in one news flash! So here I am. I do feel better already! Ranting and raging is good for your health!

Quote: When one is in a good sound rage, it is astonishing how calm one can be. __Bulwer

Gray mood . . .

My favorite home by the side of the tracks. Notice the raised cache on the right. It keeps the animals from getting to the provisions (most of the time.)

Felt like I didn't have a choice. I'm depressed with the Congress and in order to keep on fighting the nanny state I've joined the Heritage Foundation. We'll just have to vote the do-gooder- nanny- staters out in November. Not sure it can be done. Because many people want something for nothing we're in dire straits. The majority of welfare recipients deem it reasonable that someone else pay for them. As incredible as it seems that's what we'll be doing. Welfare will reach into the realm of families making over $88,000 a year. How can this be poverty? I've lost my way. I've got to hope that Heritage can help me find it before I get really cranky.

Yesterday was a very good day even though 101 Dalmatians was a bit of a let down. It wasn't put together by Disney and I hate to admit that it should have been. It was OK but I really prefer stupendous plays when Kiddo is with us. Had a good lunch at Smokey Bones and beautiful weather along with good company so "all's well that ends well."

Getting caught up on the laundry on this normal March gray day.

Quote: History is little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind. __Gibbon

Of butterfly shadows and bouncing Ions . . .

Grampa has moved his flying circle and I now have a longer radian to walk. Man, he's driving me. I'll soon be up to 3 miles a walk! I think he's trying to tell me I need to exercise more :) While walking with my new bouncy Sketchers I saw a butterfly shadow flying along side. I swear I've never seen that before. Of course butterflies have shadows I've just never contemplated how neat it is to walk with a butterfly shadow. So, while walking yesterday I could hear the chirping of a girl trying to drive a standard Saturn Ion back and forth across the parking lot. It was funny to see the car bouncing around, especially on take offs. Her Mom finally got out of the car so her daughter could practice on her own. It took her at least an hour but she finally smoothed out.

After raking the lawn near the road and under the wall where all of the sand and debris has collected during the winter I took time out to sit on my garage swing and watch the blue birds courting in the bare dogwood tree. The male is so smart! He keeps hopping down to get bugs to bring back and feed the female. He's so blue right now. All of the birds are getting their Spring tuneups.

Later in the day R & S stopped in with one of their Corvettes, a golden flake 427 Stingray. Sounds really cool but they had the top up :( Not sure what year it is but it's certainly better looking than the newer ones. One of my friends from All Hallows is pretty excited. She's quite an artist; paints animal portraits and her Collie will grace the cover of a new book coming out in April. So many talented friends! She's a wonderful lady who has adopted her special needs grand daughter who is about 8 years old now. We don't need to know the whys only that the child is so loved and cared for. She'll be fine.

A motorcyclist almost bit the dust this morning. As we were going over the Moosup River bridge past Riverview he was riding on the shoulder and then, without looking even a little bit did a U turn right in front of the Dodge Ram. He looked shocked as we didn't hit him! What a dope. Then a white van pulled out onto Route 14 at the old dog pound without stopping and Grampa had to brake pretty hard. Of course he sped up, really, really sped up and I told Grampa I've got a funny feeling that even though I don't recognize the van it's going to go to Lizzy B's because the guy drives just like W. who is almost a complete, morose, loud, dirty (in his personal habits) moron. Sure enough I was right. We had to laugh. He came over and kinda apologized for being an ass hole (his words.) It was too funny.

Quote: Mankind in the gross is a gaping monster, that loves to be deceived, and has seldom been disappointed. __Mackenzie

Playing . . .

Supposed to be a beaver dam.

Yesterday didn't go as planned but still it was a fine day. Kiddo was still a bit sick so I stayed in Groton until 9pm and we just played around home. His club house is now a submarine and we spent a lot of time following the whale pods; also had to clean the icy cold water out of the sand pile (monster plastic bin) and that was good sloppy fun; played Transformers, the card game, for at least 2 hours and I finally won a game! walked to Richoni's to bring the cleaned bar cloths and aprons; picked pussy willows when we walked back home through the wooded path. The older lady who babysits when I'm not around came and I was off to a good night's sleep. Daughter wasn't feeling too well by mid-afternoon. I hope she'll be fine for tomorrow's trip to PPAC.

Had a pleasant surprise to top off my day. The company that sent us a short sleeved denim shirt instead of the long called and emailed that we were to keep the shirt and the new long sleeved one would be here Tuesday. That's very good business. I should leave a comment on their web site.

Grampa did a lot of work in the yard yesterday while I was gone and this morning he showed me a wound on his right leg. I thought he had gotten bumped by a run away wagon. Nope, damn tick! Gads, I hate ticks almost as much as I despise the dope at the White House. Nasty things.

Well, time to be off to breakfast and then perhaps some yard work and just swinging outside in the beautiful sunshine.

Quote: It is time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss. __Shakespeare

Drum roll please . . .

Ta . . . da . . . Here is a shot of my newest, newest wheels. Grampa outdid himself yesterday. While I was out doing my "duty" he went out and bought me this super wagon! I absolutely love it! It is so easy to manoeuvre. I'm sure Kiddo and I will have some fun today picking up sticks and raking up spruce and tamarack cones. Can't wait to get back from Groton so we can start our clean up.

Other new things didn't work out so well. Grampa has a shortage of denim shirts; most are hanging in the garage to be used as rags even though he's still wearing them to go out for coffee :( I ordered two new ones, one for him, one for me and of course his came in with short sleeves :( How unfair. But I called and spoke with a very nice man who said a replacement will be on the way today. It was really nice to speak with someone who was pleasant, amiable, likable, so different from the folks I've been getting on the phone when I call and tell them that their Senator/Congressman is an idiot! What fun!

Kiddo was really sick for about 24 hours, chills, fever not keeping anything down but by the time I left yesterday he was starting to pick up steam. We finally went out side and just dribbled the basketball around a bit and then ended up playing on the swing set and sitting in his fort drinking ginger ale. He should be all set for today but I'm sure he won't go to school because he's so drained and peaked. His Mom and Dad had a terrific crowd at Richoni's for St. Paddy's Day. And at Sacred Heart Rascal Dooley really made a shambles of Kiddo's classroom committing all sorts of mischief but finally leaving a pot of gold for the students who had had to clean up the messes: sparkly shamrocks all over the floor that he had walked through and left footprints all over the place; dumped toys, balls on the tables and desks, and worst of all Rascal got into the kitchen and turned the pudding and milk green. What a disaster! You had to hear the little guy describe the mess to appreciate how wonderful childhood can be.

Quote: All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth. __Aristotle

More sunshine . . .

Poor little Kiddo. We were having such a good time playing basketball yesterday and when we went into the house he said his stomach hurt. I figured that he just didn't want to do some school work we had to catch up on. Nope, he was so sick: barfed and had the chills. Mom came home and then Dad came to stay with him. It seems he was barfing into the night. It's awful when kids get sick but he's a real trooper. He even thanked me for cleaning him up! Too sweet. I'll still go to lunch duty today as he'll be with his Mom and then see if she needs me to help out. Hopefully he's on the mend this morning.

I'm so excited because I get to have a new wheel barrow! Yes! I've been begging for one because you have to put air in the tire of the old thing and it's very heavy. Grampa finally saw an ad in the paper for Tractor Supply and he's off to buy one. Now, that is one cool, smart husband. It's got four wheels and is more like a wagon. That'll be perfect. Even if it isn't perfect I'll never let on!

Just a little bragging - it's not so much the prayers that are important here - but the well disciplined mind. Kiddo can say the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be and Angel of God my guardian . . . by heart. No stumbles. Some of the words are a little squished together but I think that's impressive. Yesterday we spent quite a while sitting outside on the steps telling Knock, Knock jokes. Then while he was taking his bath I would start a nursery rhyme and he would complete it. Pretty neat. Hope he's feeling better. We're taking him to see 101 Dalmatians Sunday at PPAC.

Quote: Education of the human mind commences in the cradle. __T. Cogan

Sun, blue sky, crisp clean air . . .

Yea! Spring is back. Hope it stays for a few days. Drove to UCONN late yesterday afternoon but as I headed into the western sun I had to stop and dig out my sun glasses in Canterbury because I was driving blind in a couple of spots and that was scary. I enjoyed the drive and even though there was a basketball game on campus as well as the show at Jorgensen the traffic only became heavy as I turned left on North Eagleville road by the church. Ended up in the middle of the intersection at the North Garage blocking a firetruck. That was hairy but couldn't be avoided as I went through on the green only to end up in the middle of everything. The police finally worked us into place so the firetruck could get through. I was surprised that there was plenty of room in the garage but that's because it's free parking for the theatre but they charge $5 for people going to Gampel therefore the sports fans park in all of the big parking lots and walk up the hill. Tao: The Martial Art of Drumming was a great performance. Nine men and four women put on one wild, energetic show of great drumming and sleek athletic showmanship. The flutists were exceptional and in one of the "songs?" some type of harp like instrument that looked a bit like a piano without it's outside cover made clear,deep notes that resonated so well with the drumming. The drums were of various sizes and spoke so many different musical languages from sweet and fluttering to deep, loud and warlike. It was very impressive. The drummers hands flew so fast that you could not distinguish their movements. They were blurs. For a couple of pieces the audience clapped rhythmically and it added to the life in the auditorium. It was exciting and exhilarating.

Went to breakfast at Zip's this morning and soon will be going to the Dog Track to walk while Grampa flies. He's moved the cars out of their winter parking spots and into the summer mode! That is very uplifting! Will be going to pick up Kiddo this afternoon. He was out of school early yesterday so he was helping out in the kitchen when we were having lunch at Richoni's with Air Force grand daughter. He looked so grown up as he ran through from the kitchen with his apron to courier the take out food to the bar! He's growing up much too fast.

Quote: What shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue! __Burke

Fantastique . . .

What a beautiful day it has been! Air Force grand daughter from California came for a visit with her friend Kelly. B looks go good and sounds great. I find it hard to believe that this young woman has been to Afghanistan and seen so much of the nonsense our troops must go through in order to fight a war. Her stories should be relegated to surrealism but they are real and frighteningly so. Will the USA ever let the military do their jobs? But I digress. We all had lunch at Richoni's and B got a chance to see everyone. Kelly is a very nice lady and we enjoyed our visit. Lunch was on the house! Yea!

Can't gibber-jabber too long because I have to get ready to go to UCONN to see TAO - The Martial Art of Drumming. Problem is that the UCONN men are playing in the NIT at Gampel this evening so the traffic and parking could be horrific.

Quote: Dare to do your duty always; this is the height of true valor. __C. Simmons

Reply from Diocesan Office . . .re Church's funding of ACORN

Dear Irene,

Thank you for your note of concern regarding contributions formerly made to ACORN through the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. I did take the time to read Mr. Vadum’s article that you recommended.

I know we are in perfect agreement that central to all Catholic moral teaching is the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development has increasingly tried to consider only those applications which demonstrate respect for the dignity of the human person. CCHD would never willfully consider applications from organizations which promote or support abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, or any other affront to human life and dignity.

Funding is discontinued if projects deviate from their initial objective into areas inconsistent with the moral teaching of the Catholic Church. ACORN is such an example. The Church donated funds to support ACORN’s efforts on behalf of homeless people. The intention was justifiable and noble. When it was discovered that ACORN was involved in other less noble affairs, the USCCB immediately ended its support and is still seeking to recover the donated funds.

The CCHD is determined to continue to help the poor and the homeless, and to avoid any lack of due diligence or mistaken trust in a local agency misrepresenting itself as compliant with Catholic teaching.

Thank you for your concern. Let us pray that the poor and homeless will not be forgotten.

In His service,

Michael

(The article I recommended was in the February issue of the American Spectator titled ACORN"S Catholic Guardian by Matthew Vadum.)

Odds and ends . . .

Looks like Moosup!

The Moosup River has receded a bit; only half of the road by Kaman is still under water but the rains and winds continue to pummel Connecticut. Was excited to get a call from Air Force Granddaughter! We are expecting to see her tomorrow. She's visiting friends in Torrington. Hope we'll be able to take her out to lunch at Richoni's but we'll have to wait and see how the day plays out. I'll go shopping today so I'll be free for tomorrow. Got two more bottles of Moosup Maple Syrup from cousin Kate. One will go to the middle child in Groton and the other will be "my nightly medicine" until I run out again! I could drink that elixir up in one day but I'll make it last. When I was little Pa used to go to Maine hunting and he'd bring back maple sugar candy. It was one maple shaped leaf about 3 inches across. I'd take mine to my room and nibble on it each and every night before I went to bed. I went so far as to hide it on the shelf in my closet. I forgot that I was such a pain. Pepere Bonnin used to call me "haissable" which means "hateful." What a bad reputation.

Quote: Silence, when nothing need be said, is the eloquence of discretion. __Bovee

And the rain came down and the floods came up . . .

Hard to see the planes near the hangar. Photos were taken through the windows of the train.

Incredible amount of water in the Moosup River. If this keeps up we'll have water across the road by Kaman. It's already in the parking lot. Unusual to have it cross the road since they fixed that problem years ago. But I'm sure they weren't thinking of climate change so here we are driving through the river to get to downtown. The ball field in Sterling is underwater along with the track. Mother Nature is pretty cool and she does what ever she likes. We had to put a longer drain pipe off of the gutters on the the section near the old well as we were getting some water in the cellar near the bottom of the stairs. Haven't seen that in ages. Thank goodness that whatever Grampa did near the oil tank is holding up well. Perhaps since the ground must still be partially frozen the fix may be acting like a cement plug? Supposed to get rain until Tuesday. Yuck.

Hated getting out of bed this morning as my body is, naturally, on Standard Time. But I'm now up and ready to hit the Providence Journal, the rest of my magazines and go to Mass. The Bishop was here yesterday for Confirmation. I was invited to go because the oldest child next door was confirmed. I nicely declined the invitation. The Bishop ticks me off. He keeps closing the Catholic Elementary schools but still sends money out of our diocese to all sorts of left wing organizations. That's my personal opinion. When they asked for money for the Campaign for Human Development I said I'd never give them money for anything outside of our parish. I also sent them the article from the American Spectator about how the Catholic Church has been funding Acorn out of these CHD funds. How disgusting is that? Very disgusting. I haven't heard from them so I have no clue if they even looked at the article. I'm really getting upset about all of the money poured into helping people who don't help themselves. I want to see a return on my investment; people being taught how to say 'No" to ignorance, lust, gluttony, greed, laziness, wrath, envy, pride, drugs, alcohol and share stupidity. As kiddo would say, " Watch and learn." I'm sick of handouts for everything imaginable. OK That's my diatribe for the day.

Quote: Sloth is torpidity of the mental faculties; the sluggard is a living insensible. __Zimmermann

Addendum: Amazing Grace a capella - Wondrous, splendorous, marvelous, soulful, thoughtful; local talent greatly appreciated. In addition we listened to a solo piece by a young flutist. Superior music in our village. Also, town driver and truck trying to see what he can do to hold back the river! Only a few inches across South Main. Probably just need some signs. After all some people may not be able to see what's happening. (Sigh . . .)

March . . .

Talkeetna, population about 900, is the point from which most Mt. McKinley climbing and flight seeing expeditions depart. There is still an active gold mining area.

Gee something different! It's raining hard. It's cold. It's windy. It's March. Ah, now I've got it figured out. No choice. And that's the way it is here in Moosup!

At least we had a very good lunch at Richoni's. Daughter made us some terrific fish and chips so now I won't have to make supper. That's more than cool. We'll just eat some leftovers with wine and I'll save the roast chicken for tomorrow. Oh, yes, I have Tagalongs (Girl Scout cookies) for desert. Life is easy.

Managed to snag a neat ball with a bell in it for Puppy's Pop's favorite puppy! I was walking the other day at the Dog Track and there it was, bright orange and hardly a tooth mark. So when we get to visit next month we'll pack it. Also heard from daughter in England so we're going to be getting ready for a visit fairly soon. She managed to get a week off. I'm really excited to be able to visit them again. It's been over a year. I hope we'll be able to walk to "their pub." That should be interesting. Perhaps we'll be able to take a ride on a steam locomotive too and see Hadrian's Wall. Yep, I'm psyched.

Quote: There is no such thing as modern art. There is art - and there is advertising. __Albert Sterner

Bear attack . . .

And we are back on our way to Denali.

This is a "Wow!" Yep, a bear attacked an alpaca in Simsbury, CT. Must have just awakened after his long winter's nap. Pretty creepy, if you ask me. I hope the bear that's been hanging around Plainfield is finding sufficient food; like eating road kill and old dried up berries!

Not much happening today. Will be off and running soon as I'm back into my routine after my "medical day." As I've been putting up photos of our Alaska trip, mainly photos that Puppy's Pop took, I'm thinking about what photos I'll use after I've completed this set. Perhaps I'll use the photos of Arizona that sister-in-law and nephew took while I was out visiting. Of course I most certainly shall give them credit for the photos!

Quote: Most plagiarists, like the drone, have not the taste to select, the industry to acquire, nor the skill to improve, but impudently pilfer the honey ready prepared, from the hive. __Colton

Gray day . . . but still a good day!

There really are salmon in this photo!

Yes, it's gray and drizzly but I passed my yearly checkup with Dr. Slater so all is well with my world. I even went to Dairy Queen to celebrate. Had my usual Reese's Peanut Buttercup Blizzard with chocolate ice cream and double peanut buttercup. Salubrious! Pure heaven! Makes me feel so rich! It's such a fantabulous comfort food! We should always be so lucky as to have such a delicious diversion so close at hand. It really takes your mind off of any possible woes, vexations or blues. Simply put: I love them!

A few accidents on the way back from Groton today. I just mind my own business and try to stay out of lines of traffic. I stay ahead of them or behind them. I hate queues! Grampa almost lost a plane today when his lines got caught together but he managed to save it. I wasn't there but it must have been quite a sight to see him handling the mess. It's truly impressive that he managed to get the plane down in one piece. That guy is AOK! Daughter has asked me to help out at the lounge for St. Patrick's Day, only from 11am to about 5pm depending on how busy they get. I'll just be a gopher. Sounds like a good time. That'll probably take care of my walking for that day.

Quote: That which makes people dissatisfied with their condition, is the chimerical idea they form of the happiness of others. __Thomson

YouTube - OK Go - This Too Shall Pass - Rube Goldberg Machine version - Official

YouTube - OK Go - This Too Shall Pass - Rube Goldberg Machine version - Official

This is so cool! Remember the Rube Goldberg display at the Smithsonian?

A lot accomplished in 24 hours . . .

OK Where to start? Cleaned house, did laundry, watched UCONN men defeat themselves, made supper, watched the UCONN women beat up on West Virginia for the Big East Championship, went grocery shopping, walked at the Dog Track, and laughed heartily while reading Lessons from the Land of Pork Scratchings or How a Miserable Yank Discovers the Secret of Happiness in Britain by Greg Gutfeld. "Good job," say I. And, ta da, I also pondered what we mean when we say "half of."

Time for my popcorn snack and off to Groton to get my "walker."

Quote: How few are our real wants! --How easy it is to satisfy them! --Our imaginary ones are boundless and insatiable. __Lavater

Life is precious . . .

Fishermen along Ship Creek, a section of Knik Arm, trying to land king salmon.

Had a hard time with an email I received this morning. Matthew B. 36 year old nephew of my best friend, Angie, died of a heart attack in Haiti. He was a Captain in the army and an ER nurse in the state of Washington. He leaves his wife and 2 young ones. He looked so much like his Dad and was loving and caring just like Emile who took care of our son when he was little and also helped me out when I tore all the ligaments in my left leg playing basketball against AHS 7th graders some years ago. Wow, life is short and must be lived to the fullest each and every day. It is some consolation that Matt is with his wonderful Pepere and Memere, his Dad, his Aunt Angie and Uncle Charlie but he's left a heart wrenching hole in the lives of his family and friends.

Grampa is off to play horseshoes this morning and I'm going to finally tackle some house cleaning . . . maybe. UCONN women beat Notre Dame last night; had some trouble but did the job. They'll play in the Big East final at 7 tonight. The men are playing at 2 this afternoon but I have my doubts if they can do anything. They've been playing so badly. It's really inexcusable. Oh well. I'll still be rooting for them. I love miracles!

Quote: Life is rather a state of embryo, a preparation for life; a man is not completely born till he has passed through death. __Franklin

How cool is this . . .

In 1904 rail construction was begun. It was halted several times but began again in 1915 when the construction office was moved from Seward to Anchorage. The construction equipment used on the railroad was shipped to Alaska from the Panama Canal Railroad. This in engine #1 which was refurbished in 1995. It was originally narrow gauge.

Such a grand day so we took off for the Hog Heaven Hobby Shop in Fiskdale, MA, a village in Sturbridge. Went the whole way by Route 69. It was beautiful. We were even able to open the windows on the Saturn. After picking up the odds and ends Puppy's Pop needed and buying two more plane books for Kiddo we were on our way. Stopped in South Woodstock, CT for lunch at Java Jive. It really doesn't sound like an inviting place for a couple of old timers like us but . . .it was just perfect. Small breakfast and lunch restaurant, maybe holds 25 people max. The menu is small but all homemade and fresh. We'll be going back again, I'm sure. Went to the Dog Track when we got home and, how cool is this? I forgot to close and lock the kitchen door before we left! I was surprised to see the sun just shining in the kitchen when we arrived back home. I actually called out to see if anyone was home! Nothing missing and warm sunlight streaming in. We got to 65 degrees today. Now I know why I love New England. You can't appreciated a 65 degree day in March except after you've been through a cold, gray, snowy winter.

Quote: A face that cannot smile is like a bud that cannot blossom . . . __H.W.Beecher

58 degrees in the sun . . .Woot!

Alaska statehood monument 1959. Eisenhower. Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska with about 42% of the people in the entire state. Total population of Alaska is about 627,000.

Just got back from the Dog Track. We took the El Camino. What a gorgeous day. There was someone else walking and four people riding bikes today! Becky, her son and husband stopped in to watch Puppy's Pop fly. There were motorcycles out galore and the car wash had lines of people waiting to clean off the winter blues. My Saturn looks beautiful now that it's all washed up and the Dodge looks brand new. They were washed right out here in the yard. There's a real sand pile in the driveway now!

Getting ready to watch the UCONN women in the Big East Tournament. It's going to be fun to watch after seeing the men go down the tubes yesterday. The Big East men's tournament starts later this week. I hope UCONN can at least make the NIT after this disastrous season.

Quote: Sunday is the golden clasp that binds together the volume of the week. __Longfellow

UCONN men lost . . . yet a good day!

Woo! Hoo! The streets of Anchorage . . .

Those UCONN men drive me crazy but at least Calhoun wised up and put in the second string for most of the second half and they did quite well. At least they worked hard and weren't trying to show off. Neat idea. Let's play to win. Let's not show off and lose. Yes, they lost, but they went down playing hard.

Even though kiddo was sick yesterday, a cold, of course, we had a great time. He put together the 5 planes that Grampa had gotten him and we spent a good part of the afternoon flying planes off of the big rock. All he kept saying as the planes were zipping around was, "This is awesome!" "Awesome!" " Watch me! This is awesome!" Grampa and I were cracking up. When one of our planes went a bit further than his we had to start taking turns! Too much fun. We were out there early this morning right after breakfast flying again. Late this morning he and I went to Friendly Bowl in Brooklyn for his cousin's 6 Birthday Party. He spent almost all of the two hours 10 pin bowling. What a good time. Wouldn't even take much time out for lunch, none for cake or the pinata. Got him back to Richoni's for about 2pm where his older brother made him some chicken fingers. I'm sure he ate well. He was starving by the time we got there! Cool kid. Good day!

It's so beautiful out today that I've opened the door in the living room near the driveway to let that glorious sun shine in. It was 57 degrees in the sun and Puppy's Pop washed both vehicles. My poor Saturn was so dirty I think that the gas mileage had gone down to 30mpg because of the weight of the dirt! Clean car . . . clean truck. Cool beansies!

Had some visitors last night. Puppy's Pop's younger brother and his wife came for a visit to introduce us to the newest puppy. They still have Bijoux, Shelby's cousin, and now they also have Ozark (he's from Oklahoma) a terrible little miniature Doberman. Nasty little puppy, if you ask me. But of course no one asks me. I really like Bijoux. She is a jewel and she will be allowed to come for Easter Dinner! She sits nicely under the table and doesn't even beg!

Cousin Alice's daughter is quite ill and the doctors don't seem to know how to help her out. She looks like a waif and can't keep any food down. Has been hospitalized numerous times but no one seems to be able to find the cause. Must keep her in my prayers. Not sure what else to do. She's been sent to many specialists and nothing definitive has come of it. Her husband and two daughters are struggling to hang in there and keep up her spirits.

Quote: An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. __Spanish Proverb

Sick day . . .fun day . . .

Of mountains and glaciers . . .

Kiddo is sick today so we'll leave to go pick him up and have lunch at Richoni's before we head back home. He only had a half day of school today so he won't be missing too much work. His Mom said that he slept until about 9 this morning. That's a kid that needed a good rest so he can get over his cold! We'll stop at the hobby shop in Groton before we go to the restaurant as Grampa needs some model airplane stuff and I need to get a new Bakugan to see if I can finally get one with some decent G power! Maybe senility is creeping in? I get a kick out of trying to beat the kiddo. We played Battleship yesterday and he did quite well. That game is a little intricate for a 5 year old but he enjoyed it.

Quote: It is wonderful how near conceit is to insanity! __Jerrold

Give us this day our daily bread . . .

I've been wondering why the sea gulls have been hanging around the Dog Track, scads of them just sitting around or if I'm walking by taking wing only a few feet above the ground until I walk pass and then alighting again in a pretty tight pack. No more wonderment! There was nary a seagull to be seen a couple of days ago. Then, hark, a small dark blue SUV was seen crossing the top portion of the parking lot and the seagulls materialized. As the man drove through he was throwing bread crusts in great quantities out of his window and the birds were at lunch before he could even drive on out of the lot. I'm guessing that one of the restaurants in the area is feeding the hungry. Good deal for the birds.

Had a very good day subbing in 8th grade math and 6th grade science yesterday. The kids were excellent. The 8th graders knew what they were doing. That's a good thing. Math is not my forte! The 6th graders had to read to each other, summarize and write answers to questions about drinking water. I was impressed. They did exactly as they were supposed to do. No one, not even one kid, was off track. I only had to answer a few questions about pronunciation and flow charts.

Off to lunch duty today, a bit more of a challenge with those little ones!

Quote: A good laugh is sunshine in a house. __Thackeray

Of strawberry fields, doofus drivers and chase cars

On our way to Anchorage.

Driving to Big Y yesterday I was astonished to see some big machines digging holes at the strawberry fields next to the old Kennedy place. It almost makes me sad to see what seems to be a new house and garage going up. Time surely marches on. It is a beautiful property and the house will be situated above the brook, looking out over the pond. Whoever owns the property has already put a cement bridge across the brook. I remember crossing on logs so we could go and pick shagbarks in the fall. There was no pond then. Maybe this getting older isn't too bad. Lots of good memories coming to play. I'm sure that the new owners will love their site. Perhaps they are related to the original owners or the Buell/Merrill families. I kinda hope so.

Got on the highway at entrance 88 and as I got off at 87 a strange occurrence. The man in front of me was in the dedicated left lane, had his right turn signal on and went straight! Oops! Lost? On the way back there were two black Chargers, unmarked, checking out North bound traffic. It's a good thing that I just about reach 65mph before I get off. The police have been patrolling that area heavily because of the many accidents this past year.

Went to Lizzy B's this morning and the weather is out of whack. There is considerably more snow coming down in Oneco than there is in Sterling! It's supposed to snow/rain all day but not accumulate more than an inch. (There were already about 2 inches in Oneco!) I hope they're right because I have to be in Groton for noon today.

Quote: Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. __Hawthorne

And my wish has been fulfilled . . .

Just as dusk was settling in last evening there was a mild knock on the kitchen door. And there to my great delight was the little neighbor girl holding a beautiful bottle of Maple Syrup from her Memere. Oh how superior is that? She was shy and I probably didn't help matters any by thanking her profusely for the gift. I made Ma and Pepere Bonnin's french toast for Grampa and myself for breakfast this morning just so we could relish that syrup. Of course, last night, I was nipping at the bottle and smelling it because it is so good. Unable to describe how delicious it is. It's just like Ma Tante Blanche's and I swear that nothing you buy can touch the flavor of this syrup. Truly scrumptious!

The sun is out, the sky is deep blue with some puffy white clouds. Hope we'll be able to get to the Dog Track if it's not too windy. It feels so good to be outside. Started listening to the Voyager by Diana Gabaldon as performed by Davina Porter. 36 CD's. Now you know why I love it! This is the third book in her series the Outlander. I believe that there are about 4 more to go. That should keep me walking for years when the weather isn't cooperative. I amaze myself because even if I put the indoor walking off for months I can remember the novels I'd set aside when I was able to walk at the Track. Pretty neat.

Time to be off to Big Y and a little bit of shopping.

Quote: Give what you have. To some one it may be better than you dare to think. __Longfellow

To the hobby shop . . .

Leaving Seward and Resurrection Bay in the McKinley Explorer. Not only does the Alaska Railroad haul freight and passengers between Seward, Portage, Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks, it also makes flag stops for residents who live in the bush north of Talkeetna. We weren't able to get a photo of the beautiful Dall sheep we saw just as we started out on the train.

Worked some more on those damnable taxes. How I hate taxes. It's a good thing that I have some help or I'm sure I would be even more prone to mistakes! After breakfast we left for the hobby shop in Sturbridge, MA. Puppy's Pop found quite a few things that he needed and couldn't find anywhere else and naturally I found a smallish book of Foam Gliders by Chicken Socks for kiddo. He likes to fly the balsa planes but these can be popped out and put together and decorated with the stickers that are included. There are 5 different models with some neat, brightly colored nose caps called Zoomers that help the planes to fly well. The book is by KLUTZ. I've always liked the KLUTZ books so I'm hoping that Chicken Socks will also be good.

Stopped for lunch at Sweet Evalina's, baked fish for Grampa and a Pepper Jack wrap for me. Good food. Only one snafu while we were there. I went to the ladies room and knocked on the door before entering. A man answered my knock and told me I'd have to wait as he couldn't. I was flabbergasted. I ended up using the neutral bathroom for the disabled. Yuck!

Stopped for wine at Friendly Spirits in Danielson and a Bakugan at Benny's. Grandson has a new Bakugan just about every week and the numbers on his new ones always beat my old ones. Well my new one is really neat (I think they're pretty but kiddo hates that word) but its G power is only 660. Got taken again! He's high scorer is at least 760.

Time to walk indoors. Gray and windy today.

Quote: Eloquence is vehement simplicity. __Cecil

The president isn't eloquent. He is simple. __Moi