Flooded @&$#%*¥£€><~#%^ . . .

Yep. The the Élantra wouldn't start this morning as I tried to leave for Backus. Puppy's Pop also tried but it just made weird noises so we called Hyundai Roadside Assistance and at 9:55 the man came with the tow truck because we were going to have it brought to Plainfield Hyundai. But he started it! Said because of the weather the car thought it was still cold and since it was over 70 degrees it put in the wrong mixture! Hell's Bells! What's a person to do in a case like that? Puppy's Pop is bringing it to the dealership in Plainfield anyway because the dinging sound that's supposed to stop when you take the key out just keeps on dinging unless you press the inside ring at the ignition. Don't know how else to explain it. Oh well. I missed my exercise and stopping at younger brother's. But I did work out with the Wii Fit and that went really well. Hope Puppy's Pop has good news from the service department. I think we'll be bringing the car there from now on if and when it needs servicing.

Quote: Do you wish men to speak well of you? Then never speak well of yourself. __Pascal

Hoping for a phone call . . .

The entrance to the Train Museum in York, England. We'll now be studying trains!

Puppy's Pop and I went to the fundraiser at the Jogues Club yesterday. They had a fantastic crowd and I was so glad to see that our old friends had weathered the winter and are ready to start playing horseshoes again. John, the 98 year old, has been playing in his backyard with some of the regulars every Saturday. He's an amazing man. His friend Dot hasn't been well but she's starting to get better from a bout of infections she suffered when she had back surgery last summer. She ended up being hospitalized or in rehab for over seven months. Moral of the story: don't go to a hospital in Rhode Island! We bought tickets for a 50/50 raffle and also bought tickets for what I would have called a penny raffle, but is now a dollar raffle! I put most of the tickets on three baskets of booze worth $150 each and one ticket on a bike. Since we didn't stay late I'm hoping we get a phone call today to say we won something! They had a lot of fantastic stuff. Three different horseshoe leagues participated in the fund raiser. The new pits are going to be really nice.

Puppy's Pop is already at the flying field for today's flying demonstrations. Not sure if I'll join him after Mass. I'm still feeling lazy. It does look like we'll be having a beautiful summer day so I may just veg out on my swing. The Bulletin accidentally left us a Sunday paper. A good excuse for doing nothing and reading less than nothing!

Quote: What is history but a fable agreed upon? __Napoleon

What a fantastic static display . . .

Grampa didn't drive Kiddo home this morning because the Yankee Flyers had a static display at Brooklyn International Airport. So after playing badminton, Qwerkle and driving to Groton I came down Route 169 into Brooklyn to see how they were making out. I was bowled over by the sheer number of planes and their beauty. Of course I didn't have my camera but Grampa told me someone had taken pictures so maybe we'll get a chance to show them to you if they are posted on the Yankee Flyers' web site. I didn't stay long. Grampa has been there since about 8:30 this morning and should be home around 2:30. We're going to the Jogues Club in Coventry, RI for a dinner to raise money for the cement to complete the horseshoe pits for the summer league. I hope all the pitchers weathered the winter well. So many older players are no longer pitching. Think I'll just relax for the rest of the day. I'm pooped. Played soccer and basketball yesterday with the Kiddo.

Quote: The uncertain glory of an April day. ___Shakespeare

Booty . . .

Puppy's Pop and I went treasure hunting at the old fishing spot on the Moosup River in Oneco yesterday. He has borrowed a metal detector from our young boy neighbor who got two for his birthday last year and doesn't use either of them! His step dad brought one for Puppy's Pop to play with a few weeks ago along with the manual. Nothing of any value was unearthed on our property and Claude said we should try at beaches. Our treasure hunt brought us a working cigarette lighter, a snub nosed bullet, a squashed Mountain Dew can, a sardine can cover, a few pieces of wire and a bottle cap. We lose!

I've been beaten at so many games of cribbage lately that cousin S. has decided that we should learn how to play bridge. She's actually got me raring to give it a go. It seems that she and I would be partners against her sister and sister's husband. The two sisters already have a tutoring program for their computers. Mine will be here Friday but I've been practicing on line using S's version of Hoyle 2012. She gave me her unlock key! My robot partner and I finally won last evening. I think we're at a 16% win rate! Contract bridge is a rather intense game. Too much to remember but if S. is willing to stick with me I think it will be fun.

Picking Kiddo up at one o'clock today and we're going bowling. Then we'll get our pick-me-up dish of frozen yogurt at Frogeez. We should have a good day. He's on vacation this week. Monday he beat me fair and square playing scrub but I beat him big time at hallway soccer. I'm also improving at Wii Skylanders! Brought Spyro up another level. Boy do I ever get high fives for that!

Grampa is on his way to the flying field but I decided to stay home and do my walking in the house. Not sunny enough for me yet.

Quote: True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are ever united. __Humboldt

Joyeuses Pâques . . .

Perfect Easter Sunday: 7:30 am Mass with a pretty good group of friends and neighbors; beautifully decorated altar; bread baking, potato mashing, buttered broccoli, turnip, roast beef, best gravy ever, Greg's Chocolate Cake, and other sundries for one o'clock dinner for eight. The sun even deigned to make an appearance and the kids played basketball. Couldn't ask for anything more. Well, maybe someday the oldest and youngest will be home with wife and perfect friend but I'll always be satisfied with what I have at the moment. We even received a beautiful little Easter basket from our neighbor's children which they made themselves. Very nice and perfect gift on this holy day.

The Kiddo has the week off so I'm hoping I'll get a chance to take him bowling and to Frogeez for frozen yogurt. Perhaps we'll be able to do that Thursday. Big brother is also home this week so he'll be able to keep Kiddo entertained! I will be going to visit my younger brother tomorrow after the exercise class. Sister-in-law and I have a date to go walking. I do need the double dose of exercise because I ate so much today. It felt just great to be able to eat everything whipped cream and all!

Quote: Underneath all the arches of Bible history, throughout the whole grand temple of the Scriptures, these two voices ever echo, man is ruined; man is redeemed. ___C. D. Foss

El Camino back in action . . .

When I returned from Backus this morning Puppy's Pop had the El Camino out so we went for a ride to Oneco to see where they are building the town's horseshoe pits! Some how they have gotten donated money to build a number of pits to teach kids how to play! We saw where they had staked out the area near the gym and library at the old school which is now the town hall. It is on the opposite side from Puppy's Pop's control line field. It seems that a teacher at the Sterling School who is a Rhode Island horseshoe fanatic has gotten permission to go ahead with the pits. Puppy's Pop found out when he went to the last session of the Tuesday indoor pitching group in East Hartford. The Connecticut club is going to help out with the Sterling pits. That's a riot. Puppy's Pop is all excited. Pretty cool.

Made a pretty decent supper tonight with the recipes we got at Backus last week. We had pan seared haddock with orange ginger glaze served with Caribbean rice and baby spinach. I surprised myself. The fish was very good although the rice was a little undercooked. I had run out of Jasmine Rice so I used some brown rice too. Should have remembered that brown rice takes more water and twice as long to cook! But it was still good and tasty. The best part was the sauce. I think I may have to cook some fish at least twice a month. Mrs. Dash's spice is used in every recipe the chef gave us last week. I was surprised that it was so spicy. Helps make up for the lack of salt!

Kiddo and I were talking about music last night and he said he'd like to learn how to play the keyboard. I've got to think about that for a bit. Not sure if he would really put his heart and soul into it. Haven't talked to middle child about music yet. Not sure how this can be worked out. He's only 7 so I don't think we have to rush into anything. I still have my piano but I feel certain that I would like him to be able to play an electronic piano so he can have headphones and not drive his folks bonkers! Besides my piano is staying here in the old house! Oh well, these are just random thoughts and may not amount to a pee hole in the snow!

Quote: Criticism often takes from the tree caterpillars and blossoms together. __Richter

Busy . . .

The pet!

Almost too much to do lately! I stayed in Groton until 9:15pm Friday. Big brother came home early from his date so I could get home to get some sleep. Saturday morning Sue G. picked me up at 6:55 and we went to Bristol, CT for Le Party de Sucre. What a great time we had from 9am to 3pm. Couldn't believe how fast the day went by. Had all kinds of French Canadian foods and music all day long. There were over 400 people in Saint Ann's Church hall for this second annual sugar shack. Last year the venue was really too small and not well equipped but this year was perfect. The best part, naturellement, was La Tire. Oh my gosh. It was more than delicious. I only went up twice but I got a lot each time! La Tire is maple syrup boiled down until it is thick and then it is dribbled onto snow. You take a flat stick and twirl it around in the gooey, sweet, luscious, amber goodness and eat. I would have waited 6 hours with no other food or entertainment just for that.

Middle child, Kiddo and Dad came to pick us last night and we went to Riverview for dinner. We haven't done that in quite a while. So another great day went speeding by. The only downer was that my poor UCONN women got beat by the Irish in the Final Four. Bummer. I hope Baylor kicks their butt Tuesday! I will watch and root for Baylor!

Puppy's Pop is going to pick up his younger brother's roto tiller. We bought it from him so now we'll always have it when we need it. I've really thought it would be a good thing to have so I'm pleased. Of course Puppy's Pop has to do all of the work! The ramps are part of the deal. Neato! Stopped to see kid brother in Preston this morning and he pegged out on me twice in cribbage and all's I got for the agony was French Roast decaf! But it was worth it, really. His wife got home as we were finishing up the beatings. Good company, good coffee and N and I made a date for a good walk next Monday.

Going to see my Primary Care lady in about an hour or so. She's following up on my last visit in September! And yowser have things changed for the better! I must say that I'm feeling just great.

Quote: The first sure symptoms of a mind in health are rest of heart and pleasure found at home. ___Young