Mid Week Wednesday

[Colliemom]

Good Morning all,

Hope our forum sisters in the areas that are being battered by Isaac right now, are hunkered down, keeping dry and safe. I have a cousin in Pensecola area, but they don't seem to be getting it too bad. She did however, make preperations like everbody else did, just in case. Also seems like tornados are going to be a big threat as it goes inland. Thinking about Wendy up there in Birmingham area. Keep your ears on the weather radio. Isaac is expected to head north and northeast, so will impact some of the midwestern states and Michigan as well. Our forecasters are tracking it, but as of right now, doesn't look like much of anything going to happen by the time it gets inland farther. I think the fact that it crossed over so much land area on it's way to the Gulf, kept it from becoming a stronger hurricane. Cuba, south FL, Bahamas and Haiti got in the way.

Ah yes, the reporter standing in Canal Street is none other than Jim Cantore. That guy sure does face some brutal weather. Don't know if its crazy or he just likes to be in the worst of it. And he's been in some really wild stuff. Alwlays some drama on the Weather Chaannel.

But on the lighter side of the weather, it's going to be a sunny day here today, high about 79. Perfect weather and wish I could be home finishing my painting project on my deck. Oh well, will do that after work this weekend. Not that much left but get home too late today and tomorrow to do it. Did get the trim work started yesterday and is about 3/4 done. Need to leave acess for the dogs to come and go, so couldn't do the whole thing at once. Got my clothes poles painted as well. The county road comission put a layer of tar and gravel down on our road about two weeks ago and then came and brushed the loose stuff off. Needless to say, there are piles of gravel along the edge of the road. So I've been scooping it up and using it for projects that I otherwise was going to have to buy some pea gravel for. All its going to do is get scattered more when they plow during the winter. So put some in between my fire ring and the pavers aruond it's outside as sand was settling down. Looks good. Am redoing a fountain/flowerbed area by my deck and plan to use some for that as well. Might go fill up a wheelbarrow full for another spot too.

Did take some time out yesterday morning cause the deck was wet with dew and took the dogs for a ride up to Burt Lake State Park for some fun. We walked around the campground which is of course a doggie smelling smorgasboard. Lots of things to sniff out. Took them down to the doggie beach, which Tessa loves. She had a good time going in and out of the lake. Then they were outside with me for awhile, while i painted and after dinner we took a small walk over on the beach across the road. So they had a busy day yesterday. Felt good getting out on the road and going someplace for a change.

BJ, sure am glad you had that small checked out otherwise, the consequences would have probably been much worse. Hopefully they will give you a replacement or at least some answers.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Echo too. Hope she gets better and is able to go back home soon.

My neighbor who's wife had the lung transplant, might be coming home this weekend if his daughter goes down to stay with her mom for the weekend. Hope so. Will be good to see him and touch base face to face instead of emails and updates via the computer. She's doing better slow but sure, but will be down there for probably another 3 weeks if not more. A long slow process.

Hard to believe that Labor Day weekend is almost upon us. Full campground expected and then after that it drops off dramatically. There will be camps, but not many. Our staff is being reduced slow but sure. One has already left and three more including my work partner will be done after this weekend. The remainder, other than myself and two othres will be gone after the 15th, so it will be just the three of us for another week or two. The vacation time for me.

Well, time to be off and quit yapping here. Hope you all have a wonderful day, well those in the path of Isaac won't. Keep safe all.

[ellenw]

Good morning, Sue, and everyone who follows. Sue, you're a busy woman! That vacation must feel terrific when it finally comes. How long have you been doing this and how long will you be off? I know at one point your weren't sure if you'd go back because it had become so different with new management.

I ate too many Peanut M&Ms yesterday (can you say colliewobbles?? - No, not you Tessa, my tummy!) and then stayed up too late catching up on all the RV posts. Slept in this morning, so no treadmill... and .

Here's a forehead-slapper on myself: Last week I bought a gas can and about 1.25 gallons of gas for my little scooter back here at the apartment. (Different stoopid story about why I had to bring the gas to it instead of just driving it to the gas station.) Anyway, the tank only took a gallon so I had a little left in the can. I phoned the apartment manager (who is also a friend) and asked if I could put the can with gas in the complex's shed. I didn't want it in the back of my car because of the odor. Same reason I didn't want it in my little patio storage closet and I wasn't sure out on the patio would be safe with the gas grill there. She told me, "Sure," but when she got off the phone, her visiting cousin asked, "Why didn't she just put it in the car?" Kym answered, "Because of the smell." Cousin: "No, I mean in the GAS TANK of the car." DUH!! Mitch, I need a forehead-slapping graphic. And I'm thinking of going out on my own in an RV???

All out there: please stay safe and take care of yourself so you can take care of those you love.

[Redetotry]

Here's a forehead-slapper on myself: Last week I bought a gas can and about 1.25 gallons of gas for my little scooter back here at the apartment. (Different stoopid story about why I had to bring the gas to it instead of just driving it to the gas station.) Anyway, the tank only took a gallon so I had a little left in the can. I phoned the apartment manager (who is also a friend) and asked if I could put the can with gas in the complex's shed. I didn't want it in the back of my car because of the odor. Same reason I didn't want it in my little patio storage closet and I wasn't sure out on the patio would be safe with the gas grill there. She told me, "Sure," but when she got off the phone, her visiting cousin asked, "Why didn't she just put it in the car?" Kym answered, "Because of the smell." Cousin: "No, I mean in the GAS TANK of the car." DUH!! Mitch, I need a forehead-slapping graphic. And I'm thinking of going out on my own in an RV??? :roll

That is funny Ellen!! and no doubt the graph will appear I can hear her busy fingers tapping now

In spite of my doubts, Frigidaire called this morning and will send me a check for the cost of the de-humidefier that melted!! Hooray glad they are sending a check not a replacement so we can go buy one today! Delivery charges are now $69.50 from all the area stores DH wanted to go get it and carry it down but I nixed that, told him we wouldn't save anything because if he hurt his back he'd have to get at least two massages and that would take the savings on the delivery not to mention $$ for both of our pain and suffering!

Hope all are safe in the storms path.

[mitch5252]

...Mitch, I need a forehead-slapping graphic. .

I usually save this one for The Pest, but you qualify...



..

[ellenw]

Mitch, that's perfect! I've saved Albert in my photobucket album - he might make an occasional reappearance as needed.

[JudyJB]

Today is going to be a stay-at-home-in-camp day. The past two days here in Grand Canyon, i have spent at least four hours each days sightseeing. Today, I am going to hang around camp and just relax. The only thing I might do is drain my fresh water tank and put a new water filter on. That involved emptying one of my basement bins, but it is a nice day for doing that and I won't have cool weather and hookups for quite a while, so I had better take advantage of it.

I need to start training myself to relax more, part of my living slow goal. After working two jobs for 22 years, it is really hard to slow down. I downloaded two books about the canyon and will be reading, plus maybe doing 15 minutes of dusting. These things really get dusty!! Or at least mine does, and I need to control it because of allergies.

Might also check the air pressure in my bike tires to get it ready for an early morning bike ride tomorrow. There are nice paved bike trails here.

Hey, Sue, I baked four pasties last night and froze three. Yum! Cheated, however, and used premade pie dough, first time in my life to have ever done that. Now I have three premade meals in my freezer!

[Bethers]

I need to start training myself to relax more, part of my living slow goal. After working two jobs for 22 years, it is really hard to slow down. I downloaded two books about the canyon and will be reading

Took me a long time to learn how to slow down and relax more. This summer I'm back to hardly any - but in a few days that will end.

A great book - not available in e-reader format that I know of - but you should be able to find there is "Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon" by Michael P. Ghiglieri and Thomas M. Myers - I was given it to read and passed it on - loved every minute of it. It's about all those who have died there and why - and the why's - well, you have to wonder about lots and lots of people! But it did stop me from some of the dangerous positions I'd get in (often with Liz) for photo ops.)

[Acadianmom]

It took me a while to unwind when I quit working. Someone really needs to wind me up again, I have become a big procrastinator.

When we went to the Grand Canyon we rode the shuttle bus between some of the lookout areas and the driver was really telling us some tales. I guess because the park is so big the rangers figure we can lose a few idiots. I saw people climbing over the fences to take pictures. One woman jumped over a big crack to get closer to the edge and then let her little girl take a running jump to get to where she was. My heart was in my stomach.

We have a rain band coming through now with possible 60MPH gusts. Our lights blinked twice. I'm not going to be very happy if we have to sit here in the dark tonight.

Martha

[VickieP]

The rain hasn't gotten here yet. We have sustained winds of 25, gusts to 37. I just finished mowing & weed eating. I figured the shorter the grass the better to see the rising water

[JudyJB]

Last time I was in Grand Canyon was about 15 years ago. I had to leave one area along the rim because people with very small children were not watching them. The toddlers and slightly older kids were hanging over the railings and swinging on them while their parents were taking photos and otherwise not supervising their kids. Drove me crazy.

Not too many kids now because school has started for most places.

I just bought for my Kindle and have been reading a book I keep seeing in the bookstores. It is excellent and talks about the dangers and tough jobs for extremely low pay that rangers have. Title is "Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks."