September 3, 2013 – Tuesday

40 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

Today’s the first day of school for all the little girls and boys across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It also marks the beginning of the term for all the bigger boys and girls who attend the University of Alaska – Southeast. More importantly, it means vacation’s over for the old professor who teaches Alaska Studies. I expect to begin grading assignments in the next two to three days, possibly as soon as this evening. With two classes, I’ll have to keep up with the assignments as they are submitted.

Monday was spent in the doghouse… literally. I finished the interior and slapped up some trim to cover my mistakes, of which there were many. It’s not pretty, but Brutus ought to be warm and dry whenever he uses his new home this winter.

No wonder it takes me half an hour to make a cut. With my keen and accurate measuring abilities, it takes a while to decide which mark is the right one. 

Brutus feels as though he needs to be with me no matter where I may be. Unfortunately, there wasn't much room to work inside his doghouse. A 210 lb man and an extra large bulldog make for cramped quarters.

I started covering the garage yesterday afternoon before running out of time. That work will continue later this afternoon when I arrive home from Iron Mountain.

Work on the super structure ceased Monday afternoon so I could meet Sargie and Mr. Milligan at the VA during suppertime. I took a quick shower and made the mistake of sitting in my recliner for a couple of minutes. The inevitable happened. I awakened almost an hour later in a panic. Oh well, better late than never.

I have a doctor’s appointment this morning at 10:30 for an annual physical. It’s been over three years and I’m past due for a tune up. I thought I was pretty healthy, but after watching the commercials the drug companies are parading across the television screen, I think, but am not entirely certain, that I may be suffering from high cholesterol, high blood pressure, OCS, low T, hair loss, depression, bad breath, asthma, weak fingernails, fallen arches, lousy eyesight, arthritis, Alzheimers, acne, flabby belly, and oh heck, might as well throw in ED. I’m no longer a spring chicken.

Actually, I think I’m in pretty good shape; not as good as usual as I’ve not been nearly as active due to the knee, but I can still see my toes (even though I’m ten pounds over my usual weight) and take no prescription medicine. When I had the knee worked on, several nurses commented that I was the first person they’d seen in a long time that wasn’t taking any drugs other than natural supplements. If this swelling in the knee ever goes down, I’ll be back to my usual healthy self… I hope.

Sargie closes tonight which means a long long day for her. Thankfully, she’s off Thursday and Friday, two rare days in a row.

So with all that being said, it’s time to get Sargie up for the day, grab another cup of coffee and listen to the news. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road… 

If he'd hold onto the other end of that large piece of particle board, I wouldn't have to use the chair.