January 14, 2014 – Tuesday

19 degrees/cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

There’s a winter storm warning out for the area south of Green Bay where Sargie and her sisters have been staying. Hopefully, the vacationers will depart early enough to beat the heavy snowfall. Several inches are forecast to fall along with winds of up to 35 mph. We’re to receive one to three inches here, but without the heavy winds.

I talked with Sargie last night and she said if it’s too bad, they’ll simply stay another day. I’d rather they do that than take a chance of driving in hazardous conditions.

I read papers from students for the most day on Monday. There’s some sort of scheduling change that’s occurred at the university and it appears everyone knows about it except the guy who is teaching the classes. I’ve got one section that has almost forty students, another with hardly any. It all averages out, but I’m confused. No doubt there’ll be some clarification coming later today.

A trip to town was on the agenda. I stopped to see Yooper Brother Mark at the plant. He was busy sorting out loading and shipping schedules and keeping the plant operating smoothly on all eight cylinders.

Brutus and I walked five miles and I’m thoroughly disgusted with the knee. For everyday walking, it functions fairly well, but if used for more than a mile or two, I end up limping. The worst pain comes after a walk. It was so weak last night that I was forced to hang onto the furniture as I walked from one room to the other. How lame is that? No pun intended.

It’s been six months. I’ll give it until this spring then go back to the orthopedic man and find out what’s happening. If he can’t help me, I’ll find someone who can. Telling me that I’m no spring chicken simply isn’t an option. There are too many miles to walk and mountains to climb before old age sets in… in another thirty years or so. Once I turn ninety, I’ll accept the spring chicken excuse. Until then, I’ll continue to try to find a remedy.

I spent last evening perusing seed catalogues. There are some beautiful perennials and fruit trees rated for this growing zone I’d love to purchase, but as I told someone earlier, I have champaign tastes with a beer budget when it comes to decorative plants and expensive fruit trees. Add to that the real possibility none may survive this far north and it makes more sense to merely look at pictures and dream rather than purchase and watch them die from cold temperatures.

My eyes popped open at 3:45 this morning and I lay in bed thinking of everything that needs to be completed before Sargie arrives home later today. The house is in pretty good shape. A quick sweep of the floors should have them looking just fine. I took the flannel sheets off the bed, washed them, and they are now in the dryer. I’ve yet to clean off the dining room table. I simply don’t understand Sargie’s dislike of me keeping goodies ranging from fishing line and lures to last week’s mail, a hammer, some candy wrappers, and two dead batteries, on it’s surface.

It’s time to get busy. I’m praying the snow and wind stay away long enough so my girl can get home. I sorely miss her. Until then, there’re bales to lift and barges to tote. (… loosely borrowed from the song, Old Man River featured in the musical, Show Boat.)

After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…