This picture says it all...

December 14, 2014 - Sunday

36 degrees/cloudy-fog/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I crossed over the line on Saturday and purchased an inexpensive 14 inch Chrome Book. ln many ways, it's much like the Mac with a heavy dose of Windows thrown in. Working on a new computer with a completely different operating system is challenging, occasionally frustrating, but so far, quite enjoyable. This one won't read to me, so sooner or later, I'll have to have the Mac fixed or purchase a new one. This should get me by in the interim. 

So far, I've successfully navigated my students'  projects, most written with Microsoft Word, and viewed a Power Point. Both were simple and I was very happy. PDF files are simple and all were displayed with lightening fast speed.

Editing the pictures has proven to be more of a challenge. I'm spoiled. Macintosh's Iphoto is a simple, but powerful image editing program. I'll learn, but it's going to take a while. 

Sargie and I were awake before 6 AM Saturday morning, both of us eager to head south to Green Bay. Sargie had a shopping list and was chomping at the bit.

The birthday girl catching her breath while riding an elevator in a Green Bay department store

The day began cloudy, then grew foggy, turned sunny for a bit before mist and fog settled in for the day. It made for some interesting photography.

That's a contrail made by a high-flying jet that is illuminated by the sun and showing through the fog.

Sargie drove the Blazer under this bank of fog

We saw several deer and at one point, had to stop for this flock of wild turkeys ambling across the road.

Our first stop was at Sam's Club where we purchased basic supplies and Sargie found a few Christmas gifts that were on her list.

The next stop was the mall. I bade Sargie farewell and walked across the road to Best Buy where I purchased the Chrome Book. After, I returned, claimed a comfortable chair in the middle of the mall, and spent the rest of the afternoon watching people and talking with other men who were waiting for their better halves.

There was no shortage of shoppers and made for some interesting people-watching.

Our next stop was at Menard's Lumber where Sargie gave me my Christmas gift, a large rolling tool chest. I couldn't have been more surprised or happy. It will look really great in the new shop... as soon as I get it built.

The last stop of the day was at Harbor Freight where I bought two blades, one for the circular saw, the other for the table saw. When Andy and I were remodeling the fish shack, I think we hit every nail possible.

We arrived home well after dark and I hopped out of the Blazer and entered the garage through the side entrance to put up the large door and turn on the light. Problem was, there was the black Kia between me and opposite wall. I didn't see the car and walked right into that darn thing. We'll see the damage in the morning, both on me and the car. I hope I didn't put a dent in the side. As far as that goes, I hope I didn't put a dent in me, either. I haven't looked yet. It'll wait until morning.

My oldest son, Josh, sent a picture of my grandson, Wyatt. The little guy has always been into Legos and he recently spent several nights (after doing his homework) putting together this 1,100 piece Star Wars figure completely on his own.  

Wyatt gets his abilities for detail from his father, a Lt. Commander and professor at the US Coast Guard Academy. For certain I don't have many of those particular talents.

I also received a picture from Grandpa Yooper Brother Mark of his granddaughter, Izzy Sue (Isabella). At just a few months of age, she's got the Santa thing down pat.

Izzy is bringing her mama and daddy back to the UP for Christmas. Auntie Sargie and Uncle Tom can hardly wait to spoil her... if we can pry her away from her grandma, grandpa, great grandma, and all the aunts and uncles. 

Sargie's been wrapping presents this evening since we arrived home while I've been learning this new computer software. 

Sunday will see me cleaning fish that have been frozen under a pile of snow. The pike that Andy caught will be thawed as will the bluegills and crappie I caught on Friday. The northern will be cleaned, then cut into chunks and stuffed in canning jars for pressure cooking. The pan fish will be filleted and frozen in preparation of our next fish fry.

I have to be finished before noon when the Packers play the Buffalo Bills. No doubt, I'll be needed to help coach.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

For the Packers fan who has everything.