We weren't exactly in Margaritaville, but now that we're home, it's hard to believe we were on the Gulf Coast a mere two days ago.

February 20, 2016 - Saturday
36 degrees/cloudy/breezy
Pentoga Road

It was just a week ago today that we put in a thirteen-hour marathon on our way south. Where did the week go? 

Looking towards Biloxi, Mississippi

The same journey was performed in reverse this past Thursday as we left Garry and Jody's and drove straight through to Janesville, Wisconsin, arriving there around 9 PM. After a quick stop at the mall, we were on the road by midmorning, Friday, and pulled into our drive around 3 yesterday afternoon. We'd traveled 1,157 miles each way.

Chainsaw carvings made from the trees killed by Hurricane Katrina several years ago

I drove for some of the journey, mostly out on the open interstate with poor Sargie taking over in the more congested areas at sunset and driving several late hours past dark on Thursday. 

How to pass the time? We listened to seven of eleven hours of a Nora Roberts audio book. I can definitely say that I'm a guy, not at all into the frilly, silly, descriptive, writing of a romance novel. Still, we compromised by listening to the book for an hour or two at a time, then turning it off and chatting or singing for a while.

What great two-part disharmony Sargie and I can make together while crooning malt shop golden oldies. Our favorites are those remade by the now defunct group, Sha Na Na:

"Well, we're together almost every single day, singing,
Do wah ditty ditty dum ditty do..."

or:

"Teen Angel, can you hear me,
Teen Angel, can you see me..."

It's a good thing the windows were closed tightly or I'm certain the state troopers would have been on our tail.

"Ree mem mem, re memmem ber,
Ree mem mem, re memmem ber,
Ree mem mem, re memmem ber,
Re mem mem, re memmem ber...."

Wailing at the tops of our voices, we'd warble and sing, clap and sway, then usually, break down into laughter and giggles. 

I love our age. We no longer have to pretend to be cool, we're already there.

Page Two

I remember saying, "We're not in Laurel anymore, Sargie."

Speaking of cool, the house seemed chilly upon walking in. No, it was cold, outdoors cold. I quickly walked over to the hallway thermostat and turned it up to 70 degrees. Nothing. The furnace had quit working while we were away.

Oh no, the water! Did it freeze? I tentatively opened the kitchen faucet. Water! After flushing the downstairs commode and checking the basement, I was convinced the pipes were intact. The gauge on the fuel oil tank registered less than full. The furnace must have worked most the week, thankfully, during the nights of -30 temperatures. Ambient heat kept the house warm enough after to keep the pipes from freezing. We'd dodged a bullet.

I built a roaring fire in the stove and with the aid of the electric fireplace (that I'd turned off before leaving) and an auxiliary electric heater, the house was back to normal by bedtime.

With a warm fire in the stove, Sargie and I drove to the kennels to get Brutus. He heard our voices and once released, came bounding around the corner and about knocked both of us over. Our family of two big people and an over-sized pup is once again complete.

Last night was spent unpacking, feeding the fire, and watching a bit of tv. After a quick shower and climbing the stairs, I fell into bed. 

This is Sargie's last day of vacation. I doubt we'll do much and that's as it should be. It's cloudy, wet, gloppy, breezy... a good day to watch a movie and snuggle up to the wood stove.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

The sunset over Farmers City, Illinois, on Thursday evening