January 29, 2021 - Friday morning

-6 degrees/cloudy skies/breezy

Pentoga Road

The fifty percent of you who don't like the picture, don't write (your comments won't be published) and don't click your tongue in a superior sort of way. I don't belittle you, I simply don't agree with your politics. 

If you don't like what you see above, the answer is simple. Don't look. Duh.

Sargie gave me the cap for Christmas, but demand has been so high that it just arrived in yesterday's mail. Whether you agree with the cap or not, you have to admit, the guy wearing it is pretty ugly.

There, in true American spirit, we compromised and agreed on something. 

There's hope!

It's cold. I don't mind the minus zero temperatures, but it's the wind that makes life miserable. As I told Sargie, if we didn't have a grandbaby due at any moment, it would be a good time to take off for the south, make a drive by visit with Mississippi Brother Garry and Jody before heading even further south. 

We really enjoyed San Padre Island last year and have priced rooms there. We've talked of flying out to Las Vegas for a few days and doing nothing other than soaking up the heat. There are currently no shows happening and we don't gamble so it too, would be a drive through, enjoy the moment type of trip.

But to let you in on a little secret, what we've really talked about...

We're just going to take off one of these days with no destination in mind and drive. If Sargie wants to stop at an outlet mall and shop, that's what we'll do. A Bass Pro or REI for me? 

You bet, we'll stop.

If we end up in Key West, so be it, but we very well might land in Savanah or Brownsville or Albuquerque. 

As I've mentioned before, Sargie and I are a couple of loose canons just waiting for the right time. The only ingredient missing is that granddaughter, Cheeks. Oh well, she's due any day now.

Speaking of road trips, Sargie and I will be leaving later this weekend for Madison, WI, and the University of Wisconsin's School of Medicine. I have a Monday morning appointment with a high octane ophthalmologist to have my right eye prodded, poked, kicked, ripped, torn, and otherwise examined. Seems the darn thing doesn't want to work anymore. Having to do double the work, the left eye has been protesting by constantly tearing up and being lazy.

Darn eyes, they just don't make them like they used to.

Anyway, most of you have been with me during the early advanced macular degeneration years and the miraculous near infra red therapy that has given me an extra four years of near perfect sight, so I thought I'd share this latest happening. 

Stay tuned. I've lived on both sides of this coin and will accept whatever God has in store for me. 

Friday was a good one! I walked, we took our usual ride, and I happily played in the shop.

I've been emailing back and forth with my buddy, Gary from West Virginia. As mentioned earlier, Pokealong (his trail name) wants to hike the AT in 2022 and we're talking of starting together. My West Virginia buddy is a spring chicken, just like me. He'll turn 75 on the trail, I'll turn 70.

If you happen to be out there, you'll no doubt recognize us. We'll be the Grumpy Old Men.

The little vessel (it's not really a bowl or anything useful) was given a final coat, polished, and separated from the tenon. It's now sitting on the mantel where it will remain until Sargie asks what she's to do with it. (Every shelf and counter top in our home is covered with bowls and other near priceless treasures that originated in the shop.)

No doubt, it will permanently end up in someone else's home or in our wood stove. 

I finished sawing the crappie, or as Hambone says, "the crop." Next step will be to either apply a clear coat of poly or paint before painting the backer and permanently attaching the two.

Sargie barely beat me in a game of Rummy late yesterday afternoon. I was ahead right up to the end until she magically had a hand that produced two hundred points. 

I kiddingly accused her of cheating until she pointed out that I was the one who dealt the hand. Oops.

Talk about silly. After the game, we decided to play teeter totter. Two opposing people stretch their parted legs out flat against the floor while placing both feet against those of the opposite person. They then bend forward and hold hands before rocking forward and backwards, lifting the other person into the air. 

Well, that's how it's supposed to work. In our case, we could barely move and as for lifting the other person? Forget it.

It was such an easy game to play as a child. All we could do yesterday was laugh and it wasn't long before tears were running down our faces. 

Today looks to be much the same as every other. Yooper Brother Mark is coming out in a bit for our usual Friday/Saturday morning walk. It's become a tradition we both greatly enjoy.

No doubt there'll be a ride in our future and unless something comes up, I'll be out in the shop making priceless objects, reinventing the wheel, or taking a nap in my recliner. I'm guessing the third option might be the closest to the truth.

The world's my oyster. What can I say.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

 

Occasionally when I shuffle cards, things get a bit out of control. These ended up all over the living room floor.