Dark Days Ahead

Needless to say, we have been making our weekly trips up North only to return to a house that won't be sold. Somebody shoot me.

Anyway, we leave Wednesday for Hawaii, which I am looking forward to. Sun, warm water, and a good book, perfect for getting my mind away from this house and this election year.

It will take a miracle for McCain to win. The little Marxist and his army of illegal voters, media, and illegal campaign contributions from over seas will likely win. We will then watch to see if the the Marxist get the big number in the Senate and House like they think they will. If they do, they will implement a socialist agenda that will set this country back for an incredibly long time.

I just read where the ATF broke up a bunch that wanted to execute the little Marxist, too bad. Not nice, but war isn't very nice. Taking my money and giving it to some slob who won't work or someone who is in this country illegally, is just wrong.

Well, that is all for now. Better shut down before the boys in black suites show up. Oh, if the little Marxist wins, head for the sporting goods store any buy any guns you think you will want. It won't take them long to kill the Second Amendment.

Not Much Goin On

I talked with my brother Pat this afternoon and he indicated that the old blog was a little flat. Well yea. What does one think is going to be written about when you are retired? My life evolves around the care of two houses and surviving the paying of two mortgages and doing yard work on both houses. If I didn't have my novels to read, I would likely be in the nut house.

Suffice to say we went up to the weekend retreat in MV where I did what, cut grass and finished with the pare tree, and read. We were going to see a movie, but the little lady had a tough time getting it going and the movie started at 10:30. It is a $5.00 showing, which is pretty good.

So we did some shopping. Brandi bought a new light jacket and looked for a sweater. She found the one she wants at Christopher Banks, but needed to print out a coupon that will save her some money. We also went to the library where she picked up a new novel by Earl Emerson (a Seattle author and real fireman). I picked up another Nelson De Mille novel (Word of Honor).

I guess the big news is a neighbor, Stephanie and Tim, let us borrow a 19 inch TV. Now we don't have cable hooked up, but we do have over 300 DVDs to look at. Last night we watched the second Pirates of the Caribbean. We wanted to see the scene where the guys fall into the river. We saw it and we have in fact swam in that very river on one of cruises. That was cool. Actually the river was really cold.

So, for me that was the weekend. Now we got home and I found a 5 inch rat dead inside the garage door and a dead bird in the dinning room. Does anyone want two cats? Yikes!!!!

Well, that is it for this time. Maybe something exciting next time.

A Wet Weekend Up North

Brandi, Eli, and I went up to MV on Thursday night in my pickup. We extended the flower bed on the North side to be able to accept our pare tree and two other blueberry bushes. Brandi turned the soil last weekend and we used the pickup to pick up a half yard of garden soil and some additional bricks to complete the little wall. You have seen the pictures so you know what I am talking about.

Though is rained on us a little, it was just a little. When we got it done, we got cleaned up and read in our novels. I finished my novel by Christopher Reich and Brandi was working on another James Patterson novel.

Saturday morning we went to the movies to see a movie we thought was going to be good, Appaloosa with Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen. Actually, the trailer for the film is the best part of the movie.

After the movie, we packed up and head back to Hansville as we had a birthday party to attend that evening on the island. Our friend Gale was celebrating her 60Th with about 20 of her friends. Good food and good company.

Just A weekend

Our weekend in MV was just that and nothing more. I did my weekly yard clean up and cleaned the house, i.e. dusting, vac, cleaning baths, and vacuuming. I also read in my novel by Christopher Reich called Numbered Account. It is a ton. It has 758 pages. That is 2.5 novels by most authors.

Brandi turned some sod and reconfigured some stones on the back garden bed. She is making a space for the pear tree and blueberry bush. In the scheme of things, this is a small project.

We did go to a $5.00 show on Saturday where we watched Miracle at St Anna. It is set in WWII and I had some tough times with watching GIs get killed. I think it might have been one of the best Spike Lee movies ever.

Oh, the house was shown on Friday morning. No offers.

Birch Bay Family Retreat

Brandi and I had our children and grand children up in Birch Bay at the World Mark facility. We had secured four two bedroom units, and the management was good enough to put all four a the rooms at the end of one hallway.This let us keep our doors open to facilitate easy flow from room to room.

On my side of the family, I had three of my daughters: Jenny and husband Michael, DeAnne, husband Justin, and granddaughter Katelyn (age 2), daughter Britany, and son Jared and wife Michelle, and grandson Ethan (will be two in October). Jenny and Michael were caring for my oldest daughter Tammy's son Braeden (age 7). Tammy, husband Aaron, and granddaughter Alura (15) had to remain in Spokane as Alura had drill team responsibilities.

Everyone got in at a pretty good time, which was around dinner time. Kristie, her husband Michael, son Hunter( he will be two in December),and Amanda got in a little later due to a job interview that Amanda had in Seattle. Amanda's guy Keith got in later coming up on his 1000cc motor cycle. What a stud.

For those who were there, we cooked up some pizzas and hit the feed bag. I guess most of the rest of the evening was spent cleaning up, settling in, and going to the pool, and hot tub. The pool and hot tub were a definite hit with everyone.

Saturday breakfast was the responsibility of each family. I had a bowl of oatmeal, orange juice, and grabbed some bacon from the table of my children. You see, I don't get bacon at my home, so when I can steal some, I do. More pool time. I did go over to the rec room and did some weights. I did some pull ups and squats on the Smith machine, some curls with dumbbells, and lat pull downs with the lat bar. I knew I would pay for the squats the next day, and I did. I could hardly walk. I really like doing squats with a Smith machine, so you pay the price. I also paid the price for the dumbbell work as my left wrist is blown and doing the curls did not help things at all. Oh the battles we fight. Brand, Kristie, Amanda, Michael, and Hunter took off after breakfast to go into Lynden so they could pick up some food items as they did not bring stuff with them. Some of us also played a game called Apples to Apples. I will let someone else explain this game. I didn't win.

In the afternoon, the herd climbed into vehicles and drove over to the park that had miniature golf and go carts. Thirteen adults and our seven year old grandson Braeden got clubs to do battle with the course. It is here that DaddyPat lost perspective. On most miniature golf courses, I can get most holes done in two or three, and some in one. This course was impossible. It wasn't until two days later that I realized that I should have played the course like a real on and played for pars and birdies.

After getting back to the resort, some went back to the pool while Brandi prepared dinner for this small army. Spaghetti, salad, and garlic toast was the menu with brownies, and ice cream for dessert. It was really good with little left over. We did make way too much spaghetti, but at least all were fed. More pool time and socializing for the rest of the night. Brandi and I were able to get some reading in, though not as much as we would have like.

Sunday morning and checkout morning was filled with breakfast of pancakes and eggs. Well done and all were quite filled. Lots of packing and moving furniture back and forth, and restocking the dinner wear to their respective rooms.

I think everyone had a good time. We couldn't have had better weather. We enjoyed beautiful sunsets and sunshine during the day, without stifling heat. I think everyone would like to do it again. Brandi and I will look for a place next year. All was good.

Just Another Weekend

As indicated earlier, we did very little this weekend in Mount Vernon. I did get the grass cut and put down a pesticide to rid the lawn of Crainflys. I was also able to change out my line cartridge for my weed eater. Easiest one I have ever done. And for the most mechanically challenged guy that I am, it was nice. Also took the mower in for a tune up. Watch, now it will likely run like crap.

Brandi and I also had dinner at the Olive Garden on Friday. Saturday morning at 11:30, we took in a movie (Traitor). I was okay. I would have preferred the new Nick Cage film, but.

We both did some reading. I finished my novel by Jeffery Deaver and Brandi finished her James Patterson novel and began a new novel by Emerson.

On Sunday, we attended a pancake breakfast at her church. Really good pancakes, ham, scrambled eggs, and juice.

All in all, not a bad weekend. Next weekend Birch Bay family retreat.

Back Home

One of the first things I noticed upon returning home was that my sneezing was back on and secondly, my right eye started watering like a river again. Funny that these things did not manifest themselves while I was back East.

So, I am back in the daily routine of caring for a house I would like to get rid of. But, we still own two homes. We are changing Realtors this month, so perhaps something good will come of it. We have also dropped the price below the 300K level. All right already, just somebody buy this dang thing!!!!

We will be heading up to Mount Vernon on our weekly sojourn to the North. I know I have to cut the lawn, but other than that, I think Brandi is going to put a coat of pain on her wall in her room. That leaves my time to read. I have picked up a Jeffrey Deaver and Christopher Reich novel. I have read both of these guys before, so I have a good handle on how they write. Deaver is author of The Bone Collector that was made into a movie with Danzel Washington as the star.

Looking forward to next weekend in Birchbay, Washington where we will entertain all of our children and grand children except my daughter Tammy and her family. They have school commitments with Alura my granddaughter. She is on the drill team and has some events to be at, so the family is staying to support her.

So, until next time, Ciao.