Greetings from the Snowy SE PA. It is still snowing very lightly, but it is still coming down. Suppose to get warm next week so all of this will be gone. I'm not a snow person, well I used to like it because a good storm always meant a day off from work. One of the advantages of being in education. But that's another story. Midnight likes to watch the snow come down but him wanting to go out in it is rather disappointing. First time he went out onto the snowy back-deck he was a kitten. To say his first step was monumental is an understatement. I never knew a cat could pivot on one foot so quickly. Followed by a minute of him shaking the snow off of his foot. I should have recorded that. He is truly an indoor cat that thinks he could rule the outside until he has to be there.
Well that's it for now, later I'll discuss my vacation in Florida in November, not the typical vacation.
Ciao

Hey I'm back, after a year. More to come in the next days. Been really busy.

Really been busy

Still getting complaints about not writing here as much as I used to, but I am writing on facebook. Anyhow it has been very busy couple of months, July was the Region Staff College, which involved a great deal of preparation, then August came along and our trip to the West, We took the train from Williams to the Grand Canyon and rode both ways in the Observation car (front seats) and had a good time. Always wanted to ride up there since I was a little kid playing with my Santa Fa model trains. Then to our time share in Vegas where our friends joined us midweek. We had also stopped going to Williams at Kingman AZ to have lunch at one of our favorite airports cafe. Then up to Zion NP to do a little climbing back up to the top of Angel's Landing. Somehow I missed our friend coming back down or up but I ran into the other group going up as I was going down. Got back to Philly in time to pick up my oldest daughter at the airport, good timing, of course then I had to leave for a Air Force activity for two days, then home again for a week before I left for San Diego, had a great time there, could have used another week there just to see everything. Got back and got busy with the Masons, I'm doing pretty good learning the degree for me to go into the chairs. Oldest daughter leaves to go back way down south on Monday. I'm sad to see her go but I understand her new life is down there. Had a nice get together with both my daughters who both were here at the same time. Midnight enjoyed seeing both his sisters at the same time, well back to my cooking.
Ciao

On Vacation

Well to bring everyone up to date, we are on vacation out West. Flew out last Thursday to Las Vegas in First Class (need the extra seat and leg room) and had a fairly good meal and flight out. Need to write to the CEO of US Air to commend them, actually they put America West (the owner of US Air) (Actually America West Holdings) at least that is what my stock says. Anyhow our baggage was the 1st thru 4th ones up on the baggage claim area. Walked out to the bus that takes you to the rental area (usually 30 min wait) and got right on and at the car rental area in 5 min, then only waited 5 min there and off we went with our "Green" Prius. It isn't green Hertz calls their energy efficient cars "Green". Anyhow got to the Luxor in less than 5 min (no traffic, really hard to believe) dropped the wife off at the front entrance and by the time I parked the car (another 5 min) I got a call from the wife to meet her at the Inclinator 2, we had the same room before (26138) Great view of the airport. Anyhow went to dinner at "Dick's Last Resort", good meal and a little bit of a crazy place to go. Friday we headed to Williams Az, to go up to the Grand Canyon on a train on Saturday, We had upgraded to the Observation car (Dome car) I always wanted to ride up there since I was a little kid. Rain was falling for the trip up, but by the time we finished lunch the rain had ended and blue sky and sun came out for the tour. The ride back down was very nice. But I forgot on Friday we went to Poncho McG for dinner, great dinner and a wild west shoot- out went on right in front of us, we were on the Patio and the old west shootout was on the street. Got a picture of Midnight eating his lunch sent by his aunt, I was glad to see that. Back to Saturday, after having what I said was a really great day, we went to the Red Raven restaurant in Williams. They are well know for their great food. I ordered shrimp and filet and ate my vegs and then the shrimp and had three bites of my very tender bacon wrapped filet when I seem to have something extra in my mouth. It was my temp bridge that broke while I was chewing on my tender filet. I was really ticked off. So the bad end of a good day. Anyhow today we moved into our time share here in Vegas (next to the SouthPOint hotel and casino). Walked over for dinner at Don Vito's (great Italian meal) and then won some money at the casino playing Wheel of Fortune slots. Then back here to watch Ice road truckers. Got another pic of Midnight, very nice to see him. Well that's it for now.
Ciao

Where have I been

Who would have thought retirement would be so time consuming. I have received many complaints about not writing here in a long time, so to quiet the complaints, here is a list of things that have been happening. 1st is my friendly visits with the dentist, now I like my dentist and all of his helpers, they are all very nice to me most of the time. Of course, one visit I saw him pushing his assistants car into a parking spot when he couldn't fix it. And I did notice his sign changed to dentist and auto mechanic. So far I spent about $5000 on repairs and adjustment to my jaw and bite pattern. And actually one more tooth to come out and two implants and I'll be ready for all the permanent teeth to be put in. It has been almost a year, but I can now chew on both sides and my mouth and my jaw doesn't hurt as much as it used to be and I have teeth where there wasn't any. So I guess progress is being made.
Midnight went to the vet for a checkup and to determine if he has a problem. He seems he is having to many accidents lately and the doctor says he is fine, just a little re-training is needed, and he doesn't hold a grudge if I leave for a few days. However I don't think he realizes that Midnight is not a cat, sure he looks like a cat, sounds like a cat, but Midnight knows he is not a cat. To prove this point, I had brought down my suitcase from the attic because I had to go away for 12 days. It sat there for 3 days until the night before when he decided to take a dump right in front of it. Midnight was just making a point.
So now we are just putting on the finishing touches to our 2 week trip, can't wait to see what he does next. He really needs someone to stay with him here.
Anyhow that is most of what's happening around here, check facebook for daily updates.
Ciao for now

Today Deb arrives

Well the back is better and Deb is arriving today. She got upgraded to first so she was happy. Going to go get her soon. Went for a ride on the bike and watched the people play shuffle board for a while. Well I better get moving.
Ciao for now.

Still my back hurts

Well my back is still hurting, I must have really pulled a muscle or something, If I stretch I get a pain. I guess it was my fault for taking a shower, well more advil (I take one every 6 to 8 hours) and it seems ok then, more of a nagging pain than a sharp pain. But it is cutting down on my bike riding and the last project I wanted to get done. Maybe the handy man can take care of the gravel and sand around the house. Deb is coming tomorrow, I'm happy about that, not that the folks aren't nice here, but I do miss her. And midnight, he knows something is up, but he will be without his people for only 6 days. Hopefully he will not eat my herb garden.
Ciao for now.
One note, I watch a program called House Hunters where they take prospective home buyers to three different houses to chose the one they want. Anyhow they were in Buenos Aires looking for apartments in the really expensive part of the town where a one bedroom one bath was going for 150000 us dollars, but it did have a view of the cementary :)