Regrouping . . .

Yesterday, o1 Doc, T, Bro, and I met in the Lake City Cracker Barrel for lunch. We missed Mouse who has been working so hard she was unable to come. It was fun talking of old times and catching up on current news. We went back to 01 Doc's and T's home afterward and waved at young bicyclers (they were so adorable) while watching squirrels and hummingbirds. It is so peaceful there.

Sarah is under the weather and we were not able to see her and her family. We hope she is better, today. There is something really nasty being passed around, right now. A friend of J's mother had it for two weeks and is still suffering from the accompanying cough. We hope Sarah's is more benign, departs quickly, and doesn't affect anyone else.

The only thing wrong with spending the day as we did was that the time seemed to fly. We three sibs just don't see each other often enough . . .

Fetch, electronically . . .

Last Sunday, I went out to Publix to get the tiny local paper. It was the highlight of my day.

As I am currently the sole ambulant in residence, it is not possible to leave. So the internet is my consolation prize. Our paper at home has a digital edition which is accessible at no cost if we pay for the one that is tossed on at our front porch.

Guess I'll go read the funnies, anyway.

Closer MOON

The close, full moon. The earthquake off Japan.

One wonders if there is a connection between the moon reaching perigee tonight and the geo-tidal forces that shifted Japan's coastline 13 feet closer to California. By the way, geo-tidal is a term that I made up. Google it and it does not appear. It just seems so apt.

Looking up at the moon over the roof, last night, was not a scientific study. But, it does seem larger.

It gives one the urge to howl at it . . .

Can I borrow a cup of books?

I have now attained dual citizenship - well, actually dual library membership.

I had to return my Nook Color to Barnes and Noble because it began to turn pages when I did not ask it to. Plus, the bottom blue menu would sometimes flicker instead of remaining static until I made a selection.

Worst of all, it began to require re-activation every time I tried to side-load books from the public library, through Adobe Digital Editions. Six activations are the limit until Adobe resets your account. This is not automatic. You have to ask them every time. Learning curve was steep, I c'n tell you.

Actually, that wasn't the worst. Barnes and Noble's records showed that my guarantee was in question. Well, we got that straightened out, finally. I really can not tell you how many hours I have spent on the telephone with tech support.

They extended the warranty for two more months, for my trouble, they said.

B&N did email a UPS label so I could send it back and I can track it but it is being send via ground. Must be on a truck somewhere between here and California. Better it than me.

The foregoing explains my need for dual membership in the library system. The library where I am now only lets you keep books for two weeks instead of 28 days, as at home. Still, books are renewable on line in both ends of the state.

Is this a wonderful country, or what?

Slipping the bonds . . .

This morning, I was out back when I heard a jet moving toward the house full bore. He was right overhead when he started to climb almost straight up. A white puff bloomed briefly behind the plane which I imagine was the afterburner kicking in. Looked like he was reaching for orbit. It was so beautifully free that I got goose bumps.

Back on earth, I finally finished rinsing out the garbage can. Heh.

It's a crock . . .

This kitchen, where I am now, has a dishwasher. Before we came up, someone had bought some of those Cascade packets that are premeasured and ready to use. They were stored underneath the sink in the cabinet that houses the garbage disposal which no one uses.

Because there was mostly nuking and reheating done in this kitchen, in recent years, I bought a crockpot, which had looked rather lonely, from a nearby Walmart.

I made a discovery about that Cascade. Those packets are great for cleaning a crockpot that was, ahem, allowed to cook all day without a coating of Pam having been sprayed on the interior.

The stoneware liner with a Cascade packet inside its cruddy self was filled with really hot water. This dissolved the packet with some help from an overactive plastic spoon. I left it overnight but that was overkill. A couple of hours would do the job.

And you know the juice that somehow gets inside the metal shell of the cooker? That stuff that bakes itself on even if the crockpot is unplugged? A corner of a paper towel dipped in the solution will, kid you not, rub that burned-on juice right off. (Wear gloves!) Finally, rinse off the cleaned area with a damp paper towel.

No elbow grease required . . . just thought I'd share.

Why bother?

"Wait!" I say. Two furry tails hit the rug and two impatient canines conquer their eagerness to bolt through the door. This works at the back door. Front door manners coming soon, to two dogs near me.

Bark, yap, wiggle, whine. Jump up. Bother people to the utmost. They are not my dogs. I keep reminding myself of this fact but somehow they need a bit of structure and routine.

Manners, manners . . .