Category Archives: Monday

What R U Doing?

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I’m sitting in the recliner and watching something on TV (probably a NASCAR race).  I’ve been there for a while and am beginning to feel a need for a stretch and a fresh glass of water.  That’s when Midnight decides it’s time to give me some attention.  So it’s hop on my lap, give me “the look,” settle down and settle in.  What’s with that?

If I’m content to just set there and veg in front of the boob tube, that’s when he decides it is time for him to eat.  It doesn’t matter what the clock says, he thinks it’s time to eat.  And he tells me so in his own pussy cat way.

Once in a while, the planets align and he comes to settle in when I’m content to veg.  Those are good times.  I even keep a comb beside my chair to groom my little buddy at time like these.  (It’s not used on my head, because it is not needed there.)  Sometimes we even nod off and enjoy a nap.  I like that. 🙂

My Little Helper

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Midnight loves to be in the thick of the action.  One only has to start a project and he is there to lend a hand paw.  I expect that before I finish composing this post, my little buddy will be sitting in my lap wanting some loving.  He will get what he wants.  I’m easy that way.

Midnight likes my lap

If I don’t respond to his presence, he put his front paws on my chest and nuzzles my chin.  How can I ignore that?  Why would I want to?  When he is back on my lap, and I start to pet him he raises his rear end up as high as he can while standing on tippy paws.  The front end stays hunkered down so his spine looks like an old-fashioned child’s playground slide.  When I lift my hand from his back, he sometimes over-balances and slides off my leg and onto the floor.  Of course, he then acts like it is exactly what he meant to do.  Kitty will not be denied his dignity!

I’m late posting this morning.  My plan was to prepare this yesterday (Sunday evening) and set it to post at 3 AM.  First step was retrieve the photo from the camera.  SD card from the camera in hand, I reached for the card reader.  Fumbled for the card reader.  Searched for the card reader.  I usually keep it in the top tray of organizer stack.  (See upper right of photo.)  Not there.  Not anywhere.  Oh well . . .

This morning, I started looking again.  No luck.  I gave up and started working on another idea.  Just above the organizer stack is a compartment in my desk that has a frosted glass door.  (Upper right of photo.)  I opened it to find . . . not what I was looking for at that moment.  I did find the card reader.  Why did I put it there?  Silly old man.

Comments

I’ve made a change on comments.  When you post a comment it will no longer open a pop-up window.  I had to do that to use a new feature on Blogger–threaded comments.  I will now be able to comment on your comments.  If you are using Blogger, read about it here: http://buzz.blogger.com/.

Update

I’ve changed the comments back to the way they were.  A couple of friends reported that it was much slower, and that is not good.  Thanks for the feedback folks. 

I Did It! –

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The  terms for “I Did It!” say, “I look forward each week to seeing what you’ve accomplished or someone else that you are showcasing.” This week I want to share with you the accomplishments of two sisters from Germany. The description says, “European Junior Championships Indoorcycling 2009 Carla Hochdorfer Henriette Hochdorfer Artistic Cycling Juniors Women Pair, European Champions 2009, 2008. What these girls do on bicycles is amazing. Enjoy. 
 

I Did It! – Monday ~ Sr Night @ Swim Meet

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Thursday, October 16, was Senior Night for the East Kentwood High School Women’s Swim Team. Our granddaughter, Briana, was one of four seniors who were honored that evening. Their mothers had prepared photo displays for all to see. As you can see, Briana’s mom, Barbara, is a very creative gal. She has a real flair for organizing and design.

Briana is introduced with her parents, Bryant and Barbara. Other seniors are: Eliza (goalie on the water-polo team), Emma and Leslie.

Briana started competitive swimming in Junior High School with the [coed] Kentwood Aquatics club. She has swum all four years in High School.

Her best memories: Making new friends, a team captain for two years and swimming with shoes on.

Future goals: Study for an advanced nursing degree. Play club water polo in college. Live in a different country, preferably somewhere with nicer weather.

Words of Wisdom: “Winning is overrated. The only time it is really important is in surgery and war.” — Al McGuire

While Briana shouts encouragement to a teammate on her relay team, her friend, Christian, looks on from the far right. The stop watch he is holding is for a backup to the electronic timer.

Swim season will soon be over. I’m sure Briana will miss the 5:30 AM practice sessions. Or perhaps not. Can you imagine the discipline it takes to keep that schedule and achieve scholastic All-State honors? I think she’ll be ready next year when she graduates and moves on to college.

Congrats Briana! We love you very much.

I Did it! – Monday

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Actually, it is what I didn’t do. I had expected to have dropped out of Entrecard by now. I’m not happy with them, but 65 to 100 fellow EC bloggers continue to visit me and drop their cards here on Secondary Roads each day. That is a third of what I used to see, but it is still significant. I will continue to monitor the situation.

My accomplishment, if you can call it that, is that I’ve decided not to decide about EC at this point. Is that silly?

Your Help – Please

I’m asking for your advice. I would like you to help me by answering this question:
What can I do to improve this blog and to make it more interesting?
I thank you in advance for any help you give me.

I Did It! – Monday ~ Bug’s Eye View

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Last week, I was returning from the mail box when I saw this fellow in the driveway. The praying mantis is a regular visitor this time of year. I thought you might like to see one too. So I went in to the house and returned with the camera. Our friend had waited patiently for my return. I took the shot above and thought, “That’s almost a ‘God’s Eye’ View.” How can I make it more interesting?


The answer was obvious. Get a Mantis’ eye view. So I sat the camera on the driveway and captured the image above. I only cropped it. There is no other processing.

I Did It! – Monday ~ Last Weekend

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It is quiet around the house this Monday morning. The weekend was a different story. On Friday, we celebrated the birthday of Sylvia’s father. We probably would have done it earlier, but one of Sylvia’s sisters was out of state. The tradition is to meet in Mt Pleasant (Michigan) for the celebration. We have no roots there, but it is a convenient location, being about midway between Sylvia’s sisters.

We meet at a restaurant to eat. After that, someone stops for ice cream and we proceed to the park. We stop at a picnic table near the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial. (Interestingly, one of Sylvia’s brothers-in-law is a Vietnam vet and a retired Lt Col.) There we have the ice cream and one of the sisters brings a cake. This year, Karen brought a homemade German chocolate cake. Super good. We visit the memorial, go for a walk and talk a lot with each other. Then, as the sun is going down, we leave for our homes. It is always a very good day.


Saturday, our church held its annual Hog Roast. The gals had started Thursday preparing food. On Friday, they wrapped up most of the preparation. Saturday after lunch, the guys started cutting up the hog, which was well cooked by then. Sylvia and I worked on the serving line from 4 to 5. After that we had a bite to eat and visited the vehicles at the car show that we held in conjunction with this year’s event. There was also an antique appraiser present, and he did a bit of business, but not as much as he did last year.

At 7, we were back on deck for clean up. We also did setup for Sunday.


The Hog Roast took place in our community center building, which we call the Ebenezer Center. Yesterday we began holding our church services there.

Sunday was Sunday-School Rally Day — this year’s theme “Launch Into a New Adventure.” Sylvia is the Director of Christian Education, so she was a busy gal. After worship service, we have Sunday School. There were kids to promote to new classes. Every class has a new meeting place. We got through that and then we had a paper airplane contest. After that we had rocket launches on the ball field. No church activity of this type is complete without a carry-in dinner. For that reason we wrapped up activities with a dinner. I helped with cleanup and went home. Sylvia came along a couple of hours later. She was tired, but there was a smile on her face. It had been an excellent weekend.

I Did It! – Monday ~ Happy Birthday Dad!

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Leon (Sylvia’s Dad) and Elouise (Mom) in 1934.

We think that it was on this day (September 7) in 1917 that Sylvia’s father was born. In the excitement taking place in the country home, no one thought to look at the clock. (If the “blessed event” took place before midnight, we’re a day late.) It was 52 years earlier that Leon’s grandfather had moved from Ontario, Canada to St Johns, Michigan.


The family in 1945. Leon and Elouise with daughters, Karen, Sylvia and Joyce.


Today, Leon lives about a mile from the house where he was born. He has lived there alone since Mom passed away in 2001.

Happy 92nd birthday Dad. Just remember, what you do at your party today could be on YouTube tomorrow.

I Did It! – Monday ~ Youth Group Gathering

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We attended the youth group meeting. It was the teen youth group from church. at least that’s what it was 50 some years ago. The church has closed its doors, having merged with a nearby congregation. However, the young folk have remained in touch. And in recent years, we’ve gotten together just so that we can enjoy being with such fine friends.

The youth group (click picture for larger view).

Sylvia’s sister and BiL, Joyce (far left) and Paul (hiding behind the camera), hosted the group at their beautiful country home. Sylvia and Karen (another sister) assisted. There were 32 of us present.

Conversation within this group is different these days. Not so much talk of schools and careers. Topics tend more toward grandchildren and medical issues. Even so, it was a wonderful time.

I Did It! – Monday ~ Family Feud

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Our son, Scott, is visiting and that was the excuse for a recent gathering of our family in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We went for a nice meal and then returned to Bryant and Barbara’s house to continue our fun together. A willing neighbor even took a group photo of us.

Chuck, Sylvia, Scott, Briana, Barbara and Bryant.

We went inside and after an excellent dessert, I asked Briana if she would show me how Guitar Hero works. She said, “Sure!” (I love that girl.) Everybody adjourned to the family room in the basement. Briana and Bryant had the large screen, game machine and the controllers hooked up in no time. And before you can say, “Well, dog my cats” the feud had begun. It was duelling guitars.


We all had a shot at being a Guitar Hero.


Sylvia has played guitar since she was a youngster. Hey! This controller is different. Don’t worry she did very well. The boys remembered something they learned early in life, “Don’t mess with Momma!”

We played the game and Barbara captured the proceedings in digital images. If you have to know the score, I beat nobody. Nobody beat Briana.

Does that mean I’m better? You wouldn’t say so if you had been there. Despite my shaky hands, it was a heap of fun. I’d like to do it again.