Senior Olympian Sprinter

Linda and I moved into suburbia in December of 2012 and I been amazed at the animal activity.    Recently, the amazement has been more shock and awe.   During the period when we were in the process of closing on our 1880 model house, there was an issue with some critters trying to live under the house.   A local firm was employed by the previous owners to clean out the residents.   They caught a skunk and I think a raccoon or groundhog. Then the crawl space was sealed up to keep the unwanted tenants out.     This was just the beginning and I should have noticed that bigger challenges were coming.     Life was good for a very short period. The past couple of weeks has been a challenge to "not go postal" on the local vermin that daily drive Linda and I nuts.    Let's review the list, which is approaching Noah's.      A first we...

  EPIC Treadmill OK, we all have run on treadmills and I had an opportunity yesterday to run on an EPIC treadmill.   Hopefully this will be my last time to run on this antique.   I enclosed a picture to let everyone know that it still had power, but that was about it.   The digits for the time, distance and pace were all broken.   The belt made a very constant and loud hum that caused all passersby to glare in the door at the noise--my Nano was drowned out!!  The speed was regulated by pushing  a button that were listed in MPH, but the speed read out --which did work, was in KPH.   OK, I understand both units, but it took some figuring to be correct.  I did figure out that the display in the top middle was a quarter mile lap around the track.   It was kinda correct , but a little iffy on accuracy.   EPIC had the start and finish line at the 50 yard line of the football field, ...

During my frequent travels I rent cars almost weekly.  I get to drive some nice vehicles and some marginal at best "midsize" sedans.    It seems that the upper midwest has the worst car selection.   But, they all have something in common and that is the mess of keys they give you when you pick up the car.   I added this picture of the latest 'mess' I recieved when I picked up a Toyota Sienna mini van.   There are 3 keys including the valet, 2 fobs and the tag all bound together with 2 black plastic rings.   No way to separate them--one big glob of keys.     So, my question is  "which pocket are these supposed to fit"??     In the winter, you have a pocket in your jacket or coat to put keys, gloves, glasses, phones, etc.   In the warmer months, the jacket is gone and you stick these things where?    If you put them in your pants pocket, they will someho...

Is a new movie coming out?   No, it is winter time flying.   I flew into Tulsa Airport yesterday evening during the 'so called blizzard'.   It was windy and the pilot( Southwest) had his hands full with the wind sheer.  I fly a lot and this was the most out of shape I can remember right before landing.   Typically you get the funny feeling in the pit of the stomach, but I was real calm this trip and we bounced in just fine.  Winter flying is really unpredictable, but that is part of the deal.   If you looked at the weather map for the entire US, Tulsa was in the eye of the comma shaped storm, just like the eye of hurricane.   I have to back up in time and mention.... My flight from Nashville to Tulsa had a plane change in Houston Hobby--home of Poppadeaux's cajun reastaurant.   I would classify it as the best airport food in the world.  If you have something better, bring it on, cause you are in for ...

I am basically a professional traveler, and being in that category, you tend to get picky and not lower your expectations.   I had string of poor service the other day that must be discussed....     I am working night shift and not in a situation where you can go 'go to lunch' while on duty.    So I ususally eat late and get something to go for dinner, sounds easy , huh??  Well the other night that was impossible.    Thus the 0 for 2. I went out by myself on Valentine's Day night to a nice Italian restaurant full of couples.    It was about 30 minutes before closing, so I had left plenty of time to not rush the staff.    I ordered a pizza to go right up front and then dinner.   The dinner was an OK steak with way too much seasoning and smashed potatoes that was mostly garbonzo beans,,,,  OK it was run of the mill grub that was trying too hard.    The bill came, ...

OK, butI still got a lot to say.    Our work life is a big part of being an adult, we may not like that, but that is what it is.   Another sales rep and I did some interesting work a couple of years ago and we applied for a patent for the application technique.  This week, WIPO-- "World Information Protection Organization" published the application.  It appeared as if we had been granted the patent, but we have not.  This is first big step and typically we would have to wait another 2 years to get the officail word, but it still makes you feel good.  So, something at work has gone well lately.  I am also involved in the start up of a major new manufacturing method for tissue and towel.  The first new machine in the world--completely new, not rebuilt--is going on this week and we finally got the first towel made last night.   The process from when my company got started on this project and where we are now is at least 6 ye...

The ground hog said Spring would be here soon, I typically do not believe the little rodent, but this year I am gonna go with his shadow voodoo thing.  Linda just celebrated her birthday on Feb 2.  She has been getting cheated for years, since the big ground hog thing overshadows her birthday.  So, we tried to make her birthday a priority this year and had a great time.  She was in the midst of fighting a cold, but still managed to turn 50 with proper style. I have been working on getting some brush trimmed on the new real estate.  This week's challenge was multa flora roses and osage orange or "hedge apple".   I grubbed out about 30 rose bushes--probably the hardest work you can do.  You take the pick ax and swing hard several times and then pull out the plant-- roots and all.  Repeat.  My back was on life support all weekend.   I also worked on some osage orange trees.  The wood is great handles for tools and...