BWCA Not for Wimps

Windy, windy, windy! Cold, cold, cold! Rainy, rainy, rainy. And with the burning ban in the BWCA we almost froze to death (slight exaggeration). We hardly got to fish at all. We only took the canoes out once and got blown off the lake. We did get enough for two meals of fish while fishing in the big boats Dave and Ellie actually got the fish... Kimkay and Makita sucked. Makita sucks more at 500. Some kind of short circuit there. He fades in and out. Not sure what the deal is there.

We came out a day early and went to Thor and enjoyed a hot shower and warm beds. We had a fish fry there with some fish we'd brought out with us. Our tent was damaged and dirty so we threw it away. End of that chapter.

Makita Fights Mobile Home Fire

Here's a photo of Makita fighting a fire at a mobile home park yesterday. He's the one with the Captain's red helmet, pulling hose. You can read about the whole thing at:

http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/052207/new_20070522043.shtml

International Falls Smokey the Bear

Here are photos of Marcia and myself posing with Smokey here in International Falls. We've been here since Sunday and we'll be back next week as well.

Marcia is going to teach me how to make a perfect lemon meringue pie tomorrow night. She's coming back to Brainerd with me tomorrow to pick up a car and then we'll both be driving back up on Sunday. Marcia will work all week and I'll be coming home Tuesday night and leaving to go to BWCA Trout Lake on Thursday for Memorial weekend.

Shirley's Retiring

Makita's mom, Shirley Bruers, (pictured here with her husband Bill)is retiring from her job with Social Security just in time to enjoy this summer. The folks she works with are having a retirement party for her in Bemidji this Saturday night, so we've postponed our Effie 4 Wheeling plans to go to it. Congratulation Shirley.

Gas Out 2007 Tuesday May 15

Do you drive a car, ride a moped/motorcycle, or even mow the grass?

Then chances are you use gasoline in some part of your life. With gas prices steadily increasing all the time, and no end in sight, what is a person to do? The United States alone uses 360 Million gallons of gasoline each day. Every day the gas companies gain billions upon billions, and as they do this, they increase gas prices for teh average consumer.

It has led some people to go "gas hunting", finding the cheapest gas in the area and making sure to get there to get gasoline before the prices go back up. This mad rush for cheap prices has left people in a rush over something that should be a given in such a large part of the world.

Gas prices average about $3.15/gallon right now, with some places reaching as high as $3.25/gallon. While last week the average was a meager $2.89. The gas hikes come and go, but with the large increases($0.25 or more), we normally only see a $0.04-$0.07 decrease in the cost per gallon, leaving us with $0.18 more than we had, all the while keeping us content with the gas price decrasing a little.

The gas prices have gotten out of hand. It has been decided, by many, that there will be a "Gas Out" May 15th, 2007. The entire United States online community is invited to join. If all goes as planned, the oil companies will lose around $3 Billion(yes billion) in sales that day alone.

But why stop there? One day will only last for just that, one day. It is proposed here on GasOut2007.com that we, in fact, hold a gas out for 2 days, May 15th & 16th. Causing twice the damage. And why limit it to only the online people of the states? Tell everyone, your friends, family, and co-workers. Your fed up with battling the gas prices, and now is your time to stand against it, right alongside the rest of the US.

In 1997 a Gas Out was implemented. Causing nearly $3 Billion in sale losses to the oil companies. Overnight, gas prices dropped a drastic $0.30/gallon.

We would like to re-enact that boycott, and bring it to new heights. If 75% of US citizens boycott gas on the 15th and 16th, oil companies could lose up to $10 Billion in revenue those two days alone!

Your tired of the prices, I'm tired of the prices, and the rest of the US is tired of the prices. The time has come for us to stand together and show what we, the average US citizens, can do. Without us, the oil companies have nothing, it's time to show them that they work for us, not the other way around.

Thor Bear

Ellie and Dave where able to capture a photo of their Thor bear with their digital tree camera. That's a big boy!

Jeff Is On Fire!!!

I didn't get to see the race today (which was postponed from a rain out last night) because I was driving up to International Falls but I hear it was a good one. And yes, yes, yes, Jeff won again! He is absolutely on fire.

And of course the top story in Nascar is becoming very interesting (Jr leaving DEI). I can't wait to see where he'll end up. Henrick maybe???? That would be something.

Yeh! There's Grass

After my blog tantrum a couple days ago I go outside the next morning and bam there's grass. And another trip to the dump today, which included my broken lawn mower, two broken suitcases, leaves and paint (hazardous waste day) and this time it was only $10.00. What the hell. I think they just make stuff up.

My Aitkin trip has been postponed. Instead I'm going back to International Falls with Marcia. She'll fly into Brainerd and we'll drive up to Int'l Falls this Sunday, Mothers Day.

The garage sale stuff is coming along niceley. I have most everything of mine out there and priced. Makita brought stuff. Jessi and Mike brought stuff. Tonya's bringing some stuff. Shirley is coming down from Bemidji Friday night and bringing some stuff. Sounds like Mom might bring some stuff too. She said she'd come help me with the sale on Friday. Shirley will be here to help on Saturday.

Tonight I'm going to Dad's to get my wheeler so I can ride it next weekend in Effie.

So there's the Kimkay update. Plans are to list the house on the 22nd, after I get back from International Falls and Effie.

The Freak'n Grass Doesn't Grow

Not one blade. I've been trying like crazy. Nothing. I'm no horiculturist that's for sure. Now the old stuff around the "new" stuff is really high and needs mowing (probably due to all the watering I've been doing for the "new" grass). So I'm going to have to walk on the new stuff to mow the old stuff. Did I mention I don't have a lawn mower? Well I don't. I need to get one. The old one took a crap on me last fall. Do they take lawn mowers at the dump? I sure hope so. Did I tell you that six bags of garbage costs $21 at the dump? ROBBERY. And there's more trips to be had. I'm getting closer to listing the house. Even if the grass doesn't grow. They'll have to use their imagination to picture grass.

And then there's the garage sale this weekend. Don't even get me started on it. I hate it. And I'll tell you this.... if it doesn't sell off to the dump with it. Even at $3.50 per bag. Oh and get this I put this itty bitty ad in the paper for the garage sale to run two days and it was $28.00. It's almost cheeper to take the crap directly to the dump and forget the headaches of the sale.

And lastly....does the lawn mower in the clipart above look more like a vacuum? Wierd bag on it.

Stanley Cup Update

The Eastern Conference Championship is now determined to be the Sabres vs the Senators. I'll be cheering for the Senators cause that's Brads team at this point. He may ask me not to cheer for them because sometimes I jinx the team I cheer for.

The Western Conference is only half decided. The Ducks will play either the Wings (I hate the Wings) or the Sharks. Currently the Wings are ahead 3 to 2 in this series. They play tonight. If the Wings win it's over. If the Sharks win they will play the 7th and final game on Wed.

Nascar Update

This past Saturday night the Nextel Cup race was rained out. Jeff Gordon was on the pole (third in a row). They postponed the race until Sunday. Jimmy Johnson won his fourth race this season. Kyle Busch took 2nd, Denny Hamlin 3rd and Jeff Gordon 4th. This equates to all four CHEVROLETS COT (Car of Tomorrow)! And three of the top four where Hendrick cars.

Other drivers of interest finished: Newman 6th, Stewart 8th, Earnhardt 13th, Kenny Wallace 39th and Kahne 40th (Kasey just can't catch a break).

Next Race: Saturday May 12th 6pm Central at Darlington.

To all my Law Enforcement Family Members...See We ARE on the Same Team!

NASCAR's Jeff Gordon Drives in Support of the National Law Enforcement Museum

As NASCAR frontrunner Jeff Gordon looks to extend his points lead during this Saturday's race at Richmond International Raceway, he will also be encouraging racing fans to honor America's law enforcement heroes by supporting the National Law Enforcement Museum.

Mr. Gordon's #24 DuPont Chevrolet will carry a banner on the rear TV panel featuring a special website and toll-free telephone number in support of the Museum, during the "Crown Royal Presents the Jim Stewart 400" race under the lights on May 5.

A major supporter of the planned National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C., DuPont has created the cops.KEVLAR.com website, along with a toll-free number, 1-877-COP-9606, to help raise awareness of the Museum and encourage contributions to the public phase of the Museum's fundraising campaign.

In addition to the banner on his race car, Mr. Gordon also filmed a short video and public service announcements encouraging fans to support the Museum. These will be shown throughout Saturday's race and during a special pre-race ceremony that will include Jim Weigand, global business director of DuPont's Advanced Fiber Systems, Sergeant Mark Banks of the Henrico County (VA) Police and a participant in this year's Police Unity Tour, and Craig W. Floyd, chairman and CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

House for Sale

Well I've been working on getting my house ready to sell. Last weekend was spent cleaning and painting the basement. Also spread black dirt and grass seed on the front lawn in hopes some new grass will grow in. Last night was three hours in the garage (boy oh boy there's a lot of crap). There's still a bunch more stuff I need to do but it's getting very close now. A trip to the dump and a garage sale is in order now.

The realtor was here today. It will probably be a couple more weeks before I actually list the house. Hopefully the yard will be grown in by then. I also have to straighten out the County. It seems they've been taxing me for a second garage.... that I don't have. So we have to get that removed from the description.

She's been a good old house but it's time to get something a little bigger. Two kids with spouses and five grandkids get a little crowded in grandma's little bitty house. I will miss my garage (love that garage) but will hopefully find a place with one comparable.