Wheeling in Effie

Dora the Explorer got a couple new accessories lately, including this nice new Nemo mirror. In addition she got a new camo seat cover.

Makita and I spent the weekend in Effie riding the wheelers. They're logging up there in that area and there was some really big machinery.

Makita couldn't resist getting stuck in the mud.

When do you tell on yourself?

My friends and family will be the second to tell you that I'm a tattletale.... on myself. I'll be the first. I've always told on myself, even as a child.

This morning I could only locate one of my two cell phones. My work phone was here but I couldn't locate my personal phone. I dug through my purse where I last had it. Didn't see it there. So what did I do? I called it from my work phone. Nothing rang. Where is that phone?

Now I'm not attached to the phone and know it's not a problem to get a new one but what about all the phone numbers in there? I don't have them written down. Damn.

So I went out to the car. Maybe I dropped it in there. Looked around but didn't find it.

Then I went to the front desk of the hotel. "Did anyone turn in a cell phone? I've seemed to have lost it, possibly in the restaurant the night before." They said "Hang on while I look at the BAR"...real loud you know. Nope no phone. The guy at the desk called it a couple times hoping to hear it ring somewhere behind the counter. Nope. They said they'd take down my info when I checked out this morning just in case they do locate my phone.

When I came back to the room I'm convinced that I've lost my phone. It's probably in Morris. That's where I was yesterday. It's about a 45 minute drive from here.

So I load up my suitcase and start packing things away and low and behold I found my phone. It was in my purse. The first place I looked. Hummmmm.... Why didn't I hear it ring when I called it? AT&T has no flipp'n service here in Sandwich Illinios.

Now here's the deal, normally I would just tell those people at the front desk I found the phone. But for the first time that I can remember I'm not going to tell anyone. It will be our little secret.

Tee Pee Creeping

Well we slept in a tee pee in Jackson Hole last week. What a wierd deal. It was pretty big. A wood floor with nothing at all in it. But we slept pretty good.

Wnuk Construction

During our trip to Wyoming last week we hoped to help with the Wnuk's house and garage construction. We weren't able to do much because the whole project is way behind due to the spring/summer weather. At this point the garage's roofing and siding was put on hold due to the heavy rain.

This is the hole where the footings will be poured for the house...as soon as it drys out.

Lorrie and I in the rain by the firepit.

A photo from up stairs in the garage.

Whitewater Rafting

Whitewater rafting on the Snake River was just one thing we did last week while in Wyoming. I'll have more to tell soon. There is a slide show to the left of this you can browse.

Mike meets Skynyrd

My son Mike (third from the right, out in front...the skinner bugger...needs to eat more donuts) and some fellow officers met Lynard Skynyrd last weekend in Hinkley. I had t explain to him before he went over there just who Skynyrd was. I told him just chant "Free Bird, Free Bird" and he'd be just fine.

http://www.lynyrdskynyrd.com/

Cottonwood Creek Shooting & Hunting Preserve

You'll want to check out my brother Bob's new business. It's located down by Benson Minnesota.

I created the website. It's my first. It was an interesting project. I'll be creating more. I'll keep you posted.

http://www.cottonwoodcreekhunting.com/

Vote Jerry Katz

My dear friend Jerry Katz is running for City Council in Opelika Alabama. Good luck buddy! Kiss lots of babys and shake lots of hands.

http://www.jerrykatz.cc/WardTwo/WardTwo.htm

Started the Landscaping

This past April we had a huge snow storm that dumped over a foot of really heavy wet snow. This first photo is of a 12 foot cedar tree that went down in my front yard. I had three of them.

You can see here that they were in pretty bad shape. And in time they never did recover. In June they were still bent over and one was being propped up with a stick.

So in June Mike and Makita pulled them out.

Which left an ugly bare patch of dirt.

So this weekend Makita helped me (actually he did most all of the work. I leaned on a shovel and watched mostly) do some fix up on the yard.

Staying in a Tee Pee

On Monday August 11th myself, Makita, sister Lorrie and brother-in-law Brad are going to be staying in a tee pee at the KOA just outside Jackson Hole Wyoming. What a hoot! It will part of our adventure as we go to see the Grand Tetons.

We'll also be going whitewater rafting while we're there.

I'm goin' to Jackson, I'm gonna mess around,Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson,Look out Jackson town.

http://www.srpkoa.com/

Mindfreak

I'm a week late to see Criss Angel perform in Tampa. Just down the road from where I stayed last week is a hotel they are going to implode tonight. Las Vegas based illusionist Criss Angel will try to escape from the hotel on live tv (Mindfreak on A & E 10 pm Eastern time) while shackled to a seventh-floor balcony of the nine-story hotel. He will have to free himself and make it to a hovering helicopter before the building is imploded.

If you haven't seen this guy...boy oh boy he's something. I've seen him walk on water and all kinds of crazy stuff.

http://www.crissangel.com/

Crow Wing County Fair

Well well well. If it isn't county fair time again. Here's the link to find out everything you ever wanted to know about this years Crow Wing County fair.

http://www.brainerd.com/fair/

I myself don't especially like the fair. In Dave Letterman style, here are the top ten reasons I don't like the fair.

#10 You must park somewhere out by where Jesus left his sandals.

#9 It is either raining or a hundred degrees during fair week.

#8 No beer.

#7 By the time I get there the flowers, laden with blue ribbons, are already dead in the Floral and Fauna building.

#6 The rides are held together with bread ties and duct tape.

#5 You must be a millionaire to take your family to this Super Duper event.

#4 There's always puke on the Midway.

#3 The first person you see will be the last person you want to see.

#2 You will not find your vehicle in the Israel parking lot for approximately an hour from the time you start looking for it.

And the number one reason I don't like going to the fair is:

#1 Cow shit smells.

I will however be going to the fair to help the Brainerd Fire Department sell brats on Friday night. I guess if there's something I do like about the fair, it's the food. Pronto pup ... here I come.

St. Petersburg Florida

I believe it's a thousand degrees with 900 percent humidity here. There's storms every once in a while. Lots of lightning and rain. Then the next minute it's sunny and baking hot again. It might be some effects from Hurricane Dolly. Hard for me to say. What do I know. Absolutely nothing about weather. Actually absolutely nothing about anything really.

Back from the great outdoors

Here we all are gathered around the campfire our last night. Back row from left to right is Makita, Jessi, Mike and myself. Front row from left to right is Chaun, Goose, Dave and Ellie. We had a great time. We had three big fish frys and lots of other good eats. Neil (a.k.a. Goose) was the designated baker and he did a bang up job. He made a blueberry pie, a giant oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, dream bars and a Boston creme pie. One night Ellie surprised us with french fries. This is quite a feat considering we have no refrigeration therefore all of our food is freeze dried.

We saw a lot of wildlife, including a radio collared wolf. That was very cool. He came out one afternoon and took a drink in the lake very near us.

If you look close you'll see a bald eagle on the top of one of these trees.

We had two large snapping turtles (Rex and Rebba) that hung around one day. Here's Rex's mug shot.

Goose took this photo of the butterfly.

Ellie saved this young bird (Chirper). He was bobbing around out in the middle of the lake.

Check out the Slideshow on the left hand side of my blog with all our photos.

Off to BWCA

Things are pretty quiet around here. We're just getting ready to go to the Boundary Waters. There's lots to do. This trip there are eight of us going. Our biggest group yet. BWCA rules allow up to only 4 canoes and/or 9 people. The BWCA have lots of rules you have to abide by. Here's just a sampling:

TRAVEL PERMITS: You must enter the Bounday Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, BWCAW, in the Superior National Forests of Minnesota at the entry point and on the entry date shown on your permit.

USFS Travel Permit Fee: $12 for up to a group of 9 persons.
USFS User Fees(Apply to all BWCA overnight visitors)Adult: $16Youth 0-17: $8Golden Age/Access: $5Minimum: $20 You need not know what entry point to choose.

GROUP SIZE: A quota system that allows only a specific number of people into the canoe country each day at each entry point is in effect, and weekend permits are more popular. Nine (9) people and four (4) watercraft are the maximum allowed together in the wilderness. You may not exceed the limit at any time or anywhere (on water, portages, campsites) in the BWCAW. Smaller groups increase your wilderness experience and decrease your impact. Larger groups will need additional permits and must camp at more than one campsite.CONTAINERS: Cans and glass bottles are not allowed. Containers of fuel, insect repellent, medicines, personal toilet articles, and other items that are not foods or beverages are the only items allowed in can containers. Food may be packaged in plastic containers that must be packed out with you.

CAMPSITES: Camp only at Forest Service designated campsites that have steel fire grates and wilderness latrines. Make camp early in the day to ensure finding an available campsite. It is illegal to cut live vegetation for any reason. You may camp up to fourteen (14) consecutive days on a specific site.

CAMPFIRES: Fires are allowed within the steel fire grates at designated campsites or as specifically approved on your visitor's permit. Bringing a small camp stove may be a better idea because it heats food more quickly, has less impact than a fire, and comes in handy during rainy weather. Due to the potential fire danger, fire restrictions may be put into effect. Check on current conditions just prior to your trip. You may be required to use a camp stove if there is a campfire ban. If you build a fire, burn only dead wood found lying on the ground. Collect firewood away from campsites by paddling down the shore and walking into the woods where it is more abundant. Wood easily broken by hand or cut with a small folding saw eliminates the need for an axe. Drown your fire with water any time you are going to be away from your camp or at bedtime. Stir the ashes until they are cold to the touch with a bare hand.

CULTURAL HERITAGE: Leave archaeological, historical, and rock painting sites undisturbed. The use of metal detectors is prohibited. TOILET FACILITIES AND WATER QUALITY: Use latrines at designated campsites. Latrines are not garbage cans and should be used for the intended purpose only. If you're not near a latrine, dig a small hole 6 to 8 inches deep at least 150 feet or more back from the water's edge; when finished, fill hole and cover with needles and leaves. Bathe and wash dishes at least 150 feet from lakes and streams. All soaps pollute water including soaps labeled "biodegradable." Dispose of soiled water on the ground, at least 150 feet from the shoreline.
FISHING LICENSES & LIMITS: Anyone 16 years of age or older who chooses to fish in the BWCA is required to have a license. Fish eaten as part of shore lunch count towards daily fish possession limits.FISH REMAINS: It is illegal to dump fish remains in the water. Dispose of fish remain well away from shorelines, campsites, trails and portages, buried in at least six (6) inches of soil, well away from the campsite.

LEAVING THE AREA: When leaving your campsite, leave no trace you were there: eat it, burn it or carry it out. Sift through the ashes in your fire pit for twist ties, foil and other debris not completely burned. Pack them in your litter bag, along with cigarette butts and other trash, and carry it out. If you happen to see trash along your way please pick it up and carry it out also. Always try to leave an area cleaner than when you got there.