Human Traits

Today I heard NPR interview author Chip Walter as he discussed his new book "Thumbs, Toes and Tears." As NPR says; "author Chip Walter explores the physical and behavioral traits that are unique to humans."

I heard a portion of the interview and learned a couple of interesting facts. First, I have opposing thumbs. This surprised me because I always thought they got along.

The other thing I learned is that we have a 100 muscles in our neck which enable us to vocally communicate in a unique way. I don't doubt this but upon reflection conclude that I have met some people that must have more neck muscle then that. Maybe 200 or even 300.

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Even NASA gets a little misdirected at times. Even so they have some cool pictures on their Astronomy Picture of the Day .

Alien Lawsuit

Bless the Internet. You can get the truth there even when the TV media fails to provide it on the evening news. For example, I learned that Judge Judy may soon be hearing a golf related lawsuit. An alien claims he/she/it was hit by a golf ball. The ball is stamped "Element 21" and was presumably hit by a Russian Cosmonaut. Already there is debate whether it is within Judge Judy's venue since a Russian hit a Canadian golf ball from an International Space Station which hit a visitor from the cosmos. Stay tuned, this sounds like a big one.

Doggy Tales

Every pet lover has to regale (bore) others with stories about their unique and precious animals. It’s my turn to tell you about our dogs, Koko and Brue.

This morning, as I was taking a shower, Koko came into the bathroom as she usually does and lay on the bath mat with her back toward the shower. After I finished she quietly got up and left the room. She is an equal opportunity dog and does the same for Hazel. We are mystified why she does this and has done it for several years; perhaps she is guarding us from some fanciful rapist (you know, I was naked and…).

Those who know Koko from her salad days will remember that at the slightest opportunity for escape she would race out the door with us in pursuit. Age has mellowed her. Today, when we returned from the grocery with a loaded car trunk, we propped the storm and entry doors open to facilitate unloading the car. Koko politely remained in the house and even gave us room to tramp back and forth from car to kitchen. My how age changes us.

Now, whereas Koko likes to make frequent forays into the backyard (always on a tether) to reconnoiter for cats, our other dog, Brue, prefers a more somnolent lifestyle. Her idea of a cat hunt is to sit inside the house looking out for stray cats.
She will also whimper at the door when Koko wants back into the house.

Brue is intensely loyal (maybe protective too but I can’t attest to that). Brue was given to us because she needed more companionship then was available from her owner. The owner was working and away for many hours. We soon learned that Brue had the same problem with us; she was lonely and showed it by eating our wastebaskets.

Fearing we would have nothing to put our trash in we correctly concluded that Brue needed a full-time companion. A search of the dog pounds resulted in Koko joining the family. Brue craves attention, companionship, and food from us. Koko is more independent and in the evening will often go into my office to sleep alone. She tells us she hates our TV choices.

Are you bored yet?

Anniversary Advice

Advice to our married children. On each and every anniversary take a picture of yourselves. It would be interesting indeed to look at your photos after 30 or 40 years of marriage. Hazel and I regretted not doing that but decided to start this year. This is our 39th wedding anniversary picture.

Grandchildren Part 2

Maya and Tyler

OJ Simpson TV Special?

It sucks!

Drambuie Update - Again

Fall is without question the best weather of the year regardless of where I've lived. Today was glorious, as was yesterday, with temperatures in the mid-70's and a light breeze. Which has been a good thing because Hazel and I are still laboring on Drambuie trying to complete the revarnish before the weather gets colder.

We are getting to the final stages and hope to finish within the next week or so. I figure we have put in over 160 hours thus far and another 10-15 hours to finish. People that do this for a living charge around $5000 to $6000 (I had originally figured $8000 but other IP owners have given me better rate info) and it is nearly all labor. Considered doing it for others. Nawwwwwww!

Once finished with the varnish I can resume more pedestrian type work on the boat such as climbing the mast. The views are good. These shots were taken about a year ago. A lot of open slips in the photo but the marina has filled considerably. More snowbirds are also stopping here, most are on their way to the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, or the Florida Keys. Be nice to join them.

Sportscasters

What is this world coming to? Heard a football sportscaster comment on a players run, saying he ran up the field with alacrity. Whoa, is this some secret plan to dumb up America?

Tears

Its election day. Its raining. I wonder if the Lord is crying for joy or sadness.

Nicholas Sparks

I had to go to Sam's Club Saturday and found the parking lot crowded and people flowing into the store. The reason? Nicholas Sparks was signing copies of his new book Dear John. There was a long line waiting for him to autograph their copies, many had arm fulls. If there hadn't been a line I might have been tempted to get an autographed copy since I like his writing (and he is a neighbor North Carolinian).

I spoke with a woman standing in the check out line. She was holding one of his books and I learned she had waited for an hour for his autograph (sorry Nick, too long for me, maybe I'll drop by your house). Another customer asked her the name of the book and the woman told her "Dear John by Nicholas Sparks, but I hear it isn't one of his best". I don't think the customer had ever heard of Nicholas Sparks. And gosh, an hour for less then best.

I was curious about what he looked like and followed the line around where I could view him getting writers cramp. He is a nice looking fellow, perhaps in mid-late thirties (he is actually 41). I felt a twinge of envy. Always thought being an famous author was a nice career. Good money, celebrity, and people buy you dinner. Maybe I can still write....

"It was a dank and stumpy night..."

Weather Report

It has turned colder, we've had a few evenings when the temp was in the mid-low 30's. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny crisp fall day. I was wearing a tee shirt while working in the yard but when not working a long-sleeve tee on top was more comfortable. Due to the many hot and humid days here this weather is great.

I actually look forward to "some" winter when working conditions are cool. When I was young, though, I was always depressed by fall. Fall was the precursor of long cold northeast winters that seemed endless. Having written this, I now hope this winter won't last too long.

No Problem

I've got a pet peeve. What ever happened to "you're welcome" when responding to a thank you. "You're welcome" came about around 1900 and is tried and true with no confusion to our illegal aliens regarding meaning.

Oh no, now its "no problem" which surprises me because I didn't realize I was a problem. I then feel very sorry that I might have been a problem. Perhaps I should stop saying "thank you" so I won't be a problem to be dismissed as "no problem."