Pergola all set for next year...

I don't know if everyone felt that this summer was a really hot one, but we certainly did.  In fact, there were times in these summer months that we really couldn't use our deck on the back of the house  because the boards were so hot your feet got burned if you were barefoot out there.

Well we decided to do something about it and got a pergola built.  We originally talked to a contractor about getting it built way back in early September, but their schedule didn't allow them to get to us until last week.  And what a week it was.  They started to work early in the week when the temperatures on Monday and Tuesday were in the mid- to upper 70s (got two rounds of golf in !!).  Then they got rained out for a day, and then had to work on it as the temperatures fell to the upper 40s.   They finished today with winds gusting to upper 30 m.p.h. and temps (wind chill) at 28 degrees.

Not only did we put up the pergola, but we also expanded the deck a bit to all ow us to move the deck table and chairs around a bit and expand the seating area.  

Anyway, they did a real nice job and I think it will be a very welcome addition come next summer.

The worst part of this was how it altered Bailey's routine.  She had to change her route to get out to the yard to do her business.  We took her by the collar out to the yard, and brought her back, but we could tell it took her out of her comfort zone.  Now that they are done she is getting back to her old routine so things are getting back to normal.

It will be interesting to see how this does in its first winter -- which might not be very far away.  With the hurricane off the east coast, we were getting the winds of the winter half of the "perfect storm"  and there was actually a short period of snow flakes and drizzle this afternoon.  So we'll see.

Winter either bites with its teeth or lashes with its tail.  (Proverb)


Hooah

Unsportsmanlike conduct, get your glasses on dummy, and other things...

Pam and I went to OU last weekend for homecoming, something we have been doing on a regular basis for many years.  Generally it is such a beautiful drive through the hills, but even more so at this time of year.  This trip was kind of interesting in several ways, so let me get into them for you.

First item: just as we got past Logan and were wondering what, if any, progress had been made on the Nelsonville by-pass, there was a little traffic detour and shazaam -- we were on it!!  I first made this stretch of road a subject for a blog entry way back on Dec. 16, 2010.  At that time, I wondered if there would ever be a time when we would be able to come here and not have to go through the snail's-paced section of  Rte.33 that contained more traffic lights than all other lights in the whole town put together.  In fact, that chamber of commerce mile contains more traffic lights than all the lights from Columbus to there put together.  So seeing that the by-pass was now open was just that much more sunshine on an already beautiful day.  But lo and behold, after only a mile, there was a sign that said "Expressway ends in 1/4 mile."  My hopes were dashed!!  Out came a yellow flag -- 15 yards for unsportsman-like conduct (intentionally tricking a motorist).  In fact, the end of the detour put us back at the very beginning of the Nelsonville town limits so we still had to worm our way through to the other end of town.  At that end, the road was still dirt and had no signs of even being close to being paved.  So, as I worte in 2010, I may still have a shot at being in "the home" before this ever gets completed.

Second item:  OU's football team is undefeated so far (7-0 and ranked #25 in the AP polls).  My wife will start yelling "Way to go, Mahlon." as soon as she sees this.  You see, Mahlon Rough was a sportscaster for WHIZ radio (yep, that's the real name of the radio station and it's still there) when we were growing up.  It seems that Mahlon was famous for putting the old sportscaster's jinx on everything.  If someone had just hit 5 freethrows in a row, old Mahlon would point out that he hadn't missed one in 5 attempts and how this was a sure thing.  Sure enough, the kid would miss the next one and usually the next 5 or 6 just for good measure.  If a kid had kicked 10 extra points in a row, old Mahlon would put the evil curse on him and sure enough the next one would be missed wide right or left, or go doinking off the cross-bar.  So Pam would say my talking up the Bobcats is evoking the Mahlon curse.  I don't think so -- they look pretty good ('course, you never know about injuries, or someone who might exchange a trinket for a tattoo!).

Third item:  When we were in the stadium, basking in the sunshine and enjoying the game, a guy came up to us and said we were in their seats.  I checked our tickets and sure enough we were in the wrong row -- we were sitting in row 18 and I thought we were supposed to be in row 17.  No problem -- just move down a row to the two empty seats right in front of us (all through the first quarter we were saying how happy we were that those two people didn't come take these seats so we could stretch our legs a bit).  Well, right after that, a lady came up and said we were in their seats.  So out came the tickets again, and sure enough, we were in the wrong row.  I didn't have my glasses on when I looked at the tickets when we first came in the stadium, and all I saw was "17."  Well, we were supposed to be in row 38, not row 17.  So up we went.  I asked Pam where she wanted to move to for the second half.  Now she wants me to get one of those cords you wear around your neck so I will have my glasses with me all the time.  I don't think so.

I have really been impressed with the progress of OU's football and basketball programs.  They have always had good programs in general, but these two in particular have focused the national spotlight on "The Harvard on the Hocking." 
  
All in all, the day was beautiful, the Bobcats won and the seats were great.  Can't ask for much more...except maybe the completion of the Nelsonville by-pass!!! 

The reason women don't play football is because eleven of them would never wear the same outfit in public.  (Phyllis Diller)

Hooah 

Another Bean is on the way...

I have been so wrapped up with getting everything done for the Vets ttip to DC this past month that I forgot to let you all know that D & D are expecting again.  This will be our second grandchild.

It's hard to believe that they can get pictures of this child and we can see it and begin to know it.  Oh, and by the way, this second grandchild is a boy!!  So Quinn will have a little brother.  It was so funny when he first told us he was going to have a little brother or sister (this was back when they visited us in August).  He was so proud.  When Danika told him the baby was inside her, Quinn wanted to know if he could look down her throat and see it!!

Bean #2 is due in February.  D & D have given some thought to a name, but haven't shared it with us yet.  Of course Quinn has a name already picked out -- Oscar.  I doubt that will fly though.

It is said that the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams, so develop and dream little Bean.

Grandchildren are the link between angels and men.

Hooah

Great trip and even greater game...

Pam got me tickets for a football game at West Point as a Christmas present last year.  So I selected the Army-Boston College game, as that is the game (at least for the Cadets) that is just under the Army-Navy game in importance.  Granted, they certainly like to beat the Air Force Academy when/if  they can, but this game usually involves at least regional TV coverage and, given who BC plays throughout, provides them with a pretty good measuring device as to how they might fare against Navy.

So we drove over to NY, across the mountains in PA and it was well worth the drive alone.  The trees were changing colors and the sunshine really showed them off.  In the summer that drive is pretty much what I call "the LONG green mile" -- not much variation until you get high enough to look out over the mountains and valleys.  In the fall the trees really catch your eye and really make it enjoyable.

Once we got to West Point, and finally parked the Jeep, we walked up the hills to the stadium.  we have been there before, but not for a game.  The crowd was huge (seems both teams were 1-4 at the time) and the atmosphere was charged.  Part of the Corps was already in the seats and then one of the brigades marched onto the field for the National Anthem and the reception of the football team.  Lots of pageantry.  The cannons went off as the team took the field, and everyone waited for the sky diving team to jump out of the helicopter that was hovering above the field.  Just one catch -- it was very windy and there was a threat of thunderstorms that morning, so they cancelled that part.  Too bad.  There were lots of other "Army Things" going on all morning and lots for the visitors and parents to see.

The rain never showed up, and the Black Knights ended up winning the game in an exciting fashion, 34-31, leaving the Cadets and their families feeling very good, and the BC fans with nothing to do but return to their tailgating.

That evening we drove down to Brooklyn to stay over night with D, D, Q & B.  I must say, that drive which took us right thru the heart of NY was very busy.  4 & 5 lanes of traffic on each side, packed full of Saturday evening drivers with a slight rain in the dark was quite a thrill!  But we got there safely and had a very nice night and next day with them.

So, having gone to that game, I can now cross another item off my bucket list... cross one off and add three or four others.  Still got a ways to go , but making progress and getting to do lots of things.

Some time in the future, our children and grand children will think it strange that we would burn up a few gallons of gasoline just to go somewhere and see a game or a tree.

Hooah