HEAVY RAINS, THUNDER BOOMERS, HUMIDITY, SUN & FOG

THREE DISTANT CANADA GEESE HEAD FOR THE HARBOR MOUTH

Managed to get Wednesday night’s blog published early so took myself for a drive down around the Bayfield harbor around sunset. Tonight’s photos are from Wednesday night.

FISHING BOATS TETHERED TO A BAYFIELD DOCK
Rolling thunder boomers out over the lake this morning ushered in a rainy start to the day. Pheebs & I had to get the bird feeders out between showers. No sign of the Raccoon this morning so hopefully yesterday mornings scare will have him going elsewhere from now on.
<<< BINS OF FISHING NETS BESIDE AN OLD FISHING SHED
Waited around this morning to see if Passport Canada would phone back but they didn't.  No idea what's up but when it comes to Passport issues it is not something to take lightly or shluff off.  As Canadians, we are on thin ice every time we skate back & forth across that border.  We know RV'ers who were turned back at the border for whatever reasons & their RV days were over right there & then.  Sandra & Gordon come to mind from near Ottawa.  With bureaucracy being the way it is, a small mistake, a misunderstanding, or an oversight can have dire consequences for travelers hoping to travel Stateside.  And, it has increased meaning for us now because of our house & property in Arizona. 

Decided to head for Mitchell Ontario & visit my Uncle Harry at the Ritz Villa Care Facility later this morning.  Heavy rain showers followed us all the way there.  Harry was in a talkative mood & Pheebs even got some smiles & chuckles out of him.  He's still doing reasonably well for his age.  He will be 96 in a couple weeks.  Rain ended & we drove home through a heavy sludge of humidity.  Our temps soared to over 80F which was warmer than Congress, Arizona.  Spent the afternoon in front a fan. 

SAME 3 GEESE HEADING DOWN RIVER AS SEEN IN FIRST PHOTO
Take out Coffee & Muffin at Tim Hortons on the way home today which made me think of something.  Wonder how many people eat their muffins upside down the way I do.  Bottom first.  I always roll my muffin over, peel off the paper & pick away at the softer bottom section until it's gone.  Then comes the tasty mushroom shaped top part which I call the lid.  I always save the lid for last because to me it's the tastiest part of the muffin.  You can tell I do have myself some very deep thoughts some days..........
 

PUTTING BOATS IN THE WATER FOR ANOTHER SEASON 
Took me awhile but I have finally broken my morning television news routine. Always watched the news each morning to see what events had transpired in the world overnight. Seems the majority of networks & pretty well all of the local channels have gone to the morning ‘Happy Gang’ routine now. Newscasts have been turned into frivolous entertainment shows with as many as 4 people bantering & cackling back & forth with each one vying for attention with silly little humorous quips & annoying giggles & phony laughter. Between all that & the reams of mind numbing commercials interrupting every few minutes, I just decided enough was enough & this year stuck to my guns & have left the television off in the mornings. Why start the day off on the wrong foot by having people annoy me. By the way, I like my newscasts delivered by one person, straight up, not shaken, & not stirred!!

THIS FISHING BOAT AWAITS AN EARLY MORNING CATCH OF FRESH PERCH

As I type this tonight, heavy storms are rolling in across the lake trouncing us in heavy downpours & driving the humidity out of the air setting up cooler temps & some fog.  I raced over to the lake after supper in hopes of catching some dramatic stormy sky’s but it was a solid sheet of gray out over the lake & I barely beat the rainy deluge back home.  Left the cameras in the Jeep & made a mad dash into the house.  Can you tell I am feeling a lot better about my legs & my legs are feeling a lot better about me:))   

   
TexCyn from TEXCYN LIFE joined us today on our Blog Followers list. Looks like we have another dog lover here. Welcome aboard & keep all those tails a waggin:)) Your little Class C looks a bit intimidated tucked in beside all those big 18 wheelers.

After pouring a bit more thought into my mention of the Wagonteamster site, both Kelly & I would have to say we are both inclined to agree with HOBOPALS, BOB, & GYPSY’S thoughts.  The concept is interesting enough & I do understand this fellows desire to do something different but in this day & age of heavy traffic & congested roads I think the time has past for attempting something like that.  I have respect for his drive & determination but it is not only a danger to the horses & the wagon driver himself but it is a danger to surrounding traffic.  One tragedy has already occurred.  The unknowing poor horses died, (to me that was the worst part) the wagon driver injured & how must that unsuspecting truck driver have felt after the accident.  Just our thoughts here at The Bayfield Bunch tonight & I do wish this fellow & his horses all the best & safe travels.

BAYFIELD’S BEACH & RIVER MOUTH PIERS

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A guy was taking sky-diving lessons. The instructor explained that it was time for his first jump, and all he had to do was jump from the plane, count to six, and pull the rip cord. A truck would be waiting for him in the field where he would land.
The man jumped from the plane when he was told to, and counted to six. When he pulled the rip cord, the parachute wouldn’t open. He tried the reserve chute and that didn’t open.
Frustrated, he muttered to himself as he fell, “I’ll bet the truck won’t be waiting for me either.”
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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

MOTORHOME RUN:)) BIKE RUN:))…..& THE GOVERNMENT PHONES US:((

PHEEBS & I TAKE THE MOTORHOME FOR A SPIN IN THE COUNTRY THIS MORNING

Heard a scuffling sound on our back porch this morning around 4 a.m. Turned on the porch light & opened the patio door. Hadn’t realized Pheebs was right behind me & she was through the door like a bullet & knocked a fleeing raccoon right off the top step. Luckily there was a pine tree only a dozen feet away & the Coon quickly scrambled up the tree leaving Pheebs to frantically scramble around below. The Raccoon was long gone out of the tree by the time I checked again around 7. Close call for all 3 of us because had Pheebs cornered the Coon at the other end of the porch there could very well have been injuries to all 3 of us by the time the ensuing fracas would have been over:((
FIRST RUN WITH THE BIKE THIS YEAR
I was encouraged at first light to see a touch of sunlight filtering through the Pine trees. My Psyche was definitely requiring a sunny day & I was feeling a growing need to fire up the Motorcycle & head out for a spin, regardless of temperatures. Moving this heavy Motorcycle around in our soft pea stone covered driveway is always a Herculean event & oh how I wished I hadn’t put all that pea stone gravel down years ago. That was another Herculean event in itself as I spread all those tons of pea stone around with a wheelbarrow, shovel, & rake. Took me days & days & days…..

A STOP AT BAYFIELD’S SUNSET PARK OVERLOOKING LAKE HURON
It’s been nearly a month to the day we arrived home from the Southwest. That means the rig has been sitting stationary for the past 30 days. Time for some Motorhome exercise so Pheebs & I took it for a 10 mile spin around a couple big country blocks. Rode smooth as ever & everything appeared, sounded, & felt fine. For me, a Motorhome is always a pleasure to drive. It’s like floating down the road on a big smooth cloud with a huge panoramic view always coming at you through the large scenic windshield. And, sitting up high just seems to expand all those beautiful horizons too.

AWWW COME ON DAD LET’S JUST HEAD ER FER ARIZONY…..OH I WISH WE COULD PHEEBS, I WISHED WE COULD
Scary phone call around 9 this morning….why? The Government called!! If ever a Government agency phones, you know it’s not to wish you a nice day. And so it was with this call. And, they were looking for me!! I quickly ran out to the garden shed & hid under a garbage can. Actually, when the Passport Office called, Pheebs & I were out motoring around in the Motorhome. Kelly said I’d be back shortly so the caller said they would phone back at 11 but that call never came. Waited around all day wondering why Passport Canada had called but guess we’ll have to wait until tomorrow now. Obviously something to do with my recent passport renewal application, but what:((
 

BAYFIELD BEACH & SAILBOATS AWAITING THEIR TIME IN THE WATER THIS SUMMER

It was mid afternoon before I got the bike on the road with our temps getting up around 68F. Cloudy, but the air felt warm. I generally don’t venture too far from home on my first bike run every Spring just in case there are any problems caused by the bike’s long winter hibernation. Nice once again to be out roaring down the road with the wind trying it’s best to rip my face off. Always kinda like that feeling because it has a habit of straightening out those sun frazzled Arizona winter wrinkles.
 

SOON THIS AREA ALONG THE BAYFIELD RIVER WILL BE COMPLETELY LINED WITH DOCKED BOATS
Reader Jim A. sent me an email recently with a website he thought I might find interesting. Glancing over the site I think there may be other readers out here who would also be interested in checking out this fellows ongoing unusual but interesting journey across the United States. Be sure to check out WAGONTEAMSTER. I think he has just begun the 4th leg of a somewhat bizarre (meaning bizarre in a good way) & fantastic trip heading westward.  But, at the beginning of his journey, he had a tragic accident…………….

I PROMISE TO BE A GOOD GIRL DAD IF YOU TAKE ME TO ARIZONA AGAIN

GROANER’S CORNER:((
Q: Why don't ghosts like to go out in the rain?
A: Because it dampens their spirits!
Q: What's invisible and very frightened?
A: A ghost with the sheet scared out of him.
- Why don't witches like to ride their brooms when they're angry?
They're afraid of flying off the handle.
- Where do baby ghosts go during the day?
Dayscare centers
- What do you get when you cross Bambi with a ghost?
Bamboo
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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

NEEDLE TECHNOLOGY HAS SURE IMPROVED:))

SPRING PRIMROSE TIME IN OUR FLOWER GARDEN

Not exactly what I would call warm mornings yet but I was able to open the patio door beside my recliner long enough this morning to hear a chorus of birds waking up around 5:30. A great chirping way to start the day.
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Hustled myself off to the Vampire Clinic in Goderich first thing this morning to get rid of some blood as per required. I like to get stuff like that over & done with right up front. Arrived early & was the third one to get needled. Boy, they sure have made advancements in needle technology. Gone are the old painful hollowed out screw driver ends from years ago that hurt so much. Never felt a darn thing this morning. What’s up with that….. Coffee & carrot muffin to go at McDonald’s before heading home.

BUMBLE BEE IN FLIGHT

Here’s a little problem we sometimes encounter with our ‘comments section or ‘Shout Box’ & I’m sure other folks have run into this too.  We have a fair few folks commenting from time to time & many of them have the same first name.  It is hard for us sometimes to know which George, Bill, Sue, Sam, Mary or Matilda is commenting.  Ok, maybe not Matilda.  Sure would help if first name’s could be preceded or followed with something identifying which ‘John’ has commented or left a Shout.  Maybe, John from Snootsville or Big Nose Nellie, Billy Beantown, maybe Sue from Sycamore or Sammy from Miami:))

OUR FOREST FLOOR IS COVERED IN TRILLIUMS

From time to time I am asked what kind of a camera I use & each time I have to go get my camera & look at what lenses I have on what & which model is where.  I use 4 cameras & they are all different so decided to put all that camera info onto one page & place it in our right hand column below our Archives.  Have entitled it…WHAT KIND OF A CAMERA DOES AL USE:))  Also finally updated our Page entitled, KELLY & AL – WHO WE ARE.  That page is below our Blog Followers list at the top.

Nothing blogable to tell you about the rest of the day. Cloudy, damp & I don’t even think we made it to 50F here alongside the lake. Sure has been a cold Spring so far.
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Want to see some colorful sea glass? Check out a fun beach combing hobby Peter over at AMERICAN TRAVELER has. Cool colors:))
 

A GATHERING STORM OVER LAKE HURON

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Bubba and Billy Bob were in a local bar enjoying a beer when they decided to get in on the weekly charity raffle. They bought five tickets each at a dollar a pop.
The following week, when the raffle was drawn each had won a prize. Billy Bob won 1st place, a year's supply of gourmet spaghetti sauce and extra-long spaghetti. Bubba won 6th prize, a toilet brush.
About a week or so had passed when the men met back in the Neighborhood bar for a couple of beers. Bubba asked Billy Bob how he liked his prize, to which Billy Bob replied, "Great, I love spaghetti!"
Billy Bob asked Bubba, "How about you? How's the toilet brush?"
"Not so good," replied Bubba. "I reckon I'm gonna go back to paper."
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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

DR. APPOINTMENT GOOD, WEATHER BAD, & A LEFT/RIGHT BRAIN THEORY

TONIGHT’S RANDOM PHOTOS ARE FROM MY FILES….TOOK THIS ONE AT BAYFIELD’S SUNSET PARK IN JUNE OF 2009…NO IDEA WHO THIS COUPLE WAS BUT WISHED I HAD GOT THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS TO SEND THEM THIS PHOTO……..

I’m certainly glad my Doctor’s appointment turned out better than our cold, gloomy, & wet rainy day. Yikes, is it ever going to warm up this year.

BAYFIELD HOSTS VARIOUS CAR SHOWS THROUGH THE SUMMER FEATURING CHEVY CORVETTE & FORD THUNDERBIRD DAYS AS WELL AS VINTAGE CAR DAYS WHICH THIS PHOTO IS FROM A FEW YEARS AGO.

My appointment was at 9 so of course I was there in the waiting room early. The blood work lab is here as well so one large waiting room serves all. If there were 50 seats in that waiting room, 49 & a half were filled with people waiting to get rid of some blood. I call it the Vampire Clinic & unfortunately I will be there myself in the coming days slumped in a chair with eyes cast to the floor holding a little number tag in my hand. “Next, number 89.” Oh crap that’s me. Here I go….ouchy, ouchy, ouchy.

I am extremely fortunate to have such a great Nurse Practitioner in Sue Leddy. Here is a lady who makes you feel like you are actually an important human being even if some of us out here have days where we doubt that sometimes. Where Doc Robot freezes your very blood upon entering the room, my Nurse Practitioner immediately warms your heart, puts you at ease, & makes you comfortable. She spent a fair bit of time with me this morning because my list of problems was unusually long.  Here’s the condensed version of what’s going on & what’s coming up.

AN OLD FORGOTTEN FOOT BRIDGE

She suspects the Varicose veins in my left leg (one of the reasons I don’t wear shorts) may be part & parcel of my overall left leg problem impeding blood flow. There are definite problems with my right knee because of old injuries & she is also suspecting possible nerve damage radiating into my legs from several lower back injuries years ago. She set me up with two additional appointments at the Goderich hospital next week. One for an ultra-sound on my legs & the other for X-rays of my lower back & legs with attention going specifically to my right knee. I am also scheduled for blood work shortly at the Vampire Clinic to check for a whole host of other things as well. It will be the results of those tests (diabetes, prostrate, cholesterol, etc.) that could lead to some additional yukky stuff procedures. In the meantime she has re-newed my Arthrotec prescription.

OUR HOUSE BEFORE WE BOUGHT IT IN LATE 2002

 

OUR HOUSE 5 YEARS LATER AFTER WE REMODELLED & LANDSCAPED IT

Also, over the next 2 weeks she is easing me onto a nerve pain pill for my legs called PMS-Nortriptyline. I see her again on May 14th to, amongst other things, see if those pills have left me stranded in outer space somewhere or are actually working. Or both. And, I think the PMS in this case stands for Painful-Man-Syndrome:)) You know how us cry baby guys can’t handle this pain stuff as well as you ladies can, right………..:))

AFTER DIGGING IN THE FRONT YARD POND YEARS AGO, FROGS JUST STARTED SHOWING UP EVERY YEAR AFTER

Geeeezzzz, looks like I’m filling this blog all up with boring medical stuff. But, it’s a cold rainy day so I just don’t have a lot of other stuff to blog about. Well, I do, but that’s for another dull day. I’ll give you a hint…….‘Blog Evolution’.

IN A FLURRY OF BLURRY BLUE JAY FEATHERS

Now, I do have another bit of a problem that cropped up last summer & has been getting steadily worse. My Nurse Practitioner said it is imperative I talk to my Urologist (Doc Robot) in the next few weeks before surgery about this because it could be related to the Kidney Stone problem. I’m hoping that it is. In either case, Ice Man Robo Doc handles both those departments & it is he who I have to deal with. This is really starting to sound like ‘General Hospital’ so let’s move on………..

 

SPLISH SPLASH I WAS TAKING A BATH 

Awhile back I had an email from a reader/friend with some interesting food for thought.  Ever meet somebody you just kind of unexplainably hit if off with right away while maybe the next person you meet just kind of turned you right off.  I’m sure we have all experienced this.  Or maybe you have met someone, took a liking to them & struck up a friendship only to find out after awhile the two of you really don’t get along that well because of….differences.  You might have a lot in common with this person, have respect for them & yet your personalities begin to clash.  You just can’t seem to agree with each other’s take on things in a lot of areas.  And then it get’s personal & the brief friendship is destroyed in a flurry of hard feelings.  Could this, unfortunately be a ‘Right Brain/Left Brain sort of thing.  Two people with similar interests but each one thinking with opposite sides of the brain.  Neither is necessarily right or wrong.  They just think differently & approach things from different perspectives & it’s hard for each one to understand the other’s logic, or lack of it.  I Googled LEFT BRAIN vs RIGHT BRAIN & came up with what I consider to be a sensible & possible explanation of this theory.  You can click on the colored link above for that.  Thought it was an interesting concept.  And why did I write about this Left Brain/Right Brain thing??  Let’s just say it had a bit of something to do with Blogs, Bloggers, & Blogging & a lot to do with my Right Brain thought patterns.  And yes, I think it is the right side of my brain that does most of my thinking for me, with some welcome left side crossovers of course:))

 

HEY, YOU TALKIN TO ME!! 

Another Canadian Snow Bird arrived home today after an 8 month journey south of the border.  TRAVELS WITH CC & DIXIE have a lot of photos heading north up the eastern seaboard through Tennessee, Virginia Washington DC & New York State.  You may remember them from their stop at Tiffin Motor Homes in Red Bay, Alabama awhile back.

HEADING OUT FOR A LAKE HURON SUNSET CRUISE AT THE MOUTH OF THE BAYFIELD RIVER

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Here’s a few diddy’s about men & women.  And, remember folks, I don’t write these things, I just pass them along………….. 
- A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need.
- A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
- To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little.
To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.
- A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, and she does.
- A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

PHEEBS TAKES AN UNEXPECTED DIP

Well, on to some lighter blog fare. If I can’t think of any material in the next little while I’ll just have to get myself out there & create me a batch of new stuff. We have warmer weather headed our way this week & that should make for some nice Spring photo opportunities, motorcycle runs, & back road Jeep tours. I will be bopping around the countryside between medical appointments as well so I fully expect to find some interesting blog fodder in my travels. Yes indeed, could be an interesting summer coming up.
NEW BEACH UMBRELLAS AWAIT THE SUMMER GUESTS ON DEER PARK LODGE’S BEACH >>>
Bringing in our 4 bird feeders every night means I have to carry them out again in the morning. Pheebs always helps me with this little chore & I think that is pretty nice of her. It’s funny how the birds wait for those feeders to come out. Soon as I step onto the porch with a couple feeders in hand the joyous chirping begins & the birds are all a-flutter in the trees & shrubs around our front yard. Breakfast is served. Pheebs quickly darts about making sure that rascally Raccoon isn’t hiding behind a bush somewhere. She also disperses any lurking black Squirrels or Cats from the area as well. Neighbor’s cats are a problem because they kill the birds, frogs, small red Squirrels & Chipmunks in our yard. We don’t want Pheebs to hurt any of the Squirrels or Cats but we do want her to put the scary bajeebers into them just the same!!
 <<< DOGGY TRACKS & DRIFTWOOD
Kelly will be back to work full time for the summer at Deer Park Lodge in a couple weeks. Very handy for her because Deer Park is only about a mile from our place right on the shores of beautiful Lake Huron. A lot of renovations & landscaping going on there right now before all the tourists & summer guests come rolling in.  Loaded up the Pheebs & took a drive over for a look see around. Nice new pond & waterfall up & running. Cabins are looking great with their new coats of interior paint, new floors & walls etc. Deer Park probably has one of the finest private beaches in this whole area so we headed down for a walk along the water’s edge. Lake Huron was showing off her beautiful aqua marine greens & blue colors again today. Tried to coax the Pheebs in for a dip but she would have no part of it. She’s just not a water dog. Kinda like me, I’m not a big water critter either. Swimming pools & hot tubs just don’t cut if for me. Guess I’m just an old desert rat at heart.  Max & Checkers loved the water but the little Motormouse just hated it.

NICE DAY FOR A WALK ON THE BEACH

Pheebs did take an unexpected dip though when I called her from across a shallow pool of water next to the lake.  As she came running down the beach I think she thought she could just race right across the top of the pool.  ‘Ker-Ssssplash’  I could tell she was startled as she quickly hauled herself back up & out of the cold, wet watery water.  She then raced around the end of it running up to me shaking the water off in all directions as she came.

OOOOOOPS 

SAVE ME MOM……

PHEEBS HAULED HERSELF OUT OF THAT DARNED WET WATER PRETTY QUICK
Our temps had dropped to about 28F last night & I forgot to crack on a little heat in the Motorhome but after a quick check this morning everything appeared fine. Think it was two years ago a pipe broke in our kitchen faucet when the temps dipped well below freezing for a couple nights in early April.

NICE WASHROOM ON THE BEACH WAITS PATIENTLY FOR PATRONS TO BE SEATED

Enough warmth in the sun this afternoon to warm up the metal on the Motorcycle allowing me to have another go at all the pitted chrome with some rubbing compound. Shined up well but I’m afraid once chrome is pitted, that’s it.

THIS OLD DRIFTWOOD TREE HAD BEEN IN THE WATER A LONG TIME & MAY HAVE FLOATED ACROSS THE LAKE FROM THE MICHIGAN SIDE
Three new Blog Followers today. I think ROBBIE came aboard Saturday along with Don & Donna from DRIVING MISS DONNA. Noticed CINDY joined our travels this afternoon. The Bayfield Bunch welcomes you folks aboard & thanks you all for your interest:))

BEACH CHAIRS WAITING ON THEIR RETURN TRIP TO THE BEACH SHORTLY
I have a 9 a.m. appointment with my Nurse Practitioner in the morning to see what we can do about these legs of mine. Just too much pain in my legs to be Arthritis I’m thinking.  My mobility is now being affected.  Also have to get a couple other problems looked at that have cropped up as well. Imagine these things are going to result in more appointments, tests & probably some more yukky unmentionable procedures. But, first things first so we’ll see what comes out of tomorrow. If things get too rough I think I’ll just jump in the Jeep, drive back to Arizona, & hide myself behind a big old Saguaro Cactus for awhile.

THERE IS MORE TO DEER PARK LODGE’S BEACH THAN JUST A SANDY BEACH
GROANER’S CORNER:(( A Christian missionary was making his first visit to a Cannibalistic tribe in Borneo. The missionary asked the chief, "Do you people know anything about religion?" After a pause, the chief answered, "We got a little taste of it when the last missionary was here."
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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

JUST TRYING TO HELP

Long post tonight so I will get right to it......I wrote, re-wrote & revised the original following post a few years back with the thoughts of new Bloggers in mind. I had been Blogging for a couple years & after reading many Blogs & interacting with other Bloggers I felt I had a reasonably good understanding of what just might make up a good RVing Blog. My following thoughts & opinions are only suggestions. They are not to be taken personally by anyone. I can tell you that many of the things I suggest  to do or not to do, I have gone through myself at one time or another & it was fellow Bloggers & Readers who thankfully brought my follies & miss-steps to my attention. Ok, my turn, so here goes……………
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- I recommend not putting music on a blog. It can be annoying. If you insist on music then offer it as an option. Put a button at the top of your blog which people can click on if they really want to hear your favorite tunes. Some people put in a video option but the key word there is 'option.' I wouldn’t recommend making it a default video that people have to sit through. Same thing with 'Slide Shows.' Remember, there are still a lot of internet folks out here with slow internet speeds plus all the Air Card people with their 5 Gig limits. That audio visual stuff just totally chews up download times & bandwidth.
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- I suggest not loading your site with aggravating advertising, regardless of how much you think you need the .49 cents a month extra income. If I click on a site that is loaded with stationary or pop up advertising I immediately pop right out of there & I’m not likely to return. I remember seeing one blog so full of advertising that it was hard to find the actual post itself.  Advertising can be OK but the key words here are, ‘not loading your site’.
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- Try not to fall into the rut of starting your blog off everyday with the same words & morning routines you used the day before or the day before that, or...... Be creative, be imaginative. You do not have to start your blog from the very beginning moments of awakening. The blog does not have to have a standard beginning or ending. Again, be creative & think outside the box. Start each day from a different perspective. In any book, that first paragraph can make or break the reader's interest in the rest of the story!! I had to drop a blog last summer because after about 3 months I could not get past the first paragraph anymore because of basically the same routine every morning. Nice people I'm sure, but after awhile I just referred to it as, 'the coffee blog' & moved on. I have to be careful with my own Blog in not starting it with a weather report every day. But hey, I’m Canadian:))
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- If you don’t like a Blogger or a Blogs content, just don’t read it. How simple can that be. There are those who will read blogs for no other purpose than to find fault & ridicule the Blogger with rude & sarcastic comments. I have dropped some Blogs because of content & one Blog so far due to the personality of the Blogger.  Don’t let yourself be goaded by so called Anonymous commenters.  I have fallen into that baited trap more than once. 
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- Suggest you stay away from all that glitz, glamour & glitter stuff. Dancing bears, frolicking flamingos, Las Vegas billboard lights, reams of happy faces & flying Brazilian billboards proclaiming that you, 'Have A Nice Day!!'
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- Suggest you not ramble on with long drawn out blogs like I do sometimes. Make them shorter & keep them interesting. And yes, I know my blog photos are too big & messes with people’s slower connections.  I have made a lot of changes to my Blog but have been unable so far to make myself make that photo size change. 
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- Write your post in short paragraphs & avoid running your whole blog into one big long rambling hard to read block of wordy mush. I used to do that until a couple readers straightened me out. I may not be grammatically correct with my paragraphing but it is much easier for readers to read & that takes priority.  In fact, readers have straightened me out on a lot of things so I suggest you listen to readers & make changes where applicable.
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- Try to vary your blog topics every day & avoid getting tunnelled into the same project, mood or subject matter over & over. Yes, I know this is another one I fall into occasionally, especially on the moody side of things. In other words, keep people guessing as to what your next post is going to be about. Make tomorrow's post different from today's. Try to avoid a repetitive daily routine.  Make yourself unpredictable.  Just my opinions of course.
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- A step by step, blow by blow description of a button factory tour can get pretty dry pretty fast. Add a link to the button factory & let the reader click on that if he wants' to know how many colored buttons are sewn backwards onto a checkerboard jelly bean shirt on assembly line B.
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- If your going to add photos, treat them the same as your writing & make them the best they can be. Take a few seconds in your photo editing program to straighten out those annoying tilted horizons for example. A tilted horizon is not how you saw the picture & a tilted horizon is not how I want to see it either. Spend a little time & get to know your photo editing program & make your already good photos…..better.
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- Some folks have a habit of using short forms. Fine for them & maybe a few close friends of theirs who have the inside track but it sure doesn’t work for me. How much more effort & time to type, University of Western Ontario as opposed to UWO. Or, how about GTSIBTMBICGU…..??
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- Remember to add your thoughts, feelings, & opinions about what you are seeing & doing. I feel it adds character to a Blog instead of just, "well, then we went to Bill's Bargain Mart & I got a fly swatter & then we drove to Ambercrombieville & Hank got an ice cream cone with birdseed sprinkles on it & then we decided it was time to go home so we went home & George drove the car but not too fast because we met Ralph and Alice, Ed & Trixie and Bert and Ernie and Fred & Wilma and Rosie & Rufus and, and, and, and, etc. etc. etc!! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:(( Be creative & use your imagination. Throw in some humor, add some feelings. Again, get yourself outside the box & push some boundaries.
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- And, I wouldn’t recommend doing as I have done in the past by poo pooing certain areas of the country or States just because they are not in MY area of interest. Be understanding & considerate of other people's choice of RV vehicles or style of RVing. Because you don't agree with or care for certain things does not mean you have to put it in your blog. Some things are best left un-said. Trust me on this one folks.....I know what I am talking about:))
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- If you must take a fellow blogger to task over something be respectful & sensitive enough do it in a private email & not in your blog. I have never used my blog to criticize another Blogger nor have I ever left rude or sarcastic comments on a fellow Blogger’s post. Disagreeing with a Blogger’s opinion is normal & acceptable, but to trash a Blogger personally, using ridicule & sarcasm, to me, is totally immature & egotistical.
Remember, principles before personalities.

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- Some Bloggers answer each & every commenter. That’s a nice personal touch of course & I think I might have tried that once in the early days.  It’s a way of having folks return to your site to see how you have responded to their comment. Nice way to interact with folks & increase your Sitemeter daily visits number as well, if your into numbers that is. But remember, it does mess up the accuracy of your numbers if your trying to get a true Sitemeter feedback count on your Blog. If you receive 20 comments & answer each one then your counter will state you have received 40 comments. Mighty impressive & a quick way to boost your numbers…..but not accurate if you are interested in actual incoming comment numbers. All depends where you place your priorities.
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- Be creative with your comments on other people's blogs. Make them original, sincere, helpful if possible, & heartfelt.  And, don’t forget the humor.  Remember, the more comments you leave on other people’s Blogs, the more comments you are likely to receive on your own Blog. But, don’t get caught up in the numbers game here again. Make your comments meaningful to the Blogger. On a side note….I see some really fine Blogs out here but often times they do not receive a lot or any comments simply because that Blogger is not in the habit of leaving comments on other people’s Blogs. Always felt this was unfortunate but it just seems to be human nature. Kind of like, ‘if you do something for me I will do something for you’.
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- Some folks write a few lines, publish it & then come back a few hours later, write another paragraph & publish that. This is a supposedly clever method used by some to keep people coming back again & again clicking on their site maybe 5 or 6 times a day & that way increasing the numbers & advertising revenues on that particular blog. Again, probably nothing wrong with that except to me it is putting the numbers or advertising dollars first instead of the readers. Not in my nature to do that.
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- Suggest making your blog printing font size large enough for weaker eyes to read. Not everyone has eagle eye vision out here anymore. And don't let your font color bleed into your background color making it nearly invisible.
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- And remember, our blogs are mainly geared to the RV Lifestyle & related matters. Like minded people come to our Blogs because of that. If one starts preaching or pushing their religious or political views it only encourages some types of personalities to come roaring out of their caves with flame throwers in their hands & jump all over you.  You may find your Blog numbers rapidly falling off.   And no, this is not one of the many Blogging mistakes I have made.  (well OK, with one little slightly political rant last summer) If you want to blog about politics & religion I suggest you start up a second blog & target those particular audiences accordingly.....and good luck with that!!
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Well, there you have it. Just wanted to share a few opinions on blogging with the hopes I may have said something here that may help someone. At least get people thinking on how to make some improvements to their Blogs & maybe generate more interest & traffic. Remember, there are no hard & fast rules for Bloggers, just opinions:)) Oh, & GTSIBTMBICGU…..’Got To Stay In Bed This Morning Because I Can’t Get Up. But you already knew that……right:))

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THE LAST PARAGRAPH:  OK, here’s the bottom line & probably the most important line in this whole post…..It’s your Blog & it’s up to you to write it the way you want:))

GROANER’S CORNER:(( It takes a thousand workers to build a castle, a million soldiers to protect a
country, but just one Woman to make a Happy Home. Now there’s a thought eh:))
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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

PHEEBS & I SPLIT A HARVEY BURGER & HEAD FOR THE BEACH:))

NOTICED THIS MORNING MOMMA GOOSE HAS LAID 4 EGGS BY THE POND
I was relieved to get today’s sad memories behind me & feel it’s time to turn a corner & move on.  Bright sunny day but we had an icy Arctic wind coming in off the lake.  Stayed like that all day & tonight we are dropping down around 28F so cracked on a little heat in the rig, brought my hose nozzles inside & turned the house’s outside water taps off.  We really need some heat in the air to get things growing & blooming again.  This lengthy April cold spell has already put our Spring into hibernation far too long now.

PHEEBS & I HEAD OUT IN THE JEEP THIS MORNING

Been cooped up in the house for awhile so grabbed the camera’s, piled the Pheebs into the Jeep & off we headed for Goderich. Picked up a few items & split a Harvey burger with the Kid. I had suggested Burritos at McDonald’s but she wouldn’t go for that.  Not a lot of Mexican in this girl.  Stopped & looked at a little house & property for sale in downtown Goderich & then headed for the dog walking area on the beach. Twenty minutes near the water’s edge in a screamingly cold wind was enough & we were back in the Jeep headed for a hot coffee & carrot muffin at McDonalds. From there it was back home. Just too cold to spend any enjoyable time outside so it was only a few chilly photos I took. 

YUM, LOOKING GOOD DAD 
Finally put a piece of stovepipe around my bird station pole a couple days ago hoping to stop the Raccoon but I see muddy paw prints all the way up so looks like that idea is a bust. Except it might deter the half dozen black Squirrels we have.
 
RETIRED ROD in a comment yesterday had a question where he asks ….. “can you re-tell the story of how Kelly pulled Swamper (Checkers) from the lake”? In January of 2009 I wrote a post entitled, TRAVELING WITH OUR BEST PALS in which I wrote about the original Bayfield Bunch & how we came to be. In that post I tell how Kelly, back in 2006, swam out into Lake Huron to save a dog in distress. If you click on the above colored link entitled, ‘Traveling With Our Best Pals, you can read about that. And, not to worry, this is not another sad story so I encourage you to click the link & read the post about our most best Pals of ever & how they came to be:)) And a big thank you to Retired Rod for reminding me of that post I had written years ago. Makes me now wonder what’s in all those other 1500+ posts I wrote……….:(( 

PHEEBS SNIFFS OUT A DOG WALKING AREA AT GODERICH’S ROTARY COVE BEACH
In searching for the above post I used the search bar on our blog site plus the Blogger Dashboard. At one point I head up to a100 posts visible to me from late August 2008 to January of 2009. That page also showed how many comments we received on each of those blogs. I was surprised to see that most days we had no comments at all & out of 100 posts we only managed to garner a grand total of 96 comments which averages out to less than 1 comment a day. So, for any of you new Blogger folks discouraged at not receiving any or many comments out there, hang on, keep plugging away at your blog & make it as interesting as you can. And, that just reminded me of something else. 

A LONE MALE MALLARD DUCK ALONG THE SHORELINE TO THE RIGHT

I did write a post about 3 years ago in which I gave my thoughts & opinions of what what makes a good blog & what doesn’t. Of course that ruffled some of my fellow Bloggers & I had to deal with some jibs, jabs, & barbs. I did re-write the original post awhile later toning it down a bit. Now here’s an interesting thing. I just went back & re-read that post……. and I still stand behind every word I wrote back then. If anyone is interested in that post, let me know & I will post a link to it & put my head back on the chopping block again……silly fool that I am:)) 
 

LOOKING SOUTH ALONG THE SHORELINE OF LAKE HURON TOWARDS BAYFIELD ABOUT 12 MILES AWAY  
GROANER’S CORNER:(( DRESS CODE FOR A MAJOR FIRM: It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your salary. If we see you wearing $250 Prada sneakers & carrying a $400 Gucci bag we assume you are doing well financially and therefore you do not need a raise. If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes and therefore you do not need a raise. If you dress in- between, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise.
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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com