HOT HUMID DAYS ARE UPON US

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO LIVE BESIDE ONE OF THE LARGEST FRESH WATER LAKES IN THE WORLD....LAKE HURON 

We had ourselves a real smasher of a storm come through in the night that left tree limbs down & our whole area without power from about 4 to 8 a.m. this morning.  A few roads closed due to fallen trees.  The lightning was non stop as were the continuous sharp claps of thunder.  Torrential rains had water running down our driveway.  Been a long time since we had a severe storm like that go through.

Kelly headed off to Cambridge early to see her daughter & two 'Grands.'   I was hoping to begin painting the porch steps but they were too rain soaked from the overnight storm.

 

Little Cora & I hopped into the Jeep & headed for Goderich & a few groceries.  A drive down to the harbor, a stop at the beach & we were home again by 11.  The heavy humidity began settling in around noon & that was enough of being outside for me.

It seems Google has been busy while we have been sleeping.  You might want to check your Blogger Dashboard if you haven't done so recently.  For some of us, maybe not all, that Dashboard has changed.  It is all part of changes at Google & you can read about it here... BLOGGER REDESIGNED.  I stumbled across the change by accident Monday night & the total redesign threw me for a loop because nothing was like it was.  The night was late & I didn't have the patience to try & re-familiarize & figure everything out then but I sat down & had a second look at it today.  Everything is still there but now you have to find it & re-acquaint yourself with it again because the format is completely different.  I would suggest folks do that now before you have a problem down the road & have to go to the Dashboard......& find it all ker-fuddled.  Only thing I don't like is the lighter printing on white backgrounds, etc.  I find dark bolder printing on a slightly colored background much easier to read.

I almost hate to mention this for fear of jinxing myself but I am about to enter day 4 of, ‘no peanut butter & honey sandwiches.’ In my last two trips to town I went right by McDonalds & Tim Horton’s & I’ve been working at changing some other eating habits as well. Just gotta get rid of this excess weight & that’s all there is to it!!

 

At the bottom of our right hand column I have added some interesting weather trivia such as...the top 10 Hurricane & Tornado States across America.  Where does it get the hottest & coldest.  Who gets the most snow.  What cities are prone to hail.  Who gets the most sun in a year, the most rain or the most dry days.  Lots of interesting trivia there....if your interested:))  Just head that-away >>>>>>>>>>

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Senior citizens have taken to texting with gusto. They even have their own vocabulary:
BFF: Best Friend Fainted
BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth
CBM: Covered by Medicare
FWB: Friend with Beta-blockers
LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out
GGPBL: Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low!

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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.

SPENT A COUPLE HOURS ON MY HANDS & KNEES THIS MORNING

Sure do appreciate this summer like weather we have been having especially after the cold wet dark Spring we & many others had, or may be still having.

MY LITTLE GARTER SNAKE PAL IS STILL IN THE BACK  YARD
Kelly picked up the stain for our deck on Saturday & with a quick check of the weather Sunday night I knew today was the day I would be on my hands & knees doing deck duty. First brush stroke hit the deck at 8 a.m. sharp & I kept right at it until I laid down the last brush stroke on the deck steps at 10 a.m. Wasn’t real impressed with the ‘Pine Needle’ color at first but once the deck dried & I saw the overall result, I was satisfied with the color.

DECK WAS BEGINNING TO LOOK A LITTLE GRUNGY, SO IT WAS TIME........
    
Caught ourselves a break this morning on the electrical problem we have been having with plugging the Motor Home into shore power & always having it trip the breaker. It was suggested that we try an electrical outlet that was not a ‘Ground Fault Interruption' type. (GFI) All three of our outside outlets are GFI’s so grabbed a longer extension cord & plugged it into an electrical outlet in our shed &….. ‘Walla’, we had electricity in our Motor Home again. We are now able to keep our solar batteries charged with shore power. We have been told that GFI switches & RV’s are not always the best of friends.

HAPPIER MEMORIES FROM LAST SUMMER
I really must get myself in gear & clean our sunroom windows.  It's a job I should have made a priority way back in April.  The windows don't look dirty until the sun shines through them but that's no excuse.  Probably 95% of all my bird photos have been taken through dirty windows.  Oh dear:((

Kelly is off to Cambridge Ontario Tuesday to visit her daughter & the 'Grands.'  I will likely be busy putting a coat of paint on our porch steps in preparation of laying down the new carport on our porch.  Precise measurements have to be made & holes have to be cut in the right spots of the carpet to accommodate railing posts, etc so that will not be a job for me!!  It's best that I stay away when things involve measuring & cutting things, regardless of what it is.

RELAXING BY A CAMPFIRE IN OUR BACK YARD
In last night's post I talked about my preference for pockets in my shirts & it dawned on me later that it may be a hold over from my younger days.  I was a smoker for about 20 years way back then.  So, how does that tie in with shirt pockets?  A smoker needs a convenient place to carry his smokes & what better place than a shirt pocket.  My pocket was never without a pack of smokes in it & that may may very well have been where my brain bonded with my shirt pocket.  And, by the way, I quit smoking nearly 30 years ago.

SEAGULLS PERCHED ON AN OLD SHIPWRECK JUST OFF BAYFIELD'S BEACH
And, why do some of us guys wear the same things over & over everyday?  Well, I know why I do but can't speak for the rest of the gang.  I bought my latest 'wear every day shirt' in Douglas Arizona this past winter on Boxing Day.  I have worn that shirt almost every day since then despite buying a couple other shirts that day.  First, it has 2 button down pockets:))  It fits me loosely & I like that in a shirt.  I'm not one to tuck a shirt in.  It is made of warm flannelette material which feels nice on my skin & I like that too.  I cannot tolerate anything tight around my wrists or neck so I never do the sleeve buttons up or the top buttons on the shirt itself.  It is the best fitting & most comfortable shirt I have.....so why wouldn't I wear it every day!!
 
Now, in this warmer weather I have a favorite short sleeve shirt which I basically wear for the above same reason.  I have maybe 20 shirts in my closet but basically only ever wear 2 of them.

LEFT PHOTO SHOWS THE SHIRT FROM DOUGLAS ARIZONA & RIGHT PHOTO SHOWS MY SHORT SLEEVE SUMMER SHIRT THAT I'VE HAD LONGER THAN I CAN REMEMBER
Yes, yes, I do wash my shirt once a week or more often depending how much food I have dumped down the front of it.  While my shirt is in the wash machine & dryer I anxiously pace the floor in a temporary shirt waiting until I can haul it out of the dryer & quickly get it back on again.  Some people have a security blanket & I have my security shirt.  If in an emergency like meeting a crowd of hikers coming the other way on a trail I can quickly squat down beside the path & hide under my shirt.  Works every time:)) 
              
So, bottom line.......... when something fits so comfortably, why wear anything else.  Seems like the right thing to do & makes a whole lot of darn good sense in my little world.

TUGBOAT IN THE GODERICH HARBOR WITH LARGE GRAIN SILOS ON THE BACKGROUND
And here you thought I was going to come up with some 'deep thoughts' on why some guys wear the same thing over & over.  Well, I'm sure there might be 'deep thoughts' for some people out there, but for me it's just a simple comfort thing.........10-4:))

ENJOYING A QUIET SUNSET ON BAYFIELD'S PIER
GROANERS' CORNER:((  A frog telephoned the Psychic Hotline and was told, "You are going to meet a beautiful young woman who will want to know everything about you."
The frog said, "That's great! Will I meet her at a party, or what?"
"No," said the psychic, "Next semester in her biology class."
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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
https://mail.google.com/?v=b&cs=wh&to=stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.

I'M A BUTTON UP SHIRT KINDA GUY.....AND HERE'S WHY:))

IRIS FLOWERS IN OUR FRONT YARD 

Managed to get a better sleep Saturday night & that made all the difference in my Sunday energy levels.  Kelly had mentioned there was a first time ever vintage Motorcycle rally in downtown Bayfield today from 10 to 2 so that is where I headed.  The rally was put on by the Sarnia Vintage Motorcycle Group & hosted by the historic Albion Hotel in Bayfield.  Not that I am a vintage Motorcycle buff but it was interesting enough to get me out of the house & see something different for a change.

   

IN FRONT OF THE ALBION HOTEL IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN BAYFIELD 

I was there & parked my bike about 10.  Grabbed a coffee, took a few pictures of about 15 to 20 bikes & then headed off on my own bike ride through the countryside.

      

Stopped in Zurich for a chicken salad sandwich on brown & headed back to Bayfield a couple hours later.  Slipped into town doing a drive by the Vintage rally & noticed there were probably a hundred plus bikes all parked around the historic Albion Hotel, who incidentally sponsored today's rally.  Looked to me like it was a big success for the Albion & all the other downtown Bayfield business's as well.  Wouldn't be at all surprised if it becomes an annual event & that would be a good thing for the merchants of Bayfield.

JERRY RADER'S CATERING, ZURICH ONTARIO....MY CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH STOP 

I kept my eyes glued on a Squirrel for about 20 minutes this afternoon as he tried to figure out a way to get on the bird station platform.  Made half a dozen attempts from various angles but just couldn't get it figured out.  He finally shinnied up a skinny metal pole I had some wind chimes on & leaped about 5 feet from the top of it onto the bird station.  Took me about 10 seconds to get out there & scare him off, & another 20 seconds to move that wind chime pole to another part of the yard.  Ok Mr. Squirrel, ball's in your court again!!

 

THE SQUIRREL FAILED TO GET ALL THE WAY UP THE POST IN THIS ATTEMPT

FINALLY MAKES IT ONTO THE BIRD STATION PLATFORM BY CLIMBING UP A NEARBY WIND CHIMES POLE!!      

Yep, I'm a button up shirt kinda guy alright.  As far back as I can remember I have mainly worn shirts most days.  I went through the T-Shirt & Sweatshirt phase for a short while back whenever when but always came back to wearing good old practical shirts.  I know most guys wear T-Shirts in the summer but I have never understood why.  To me a T-Shirt is confining & hot.  No air circulation.  I wear T-Shirts in cool & cold weather only because they hold body heat in & keep me warm.  Never understood the logic of Polo shirts either.  Aside from maybe a couple buttons at the top & an alligator logo it's like being wrapped in a blanket on hot days.  Never much cared for sweatshirts either despite all the fancy Football graphics & University logos plastered all over some of them.  Logic takes precedence over fashion in my world & besides, I don't like pulling something over my head that's going to mess up my hair, right!!

HEEEEEYYYY....WHERE'S MY HAIRBRUSH!!  (AND THAT'S WHAT SHE REALLY SAID TOO:))

  

ALWAYS LOTS OF LADY BIKERS AT ANY EVENT NOWADAYS 

Now, let me tell you why I much prefer wearing button up shirts.  First is the fact that with a shirt, you get air conditioning on those hot days.  Undo the buttons & let the cooling summer breezes flow around your bare skin.  Try that with a T-Shirt, Polo Shirt or Sweatshirt.  Summer shirts also come in far cooler materials.  And by cool I don't mean hip!!  I mean 'cool' like in the cooling factor of  shirt material.  I can button up a shirt & tuck it in to add a bit of warmth or I can unbutton it & pull it out for a cooling affect.  Pretty neat so far eh.  But, here's why I really prefer shirts....pockets:)) 

THIS FELLOW PROUDLY DISPLAYS HIS URAL SIDECAR MOTORCYCLE

   

YEP, THAT LOOKS LIKE A RUSSIAN  HAMMER & SICKLE TO ME ALRIGHT 

I carry a small black note book & pen with me every single day of the year & have been doing so for the past 28 years.  That notebook is vital in keeping me organized because it is where I write everything down most every day.  Maybe some folks can head off to the store with 7 or 8 items to pick up & remember every one of them but am not one of those total recall people & it's funny because the very first time Kelly & I ever met ,she noticed the notebook & pen in my pocket & wondered right off......is this guy a 'Nerd.'

FIRST, THIS GUY CAME BY RIDING HIS SIDECAR MOTORCYCLE DOWN THE STREET

THEN, HE CAME BACK UP THE STREET RIDING IN HIS SIDECAR

    

AND WHAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO DO IN THESE PHOTOS I HAVE NO IDEA 

Ok, getting back to why I like shirts.  Only thing better than a button up shirt with a pocket is a button up shirt with 2 pockets & to put the icing on the shirt cake, if those 2 pockets are button done, Walla....jackpot.  No, I'm not trying to look like the Rhinestone Cowboy guy.  Again, in my world, it all has to do with logic.  The left hand pocket is where my notebook & pen go & the right button down pocket is where my Canon Camera goes.  And, if I can't button that pocket down I am going to dump that camera out onto the ground every time I bend over for sure.  When on the Motorcycle both button down pockets come into play because one time I had the wind flip a note book out of a non buttoned pocket & I lost it. 

I am in the habit of carrying a cell phone while on the bike as well.  And, where do I carry that??  Well, in one of my button down shirt pockets of course.  At least that way if I fall off my bike & land in a cornfield somewhere I can at least reach into my pocket, pull out my cell phone & call someone saying, "Help, I've fallen & I can't get up."  Now, try finding your cell phone if your wearing a T-Shirt or a Sweatshirt.  Good luck because your cell phone is probably across the road in a farmer's bean field along with your bike & sack of peanut butter sandwiches!!  

And, ever wonder why some of us guys wear the same thing over & over, day after day?  Well, I just might have a few thoughts on that tomorrow........10-4:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((

A police officer pulled over two nuns riding on a motorcycle, and said to the rider, 'Ma'am, you're driving much too slowly, could you please drive faster?"   And the nun says, 'Oh, I saw the sign with the "21" and assumed the speed limit was 21 mph."   The officer explains: 'No ma'am, the speed limit is 80. The highway number is Interstate 21."  Then the police officer looks at the passenger and can see the other nun shaking like a leaf.   "Excuse me sister, but what's wrong with your passenger?"  "Oh, she's probably shaking like that because we just got off Highway 401."

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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.