Winterizing...

They came and blew out the sprinkler system the other day. So, no more watering the plants and lawn. Most of them just hibernate for the winter. This was a new thing for me last year, so this year is not so strange. Now, we have to close down the fountain and figure out what to do with all the outdoor potted plants we have acquired this year. I just finished doing all the yard work, so the lawn is looking good and hopefully will be that way in the spring.

Calicat is doing better now. She was really out of it when she returned from the kitty hospital after her claw job. A few hours after she got back, she tried to jump up onto the pool table and opened up all her 'stitches' - which are now not really stitches, but a form of super glue. She was pretty sore and spent a couple of days removing all the glue, but seems to be getting better every day. She has spent many hours sleeping on my lap - something she wouldn't do much before.

Pam is having her 'team' at Dell over Saturday for a group pumpkin carving event. I guess Dell is having a contest between the different support groups. The new color laser printer that Michael gave us came in very handy in doing the invites. They had to be done twice, since I guess its not acceptable to have "Dell" and "beer or wine" on the same document...

I had a stroke scan done the other day. It was one of these roving medical scanning deals that advertised in the paper. I figured since all my neck 'plumbing' was redone and the high cholesterol in the Keithley family, it was a good thing to do. The technician was pretty impressed with me. He had never done someone that didn't have a jugular vein before. I will get the results in 2-3 weeks.

Tonight is the 9-ball team league. I think I am in the top 5 players - so far. Storm and I are also going to start playing in a 8-ball team league on Tuesdays in a week or so. His uncle Bruce is also going to be on the team. Bruce has a billiards table and supply business here in Twin Falls and is one of the best players in the area. We should do well. Big fun here in DaHo...

Bullwinkle and Calicat...

Saturday, Storm and his friend, and their kids came over for dinner. Storm had just returned from a bow hunting trip which he bagged a large bull moose. He had it dressed and brought over some moose steaks for dinner. I added some ribs and BBQed it all. The moose was very good. It's a very red meat and very mild in flavor. I marinated it in two different sauces and both were good. The ribs were awesome also. Pam has been doing this great rub she got in some book and it is great. We have had it with rack of lamb and now ribs.

We got out all the Halloween decorations and Pam did the house. We took the three smaller pumpkins we harvested from the patch out back and the kids carved them. Pam played with the kids and watched Shark Tale for hours while Storm and I worked on our pool skills.

I got Pam a new Ab Lounger exercise machine from Costco and she worked on it Sunday morning. Then, she went outside and planted 53 bulbs her mom gave her and I installed a new power distribution plugs in the Lincoln for all the electronic toys.

Then, this morning, I took Calicat to the Kitty hospital to get her claws done. She didn't like going in the car again, but made it there ok. We fretted about this for a while, but it was the only thing we could do. It seemed like she thought every new piece of furniture we bought was her personal scratching post...

Ho'penings...

Wednesday night, I played in the final 8-ball tournament at The Pocket. There were only about 1o players in it - about half the usual number. Anyway, I was not playing that well, except for a match with the Pocket's owner, Carl. He had just gotten beaten by a 'girl' and was 'irritated'... So he had to give me 9 points in the handicap system. I broke and ran two games and ended up beating him 30 to 10. He was very 'frustrated' and was ranting about the handicap system to all. I told him he just brought out the best in me and smiled. He was not amused...

Then last night was out new 9-ball team leagues first 'away' match. It was at the Shuffle Inn in the older down town of Twin Falls. It's a sorta underwhelming biker beer/wine bar. Their 'tag line' is that you Shuffle in and Stager out. Quite a place with one table. Anyway, we had our match with their team and did well. I won all 6 of my matches and puts me up in the standings for the entire league. Time will tell how that all turns out.

We are also starting another 8-ball team league on Tuesdays in a couple of weeks with Storm and his uncle, Bruce Blair - a real good player in the area. I am looking forward to this new league as they give out trophies instead of just $$.

We finally received our long ago ordered living room furniture yesterday. Its great - better than we even thought. The old furniture was awkward in the room and generally sucked on most fronts. The new couch and matching love seat are great. Each end of both units have full extended recliners and the middle of the couch has a fold down table top - giving us a total of 4 very comfortable home theater seats for viewing pleasure. Since the pieces are larger, we ended up being able to use much more of the usable space in the living room for enjoying the fireplace and entertainment system. We moved the two newly recovered Mission Bell chairs and table from in back of the old couch, to the front part of the room, by the front windows, giving us much more usable seating/entertaining space than before. We need to get a couple of new tables to finish it all, but the furniture plan is finally coming together here in DaHo living room...

Life goes on...

Well, we have almost recovered from the trip... All the stuff that had to be done, undone or redone has been done, and done well!

Thursday, we get our new living room furniture. We're getting a matching sofa and love seat that are designed for home theater use. There are a total of four (4) great recliners and drop down tabletops for your viewing pleasure.

This weekend, we did work around the house and relaxed. Pam's sister and friend came over for a great visit with her two large dogs. I am still cleaning up the yard from them.

Today, I sent packages to T&A&A and M&S&J with picture CDs and baby gifts. You should be getting them soon.

The Ho house builder came over today and patched a bunch of nail pop-outs in the edges of the ceilings and squeaks in the floors. They are really great folks. We basically built this house on a handshake and a bunch of $$, long distance from California, and it all worked out great. That's the way they do it here in DaHo...

TGIF...

Well, another week down and we are looking forward to having the weekend off.

Pam came with me to my weekly 9-ball league Thursday night. I played well and impressed the locals. The owners of the bar that sponsors our team had a pizza and salad dinner for us and it was good. Next week, to go visiting to another local bar to play. It should be interesting to see other bars in the area.

The furniture store called today and our new couch and love seat are in and going to be delivered next Thursday. We cannot wait for it to get here...

Pam is going to have an MRI and see a spine doctor next week to try and diagnose her back problems. It is doing better since the last med changes this week. I have a annual physical next week to keep up to date on what all is going on with me. I am generally feeling great and want to keep it that way.

This weekend we have to start 'winterizing' the estate water related equipment and plants. Big fun...

Prime Time...

Monday, I went fishing with our neighbor, Boyd. We went to a local lake - Dirkie's Lake. I had been there in the past but never thought much of it for fishing. Its the local public swimming place with a great park and lifeguards and snackbar. Now, its all closed down for the winter. Boyd had fished there lots and knew where to go. So, we ended up catching lots of medium trout and smallmouth bass. These were the first bass I had caught here and they were fun on ultralight gear. We didn't keep any of them, but I plan on going back for some more bass. Pam is totally done with trout at this point, but says she would love some bass, so my mission is clear...

Yesterday, I fixed a great prime rib roast and baked Ho spuds for diner. It was great. Today, I am going to slice the rest of the prime rib for our favorite - rare French dip prime rib sandwiches on Costco's great fresh French rolls. Good stuff...

Tonight, Pam's mother is coming over to visit and I am going to play in a pool tournament at The Pocket. Big fun as usual here in DaHo...

Slow Weekend...

Well, the Oktoberfest was everything I thought it would be... I had a couple of sausages and they were good, and the beer was ok, but the booths and general ambiance was underwhelming.

We relaxed a lot during the weekend. Pam had a tough week back at work after being in Paradise. Saturday night we fixed a great Rack of Lamb dinner and Pam did some laundry, but that was about it.

Then yesterday, I went out and foraged for dinner and washed all the trip bugs off of the Lincoln. We had our neighbors over for a great dinner of ribs, corn, wild rice and garlic bread. It was good stuff and a good time was had by all.

During my trip to the 'big city' to forage, I noticed some guy stand up on the bridge and jump off - without a parachute... There were a bunch of people around him. So, I checked it out and he was dangling from a elastic bunji cord. I was wondering how he would get back up since he was a couple of hunderd feet down off the bridge. Then, when I was returning, I saw a bunch of folks running on the bridge, away from the jump location, bringing back up the cord and idiot that was attached to it. This was the first time I have seen or heard of bunji jumping off of the bridge.

Today, I am doing my exercise stuff and might go fishing later. Like I said, its been a slow weekend here in DaHo...

TGIO and the New 9 Ball League ...

That is 'Thank God Its Oktoberfest...'. Today and tomorrow is the annual Oktoberfest celebration in historic downtown Twin Falls. We have never checked it out before, but we hear that there are really good sausages down there... Reviews to come.

Then, last night was the start of my new 9 ball league. This one is a traveling league that goes around to different 'local' bars each week. Our team is sponsored by the South Hills Saloon in Hanson, ID - a little town about 6 miles east of Twin Falls. Last night was my first time there and its a really nice place. They have 4 coin tables, great food and really nice owners and staff. All the tables are maintained in new condition and all the house cues are fiberglass Cuetec units. It just shows a pride of ownership and respect for the customers. They gave us bar tee shirts for our 'uniform' but when I was having problems with my breathing filter and the neckline, they gave us another set with buttons.

Anyway, I am playing with Storm, the team captain, and JC. Storm runs the local online pool players web site and was the first pool player I 'met' here via email. JC is a girl who works with Storm, plays good pool and does lots of karaoke. We played our first match last night and won 12 to 6. I won 5 of my 6 games and broke and ran the last one with almost perfect accuracy (cue ball positioning). The bar owner happened to be watching and was quite impressed. This league goes for 16 weeks and should be great fun. Next week they are going to provide free pizza for the team for dinner. That's the way they do it here in DaHo...

Lanny, you rock my world!

I have to take a few minutes to tell all what an absolutely wonderful man Lanny Keithley is. I am so blessed to be a part of his life and to be part of his extended family and friends. I am truly home in the confort of his arms and heart. I have found my true love, my soul mate -- the one who will champion me and vice-versa. Lanny, I love you with all my being. If you want or need anything-- I am here to provide.

Home Again...

Sorry for not 'keeping up' with the BLOG the last few days. It has been very exciting with all the leaving Paradise, traveling back to the Mainland, visiting the family and doing all the birthday and event things, Las Vegas, the trip back home and of course Frys Electronics.

Before we left for Maui, we bought a new toy. A Toshiba gigabeat 40GB audio player and photo displayer. Its like an IPod without the Apple. So far, it has been a great little device but we are still playing around with it and checking it out.

Alana's first birthday party was beyond awesome. All of the SoCal family and friends were there. It was held at Sand Creek Park right on the ocean at Dana Point (I think). Oliver and I did a lot of football throwing and catching and kicking. Ouch...

After the birthday party, we attended Oliver's flag football game. It was also great. He is doing very well, playing a variety of positions. His coach is really into it and they are learning lots about the game and how it works. He plans of playing 'real' football next year in high school.

Right after the football game, we drove to Las Vegas, as the first leg of the trip back to DaHo. We arrived there about midnight and were totally burnt out by all the traffic. We stayed at the Excaliber. Nice place but we didn't see much of it. After the Sunday brunch, we were on the road for home.

The trip home was long but good. Pam slept most of the way. Its about 500 miles from Las Vegas to DaHouse. The Lincoln LS was great on its first trip and we averaged 25.5 MPG for the whole trip.

When we got home, Calicat was in good shape and pissed as she always is when we go away. The house and estate were also looking good and were a very welcomed sight to both of us. Vacations are always big fun and it was great to see everybody again, but it sure is nice to be back in DaHo...