Just in the nick of time......

Today is the day. When we started dieting, my (Gail's goal for me) target weight was 175 lbs. My actual (secret) goal was 170 lbs. Today the scale read 170.0 lbs. Just in time for the holiday food fest. Although, we're both so anal about what and how much we eat, I seriously doubt if there will be any significant weight gain as a result.

Now just one more obstacle to overcome. Right James.........

Busy.....Busy

Long time between posts. It's been a busy couple of weeks. Between working for a living, helping Chris and Courtney with their house, and building the "Kayak Kloset" (Gail calls it the "Boathouse"), I've had very little time to do anything else.

This weekend was no different. I spent all day yesterday helping Chris finish up the wall paper, and today mowing the yard (hopefully for the last time this year) and watching Gail clean (straighten up) the house. Now it's time for dinner. Got the grill going and pork chops waiting.

Here are some pics of our kayak storage facility.

Two sets of rails, one per kayak.....
I have it framed across the back of the rear deck........
This is where they will reside as son as completed..........
Time to put the chops on....Later.....

Weather or Not......

Yesterday the high for the day was 39. Today it's cloudy with a high of 61. Tomorrow it is supposed to be 74, with a chance of thunderstroms. Thursday's forecast is 41. We are having really schzophrenic weather.

Another Day with Greyson

With Chris and Courtney preparing to move, they needed another day to pack, so........ they dropped Baby G off this morning with us. What a handful. He is perpetual motion. Check out the videos..





He is growing so fast. I think he will be trying to walk by Christmas. He is sooo CUTE...
Later, we went over to their new house for the final walk through. We tracked down a couple of electrical problems, but all in all, everything they wanted fixed had been completed. Chris wanted me to help him paint on Wednesday, but I can't get off. The other inspector either quit or got fired and now I have all of Ocean Lakes to inspect on a daily basis. I'm thinking of changing jobs. Instead of being just an inspector, I would be concentrating on maintenance of all the Association clubhouses and common areas, and only inspecting on a irregular basis. I will talk to the Association Manager tomorrow and see if they will agree to my requirements. If not, I will be the primary inspector and they will hire someone to do the maintenance and help inspect. We'll see......

We are trying something different for Thanksgiving. A new stuffing and brining the turkey (just a breast for us) prior to roasting. Also, we will be making our own cranberries instead of opening a can. I'll let you know how it turns out, and if it turns out well, might even post the recipes.

We went to Wild River Outfitters on Saturday to check out their kayaking supplies. They have a fairly good selection. What really caught my eye was a Hobie Sail/Yak. It's a 14 foot kayak fitted with outriggers and a sail. I checked out a video online and it looks like a real ball. I just might have to save up some money, or get some side jobs, to buy two. Then we could learn to sail them and have some real excursions.

Working 8 hours a day is a pain. I don't have time to research recipes and cook. That's why the recipes have stopped. I'm trying to figure out a way to do both.

Hibernating

Early winter ? Normally, if we get any snowfall at all, it doesn't come until January. Well this year was a little different. This is what we woke up to Friday morning. November snowfall. Not much, but enough to indicate we may be in for a long, cold winter. The temps a dropping steadily, with mid to low 30s at night, and mid 40s to low 50s during the day

Time to hibernate........

Maybe I'm Wrong

I have always thought that it was every Americans DUTY to vote, as many who know me can attest. I have been very vocal concerning this attitude and have often chastised those I know who did not or do not vote. In my opinion, if you cannot take the time to prepare and vote, you have given up the right to complain or question anything done by your government. An excellent example would be the war in IRAQ. How many of the current anti-war protesters actually voted? If it is anything like the Viet Nam era protesters, the answer would be approximately 30%.

As we dissect the results of the current election, one hears about the large number of voters who turned out, many of them for the first time. There was one news story about a 100 year old woman who was voting for the first time in her life! Although the increase in voter turnout seems laudable at first glance, once a complete analysis is performed, I ,for one, am not so sure. For example, the City of Suffolk held its first mayoral election on Tuesday. Previously, the mayor was selected by the City Council. This was the FIRST time that the residents of that city had an opportunity to have a say in who governed them as the mayor. An historic election in its own right. Here are some excerpts for the coverage:

One candidate was Mike Debranski. One voter when asked why she voted for him is quoted as saying: "The honest truth?" she said cringing. "Because he had a weird last name."

The article also stated "....more than a few acknowledged they knew little, if anything, about the local candidates."

Another voter is quoted as saying: "I didn't know who was who." The article goes on to say "She said she voted for Linda Johnson because she was the only woman on the ballot."

Yet another voter had a very good reason for voting her choice. "I just put Johnson, because my last name is Johnson,".

The final example is a voter that said she didn't know any of the mayoral candidates is quoted as saying "My grandpa told me to write in me."

Nearly 5,000 of the 41,800 who voted (slightly over 10%) did not even bother to cast a vote in their local mayoral race. OVER TEN PERCENT! And that does not count the voters like those quoted above. How many more made their selections in a like manner? Some people had to stop and think to even recall who they had voted for just minutes before. Why, then did these people vote. I could venture a guess. Are these the new voters that turned out in support of Barrack Obama? Are these the New Democrats? If so, are these the type of voters that will make intelligent, informed choices in the future? That is, assuming they will continue to vote on a regular basis, which I seriously doubt!

Therein lies the reason for my self doubt. Am I wrong to expect every American Citizen to be involved in the decision making process? Obviously there are many people whose only qualification is citizenship and age, the minimum requirement. It's unconstitutional to require any more, like commitment and intelligence. But, what about the responsibility to make informed choices? Do I expect too much? Is there really that much apathy in the American Electorate?

Like I said before, take any good looking, well dressed, eloquent piece of meat, give him half a billion dollars, and he, too, could become President. Maybe that is what we deserve. Maybe issues are as dead as many of our preceeding Presidents. Now it's all hype and showmanship!

More Politics - Media Blasting

So, race was not an issue in this campaign. For two years we have heard from both campaigns, all the network news anchors, all the talking heads on the cable news networks, all the op-ed writers in all the newspapers that RACE cannot/should not/shall not be an issue in the election. Now that the election is over, all you hear is that history was made because an African-American was elected as President. I even read an op-ed piece that identifies the election of Barrack Obama as the REAL end of the Civil War. Let me see if I've got this right. Race didn't play a part in the campaign or the election, but is the most important / historical factor resulting from the election. Not once, and believe me I read, watch, and search out news/event stories from many sources, have I discovered one opinion that states we have elected the best man for the job.

This is all a subterfuge. It is the game the politicians and the media play to fill the airwaves with superfluous bullshit to gloss over what is really important. Just think back to the campaigns. We had the "lipstick on a pig", "the Ayers connection", "Palin's wardrobe", "Rev Wright", and "he voted no on...." controversies. Why? To steer us away from the real issues. I think the media is doing it again. Rather than concentrate on "ISSUES", they concentrate on "Gossip". That's probably due to two major reasons: 1) They need to fill more time than there is news, and 2) Most people don't want to deal with the serious concerns, they want to be entertained even by the news. I'm surprised that they couldn't find a way NOT to report on the economic crisis. The prime example for this morning was the hours spent reporting on what Rahm Emanuel had to say about being selected as Obama's Chief of Staff prior to the official announcement. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

Then, after the announcement, check out what the AP had to say about his choices.

"His choice Thursday for White House chief of staff - Rahm Emanuel, a fiery partisan who doesn't mind breaking glass and hurting feelings - is a significant departure from the soft-spoken, low-key aides that "No-Drama Obama" has surrounded himself with during his campaign. And transition chief John Podesta, like Emanuel, is a former top aide to Bill Clinton and a tough partisan infighter, though less bombastic than the new chief of staff."

So much for a non-partisan, reaching across the aisle administration. This issue did not even garner a whisper this morning. It was much more important to dwell on Emanuel's "I'm not sure I will accept, I'll have to discuss it with my family" than to explore his position on partisanship.

I voted for John McCain because I believed that he was the BEST PERSON for the job, given the current state of this country. The majority of the American People disagreed with me. So be it. I will abide by that decision, but I will not abdicate my responsibility as a citizen and member of our participatory form of government and watch things just happen. I will not wait four years for my voice to be heard. I will be WATCHING. I will be PARTICIPATING. I may not be able to affect much on the National level, but my local representatives surely know my name, and the new ones will shortly.

Am I the only one who sees this travesty, or the only one who is saying anything? I need to get a national audience and form my own "Revolutionary Party". We will be for peaceful revolution from within. We will take over the government by playing by their rules and beating them at their own game. Any Takers.....?

Apparently, not "NUFF SAID".......

Well, WE elected our new President and will have to live with that decision for at least four years. Because of this event, I feel that I must air my feelings or burst. I have bitten my tongue for the last few weeks and created "The Saga of Flip" as a diversion. Though that may continue, it won't be as a diversion, it will be for fun. The following are some rambling thoughts that have been held back for way too long.

If WE are to believe the voter turnout numbers, this country has been galvanized into action. WE have spoken. WE are taking control. Or, was this just an anomaly? Do WE just vote and then return to OUR inconsequential existence? That's exactly what "THEY" hope ! After all, to THEM the American People, "WE", are not intelligent or capable enough to participate in OUR government. That's what "WE" elected "THEM" for. Once "THEY" are elected, "THEY" become one of "THEM", and "THEM" don't want to deal with "WE". It's "THEM" versus "US". (That's WE, as in We the People, and US, as in United States Citizens) (T.H.E.Y - Those Hopeful Elected Yahoos) (T.H.E.M - Those High Elected Morons)

Obama said "WE are the change WE have been waiting for." So, now WE have to roll up OUR sleeves, get off OUR collective asses, and actually participate in OUR governance. Just voting is
NOT enough. It is the first step in the process of taking back OUR Rights and OUR Country. Watch carefully the actions and voting of YOUR elected representatives. Hold their feet to the fire each time they vote for special interests and earmarks that do not benefit YOU. Let them know that WE ARE WATCHING, and WE WANT CHANGE ! Not just the slogan, but the ACTION. Hold them accountable ! This starts with OUR elected city officials and goes right the the Highest Office in the land !

With a Democratic Executive and Democratically controlled Congress, legislation will be passed so fast that it will seem like a bullet train speeding through the Capital. Unfortunately, the vortex created by this high speed legislature will suck the money right out of OUR pockets and the wind out of OUR sails.

I agree with Joe Biden. WE need to "take back our country". But, unlike Joe, I think WE need to take it back from the professional politicians, not just the Republicans. Of course, I also agree with Bob the Builder and his anthropomorphic friends . "Can WE do it? Yes WE Can!"

Partisanship only matters because PARTISANS (political party members) WANT IT TO !!!!!! THEY actually thrive on conflict. It's what gets THEM the evening sound bites and makes THEM feel important. A Democratic Congress has not accomplished a damn thing in two years, blaming partisanship, not THEIR own incompetence and inability to work for the good of the people. Now with a democratic executive there is nothing to stand in THEIR way.

These are the same members of congress that ignored every warning sign leading up to current economic problems for over two years. AND WE expect them to fix it! Now, THEY will be able to expand THEIR entitlement programs with little or no checks and balances. Who will pay for those programs ? YOU guessed it, WE! Are YOU excited yet?

WE need to turn the"M" of "ME" politicians upside down. Make it a "W" for "WE". Once THEY get elected, THEIR only thoughts are for reelection, not the welfare of THEIR constituents. Does this imply that WE belong to THEM? WE need to make that happen, because, as witnessed many times over, THEY will not change THEMSELVES!

WE, too, have become enamored with special interests. WE want to be part of a "Special" group. Whether WE be divided by age, sex, race, location, education, height, weight, political party, married, single, rich, poor, middle class, WE want to be special. That's what THEY prey upon. THEY know the buttons to push to make YOU feel special. THEY will lie to to make YOU feel special, that is until YOU demand that THEY do the job THEY were elected to do. Then THEY retreat into THEIR safe little office and sulk. Only to come out should there be a photo op. These people are so far removed and isolated from the WE people, THEY probably can't even conceive of what OUR interests might be.

I know this sounds like a lot of work, and it is. But, it is the only way to ensure that "WE" get back the control of OUR country and OUR future. DEMAND REPRESENTATION. Remember, "Taxation without Representation is Tyranny". I think that's where WE are headed unless WE take a stand NOW.

NOPE !!!

NUFF SAID !!!!

Let Us Pray

We did our part. Now let's just hope enough intelligent, well informed voters did the same!

Flip may be in REAL trouble...

Today I got a very interesting email from the Transportation Security Administration. Seems they are looking for Flip and tracked his emails to me. They wanted to know if I knew his whereabouts. I told them I didn't have a clue, but knew he had been in Maui last month. Steph, you may be contacted due to your comment about him showing up in your closet.


Here is a surveillance photo from LAX that they included. You can see Flip working one of the counters in baggage claim (lower left).

Flop is really depressed. Flip is in trouble with the Feds. I think may push him over the edge.

Greyson's Visit

Chris and Courtney had some running around to do this afternoon so they dropped Greyson off for a couple hours. That boy is a handful. Here are a video and some pictures of the day.


Isn't he cute ?



He is crawling and wants to get into everything. He really wants to get to everything on the end tables. He is also quite vocal. He screams and squeals, and just seems to like the sound of making noise. We had a fun visit.

Finally, Some Good Weather

Today the weather finally improved enough that we could go for a short kayak trip. The weather has been running in the mid to low 40s at night and mid to low 60s during the day. When we watched the weather report last night, they said it would be in the low to mid 70s this afternoon. Amazingly, they were right for once. We did some running around this morning and came home, loaded up the kayaks, then headed out to the Lessner Bridge. The last time we were there we really enjoyed the paddle and scenery. Today was no different, except we shorted our paddling time by about a hour this go round.

Check out this little video of the Captain.....


Enjoying the sunshine....
She always has to lead now. I just follow at a safe distance...

Here are some pictures Gail took at one of flats we stopped at to take a short break.


The water is really getting cold. We only walked in it for a short time, then it was back in the kayaks to warm up. My feet got numb quickly, and, in fact, didn't thaw out until we got home. As we were on our way back to the launch site, we ran into a fellow kayaker we had talked with earlier. He was having a bit of a problem. His kayak was taking on water, lots of water. We stopped at a nearby beach while he drained the boat, then we followed him in to make sure he made it. He did and all ended well. Except Gail saw a dog on one of the islands and was concerned that its owner had left behind. After we followed the the distressed kayaker in, we didn't see the dog. So ?

After we got home, Gail told me that she really hadn't wanted to go. She thought it might be too cold, but she really enjoyed the day in spite of her misgivings.

It was really great to get back out on the water again. Seems like it has been months since we were last out. Although it hasn't been nearly that long, we're both pretty beat. Came home, cleaned up, threw a couple of filets on the grill, cut up the fixins for a great salad and gorged ourselves. Great Day! Now it's nap time......

Aloha from Flip...

ALOHA from the Xterra World Championship course.


Another Email from Flip. Apparently he has been reading James' blog and learned about the World Championships in Hawaii. He is becoming a master at showing up in the craziest places, although Hawaii is not really a crazy place for a Flip. Check him out hangin' with the athletes getting ready for the swim.
He did say that he was kinda bummed that neither Steph or James saw him in the crowd of supporters. But, oh well, at least he was there in person to lend a "foot".

The boy is getting his wheels...

Chris and Courtney stopped by yesterday and of course brought Greyson for a visit. He is really getting big. They were planning on a trip to the Pumpkin Patch, but it started raining right after they left, so they'll probably go today. The weather is better today. They got him dressed for his outing. Check out the Big Boy look.

Jeans, flannel shirt and high tops. The boy is stylin' in a country sort of way. He is also full on crawling. Hands and knees, on the move. He seems somewhat frustrated though. He pulls himself up to a standing position and really wants to walk. He'll be cruisin' by Christmas, just in time to get into all the decorations.

The Shame of it All......

As you can see from the picture below, Flip has not only physically deserted me and Flop, but has has ideologically deserted us as well. I don't know how this could have happened. I thought we three were a team, when all along he was harboring these left wing tendencies. How could I not have noticed?

Flop was desolated by the news. He just mopes around the house and his "sole"ful moans are driving me crazy. I really have to do something about this.

The only thing I can think of is to get him some grief counseling. I'm not really sure if that is at all possible, but with the power of the Internet, I am sure I can find something.

News from Flip

Got an email from Flip. I almost deleted it because it showed up in my spam file. I didn't recognize the email address because he used a library computer. I guess he hacked into their account. The subject was "Hey Flop, Doin' well on the Left Coast", so I immediately opened it. I have no idea how he made his way across the country. He sent this picture of him and his new pals. They're all blue and he is now in a "Blue" state. My worst fears may have come true, he is a "Left Foot Liberal".

Apparently they spend their time hanging out at the beach "Sole Surfing". Check this out !!!

At least he is staying true to his heritage!

The Little Guy is on the Move....

Chris called tonight and asked if we would go with them to look at a house they are thinking of buying. I guess they are seeking parental approval, or at least our opinion. Cute little house in pretty good condition, the neighborhood looks OK, and the price seems right. Of course, we went over a little early to see Greyson. The little, well not so little any more, guy is really on the move, as you can see below.



He is just a bit away from crawling. Then watch out, he'll be getting into everything.

Great Progress.....

Milestone #2 has been met. Today the scale read 175.4 lbs. Five pounds more ? Gail says NO ! I say YES. We'll see.

The hard part is going to be adjusting to not loosing any more weight. I am so used to counting every calorie that it might be hard to increase the amount. Since mid-August, I have been averaging between 1300 and 1400 calories a day. I don't know if I can continue to eat as healthy as we have been and increase the calories enough to maintain at say 170. I have become the master of trade-offs, say 190 calories for two Michelob Ultras, or 170 for a Weight Watchers Ice Cream Sandwich. Maybe I could get used to having both! That just might work!

Gail is also doing really well. She has achieved her goal, but has decided that she may drop just a little more. Just enough to make her favorite pants a little looser (sp).

All and all, we have done great. As a reward, we go out to dinner every Friday night, but, just like at home, we are conscious of every calorie. What sucks is that a lot of restaurant food is very High Cal, and junk food is out of the question, unless we fast for the first half of the day. We're working on a manageable plan.

Steph may have been right....

Unfortunately, Steph may have been right. Flop may have run away. Check out this article from this morning's paper. Flip-Flops that show your support for your favorite candidate?

I talked to Flop, and he told me that both he and Flip had heard rumors that this was happening. He said that it was like running off to join the circus. If this is the path that Flip has chosen, I only hope that he doesn't support Obama, but he is a "Left" foot.

This is UNBELIEVEABLE..........

Gail came home from grocery shopping yesterday with a surprise for me.

Flop must have been on the computer longer than I thought. It seems he found a website where he could have Flip's picture put on milk cartons. Amazing! I have to do something about this situation soon!

Fishing with Chris....

I took Chris on the inaugural fishing trip in the kayaks. We went to First Landing State Park, the infamous site of Flip's disappearance. That park may have it in for me. This time I left my insulated water bottle on the bumper of the truck and lost it on departure. Anyway, about the fishing.

We paddled straight across from the beach where we launch. We fished for about 2 1/2 hours. Didn't really have that much luck. In total we caught 13 fish, when, all put together, would probably made one decent fish. Here's a picture of Chris with one of his doubles.
As you can see they were really small. The wind came up pretty strong, so we called it a day and headed in. Besides, we had to reinstall a gutter for a guy nearby and got that out of the way early. That's about it for now.

Memorabilia Conspiracy and High Tech Flop......

As I mentioned earlier, I put Flop on "The Man Shelf" in the office. He must have instigated a rebellion of my memorabilia. Apparently the Silver Surfer (a gift form Jake) supplied the muscle. He took the lei (from Otani for my last birthday) off Ron Jon Teddy (another gift from Jake), attached it to the surfboard (from Chris) to slide down to the table. You know that taking the lei from Ron Jon Teddy had to be a "bear".

Once on the table, Flop took one of the lanyards I made for the kayaks, attached it to my tackle box (I had the fishing gear out in preparation for Chris and me going fishing) to slide down to the floor.
Once on the floor, he went to the desk chair and climbed up the the desk.

What I didn't realize is that while was on the "Man Shelf", he could look over my shoulder while I was on the computer. Apparently he is a fast learner. He must have stolen my password and logged onto the Internet. This is what I discovered when I walked into the office.

He was on the Virginia Beach Police website trying to file an MSR (Missing Shoe Report), and also issue an APB for Flop. I don't know what to do now.

Pretty smart for a Flop.

Searching for Flip.....

Since I have called off the search for Flip, Flop has been moping around the house. Yesterday he actually tried to sneak out the dog door. I assume that he was personally going out to look for Flop. As you can see, he almost made it.


I had to find a place for him where he can't get to the door again. The only place I could think of was "The Man Shelf" in the office. Do you think this will keep him put?

The shelf is seven foot off the floor and should keep him from moving around the house. It should also keep him from sneaking out. In addition, he has a place of honor among my other memorabilia.

You Had To Know It Was Coming....

WARNING: Opinions expressed here are my own and may offend some readers!!!! Parental discretion is strongly advised.

Last night I watched the second "Presidential" debate. As I sat listening to the unending drivel opined by each of the candidates, my mind asked "Haven't we heard this bullshit before?" My answer was a resounding YES. It was then that I realized that I was extremely tired of this campaign. Not physically tired, but mentally beaten down. It seemed as if I had been following this campaign for years. WAIT, I have been following it for years. This campaign has dragged on for way longer than necessary, and the result is the two candidates we have? Couldn't we have done better? Are these the two best we have to run the country? I hope not! But, they are the "Parties" representatives. We've been told, and they hope we are convinced, that Obama and McCain are the "heirs apparent" in their respective parties. Screw the parties. WHAT ABOUT US? WE THE PEOPLE? Where is OUR leader?

Besides being tired, I am SICK! I am sick of hearing all the talking heads discuss, ad nauseum, who won and who lost. It' obvious to me the loser is the American people. Do either of these guys represent you? Or, do they represent all the special interest groups, corporations, and other "Devils" they have sold their souls to? You don't have to answer that question, it's rhetorical ;-)
(Pretend you are a politician)

My opinion:

What's wrong with American politics is that we have lost the direction and idealism of our Founding Fathers. No, they weren't always right, but they were always responsible and dedicated. Their major point of dissent was whether we should have a strong Federal Government (Federalists) or a weak Federal Government (Anti-Federalists or States Rightists) . The Anti-Federalists believed the power should reside with the States. That way, the states, ergo the people, would control the real power. Unfortunately, the Federalists won out! Our leaders today are more concerned with winning reelection than doing the job they were elected to do, and the Federal Government wields power with dizzying ineptitude.

Our Founding Fathers could not even imagine the position of "Professional Politicians". Their view of government was that all persons with a stake in this nation would perform his civic duty by doing a tour of duty in that governance. Each community would send a representative to Washington to provide the input from his constituents. Yes, I know that their idea of a person with a stake in this nation was a white, male, landowner. But, think about that. At that time, white, male, landowners were usually the most highly educated, economically active, leaders in their communities. Farmers as well as scholars and industrialists.Who better to send to Washington? This perception has changed over the years and has been addressed through Constitutional Amendment. But, the concept of popular representatives doing their tour and then going home is still fundamentally sound.

That brings up another sore point. We DO NOT live in a Democracy! We live in a Representative Democracy! We elect "Representatives" to perform the day to day activity of government. Otherwise, "We The People" would be voting on every bill / law / appointee / budget / etc. required to run the country. In theory this works, but with professional politicians spending their entire adult lives in Washington, they lose sight of "We The People" and concentrate on "Me The Politician." Re-election trumps representation, and "We The People" have become so lazy and complacent that most of us don't even care, or really want to know, what is going on in our own government. Just parade some smooth talking, good looking, well dressed, financially supported piece of meat in front of us and we will trip all over ourselves to send him to Washington. AND, even if he looks us straight in the eyes and lies to us, fails to "represent" us, breaks the law, commits unthinkable acts, WE WILL SEND HIM BACK AGAIN! Go Figure!

So, let's put together a plan. "We The People" will form a nationwide alliance. We will all agree not to vote unless there is a candidate that actually meets our requirements. We have just two: 1. That they be completely open and honest, and 2. That they actually Represent the people.

WHAT IF THEY HELD AN ELECTION AND NOBODY SHOWED UP. Imagine the message that would send to Washington!!!!!

It's Working.....

About two months ago, Gail and I went on diets along with adding biking and kayaking to our activities. I had never really seriously counted calories in an attempt to lose weight. My plan was Atkins Carb counting. Well the calorie thing is working very well, much to my amazement. Part of it could be that I am listing everything I eat. Anyway, I got on the scale this morning and goal 1 has been achieved. When I started I weighed 197 lbs. This morning the scale said 179 lbs. Eighteen pounds in two months.

I want to get down to 170, but Gail may not allow that. She thinks at 170 I am too skinny.

It's working very well for Gail also, but it isn't polite to talk about a woman's weight. Let's just say that her goal is nearly met as well.

The Sad Truth.....

Is this pathetic or what ? I came home for lunch and to let the dogs out, and what did I find? Flop had crawled up to the window to look outside for Flip. Sad proof below.

The poor guy can't seem to accept the fact that Flip is gone.

Failed rescue attempt - Flip is gone........

As I mentioned yesterday, I lost one of my Rainbows (Flip) when we went kayaking yesterday. This morning we went back to First Landing Park in an attempt to rescue him from the great outdoors. Our attempt was a failure. Flip was nowhere to be found. I can only hope the someone picked him up and will give him a good home. Flop is heartbroken. His partner of 15+ years is gone forever. We plan to have a ceremony to commemorate the loss and help Flop deal with his grief. Until then, I'll just have to deal with the forlorn looks and lonely sighs. Can you see the forlorn look?

Poor Flop......

First Landing State Park

We decided to go kayaking today and put off all the work around the house until tomorrow. On the way home, we decided that tomorrow morning we are going to ride our bikes up to the Oceanfront and do the work in the afternoon. Sounds like a plan to me!

Back to kayaking. We decided to go back to First Landing State Park and head in the other direction from our first trip. We paddled up through Broad Bay, followed a channel into White Hill Lake, across Broad Bay into some canals in Bay Island. A total of 6.68 miles in 3 1/2 hours. Great trip.

We ran into Randy, the guide from Kayak Nature Tours. He was leading a tour for the Little People's Convention. Good to see him again. He pointed out a few areas of interest. Map of trip below.



One is the lonliest number....

Only low spot of the day, lost one of my Rainbows. We think it fell out of the truck when we stopped to pay for parking. Usually there is a person at the gate to collect the fees. Today I had to pay on the honor system. You put your money in an envelope and put into the safe. That's the only time it could have fallen out. I guess we'll run back up there tomorrow morning to see if it is still there. I'd hate to have to break in a new pair!

This is a bridge we had to go under to get into White Hill Lake.....
Gail's view under the bridge......
This is how you have to go under.....
Osprey nest in the tree........
The "Captain" paddling ahead while I stopped to take pictures.....
Paddling out from White Hill Lake......
Our rest stop on the way back in......
Some of the great scenery.......
Coming out of White Hill Lake........
Happy Yakkers.......
One last shot of the scenery......
We really enjoy being out in the Yaks. Although we are both whooped after a long paddle, the peace and relaxation are the greatest stress reliever you could imagine. As I have said before, 90% of the time we are totally alone. No people, no problems, no schedule. Just paddle and watch the scenery pass by.

One last note. Last night I installed new seats in the kayaks. These have butt pads and higher back supports. They are great. No more back aches while paddling.

New seat....

Greyson's Ready to Crawl.....Video

Chris stopped by this morning to return the tools he borrowed and brought Greyson along. He's going to be one of those Dads that takes the boy with him everywhere. Anyway, Greyson is almost at the point of crawling. He belly crawls across the floor. When he wants to move a little faster, he just rolls. "Hell on Wheels" shortly.

Look at me.......

I'm a big boy now....

We had planned to kayaking this morning, but it was a little chilly. Plan on going a little later today.