JUST HEARD A GREAT LINE THE ASTRONAUTS USE:

WHEN THE DUCT TAPE IS GONE
THE MISSION IS OVER

LIBRARY ENTRANCE; LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN

THOSE POOR FOLKS IN NORTH DAKOTA

Minot is expecting more rain today.  At least 2,500 homes already have water in them and many more are expected to flood before this is over.

JUST READ IT ON TWITTER

TODAY IS NATIONAL CATFISH DAY.

GOLF DATE

There's a sign-up form on the La Crosse Tribune website for the 21st Annual La Crosse Tribune Men's County amateur Golf Championship at Drugans in Holmen on Saturday August 6 and at Cedar Creek in Onalaska Sunday August 7.  I suspect Carl will be among the competitors.

Read more: http://lacrossetribune.com/sports/golf/amateur/article_56382bfc-9383-11e0-8547-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1QHhw07i9

A FOGGY MORNING IN LA CROSSE

DONNIE REPORTS:

Got a new camera, a Nikon L120, though it may be many days before we figure out how to use it.

ROGER WILL BE LOOKING FOR A COOL SPOT TODAY!

Worland is supposed to get up to 83 under partly sunny skies today.  That's too hot for Roger.

COLUMBO IS GONE

R.I.P. PETER FALK

CHER WAS UP AND TWEETING AS EARLY AS I WAS THIS MORNING

She mentioned that she's 65 and her mom is 85.  She also posted a picture of herself and her mom and her mom is as beautiful as Cher is!

AM I MISSING SOMETHING?

The only birthday or anniversary I have listed for July is Donnie's birthday on the 22nd.  With a change in computers and all my computer problems, I'm wondering if I lost some events along the way.  If you know of anything else coming up in July let me know.

THIS IS THE 135TH ANNIVERSARY OF LITTLE BIG HORN

June 25, 1876: The Sioux and Cheyenne Indians overran and wiped out Lt. Col. George Custer and the 7th Cavalry in Montana.  For an excellent account of the battle go to EYEWITNESS TO HISTORY

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS THIS HAS BEEN A WET ONE!

The normal amount of rainfall, for La Crosse, in June is 4 inches.  So far, this year, we've had 8 inches.  That makes it the 8th wettest June on record.  Just think.  If this had been December it could have been snow!

RITA AND ROGER MADE IT TO WORLAND

Last I heard, they were sitting around, this morning, relaxing and having coffee.  I'm sure they were a bit worn out from that long trip.  In case you haven't noticed, they're not as young as they used to be.  Old people don't seem to rebound like they did when they were 20.  Hope that never happens to me.

WILLARD REPORTS:

I don't know if you noticed but a lot of food products have been downsized from original amounts and we're still paying the same price, if not more.  Tuna, original 6 ounce can is now 5 ounces.  Campbell's Baked Beans; originally 16 ounces is now 13 ounces. Tropicana low acid orange juice was originally in a 64 ounce can, now it's a 59 ounce can.

I WENT TO THE LIBRARY THIS AFTERNOON

I noticed the July issue of Architectural Digest has several pages of photos of Elizabeth Taylor's last home.  I could have been very comfortable in that house.  Mother even more.  It's all blues and purples.

WEATHER REPORT FROM WILLARD

Little rain drops.  Just enough to get the bread wet that I put out for the birdies.

REPORT FROM CARL ON THE ROAD

"Monday and Tuesday Kathy and I drove across Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota.  It rained the whole way and all was completely saturated.  Rain in the Fargo area had tractor trailers slowed to about 35 MPH.  Although we didn't see any damage, many places had sandbags filled should they be needed."

DONNIE DISCOVERED THIS AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL

DRIPPING WILDLIFE BY "FREDDYTK421"
Dripping Springs wildlife, a cute rascal of a dog named Scrappy, and welding tips are all being documented by "freddytk421" of Dripping Springs on YouTube. Below is link to the video he recently posted of the native wildlife filmed one day around his house here in Dripping. You can see more of his videos on http://www.youtube.com/user/freddytk421

I LIKE THIS

"We do not remember days; we remember moments."

Cesare Pavese

I THINK I'VE LEARNED MY LESSON

When I logged on, early this morning, My "trusty" computer was running slow again.  So slow I thought I'd pull my hair out.  BUT, I didn't try to fix it this time.  I don't want to play that game again.  This time I just logged off and went about my business.  Came back now and it's back to it's usual fast self.  They say patience is a virtue but it's a virtue I have very little of.  I'm thinking that might be dangerous when you're sitting in front of a computer.

THUNDER RECOMMENDS PURINA ONE BEYOND

I mentioned Purina One Beyond the other day.  I had bought some to see if he liked it.  Liked it?  He's gone goofy for it.  He can't get enough of it.

We will be buying a lot more of that stuff.  I'm glad he likes it because every time you buy it Purina gives a portion of the profits to provide food for pets in shelters.  Last year they donated 1,200,000 pounds of food to shelters around America.  That's my kind of company!

By the way, you can learn more about Purina One beyond by clicking right here PURINA ONE BEYOND

I'LL BET I'M GETTING A NEW T-SHIRT

It was after 6 last night when the phone rang...or actually, I should say, the phone said, "Call from Rita".  Yes!  That's right!  My new cell phone doesn't ring.  It talks to me.  Forget caller I.D.  Now there's a lady, inside the phone, who actually tells me whose calling.  What will they think of next?

Anyway, it was, indeed, Rita.  I thought she was calling to say they had made it to Worland, safe and sound, but she said they were still a little way out of town.  Apparently they had made a stop at a store because what she really wanted to know was what size T-shirt I wore.

We've come a long way from, "Watson, come here.  I need you."

HARD TO BELIEVE THE FLOODING STORIES FROM NORTH DAKOTA

They say this will be flooding of historic proportions this year.  Around Minot all 41,000 people have been told to move their belongings to upper levels of their homes.  It looks like the entire city will be under more than 3 feet of water.

OKTOBERFEST AIN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE!

Oktoberfest seems to be getting old...just like we are.  I remember the first Oktoberfest.  There wasn't a sober person within 10 miles of downtown La Crosse.  Times have changed.

It was decided, yesterday, that this year a new feature will be an ALCOHOL FREE ZONE along the route for the Maple Leaf Parade.  Doesn't that sound like fun?

DAMN WEATHER

Woke up to the same old thing this morning.  Light rain, fog, mist and chilly.  They say the sky will clear by mid-morning but I've heard that before.  I'll have to see it to believe it.  They say it will be warmer too.  I hope so.  Yesterdays high was only 60.  That's damn cold when you consider the normal high for this time of year is 83.  Still, if we get to 77, like they say we will, it will feel a lot warmer than yesterday.

I, actually, had to close the window yesterday.  I was sitting close to it and was getting goose bumps from the cold air blowing in.  Even folks who don't like hot weather are getting very tired of this!

GLADYS HAS BEEN THERE...DONE THAT

I don't think Gladys enjoys the Casino thing as much as Kathy does.  She said, "Spent the day at the casino. I won't be doing that again anytime soon . Was interesting but I didn't really spend a lot of money."

CAN YOU SEE ME SMILING?

By 1 P.M. the rain had all moved east and there's not a drop to be seen to our west.  The forecast says sunny and warmer tomorrow.  I'll be out and walking early!

DUANE REPORTS FROM RAPID CITY

The ground is saturated here too.  Pools of water in lower places.  No need to water.  Grass is growing quickly. Today it's sunny and dry.  High: 83 degrees.

REPORT FROM RITA AND ROGER

They were just arriving in Rapid City.  They plan on driving through the Needles to show the girls.

They said they've never seen it so green out there.  Rita said the James River looks like the Mississippi and the Cheyenne River is a much more impressive river than usual too.

The weather was lovely.  Sunny and mid-70's.  Roger says they should get to Rick and Angelas, in Worland, around 5 or 6 this afternoon.

YIKES! THIS IS NOT GOOD!

The best airline awards have been announced at the Paris Airshow and I don't see a single U.S. carrier on the list.

The winners are:

1 Qatar Airways
2 Singapore Airlines
3 Asiana Airlines
4 Cathay Pacific Airways
5 Thai Airways International
6 Etihad Airways
7 Air New Zealand
8 Qantas Airways
9 Turkish Airlines
10 Emirates Airlines

ATTENTION KATHY: NEW CASINO IN IOWA

Gladys just wrote " Going on a day trip to a new Casino in Iowa. I am not a gambler but curious about the new facility. Leave at 10 and start home again at 3 so should be okay."

WEATHER

I'm glad Rita and Roger got through Minnesota yesterday. I see Albert Lea could get up to 3 inches of rain through tonight and they're under a flood watch for this evening.

I WAS JUST THINKING.....

Past years, by June, windows are open until early October unless there's a storm outside.  This year, it's almost July and I've had the windows open very little.  When you're up five floors you're above all the trees and buildings so the wind blows brisk and just too chilly for me.

DONNIE SENT SOME NEAT PICTURES

Love this picture of Carl and Bob Blair.  Dad in the background.

DONNIE REPORTS FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS:

Austin's July 4th commemoration has been cancelled due to the drought.  Fireworks too risky.

WILLARD REPORTS FROM HOUSTON:

Light rain this morning.  Had steady rain through mid-afternoon yesterday.  Wild fires, north of here, still not completely under control, even with heavy rain.

GLADYS REPORTS FROM VIBORG:

Meeting Rita and Roger, yesterday, was a delightful encounter.  We met at Charlies, in Parker, for lunch and spent a couple of hours together.

Roger was anxious to get on the road again.  I had not met him before.  He's a nice guy.  Rita seems happy and it was, almost, like seeing Edna.  She said most people think she looks like her Dad but I sure saw Edna.

It wasn't the greatest day, weatherwise, but we were inside and, almost, had the place to ourselves.

WEATHER

Holmen got a little over an inch of rain yesterday and we got around a half inch here in La Crosse.  And, guess what?  There's an 80% chance for more rain today.  I think I'm starting to grow gills.

Just like the Texas drought is no laughing matter, anymore, the rain around here isn't funny anymore either.  We normally get around 4 inches of rain in June and this year we've had almost 8 inches.  It's also been so cold the plantings don't want to grow which, probably, doesn't matter because the ground is so wet the farmers can't get into the fields.

We could use about half the Texas heat and drought and they could use about half of our cool rains.

I'VE GOT A NEW FOLLOWER ON TWITTER

It's The Lockdownbar; The great new Chicago Burger and Music and great beer joint at Western and Cortez.  Oh yes!  that sounds like my kinda place.  I'll be following you guys!

4th OF JULY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER??

Excitment is building for Riverfest, our big 4th of July celebration in La Crosse.  It's just around and I sure hope we get some warm weather by then.  We're supposed to be no warmer than the 60's most of this week.

I always think that after the 4th it's time to start putting the summer stuff away and get read to read the "Back to School" ads.  That's extra sad this year because, except for two hot days we haven't had anything that even feels like summer yet.

NOTE TO BERT: JIMMY BUFFETT WILL BE AT THE MGM GRAND IN VEGAS OCTOBER 15 & 22

 

A REPORT FROM DONNIE

I quit making my tea stops at famed Whole Foods because their bakery goods were never very fresh.  Isn't it always the way..the most expensive place in town has some of the worst food.  But, I gave it another try yesterday.

I approached the college kid behind the counter and asked for an iced green tea.  That's about as simple concoction as one can desire.  Whole Foods, however, is not about simplicity.  The menu on the wall has a long list of drinks so exotic one can hardly know what's in them.  Clearly, college kid did not know what goes into iced tea.

A wrinkle of confusion formed between her eyes.  "Well," she said, "we've got mocha powder...."  (again, it's pure Bob and Ray).

"Never mind" I said.  I walked across the street to Starbucks.  Their menu is almost as pretentious as Whole Foods but, at least, they could make iced tea.

Remember the smell of Panama?  That ever damp earth exuding its fragrance into the equally moist air?  I love that tropical smell.  Happy to report we had it this morning after about an hour of light rain last night.  It's the first in months.  We have already had 16 days over 100 degrees and summer is only beginning.

YUMMY!

I found a new dry food for Thunder at the store today.  It's Salmon and whole brown rice with accents of cranberries, tomatoes and spinich.  That sounds so good I may eat some myself.

Cat Clip Art

RITA AND ROGER CALLED FROM THE CAR

They had made it to Rochester before 7:30 so they're well on the way.  They have both granddaughters along and they were so excited they stayed up all night.

They plan to meet Gladys, in Parker, around 12:30 for lunch.  I'd sure like to be there for that get-together.  Rita hasn't seen Gladys since Mother died so it's been a long time.

REPORT FROM BERT

Glad you're back.  I'm the same way about not reading instructions.  I have learned in college, though, that reading does help!

TONIGHT IS ST. JOHN'S EVE

It's the preparation for celebrating the birth of St. John the Baptist tomorrow.  This is a big time holiday in Norway and the other Scandinavian countries.

One of the more interesting traditions is that, at dusk, tomorrow, those silly Vikings will build bonfires and if they jump over the bonfire three times (without burning anything in the nether regions) they will be cleansed of sin and disease.  Sounds interesting but I think I'll take my chances with the sin and disease.

REPORT FROM WILLARD

Up at 5:00 A.M.  it's 83 degrees.  Heat index is 94.  Ridiculous.  Our best chance for rain, in Houston, is today at 60%.

OH! NO!

I JUST DISCOVERED A LOSS!

With all these computer problems I keep having, I just noticed that the last crash totally did away with my birthday and anniversary list beginning with July.  If you have a birthday or anniversary, or know someone who is having such a thing next month, please let me know.

WHAT DAY IS IT?

According to Chase's Calendar of Events, today is



Image by FlamingText.com I'm guessing this is some kind of stupid women's thing.

Today is also Meryl Streep's Birthday.  She's 62.  Kris Kristofferson turns 75.  And, remember Cyndi Lauper ("Girls Just Want to have Fun)?  She's celebrating with 58 candles on her cake.

I GUESS I SLEPT THROUGH THE STORM

The National Weather Service is reporting that thunderstorm winds, along Grand Street, on the west side of La Crosse, were strong enough to down a few trees about 11:00 last night.  There was also a tree down on top of a house on the southwest side of the La Crosse Airport.  We picked up another 1.04" of rain yesterday.

I must have been sleeping like a rock around 11 last night.  I didn't hear a thing.

RITA AND ROGER

THEY'RE OFF!

Rita and Roger are heading out west this morning.  They're on their way to visit Rick and Angela in Wyoming.  First stop, however, will be a stop for a cup of coffee with Gladys when they get into the Sioux Falls area.  They'll be back on July 1.

CELEBRATIONS

Since I've been gone Bob and Lynne had an anniversary yesterday and Renee is having a birthday today.  Sorry I missed them, this year, but hope you had a good time.

BOOKS

I'm reading the new SAL MINEO biography by Michael Gregg Michaud.  Absolutely wonderful.  Started reading it last evening.  It's nearly 400 pages and I've already gone through 100.  I can't put it down.

AFTER 3 DAYS IN OUTER SPACE WE HAVE RETURNED

I don't know what went wrong and I don't know how I made it work again.  Or should I say, I don't know how I made it work before I threw it out the window.  I was getting closer to the window by the minute.

As Donnie pointed out, I don't have a "detail mind".  I hate reading instructions and rarely do.  When I do attempt to read the "how to" part I usually scan the first and last sentence in a paragraph and the middle part has to take care of itself.

In any event, this latest experience, proves, again, what Donnie said; "if you push enough buttons for enough days eventually you're bound to hit the right combination.  After three days I hit the right combination but don't ask me to do it again.  I don't really know what I did.