A RALLY REPORT FROM DUANE

"Last day of the Sturgis Bike Rally.  Hundreds of drug busts,  four fatalities, hundreds of DWI's, assaults, indecent exposures.

Now we get the Central States Fair crowds.  5,000 visitors a day expected."

Have you ever gone shopping by flashlight?

Duane did yesterday.

"Power outage at West River Electric substation.  I was at Tractor Supply and they gave me a flashlight to shop.  That was an experience!

It was 43 in the hills Monday night.  44 here in town.  No wonder the furnace clicked on!"

Poor Duane has an exciting time coming up in June.

He reports, "4400 National Guard from 12 states here for training.  The Guard training fields are right behind my house.  Gunfire, explosions.....Shit!!!"

Speaking about Willard's birthday, Duane said...

"I passed Willard on April 19 at 82."

I feel like such a kid at 74!!

DUANE IS BLOOMING

"I have a blanket of violet colored shooting stars, yellow parsley and wild onions in my back yard.  In the front I will have bouncing betties.  Light purple multiple blooms that do bounce in the wind."

 

WE ALL AGREE..CRAPPY WEATHER!

DUANE SAYS: "Omaha had 96 degrees while we had snow here.  Every other day they warn of cold fronts that back up against the foothills here.  I agree.  Crappy weather.".

Got a note from Duane.

He says the forecast for the Black Hills is rain all next week too but it's a good thing for them.  They've, already, been having grass fires.  Too early in the season for that nonsense.

Sounds like Rapid City is starting to get green.

Duane says: "Chokecherry bushes and wild Honeysuckles are leafed out.  American plums are getting leaves.".

Duane is living with "bomber noise" this summer.

There's major runway repair, underway, at Minot Air Force Base this summer so the B-52 bombers have been relocated to Ellsworth Air Force Base for the duration.

Duane said, "Guess where the bombers are flying?  Right over my house!  They shake the house and, my Lord, are they loud!!"

DUANE REPORTS ON BLACK HILLS FOREST FIRES

"The sky is heavy with smoke and haze from the forest fires here.  One fire has burned 3,600 acres."

ANOTHER "GOLDEN YEARS MOMENT"

Duane has been going nuts all day.  He lost his TV remote.  He looked everywhere he could think of.  It had, totally, vanished.

I just heard from him again.  "Found the remote in the garbage can outside. Senior moments are happening more often now."

DUANE REPORTS MORE FIRES

"Another forest fire in the southern hills yesterday.  About 300 acres burned and it's not contained yet.  I'm afraid this is going to be a bad summer.  We need rain.  No moisture."

NEW PLACE FOR YOUR SUNGLASSES

Duane said, "I saw a new trend today.  Young men are wearing their sunglasses on the back of their necks rather than on their hair or caps."

I couldn't figure this out, at first, so I grabbed my sunglasses and tried it.  Sure enough.  It works!  I like it better than the "on the head" thing.

Comment from Willard
"Duanes note about sunglasses was started by a Food Network personality, Guy Gerrari who is on "Diners, Drive-in's and Dives".
COMMENT FROM DONNIE
"You boys need to get out more often!   Young people have been doing this so long that old people are now doing it.

What I can't bear is the goatee.  How much longer are going to have to look at those things?  They are very much past their fashion prime.

Spring has arrived in Rapid city too.

DUANE REPORTS
"Honeysuckle bushes are leafing already.  Iris coming up.  Grass is greening.  The deer are drinking the bird bath dry every day."

SOUNDS LIKE THE BLACK HILLS IS PRETTY DRY TOO

DUANE REPORTS:
"Fire burned M Hill yesterday.  Another fire in Black Hawk burned out two buildings.  There were several prairie grass fires.

Fire truck sirens were blaring and helicopters filling the sky like crazy."

DUANE HANDLES LIFES LITTLE PROBLEMS BETTER THAN I DO

"I broke a glass jar in the bathroom this morning.  Fine with me.  One less thing to dust."

FALLING SNOW

Duane reported snow falling in Rapid City yesterday afternoon.  I haven't heard how much Rapid City has received but I did see a report that Lead had more than 6 inches of snow on the ground late yesterday.  I remember, well, those big winter snowfalls in the Northern Hills when I lived in Deadwood.  There were times when I walked to work with snow up to my knees.

We were getting some light snow in La Crosse this morning and Eric and Bert were getting the same in Watertown.

While it was snowing around here, there was moderate rain falling in Dripping Springs.  That should put a smile on Donnie's face.

IT'S LOOKING MORE LIKE CHRISTMAS IN RAPID CITY

DUANE REPORTS
"It's snowing lightly.  The decks are getting white.  One to three inches by tomorrow."

IT'S "SPRINGY" IN RAPID CITY

Duane reported:
"58 degrees today.  More snow melt."

LOST AND FOUND

I'm glad I'm not the only one who spends half the day looking for lost items.

Duane said, "I laid my glasses somehwere and can't find them.  Looked on the bed, in the bed, looked everywhere.  I have a spare pair but I don't like to wear them.  I'll look under the bed."

That's where he finally found them---under the bed.  I told him I average about 5 losses a day.  Most of the time, when I finally find the item it's been in plain sight all along and I just couldn't see it.

I've decided that getting through this old age stage of life can be a real bitch.