Out of sorts

A recent problem lately is Patches has been getting increasing more destructive when left in the house for any length of time. As good as a companion dog you could ask for he is difficult to confine as he is so determined to escape to the point of injuring himself. We have a woven-wire fenced kennel with an insulated doghouse in the backyard. He'll chew the wire, the wood of the doghouse or if there is an opening big enough to get his nose through he'll work it constantly, tearing hair and skin in the process. So we have left him in the house while we are at work and such. That had been working out OK with an occasion chewing episode. Lately though he started getting into Carol's closet, tore apart some bags that had fabrics inside and has returned again a couple of times since. Then, the middle of last week he scratched up the door and carpet leading to the den beyond which we have been keeping Scotia when we are away or at night until she gets her house manners in order. Well, that was the last straw for house privileges for Patches and now he and E'owyn will stay in the pen when we are away. E'owyn has had a few "accidents" lately, fortunately in the mud room on the floor tiles so I'd been planning on having her in the pen once I shoveled out the snow from the last storm. So far the new arrangements are working out well. Patches has been digging into a pile of snow I left in the pen and both dogs are happy go lucky when we return which helps keep me in a good mood.

Me and the Critters

Carol and Lois have gone north for the weekend to visit their mother on her Birthday (happy Birthday Margaret!). I'd would have liked to gone along also but it's the start of a newsletter daze weekend. Otherwise it's a good weekend to be alone except for the critters who will be sure to find ways to get my attention. Especially Scotia. Between walking on the keyboard or batting at things on the monitor, the train of thought (be that as it may) will be disrupted more than a few times. Carol has left me well stocked on food - the Saturday night Netflix movie is here, Underworld Evolution (ask if you care). One of those movies Carol wouldn't care if she sees or not. It will be a bonus if I get a chance to do some reading, the Neal Asher book, Africa Zero has been on the shelf at least four weeks. I'm halfway through it but the way things have been going I haven't had "quality" time to read. Need to settle in to enjoy a good story. A few minutes here and there just won't cut it. One of these days I'm going to write my SciFi blog - if that doesn't keep you checking back regularly I've no idea what's wrong with you.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to Carol, Mom, sisters, sister-in-laws, nieces and blog visitors. Sorry, I'm to cheap to get you all cards - heck, I made Carol's but not because I'm cheap. I just felt like making one.

As I write this we're not quite halfway through the biggest snowstorm of the winter in these parts. A good old northeaster. I didn't have a lot to do at the office so I took the day off and have hunkered in. Spent a few hours working my way through a web software tutorial. Moved some snow around and spent a little time with the household critters.




Getting back to last weekend, Lois, Jim, Carol and I managed to get to both camper shows in the Westbrook and Portland Sunday. I had a splendid time. Some interesting rigs, picked up a fresh batch of campground brochures and found a camper that we'll keep track of for future consideration. It's a fifth wheel, the interior had what I'd describe as a country cottage decor, and the layout was good.

Checking out the first line of campgrounds,
that's Jim in the foreground.

I don't remember the model but
this one had good space.

Lois at the dining table.

Carol is ready to hit the road in this Class C.

Can a camper pass Carol's scrutiny.

Doesn't this look like I'm sitting in
a regular living room?

This is the rear wall of the country

cottage RV I mentioned.

Business and fun

What a week. Things have really kicked up at work this week after having a sparse week before. Also all my side stuff has become quite active. All good stuff to do but I'm a little out of balance with my reading, blogging, odds & ends. Webpage development may be my main focus this weekend.

Tomorrow a taste of spring, which I desperately need right now. Carol, Lois, Jim and I will go to the RV & Campground Supershow in Westbrook after having brunch at Lois and Jim's. The event is held at a big indoor sports facility. Along the outside wall is mostly made up of the booths of campgrounds in Maine, NH and maybe a couple from MA (the photo appears to have been taken during setup as none of the booths are occupied). Most of them let you sign up for a drawing for a free weekend at their campground. We won one of those once. Then there are the RVs. All shapes and sizes. Of course we compare them to our own. Most of them are fancier and have more features than ours but there is usually something about them which make them not as good as ours. Off in the future we'd like to upgrade, going to these shows keeps us up-to-date and it's just plain fun to look around and think of campering. If I remember to take my camera I'll get some pictures.

is it safe to blog again?!?

Well that turned out to be an interesting couple of blogs didn't it? Who says football isn't very fun?

Moving right along... how about some cat pictures?

Ian was home last weekend which gave him a chance
to get acquainted with the new beast in the house.

Most people brag that their cat is litter box trained...
ours knows macrame!

Two cool cats.

We know how to live it up.

Ta Da!

Our 2007 Family NFL Playoff Picks Champion - Ian!

Way to go, what are you going to do to celebrate?

Superbowl wrap-up

There you have it, Colts beat da Bears. I found I was extremely neutral watching the game as I'm not particularly fond of the Bears or Colts - happy for my brother but it ends there. I did enjoy the game though as the steady rain helped unsanitize the glitz that goes into the spectacle known as the Superbowl. The teams really had to duke it out (even Prince, a great halftime performance in those conditions, good choice considering the organizers were probably expecting nice weather). I picked the Bears to win thinking that they might grind down the resolve of the Colts but it seems to have worked the other way around. Bear fans, enjoy what you got this year because the best you can hope for is a second place finish in the division next season and probably miss the playoffs...Go Rex! - Oh yeah, GO PACK!

The tie breaker Ian and I settled on was flipping a coin for each of us to take the over/under on what we had picked for the game's total points. Ian got the over and the family NFL playoff picks championship...where's that Burger King crown when you need it. Congrats Bud. Get ready to try de-throning Mom as the reigning family NHL playoff picks Stanley Cup champion. Tall order.

Superbowl Sunday

This is no newsflash to those who know me - I love Pro Football, the NFL and particularly the Green Bay Packers. Even when the Packers are not playing I'm interested in who is. So tonight is the the Superbowl Championship game and I'll watch every play with interest. Indianapolis Colts vs the Chicago Bears. Years ago when the Colts were the Baltimore Colts they were the team I despised. Imagine, younger brother Dennis chose them as his favorite team and that remains the case to this day. Now-a-days the Bears are my favorite team to see fail. They compete from the same division as the Green Bay Packers and are the longest rivalry series in the league.

Ian is home for the weekend and is taking the train back to campus late this afternoon. Through the playoffs he, Carol and I have been making our picks and Ian and I have tied. So we wrote our picks on pieces of paper, included a total score to use as a tie breaker - we both chose the Bears and 37 points total. Still trying to figure out what to use as a tie breaker. That said, I'm rooting for the Colts. Two reasons, first, for Dennis to enjoy the victory. He has had to endure several playoff collapses in the last few years so here the Colts are in the Superbowl - go get it. A side reason I'm rooting for them is to get the subject of "will Payton Manning ever win the big one" off the sports talk radio and out of the newspapers and magazines. The Packers last won a Superbowl in 1997, I'm hoping they can put together a run at it next season. Second reason, can't root for the Bears, no way, no how - can't have them showing up at Lambeau Field as defending champs. I'd rather drink decaf coffee or "lite" beer.

If you're into it, enjoy the game - if you're not into it, watch it anyway, the commercials may be worth it.

Diet progress

Not that I want to be held to a monthly report on my dieting but I've made significant progress in changing my approach to eating. As of a month from when I started my plan I have lost 10.6 lbs. More than I would have been satisfied with, though I won't be asking for any of it back. The problem I'm having now is keeping track of the calories I'm consuming and burning. I bought a nifty little program for my Axim Pocket PC where I can enter the foods I eat and their nutritional values but if it's not spelled out on a box then I have to dig them up and I don't always have the time. I hope to get back at it but I still watch what I'm eating and I try to walk often and use the elliptical machine. I'm at a point where I should readjust my thinking about how this is to become a way of life and have bought the book "You on a Diet" by Dr's Roizen and Oz who have a show on the Discovery Health channel. Their approach begins with your waist size and not the weight. More on that in a later blog. For now besides losing a few pounds I've gone from 2 or 3 Tums a day to 1 or 2 a week and Carol says I'm snoring less.

So, steady as it goes - I just need to get a little more understanding of how the body operates and how to manage it better for the future.

What's in a name?

We've made a name change on the cat. After a night's sleep we decided that "Lycia" doesn't ring right, so we kicked around new and old ideas all day Sunday, received some ideas from Ian on Monday and settled on "Scotia". It was one of Ian's suggestions and Carol liked it. It has some Irish and Scottish background history besides being part of a name of a Canadian Province. So there you have it, more confusing than I expected. Usually this pet naming stuff is a quick process, something comes quickly and seems right.