respublica

It's great to leave, even better to return

We had a great time spending Christmas with our daughter Katie and family out in Maryland. We decided to drive this year and we are very very glad we did after seeing the mess in airports. it's a two day drive which can be done in one, but we've learned from past experience driving that far in one fell swoop is exhausting.

They have two dogs, both Bernie/Doodles and are as cute and lovable as you'll ever see. And they are inseparable as well as being sisters two years apart. They have the same parents.

We stopped a couple of times at rest stops and I got a kick out of how we are supposed to get a bottle of water or a candy bar our of the machines. Never saw this type of thing before

It's not easy sticking a hand into those squares to grab what you chose.

One of the gifts I got from Katie kind of made me laugh. I kind of knew much of what the book related, but hey, she thinks I'm old. It's from the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging! the title shows up more readable if you click the image to enlarge it.

Yes, I know we are old now much as we try to ignore it.

The weather was horrible driving through Pennsylvania and Maryland going out, fine coming home.

To all here

Wishing you a blessed Christmas. Be safe.

Pot holes and one big traffic jam

Yesterday afternoon we were headed over to Maryland Heights, Missouri to watch one of our grandsons' basketball game at Westminster Christian Academy. As we got on 55/70 from 157 we saw a huge backup of cars and semi's heading east. It the jam went almost to Black Lane and we decided right then if this held true coming home we'd get off at Black Lane to avoid this mess.

We did not know until later that evening what caused all this. Turns out it was the result of a number of pot holes in the middle lane just about right over Collinsville's Belt Line Road. IDOT closed two lanes to attempt to fill and fix the holes which they believed could have caused major damage and possibly injury to cars and people if they hit the holes.

In any event, hopefully they finished this job and got traffic moving. Coming home we were able to get off at our normal exit only 157 without much trouble but the other through lanes still had a bit of a crowd although not as bad as earlier. Here is Fox2's report on this. It wasn't just one pot hole, it was a line of them in the center lane.

 

Timers Timers

We've been having trouble with one of our outdoor timers which turn on our front yard Christmas village. One side of the yard works perfectly, the lights go on at dusk and stay on for the 6 hours its been set on. The next night it goes on at dusk as it should The other is set the same way but stays on all night. It's driving me crazy because this did not happen last year. I've studied the timer, read the instructions, checked on google, but nothing changes.

I am not thrilled about going out and buying one more thing, but I may have to. One more try tonight.

The Hardest Time of the Year

At this moment in time, I get over-wrought trying to get Christmas presents bought, wrapped and delivered. I never seem to feel anything has gone right and it's exhausting. I long for a time when we could just celebrate Christmas with church services and beautiful surroundings. Not the mad dash to get present after present. It's so hard, especially when looking for things to give to friends and relatives with no idea what would be great or thoughtful.

Just let me see the beautiful lights and carols and candles in church. All this rushing and worrying and buying and wrapping is just too much.

Good-bye Raccoons?

This is rather good news to us. "While deer hunting is maybe the most well-known hunting season in Illinois, another hunting and trapping season is increasing in popularity in Illinois: raccoon."

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources allows hunting and trapping seasons for the harvest and use of 14 species of “furbearers”, animals valued for their fur. Hunting is legal for 8 species of furbearers, animals valued for their fur, including raccoons, coyotes, striped skunks, opossums, red and gray foxes, bobcats, and woodchucks.

I am not sure if these permits allow raccoon hunting in towns, but I'm all for anything which will cut down that population. We've been dealing with raccoons in our yard for several years and they are total pests. Cute, but a real pain. We've had mornings where we've seen several raccoons having a dance party in our back yard. Plus, they've helped themselves to our vegetable garden plants.

Not sure how much quality fur would come from hunting woodchucks, though.

 

What sons and daughters should know

I saw this yesterday, author unknown, and it is very very good and worth thinking about. I would make one suggestion, however, include daughters not just sons.

THINGS TO TEACH YOUR SON

1. Never shake a man’s hand sitting down.

2. Don’t enter a pool by the stairs.

3. The man at the BBQ Grill is the closest thing to a king.

4. In a negotiation, never make the first offer.

5. Request the late check-out.

6. When entrusted with a secret, keep it.

7. Hold your heroes to a higher standard.

8. Return a borrowed car with a full tank of gas.

9. Play with passion or don’t play at all…

10. When shaking hands, grip firmly and look them in the eye.

11. Don’t let a wishbone grow where a backbone should be.

12. If you need music on the beach, you’re missing the point.

13. Carry two handkerchiefs. The one in your back pocket is for you. The one in your breast pocket is for her.

14. You marry the girl, you marry her family.

15. Be like a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like crazy underneath.

16. Experience the serenity of traveling alone.

17. Never be afraid to ask out the best looking girl in the room.

18. Never turn down a breath mint.

20. Try writing your own eulogy. Never stop revising.

22. Eat lunch with the new kid.

23. After writing an angry email, read it carefully. Then delete it.

24. Ask your mom to play. She won’t let you win.

25. Manners maketh the man.

26. Give credit. Take the blame.

27. Stand up to Bullies. Protect those bullied.

28. Write down your dreams.

29. Take time to snuggle your pets, they love you so much and are always happy to see you.

30. Be confident and humble at the same time.

31. If ever in doubt, remember whose son you are and REFUSE to just be ordinary!

32. In all things lead by example not explanation.

33. Dress how you want to be addressed

34. BE BLESSED BY BEING A BLESSING

The most fun cities in America

I kind of like lists like this even though the the information isn't always terribly important, just kind of fun. What surprised me is St. Louis made this list. I asked Dale if that surprised him and he said no. St. Louis has quite a few fun places including the City Museum. Out of 182 cities on the list, St. Louis came in 19th.  Not at all shabby.

Where Illinois taxes rank

This should surprise no one. Illinois is the least tax friendly state for middle class families and second worst for retirees. The data includes property taxes, sales taxes and state income taxes.

Amazon down?

This is something which rarely happens, issues with the Amazon website. But today something is going on and even though we can still shop, we can't check out. This has been happening to everyone this morning as noted by a google answer.

I'm certain things will get back to normal but it's a bit of a surprise.