Big Splash

No more big splashes in the back yard. I wonder if our Washington family longs for the cool perfect days of Omaha while they were here.



We miss this darling boy, Ethan Axel.

Sam and Eggs

I am Sam
I am Sam
Sam I am

That Sam-I-am!
Than Sam-I-am!
I do not like
that Sam-I-am!




Do you like
green eggs and ham?






I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.
I do not like
green eggs and ham.


Would you like them
here or there?

I would not like them
here or there.
I would not like them
anywhere.
I do not like
green eggs and ham.
I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.







Would you? Could you?
In a car?
Eat them! Eat them!
Here they are.



I would not,
could not,
in a car.

You may like them.
You will see.
You may like them
in a tree!

I would not, could not in a tree.
Not in a car! You let me be.


I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them with a fox.
I do not like them in a house.
I do not like them with a mouse.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere.



I do not like green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.



A train! A train!
A train! A train!
Could you, would you,
on a train?

Not on a train! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! Sam! Let me be!

I would not, could not, in a box.
I could not, would not, with a fox.
I will not eat them with a mouse.
I will not eat them in a house.
I will not eat them here or there.
I will not eat them anywhere.


I do not eat green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.
Say!
In the dark?
Here in the dark!



Would you, could you, in the dark?

I would not, could not,
in the dark.

You do not like
green eggs and ham?


You do not like them.
So you say.
Try them! Try them!
And you may.
Try them and you may, I say.




Sam!
If you will let me be,
I will try them.
You will see.

Say!
I like green eggs and ham!
I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!



So I will eat them in a box.
And I will eat them with a fox.
And I will eat them in a house.
And I will eat them with a mouse.
And I will eat them here and there.
Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!

I do so like
green eggs and ham!
Thank you!
Thank you,
Sam-I-am!

Project Gutenberg

This is not Gutenberg, nor is it the Project. In a college class called Electronic Information Systems, taught for the first time in the early 80's, we were put on the Internet and given university email addresses.

It was taught by my Advisor. I was mystified by the whole business. It was also my first introduction to Project Gutenberg.








This is a better picture of our Great Granddaughter and Dean's puppies! Maybe it isn't so odd that in photographing small children one inadvertently gets adult shoes, legs, skirts and pants.



Kim Komando hits my inbox daily. This is the Cool Site of the Day: There are 30,000 e-books available for free. And you don't need an e-book reader. To find them, go to today's site. But then perhaps winter is the time to read or during summer dog-days. So far we have broken records for the coolest night temperatures twice in July.

Family Reunion Activities

Dean's puppies were a huge attraction. The little sweetie by the dishes in the puppy pen is our great granddaughter. Her mother and grandparents are in the photo as are our steak fondue cowboy cook and the pup's owner.











One of our sons at the family reunion on July 4th. He is holding Ethan Axel, one of our three Great Grands, two of which were with us.






We were blessed to have these grandchildren come to the family reunion in the Black Hills of SD this July. The two on the left are from Wichita. The three on the right drove from Washington (state).








This reckless viking is doing what he does best, throw money around. It is his family reunion tradition; he saves change for two years and over the years generation of children seem to look forward to the coin toss. For a number of years he did a dollar drop. Where were the bills this year, HWMBO?

The Rattler's Companion

So many things to think about and so many things I could write about; I hardly know where to start.

The photo is one of clearing the overgrowth out back. I have been clearing it on my knees, a yard-waste bag at at time. It is pleasant duty for me as I work my way around the stepping stones and concrete. I can't manage a chain saw and that task is left to the one who can.

He Who Must Be Obeyed subscribes to The Sundance Times (Wyoming).In the July 9, 2009 "75 Years Ago" is this intriguing news item: "The rattlesnake and the bull snake, for centuries deadly enemies, have put aside their enmity and are crossing to produce a new breed of snake known as the rattler's companion. They resemble the rattlesnake, having the black tongue, fangs, and small diamond markings of the rattler. It also has a head similar to the rattlesnake and does battle by coiling and striking. It has no rattles and resembles the bull snake in color except that it is light yellow rather than orange. Its sharp pointed almost needle-like tail resembles that of neither snake.

Mrs. Edith Songer, who has just returned from near the Devil's Tower reports that 10 have been killed in Crook County. The United States government has issued warnings to all vicinities in which the rattler's companion has been discovered that it is to be killed. No one has been bit by one of these snakes, and the effects are not definitely known; but it is surmised that the bite would be poisonous."

One Thing or Another...Thing

During our small trip and family reunion I developed a toothache. Trying to ignore it became impossible. Now after being home four days, I got in to see my dentist this morning early. Finding the painful culprit is not easy; first of all the pain meds for the back problem is masking the normal way to be aware of a problem. I think it is dangerous.

After three x-rays, a lot of thinking, and probing around with a pick, it was finally determined that perhaps I am dealing with two teeth giving me fits. The top one is temporarily filled and is cracked through vertically. It will be pulled after the dentist's vacation. In the meantime I am on an antibiotic for at least a week.

The corresponding molar on the bottom, same side, is the one that I think is the culprit. Tomorrow morning before I medicate I will go in again for the probing pick. I can see why ancient, or not so ancient, people took a rock and knocked their teeth out.

"How old are you?" Apparently when one is 74 it is time to pull teeth instead of save them to the tune of thousands of dollars. I believe before the month is out the two will make their click as they land in the pan. "They were good for at least 62 years," he said, thinking they might have come in at 12 years old.

All of this is distracting me from my house guests.

Nemo

Over the 4th of July holiday we journeyed to the Black Hills. On our way to the Boe family reunion we drove from Rapid City, through Nemo and Deadwood, to Spearfish.

We once lived in Nemo; for three summers and two winters we led the idyllic and simple life as seven people of the 42 citizens there.

In 1913 Homestake moved milling operations to Nemo. The town grew into a thriving little community with the Hearst Mercantile store as a central gathering place. After finishing their shift, sawmill men stopped in to pick up snuff or tobacco, gloves or overalls, hoist a cool one and swap tales. Housewives didn't linger when they did last minute shopping for the evening meal; the store was primarily male territory.