Good morning all:

Weekly wisdom:

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” ~ Dr. Seuss

Greetings from Hudsonville, Michigan. Through a convoluted chain of events I find myself waking up at Paul and Dia’s. It also means that, since I paid little attention last evening when coffee maker instructions were discussed, I now find myself up, writing, and waiting for someone more knowledgeable than me to get up and get the coffee started.

Soon after breakfast Paul and I will head for the north woods in Canada to secure his cabin for the winter. It was something which still needed to get done and is made much easier if done as a two person operation. Hence, my one night stay in Hudsonville, and momentarily the two of us will head up north.

Swirling, swirling – Ask any of the generation Xer, Y, or Zer and, without hesitation, they’ll declare those of us belonging to generation “geezer” as being environmentally non-caring wastrels. This week I set out to prove them wrong.

Returning home after our sojourn up north we discovered that the downstairs toilet had taken clarinet lessons and with every flush would pipe a little tune. I thought it cute. Marcia thought it something to “be taken care of.”

Remembering a discussion I had with Vince and Kirstin months ago I set out to buy a new set of toilet innards which would do the environment justice. Success! I discovered a kit requiring “no tools” and that would install in “ten minutes.” I know enough that to whatever it says on the packaging I have to apply a multiplying factor of four, thus bringing any installation into a realistic time-frame. I also retrieved from my tool bag three specialty wrenches to get me past the “no tools required” bit. Three hours later, most spent squirming on the bathroom floor, everything worked like a charm. Victory!

My smile faded a bit after Marcia emerged from her first use and declared that it didn’t work. Turns out that the “new” toilet, when used in its water-saving mode, treats paper like the finest of silks, and daintily swirls it around a bit as the tank refills.

The claim that this “dual flush” system will easily save 1500 gallons of precious water a year just applies to male-only households. Introduce a female and the 1500 gallons saved drops to a measly 50 gallons saved. I say “50 gallons saved” only because, as any lady will claim, us guys forget to flush half the time anyway.

See, I really am trying to save the environment and this week gave it my best shot. What’s my next project?

Animal Planet – Prior to winter weather causing most outdoor functions to ceases completely for months on end we made the best use of last weekend.

Aside from the neighbor’s fish-fry we did a bit of a wine and snacks thing. Actually, it would sound better if I phrased it as, “tasting and tapas.” So, tasting and tapas it is, and a superb time was had.

Fini – Make it a great week everyone. Stay safe everyone.
Cheers,
Dirk

From the Archives
Saturday, November 22, 2003
Morning all:

After too many weeks of straight travel this week at home was very nice. In that light I am especially enjoying my first morning cup of home brew. I think it is the smell of the stuff as much as anything.

Last week at this time I was wandering about central England. This week, after looking at an on-line copy of some of the credit card charges I have no idea how the Brits manage. A fuel fill up for a compact car becomes $60. A very plain meal at a self-serve cafeteria almost $15, clothing prices are outrageous, taxes high, and even the trains are not cheap. Considering that on average wages are less than ours, I guess we can consider ourselves lucky.

What is this with “the invasion of the ‘Ladybug’ beetles”? Every nook and cranny has become a thoroughfare for the little beasties. To see half a dozen at a time on places like kitchen counters, desktops, and windowsills is common. From my childhood these were little critters one cherished, held them so they could crawl about your hand, counted the spots, and looked for ones with the shells that had the brightest red. Is this the reason why disposing of them down the drain is a bit of a struggle? Why have they now become pests?

From all that I hear this is going to be a wonderful weekend weather wise, here in our neck of the woods. Monday the bottom will fall out of the thermometer. Therefore we are all geared up with a variety of things to do, from veggie market shopping later this morning to celebrating a wedding this evening. But, and this is a huge plus, with the change in weather will come the great cooking smells of autumn foods; great foods such as Pumpkin pie (with Splenda of course), squash, ham, and turkey. We’ll be celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday dinner Norman Rockwell style with our neighbors – forget this Gen-X stuff.

Hey, have a great week and a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

Cheers,

Dirk