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This message forum is an ongoing discussion about anything and just about everything ... within reason.  One thing our class was good at was having opinions.  Almost 70 years of life experience certainly qualifies us as experts on most everything!   Ask a question ... give an opinion ... share some insights ... it's our web site, it's our forum.  That said, it's probably not a good idea to get into arguments about politics, religion, and the like.  While we're experts on everything, we also have a wide range of values and beliefs. This site belongs to all of us ... the whole range ... and we are not here to isolate, alienate, or subjugate anybody.  Of course insults, humiliation, sophomoric barraggadocio, and demented humor is expected behavior among some of us less mature people.
 

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Terri,

At least when you swat at a mosquito, it flies away. We are in the midst of the annual infestation of fish flies/mayflies/"Canadian soldiers". They come up from the lake (swarms of them, looking like a Biblical plague), search for a mate in a frenzy (ha! like a singles bar on steroids), mate, stick onto every surface, and die. And die in droves. And stink! Then, and only then, is it time to do the spring window-washing. And, while you're at it, just wash the whole house. That's one of the (many) days when I'm happy to have the hose connected to the pump with the intake right in the lake. No meter on that faucet! 

Jim Cejka

It Rained! It Rained!. The Drought is Over. We're saved. Flush away, my friends.

Lauren Dieterich

Looks like it's time to revive the 'outhouse' for those of you living in the glorious state of California. And, if you have a fireplace or firepit, save the ashes. My grandfather had an outhouse and my Mother had to cook on a wood burning stove, when we visited. The ashes were dumped on a pile outside the kitchen. My brothers and I were told to take a can of ashes with us whenever going to the outhouse. You dumped the ashes into the hole, when you were done; kept the odors down. It was a 4-holer, too. Four holes, no waiting.

Melody Jones (Parker)

Sorry Terri and Jim, it did not "rain" here in Woodland.  It only "spit" here, not even enough to cover the sidewalk.  So...toilet rules still in place.  Love Lauren's story of the outhouse and ashes.  Got a new can of Glade air freshner, no ashes available.

Jim Cejka

Oops, I may have been a little premature, Melody.

Lauren, I hope those ashes weren't some relative you took, figuratively, to keep you company in your mulit-business outhouse.

Terri - congrats on your long awaited trip. When you come back, you will tell us whether their brats are or are not better than Johnsonville brats, right?

Lauren Dieterich

No relatives in the ashes, that I know of; but, they do keep the odor down. Key word, down; the ashes don't completely eliminate the odor. And, Glade mixed with the prevailing odor is worse. One summer, there was a wasp nest inside the outhouse. You found out how fast you could get in and out.

I would gladly give you Califorians some of the rain that has fallen, here, since we got back. It's been 2 1/2 weeks and it has been either raining or cloudy for all but 2 or 3 days. Today's paper said 8.6 inches of rain for the year to date. That's more rain than I've seen in AZ in the 4 winters that I've spent there. And, that's 3 inches below normal for Portland, MI. so far this year.

Jim Cejka

The headline of our local paper this morning.

Elder Abuse! Elder Abuse!

Garry Sellers

Jim ... it didn't say WHAT was cut off!

Jim Cejka

I'm not sure why they chose to single out seniors. In most cases, their water flow has been reduced to a trickle for the past many years anyway.

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

This web page is going downhill........

Jim Cejka

I know, whenever Garry posts something . . .

Lauren Dieterich

At our age, it's a lot easier to go down than up.

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

I so wish that there was a "like" button to push.  I'm chuckling at soooooo many comments made.

We've had rain, rain, rain here.  My continer plants are looking extremely water-logged.  And the temps have been really manic - hot one day & chilly the next.  One can put the air conditioner on one day & the heat the next day.

Next week is the start of Summerfest & I'm hoping the weather is good for that.

Barb

I must say I am very glad I can flush the toilet any darn time I please!

Jim Cejka

So, in a probably vain attempt to appease our critics and upgrade the commentary seen lately on this site, I will post the following:

http://video.wpt.org/video/2365403441/

This is from a WPT pledge broadcast and it's called "Wisconsin from the Air." Lots and lots of beautiful shots of Wisconsin (maybe because they didn't do any of shots of snow). For us in CA, it's a reminder that there are places that are actually green.

It's long, like an hour, with a couple of breaks to troll for pledges, but worth it. Grab a beverage, an appropriate munchie, and look for all the places you've seen.

Jim Cejka

With the temperature outside around 100, and my blood sugar well above that, the doctor says to drink lots of water. But the governor and state and city all say to not use so much water. So, I figure if I put more ice in my glass and less water, I'm doing my part, right?

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Don't forget wine.  ;-)

Jim Cejka

Ice cubes in my wine? Might work.

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Works for me.

Jim Cejka

So, what kind of wine goes best with ice cubes - red or white?

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

White, of course. What's "leftover wine" ?

Jim Cejka

I don't think there is any such thing Nancy. That's why the cork never fits back into the bottle.

Garry Sellers

Hey Jim, I watched that video, supposedly about a place called Wisconsin.  But the video is defective. Who the heck would shoot an hour long video with either green or blue stuff all over the place?  Green?  What's that all about?  Blue ... yeah water, but I know there's no ocean in Wisconsin.  In fact, that's why they put all the Cheeseheads in the middle of the country.  So they wouldn't fall in either ocean.

Lauren Dieterich

Most of Portland, MI could do with something a little stiffer than wine, today. Yesterday afternoon an EF-1 tornado went through town about a quarter mile from our house. Most of the trees in the center and western part of town are down and about 50 houses missing roofs. 3 churches almost next to each other with major damage. And, the brand new Goodwill store is no more. The tornado only lasted about 10 minutes and never showed up on the weather radar; so, a warning was never given. I don't need this kind of excitement anymore.

Jim Cejka

Lauren - You're lucky. That must have been a very strong EF-1 to do that much damage.

Garry - Nostalgia pic for green and blue. Notice there were no pictures or mention of snow. IF you don't show it or mention it, it doesn't happen, right? Garden of Eden, until you freeze your . . . . .  or have to shovel it.

Nancy - Speaking of Gardens of Eden - I was in the store today, and, after your advice, looking at white wines. I found one (Brand = "Flip Flop") that said, right on the bottle, that it goes good with mac and cheese. Who says California wines aren' good?

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Of course California wines are good!

If you're into red, though, go for Argentine or Chilean.