More odds and ends

College pigskin officially begins tomorrow. I'm ready for an awesome 12 or 13 weekends. ________________________________

I've come to the conclusion that the Geofamily would have been right at home watching TV in the mid to late '60's. This is given credence by our Netflix queue, currently featuring "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.," "Star Trek" (we just finished watching the first season), and now "The Brady Bunch." Course back then we would not have had digital media, or barely even magnetic analog media for that matter.....
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Why do preseason NFL games need to go into overtime?
A: Las Vegas. Thank the gamblers. 
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Might we be seeing the last Texas-Texas A&M football game this Thanksgiving? A: No. Keep in mind Georgia and Georgia Tech are in different conferences, as are Florida and Florida State. However the Longhorn-Aggie matchup might have to move from its Thanksgiving weekend slot to sometime earlier in the season.
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I can say this: My alma mater might have a perpetually crappy football team but at least that means they run a clean program. You can't say that for: USC, Ohio State, Miami, Oregon....I'm sure the list will go on.

Why I'm Glad To Be Living Around Here

The people here aren't perfect, and there are a few neer-do-well's in these parts.

But overall Midwestern hospitality and looking out for each other is still expected behavior.

Yesterday's Amtrak derailment, which happened about 100 miles from where I reside, illustrates just how the locals react when a crisis situation hits.

It only took 3 years

But I finally was able to take little Geoana to Kool-Aid Days in Hastings, Nebraska (where it was invented).

Featured the world's longest Kool-Aid stand. Just plunk down a few dollars to get a couple of commemorative mugs, and the child and I could have as much of the sugary drink as we could consume.

As I told Geogal before we ventured forth: "I hope they have plenty of porta-potties."

They did.

And, as it turns out, Kool-Aid is progressive and embraces people of all lifestyles:


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Getting cool in the mornings. Just a hint of fall in the air.

(Had to include that piece especially for my Texas kindred, who are suffering through one of the worst summers imaginable.)

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Speaking of the hint of fall, I walked out of the house today, started the truck, drove to the end of the street, and before making the turn saw about six turkey hens congregated next to the ballfield.

First sighting of the season. Autumn's a-comin'.

No Creative Title

Little Geoana spent some of this morning at the local sewing concern getting her skirt ready.

Ready to go to Hutchinson.

We're not planning another trip. For benefit of the out-of-staters, Hutch is where the state fair takes place.

That's right. Her award-winning textile is being entered into competition at the state level.

I'm so proud.

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Our heat wave and dry spell ended some days ago but last night elevated precipitation to a new level.

Three ginormous thunderstorm cells passed over our fair town last night. The last one hit about one in the morning. It featured a couple of thunderclaps that were so loud I swear the lightning struck somewhere on our street.

Made for a moist and cool (for summertime) day, however.

Took a while to get back to sleep but once I returned to repose I dreamed of being quickly transported to Antarctica, which included a temperate pocket of civilization containing a nondescript neighborhood topped off with a cut-rate Target store. Roadways were marked with highway signs that looked like they were contracted out to the Arizona Department of Transportation. They didn't even bother to change the state shape on the signs.

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Heard a beautiful sound today. That of our dishwasher churning away cleansing the items inside.

Repair guy finally got out here yesterday. Sure enough, it was the motor. Fortunately he had a replacement one on hand.

How long before I start taking that appliance for granted again?

Bountiful, Part II

Last year I wrote about my rather disappointing home-garden haul.

This year, much improved. I didn't plant any spuds but we again did the yellow squash thing, more tomatoes (gotta do tomaters!), and a few other odds and ends provided by one of our acquaintance's mother.

And again I did Big Jim green chile.

Last year's crop (I use the term very loosely) yielded only a few peppers and none of them were of significant size. I don't know what's different about this year. I got the Big Jim from the same place as before, planted it in the same area as in 2010.



What a difference a year makes! I've already harvested 9 peppers from this baby and they are comparable to what you'd procure from Hatch, New Mexico. I roasted them yesterday under the broiler and they have a nice flavor, not mild like the Anaheim but not scream-in-pain, either.

Made salsa yesterday. Made more today.

Totally garden-grown was the first batch (save for the store-bought cilantro). Tomatoes, onion, and green chiles fresh from the backyard. Finally fulfilled one of my dreams from last year.

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August is here, and little Geoana seems ready to return to school. Around these parts there's just something about the month of August. Fair is over, the kids just seem sparse. Like they've already succumbed to the reality that school time is almost here. (Doesn't bother my kid, she's social and seems to enjoy school just fine.) The public pool gets less use, even though they keep the same hours as always. The getaway fun vacations are all over, the farm kids have plenty to do as it is.

Earlier I blogged about little Geoana's (prize-winning) baking. I neglected to mention that in the midst of all the heavy kitchen use our dishwasher decided to take a hiatus. (I think the motor died since water goes in and water pumps out, but nothing else happens.) And try waiting for you local appliance repairman to come over and at least do a diagnosis, since he's keeping busy with air conditioner repairs courtesy of our recent heat wave.

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Few things are more surreal then having your wife tell you she sees our old house in Chandler up on the market again. (Via Zillow) Click through the realtor's photos and say to yourself: "I had that put in, I built that, I painted that, I paid for that to be done."

Weird.

Catch-up Saturday

The county fair is winding down, none of us will probably go tonight. We've done our bit-- the gals in particular. Notwithstanding little Geoana's ribbon-winning entries in the sewing and cooking categories both mother and daughter have been active with games and concession stand work.

Tired household.

Back to normal routine. I'll be grilling up some steaks tonight and Geogal and I will be consuming some adult beverage. Tonight will probably just consist of Netflix DVD-viewing, either "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." or "Star Trek."

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Have I downloaded Lion and installed it on the iMac?

No. I'll wait just a bit for the bugs to be worked out. As an old colleague once told me a couple of decades ago, never buy the ".0" release of any software.

Then there's this.

Get it together, Cupertino.
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I've been going to ESPN's site every so often, trying to keep up with the trades and signings around the NFL. Kevin Kolb going to the Cardinals was no big surprise. Ditto for McNabb to the Vikings. Can't help but notice the Patriots, Eagles, and Steelers are hoping to win The Big One this year.

We'll see. The short offseason (there was an offseason?) will of course result in plays and players that just don't congeal well at times. And the New York Yankees can attest that getting plenty of big-name, high-priced talent doesn't necessarily mean these guys can come together as a team.

No doubt we have one interesting pro season upcoming.

And on the college side, who can but wonder if Ohio State and North Carolina will resemble the fictitious Texas State University Fighting Armadillos from the 1991 flick "Necessary Roughness."

Other questions remain. Will the Longhorns shake off last season's string of disappointing losses and earn a respectable bowl invite? How will Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska adjust to new conferences? And will the Texas A&M Aggies ever win a game in Cowboys Stadium?

Skin of the pig

I'm not one who lives and dies by the NFL but it is heartening to see the lockout end. Late July always signals the gridiron guys, at every level, to put on the pads and start the drills.

I still enjoy college football just a smidge more than the Not For Long league but I really don't want an autumn without both. Watching high school ball here is true icing on the cake. I'm ready for cool Friday nights cheering on the BlueJays (I think I just gave away my location) followed by flipping the remote on Saturday (always a chance to catch a good matchup).

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Took little Geoana to a youth trap shoot yesterday. Free for the participants, simply show up and be 18 or under. We brought a .410 one of my coworkers let me borrow but the little one also took the chance to shoot 25 rounds with a Remington 1100 20-gauge semiautomatic, property of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

She did well, broke some blue rock here and there. She still prefers the .410 which I don't mind. If she can be a crack shot with that firearm, bringing down birds with a youth 20-gauge should be child's play (pun intended).

She's like her dad in another respect. Following a morning where she fired off 50 rounds (25 from the .410, then another 25 from the previously-mentioned 20-gauge), her right shoulder was a bit sore. I believe both of us need to make a trip to Cabela's and buy a couple of recoil pads. (My last blue-rock venture left me with a nice big bruise on the right shoulder. Didn't help my tendinitis, either.)

Once a cult hero, always a cult hero

I've already shared that little Geoana and I are watching "Star Trek" (TOS) via the Netflix DVD's in order that I may introduce her to Trekkiedom. We're just about through the first season.

Some time ago, she made a quick sketch of her favorite character and showed it to me.

Not Kirk, not Sulu, not Uhura.

You guessed it. Old "pointy ears" himself:

Skip if you're not a computer/gadget nerd

To follow up on a previous entry:

Sure enough, Apple announced both iWeb and iDisk are coming to an end with the rollout of iCloud and phasing out of MobileMe.

And to add further pressure I talked to Geodad recently. He made note of the aforementioned entry in which I indicated a possible interest in web design.

Now I've got REAL pressure to not only migrate my other site to another provider but also to make new pages that are aesthetically pleasing.

Sounds like a project for the upcoming winter season.

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While we were on vacation Geogal learned Netflix is raising its rates. She had an initial negative howl but I countered with the facts that the increase in rates will only mean about $4 a month more for us. Yes, she's returning to school and leaving her place of employ soon so money will be a little more tight but I think we can manage. Still can't beat Netflix's library. (Don't EVEN try to tell me Crackle is a viable alternative and keep a straight face while doing so!)

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Am I excited about Spotify and Google+?

No.

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Last week's journey was the first camping trip in which we had a full-fledged iOS device with us (the venerable iPhone). Useful? Heck, yes! Worth its cost? Yes! Just being able to check the local weather alone made the thing indispensable (our campground's Wi-Fi was rather hit-and-miss).

Geogal also likes being able to get on the Net to check the weather ahead of us, by way of using the 3G signal. Sure couldn't do that with her iPod Touch.

Miscy

What book am I currently reading? This one. Appeals to my geography and history leanings.

Prior to that I read "Travels With Charley In Search of America." I enjoy Steinbeck's prose but agree the book still left something to be desired. What would Steinbeck have written about the South and Southeast had he not mentally called it quits?

However I admit I enjoyed a look back into the nation's past, some 50 years ago. Yes, times were a bit different and certain aspects of life were more gentle. (I could never today fathom camping outside of an established campground or other state-or-federal designated area, though I agree with some of his dissenters that Steinbeck didn't do nearly as much "camping" as one is led to believe.)

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Another myth shattered.

I was feeling heavy-eyed this afternoon so decided to lay down for a bit. Then I find myself going back into my kitchen, now noticing there are some significant steak-blood splats on the wall, courtesy of my pounding the round steak for tonight's meal. (I swear I kept them protected in wax paper at the time of the hitting!) Then little Geoana enters the scene and by this time I notice things seem just a bit exaggerated. Why did I move the refrigerator out of its assigned space? Why do the walls have an overtly glossy appearance?

I ask the little girl to pinch my arm to ensure I'm not dreaming. She does, and I can feel the twinge of pain from her following instructions.

Nothing.

Then more events that are nonsignificant.

Then I wake up. 30 minutes has elapsed since I reclined.

At my old age am I now becoming more cognizant of what's a dream and what's reality?

Back From Vacation

Ventured into the Rocky Mountains of Colorado this summer. Found a great campground just outside the National Park. Literally just outside. Its eastern boundary is the Colorado River (yes, THAT Colorado river). Normally it presents as a gentle stream as its headwaters are but mere miles due north.

This year, however, it was running quite high. A hefty snowpack combined with high temperatures and much rainfall this summer made for one roaring waterway.

Got to the campground last Saturday. On Sunday, we were getting ready for Cowboy Church when news spread that the bridge was compromised. Seems some of the high rushing river was slowly washing away some of the foundation behind a metal shoring.

Needless to say we had some stressed-out campers on the verge of panic. As most of the vehicles there had Colorado plates it is safe to presume many folks were heading back home as the weekend was just about fin.

Plus, this bridge over the Colorado River was virtually the only way in or out of the park. (We heard talk of a Jeep trail that could get you back to civilization but the guys also made note of needing high clearance and skidplates. Since I was relying on my trusty Toyota to get us back home midweek I wasn't going to chance it.)




How did that story end? The county got their engineers and crew out there and by late afternoon the bridge was reopened.

Now, for some pics to provide what I cannot do with simple prose:






Beautiful bull elk:



How about traipsing through the tundra?

Channeling a past generation

Since little Geoana is at church camp this week Geogal and I decided to jazz up our nightly meal menu. Like most kids, little Geoana is a picky eater though her tastes are slowly moving toward more variety.

Tonight's meal was chicken-fried steak. Since we have plenty of tenderized round steak in the freezer (courtesy of a Kansas cow) this is not a dish that will set us back many dollars. The only things I needed to purchase during the weekend grocery run were a small container of buttermilk and a bag of potatoes (you just can't have CFS without mashed taters on the side!).

Going down one of the grocery aisles I spotted the envelopes of powdered gravy mix. For a split second I pondered taking the easy way out, then the vision of my paternal grandmother flashed into my consciousness.

No way! You make the gravy out of pan drippings, just as grandma did.

And so I passed on the manufactured krep. However I did make sure I had plenty of flour, milk, and salt.

(An aside: My grandmother died when I was very little and sadly I do not remember her. However over many years I've heard from both dad and mom that she was an outstanding cook from the old school, where everything was fresh and made from scratch. I wonder if I've inherited some of her culinary talent.)

I haven't cooked chicken-fried steak in over 25 years. As a teen I made it a few times, using a recipe taken from The Genuine Texas Handbook. It was a simple dish: tenderize the meat by hitting the dickens out of it, make the crust from an egg-and-flour mixture, fry in a skillet. Make the white gravy out of the pan drippings.

The reviews at the time were polite. Steak was OK, not great. Certainly not anything compareable to what I'd get in one of the better restaurants.

This time I decided to do a little homework. Scoured Allrecipes.com for the different variations, then decided to mix buttermilk with beaten eggs, plus crush some corn flakes to add to the flour. Salt and pepper the meat first, then dunk and dredge. Repeat.

Results?

Steak was good. Still not restaurant quality but more flavor than my teenage attempts. Crust had more integrity. Gravy? Much better flavored than I remember, but a bit lumpy (it will get better with practice, I'm certain). Definitely tasted better than the powdered stuff. I had to fry the steaks longer than anticipated (thicker than what I am used to) and the crust did come off of sections of the meat.

Overall not a bad freshman attempt. Just like my other dishes of note, I'll get better with each attempt.

Judge for yourself?

A week in a small town

If I had Tom T. Hall’s talent I could write a “story song” from the events of this week.

But given my abilities I’ll keep things limited to prose.

Sunday: Church, lunch after church. Then Geogal gives the kitchen a deep cleaning. Shortly I hear a YIPE!, followed by whimpering.

No limbs lost, but one heckuva bloody finger. Cut it on the inside of the toaster oven. She decides to head over to the ER and returns in short order with a sophisticated bandage and the needle stick from a tetanus shot. But no need for stitches.

Monday: Begin week as usual. Breakfast, check over evening meal plans, head out to work. Eat leisurely lunch.

Notice storm clouds gathering. It’s getting darker. Soon I hear folks in the building listening to weather radio and chatter over the city’s 2-way system.

Get a call from Geogal. “Are you coming home?”

Nope. The higher-ups haven’t excused any of us.

Tornado warning. And the building in which I labor does not have anything resembling a storm shelter.

The siren sounds. Then the rain pounds, followed by hail (only pebble size).

On the home front the gals are huddling in the basement.

Turns out our town is spared. Tornadoes do touch down at points south and east.

Get home at quitting time. Next thing you know the phone jangles with the sheriff’s department doing reverse-911 calls. Another tornado warning. And in the middle of meal prep.

Go down to subterranean safe level. Come back up a few minutes later when it is revealed the warning in question refers to the northwest part of the county, not anywhere near us.

Tuesday: Next-to-last softball game for little Geoana. A nail-biter but they pulled it out in the end. Final score: 7 to 6.

Her games commence at 8:30 in the p.m. Hard to go home and hit the hay after all that.

Wednesday: Normal routine (see Monday). Get home from work, go exercise, Come back home, eat a leisurely meal.

Oh, did I mention I saw a utility vehicle at one of the lots in town? Would meet Geogal’s needs perfectly. (When winter drew to a close she voiced her desire for a large SUV that has 4-wheel drive, the better to tame the snow with!) She rings me in the 4 o’clock hour, want to come over and test drive it?

We do. Nice. Maybe a bit too nice.

Back at the domicile, she and little Geoana go about making cookies from scratch. (For the blood drive the following day.) I’m down in the basement minding my own business. Next thing I hear is yelling, then whiny little girl voice. More yelling from the adult of the pair.

I head upstairs to ensure nobody’s finger got sliced off.

Nope. Just the little girl not paying attention and most of an egg winding up on the counter and floor. And a mother who is on the edge of postal.

A short while later, all is calm once again. Congregate to watch Star Trek--TOS on the DVD. (The episode was “Arena,” if you’re curious.)

Thursday: Kitchen is a wreck from the evening before. Cycle is off, dishwasher ran in early evening. Dishes inside are clean and waiting to be put away. In the meantime the cookie preparation and mealtime did the usual damage to cleanliness. (Normal cycle would involve an empty dishwasher after supper, then it gets loaded and we hit the “on” switch before going to bed.)

Before I even have breakfast I commence on the evening meal. Pulled pork sandwiches. Involves dry rubbing a shoulder roast and preparing a concoction of apple juice this and apple cider vinegar that. Throw in some Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke to boot. Set in Crock Pot and turn switch to low. Many hours should make good meat.

Then assume role of “Cookie.” Fry bacon, then whip up some farm-fresh scrambled eggs for everyone. After, head out to work as usual.

Meanwhile Geogal gets home from work, has little Geoana unload the dishwasher, then attacks the kitchen with something a little shy of vengeance. By the time I get home the cooking area is immaculate. Crock Pot is the lone warrior, doing its thing on the countertop with nary a complaint.

Looking forward to an easy evening. The meal is mostly done, then little Geoana has a softball game at 8:30. The last one of the season.

Then the phone rings. It’s the P.E. teacher/local recreation guru/softball umpire calling to tell us that little Geoana’s team has a game scheduled at 6. (It’s currently 5:55.) A quick glance at the schedule confirms it--the coach and just about all the parents missed the fact that today’s contest involves TWO games. And hardly anyone from our daughter’s team is even there. Might be looking at a forfeit.

Hit panic button. Geogal starts calling the other kids’ parents. Some are in town, some live out on farms.

She gets little Geoana there. Calls a bit later, they’re playing. Got 8 girls.

I eat in peace, then gather together said food to provide nourishment to the rest of the family.

Arrive at the ballpark, find Geogal. Tell her I’ve got the food. She’ll eat once this inning is over.

Third out. That’s the game. (Time-limited and it started late.)

Head back home, so thankful I took the food down there (said to self in sarcastic tones).

Back at the homestead, the females eat while I begin working on this piece.

Postscript: The second game of the doubleheader was won by little Geoana’s team. 11-10 on a walk off base hit. (They were the home team.)

And we haven’t even experienced Friday yet....

Is this a challenge?

Following up on the last post...

iCloud, with its features and abilities, promises to be a major improvement over MobileMe.

I'm OK with that as MobileMe certainly had its deficiencies. However I wondered about the future of Apple's offsite system as it pertains to maintaining the Web pages I built with iWeb.

And it turns out I'm not alone. Since last week numerous other Mac devotees are posing the same question in their respective realms of cyberspace.

Making things worse, Apple hasn't made public (yet) the plans for storing more than just audio and visual files, syncing information across one's iOS devices, and automatic backups.

What about our web pages?

Not only that, but what of iWeb?

It didn't escape fans' notice that in the latest release of iLife the emphasis was on iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand. iWeb (and iDVD) were left unchanged.

Unchanged, ignored.......soon to be orphans.


Even James Lileks made note in his entry today:

"As for Web Design, they learned iWeb. Sigh. Not exactly a platform with a future."

Yes, this blog you're currently reading gets the bulk of my creative attention. However long-time readers know I also maintain an Apple-hosted blog that allows more creativity with picture placement and text format. Everything I do there I create in iWeb, usually with the stalwart MacBook.

Time to start thinking ahead. I presume (along with most anyone else in the know) that Apple will kick iWeb and web site hosting to the curb. What now?

How about taking it to the next level? Obtain a different host? (Hey, now I don't have to pay MobileMe a C-note every year to keep the service, maybe I can swing this.) There are a multitude of hosting services out there, plenty of competition means reasonable prices!

And what of learning more advanced Web design? I'm not the nerdiest chap around these parts but I've tackled computer-related challenges before. I must acknowledge that while iWeb was (excuse me, is) easy to learn, it has its limitations. Perhaps I can do simple redesigns that will give the end result of a more attractive (and up-to-date looking) site.

Last but not least I don't have to sacrifice my previous work. The ever-helpful MacLife gang offers a solution to the question of migrating my site (intact) to a different host.

So rather than launching diatribes at Steve Jobs and Company I'd rather just test my own abilities. Time to make lemons into lemonade!

Geeky stuff, but at least it's COOL geeky stuff!

Like just about all other Apple fans I paid close attention to the new software coming forth from Cupertino that was officially unveiled last Monday.

I'm not overly excited, but the information about IOS 5, iCloud, and OS X Lion was interesting on several fronts.

I'm already getting the machines here at home ready. Our plan is to upgrade the memory in both the iMac and the MacBook to 4GB and 2GB, respectively. Coincidentally (?), this month's issue of Mac Life features an article on how to do just that.

A couple of glitches, however. First I learn that Lion will only be available through a download via the Mac App store.

Um, I can't access the Mac App store currently as I'm still running Leopard on both my machines. (I figured it wasn't important for me to upgrade to Snow Leopard since that release wasn't significantly different from regular old Leopard.) Why not just wait for Lion since that would be a more significant update?

Scratch that. Soon as I learned that Lion would not be coming via CD or DVD I got over to the online Apple store and ordered the Snow Leopard family pack (at least it didn't set me back much $$$$). By this time next week I should be enjoying the tweaks Snow Leopard offers plus browsing the Mac App store.

Now today I'm reading further and learn that I can't upgrade the MacBook to Lion. Lion, you see, requires at least an Intel Core 2 Duo chip. The iMac has it, the MacBook has a Core Duo.

Rats. That's the first sign of obsolescence.

I'll make the best of it. Running Snow Leopard, I should be able to get a few more good years out of my trusty notebook. It still runs great considering it's been in continuous use for nearly five years. And the memory upgrade won't hurt either. Next up is a new battery (this 'Book is of the vintage with user-replaceable batteries).

iCloud, meanwhile, poses a question to me. I'll address that in my next entry.

And A Happy Memorial Day To All

I've got Old Glory flying outside the front porch. In today's wind (gusting around 40 mph) her colors are well displayed!

Little Geoana spent Friday and Saturday nights at the lake with one of her friends (and the friend's family). Sunday morning she comes through the front door. Tired, a little scraggly, a bit sunburnt, and not quite full of energy.

Turns out she spent plenty of time in or right at the edge of the lake, making sandcastles and engaging in other activities such as playing boat with a fallen tree and throwing mud clods at the other kids. She herself was the recipient of a rock to the head, courtesy of friend's slightly older brother. (He claims it was an accident.)

My words to her? "Sounds like you had a great time."

She did.

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Popped up the camper this morning, first time this season. Thankfully everything is safely intact and there was no mold or mildew from the wet spring.

We have only one trip on the docket this summer. Unfortunately little Geoana's summer commitments combined with Geogal starting school soon makes for a June-July-August with little downtime, family-wise.

The one downside of camper check-out came when we were readying the rig for takedown. The bungee on the back end bunk canvas snapped in two. No big surprise, we already knew the thing was worn when we bought the pop-up. In fact we're a bit surprised it held out this long.

No matter. A quick look on PopUpPortal.com indicates this will be a fairly easy fix.

I hope.

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More evidence of the double standard.

Geogal and I went to Kearney on Saturday. I find a pair of swim trunks at Old Navy on sale for $8. (For the record, I have had my current pair for over 10 years. The elastic in the waistband is gone. I'd say I got my money's worth.)

Geogal, on the other hand, can't seem to find herself a suit that runs less than $50 or $60. She finally finds something online she likes but when it comes time to place the order it turns out the item won't ship for about three weeks.

My comment? "Women's swimsuits seem to be one of the biggest rackets there is." She agreed.

I win!

This morning was just like many others in the Geohouse.

Geogal went to go wake up little Geoana.

Upon returning, Geogal tells me the little one had her hands to her face while in slumber. "Mommy, I dreamt I got braces."

(We did spend Sunday afternoon with a family we've befriended, since our last get-together their son is now adorned with braces.)

Geogal's answer? "I dreamt I was eating a breakfast burrito."

My dream? "I was driving up Interstate 10, heading for Sky Harbor airport. Had plenty of time to make my plane. Then the Highway Patrol pulls all vehicles off the roadway in groups of 50. They then question us one at a time. Nothing about any possible criminal activity, rather the questions were the nature of 'What is the maximum speed allowed on such-and-such highway?'

"I was looking at the clock, trying to determine if I could endure this delay and still make my plane."

For what it's worth I won the "weird-dream-just-before-waking-contest." Hey, I take my victories where I can get 'em.

Dinner table conversation

On Sunday we ordered a pizza for lunch. Brought it home, Geogal and little Geoana already had served themselves and were seated at the table. I prepared my plate, went into the dining room and was hit with a distinct whiff of something pungent.

I thought for a moment, then identified it as Parmesan cheese. Sure enough, Geogal had torn open a packet and dumped it over her slice. I verbalized my discovery, saying the smell was unmistakeable.

Little Geoana said in reply: "That's what that is? I thought somebody farted."

(She shares my disdain for most things cheesy, save pizza.)

Further indoctrination into the ways of rural Kansas families

It's no secret that many people around here are farmers, related to farmers, or have lasting friendships with farmers. And along with the growing of wheat, corn, milo, and alfalfa comes raising critters as well.

I already get farm-fresh eggs from one of my coworkers (her mother owns numerous hens and this is the time of year where their egg production skyrockets). Therefore, excepting the winter months, the Geohouse enjoys the best-tasting eggs around.

A few weeks ago I heard this particular colleague talking in the hallway about one of her acquaintances about to send in a cow for processing. My ears perked up and I butted into the conversation by saying I was interested in buying into this process. Before I knew it I was on the hook for one quarter of beef, the price to be determined. (It's based on the weight of the cow/steer and the current market price.)

Last week I got a card from the locker, my meat was ready for pickup. I loaded my truck with coolers and thermal bags (the locker is about a 45-50 minute drive one-way).

We now have a freezer full of beef. Steaks, roasts, stew meat, ground 90/10, premade hamburger patties, BBQ ribs, and liver to boot.

In case you're curious, the cow weighed in at almost 1500 pounds. No tipping this bovine.

Yesterday I thawed a couple of packages of hamburger patties and cooked them up on the kettle charcoal grill (still don't have the propane beauty working yet).

The verdict? Out of this world. Little Geoana commented the burgers practically melted in your mouth. Everyone liked the flavor. Just about what we expected. One of Geogal's coworkers warned her, "Once you've bought a local cow, you'll never go back to grocery-store beef."

And we haven't even tried the steaks yet....

Home Improvement

Last Sunday Geogal and I cleaned out one of the rooms in the basement. You know the type--it's the quarter where all of the extraneous boxes and items wind up mainly because there's no other storage alternative. It's known in this dwelling as "the guest bedroom." Simply because it includes a queen size bed. The rare occasions where we have company finds this room as base of operations for the visitors.

While spring cleaning is a good pretext the real reason for the downsizing and moving of boxes and bed was due to a project that's been in planning stages for many moons now. Geogal has long wanted an egress window in the basement. We are acquainted with a fellow here in town who is engaged in his second career as a remodeler/construction dude/cabinetmaker/old item replacer and the like. I can't call him a contractor as I don't know if he is licensed, but no matter. He took a look at our basement last fall and recommended the window go into the larger bedroom rather than be situated in the den. We noted his advice then simply waited.

A short time ago he came by and said he and a colleague would be starting the job soon. Then last week he came around and said they would begin on Monday. Sure enough, they did.

It's now Saturday and our guest bedroom contains an eye-appealing egress window.

(For those of you not in the know, an egress window is a large rectangular ventana facing out to a well that is large enough to accommodate a normal-sized adult. Inside said well is a ladder reaching up to a translucent cover that opens out to (in this case) our backyard. It's meant for emergency exit of the basement as well as to allow a firefighter access to the "downstairs.")

So either today or tomorrow Geogal and I will move the items back into the "guest bedroom." We also have hope that we can organize the boxes just a bit better to make the room appear less cluttered. Not to mention we can now officially call this a "bedroom" (apparently it couldn't have the government-approved moniker without an egress window).

To add icing to the cake he also replaced our garage door yesterday (another project with which we approached him). Our old door was not only showing its age but also last fall it snapped one of the support springs which made it nearly impossible to raise or lower. We elected to take the more expensive route and just have a new door installed.

And now every time I go online to check the savings account balance I swear I hear the sound of a vacuum cleaner.