Swimming with the dogs

After a long day in the sun, Tyler and Morgan wanted to take the dogs to Cliff City for a swim. I always enjoy a good dog activity so agreed to go along. Irma more wisely chose some self time with a book on the porch and wished us a nice time. We headed out as usual, but since the "dog car" is no more, we now put them in the back of the Pilot. It works so well that every time I open the back hatch, for what ever reason, Reilly jumps in expectantly waiting for a fun trip. We packed a cooler with some snacks, cokes and a few PBR's and headed out. When we arrived, we found high tide, strong wind and rough waves.

Perfect weather for a crazy but lovable wave biting shepherd!

A strong wind is also good at blowing dead fish to shore and we found what looked like a 2 ft carp lying right in Reilly's running path. Knowing how dogs appreciate a disgusting treasure, I needed to get rid of the morsel from the bay immediately. I tried inserting a stick in it's open mouth and lifting it like a Popsicle, but Reilly can't resist a stick and was grabbing it out of my hands before I managed to pick up the dead fish. So I resigned myself to the real man method and just grabbed it by the tail and carried to the other side of the jetty.

The dogs had already been swimming and chasing sticks. Tyler and Morgan decided they wanted to go in as well. The water was warm and about as clean as bay water ever is. But they went out a ways and with some coaxing were joined by the dogs.

Tyler and Patton having a good old fashioned water hug.

Who's having fun now?

Well maybe not Patton and Reilly. They are heading to shore.

From then on the dogs avoided the human intruders and only chased sticks thrown well away from them. The weather was great but soon it was time to pack the dripping canines in the car and head home. Pizza sounds good right now doesn't it?

Chestertown Tea Party Raft Race

Sunday was another hot and sunny day in Chestertown. The perfect day for another of our towns Memorial Weekend traditions: The Raft Race. This an opportunity for the more serious to plot and build all year, and the less serious to make the decision to enter the night before after a few pitchers of beer at the Blue Bird. I think the Official Rules say it all.

Official Rules: Rafts and any debris therefrom, must be removed from the premises before or immediately following the awards presentation. It is recommended that you test the buoyancy of your craft prior to the race, its not required, but it may save you some embarrassment.

Competition Rules
1. “Boats” are prohibited. All craft should be made by hand or modified for the purposes of this race.
2. Each raft must carry a minimum of four passengers. There is no maximum limit, but must follow rule # 6.
3. Non-human powered engines are prohibited.
4. Parts and materials commercially manufactured specifically for nautical purposes are prohibited.
5. Commercially manufactured paddles are prohibited.
6. Each competitor must have at least half of their body above the water while propelling a raft.

 AWARDS
The Tea Cup
awarded to the raft with the best synthesis of creativity, engineering, and speed -
chosen from the first three finishers of the race.

The Fabulous Flotsam Award
presented to the raft more likely to cause a spectacle than win the race.

The DaVinci Award
presented to the raft with the most unorthodox form of locomotion.

The Van Gogh Award
presented to the most artistic raft.

The Flop Award
presented to the raft with the most impressive failure.

The Other Tea Party

There's a Memorial Day Weekend Tradition in Chestertown called The Tea Party. It's actually been going on for several decades, but within the past 15 years has become a big event that draws in thousands of tourists from surrounding areas. Typically there are more tourists than locals. For many locals, once every 5 years is enough. They have other events this weekend such as the Baltimore Bike Club renting Washington College and feeling entitled to wear spandex in public. There's a 5K road race, which entitles older runners in shorty shorts to walk around the Tea Party with no shirt on. (evidence below if you have the stomach for it). But Saturday is the big day with many vendors selling everything from bread knives to wreaths to fish sandwiches to beer and lemonade. The only thing missing was the Slap Chop and the ShamWow.

So with Tyler and Morgan down for the weekend we took advantage of the awesome festivities.

Here they are posing with our friend "Crabby" the Maryland Crab.

Here are some members of a club that promotes sweating in public.

Here's a club that promotes unisex clothing.

And finally the re-enactment of the original Tea Party. Men dressed as colonials, stand on barrels and pontificate about unfair taxes and the oppression of the masses (some things never change). Then they board a row boat and seize control of the British vessel in the harbor, loaded with Tea of course.

The colonials being superior in strength and determination over power the greedy lot of royal sell-outs and cast the symbolic cargo into the river as so much fish food. The British flag is tossed in behind the Tea and the Stars and Stripes are unfurled in it's place.

Happy Memorial Day! Thank a Veteran!

Hello Mrs. Skink!

It's not that I really mind you all that much, I know you're pretty harmless and some might even consider you cute. You eat bugs, which is good. After all, anything that eats bugs is A-OK in my book. But do you have to live in the ceiling over our porch? And when nature calls, as it does for all of us, couldn't you at least try to make it outside before depositing your reptile feces on the porch carpet? Would that be too much to ask? I found one of your sons today in the basement. The little black one with the blue tail. Yeah, he was trying to get out the window, bumping into it like a dumb fly until I knocked him off into a trash can and carried him out to freedom. He didn't seem too bright. Did you marry your brother or your cousin? Anyway, I had mercy on him, because I really don't want to kill your family. I just want you to live over there in that nice tree stump. you can come to the garden anytime you want. Believe me, it's an insect buffet!

Soulful Sunday

After a lunch of 3 hot dogs (I love a good hot dog) I was fueled for the road ride that I have been wanting to take for a while, but has never worked out. I was planning it yesterday but got waylaid by a garden full of weeds that I couldn't bear to let Irma fight herself. But that's another story. So today I geared up and pumped up the tires on Roadie to 110 psi. I have a lot of unfulfilled gear needs, and an empty binocular case made a great holder for camera, cell phone and allen wrench when I Velcro'd it over the top tube. My plan was to ride the full route out the farm roads of Round Top all the way to 544 and back. A total of 10.5 miles. I opted for just the T-shirt which turned out to be the correct choice. Although the air was cool, it was windy enough to create a situation where you can sweat and still stay dry.

By mile 5, I started to feel the affects of an unexpected and unwelcome presence, grass pollen. The stiff wind was the perfect delivery system for this unwanted guest. Late May is grass pollen season. I guess I shouldn't plan any epic rides through South Dakota!

The Eastern Shore of Maryland has it's own beauty. Perhaps it can't compete with the mountains of the west, but wide open farm fields under cloudy dramatic sky's are a sight to be appreciated.

One advantage of living in the area is knowing the back roads to travel where you can go 3 miles and only get passed by 4 cars. My plan was to push on to to the more traveled 2 lane highway and then complete the route. When I reached it, I felt good and the smoother road with the wide shoulder did not disappoint. I had been pacing myself, going for distance not speed. But when I reached the highway, I shifted the 21 speed into high gear and I was amazed how it felt effortless to pass the miles. Maybe I caught my second wind, or maybe it was the third hot dog kicking in, but there was no strain in the pedaling and I managed to cruise along comfortably down 544 to 213. Maybe there is hope for a 55 year old cycling wanna-be stud to train up for a dream tour.

I wanted to ride....

But he wouldn't let me.

He cleaned your car today, your Dad did, inside and out. He had a hard time getting all the hair out of the carpet, he blamed it on me. You know what I think? Lame! You humans think for a minute that you don't shed? I've seen it. Believe me, you shed. He even took your golf clubs out of the trunk, and the clothes that you wore to work before you left for the Army. They still smelled like you, I remembered! But now it's all clean. He thinks it will stay that way, but first chance I get, when your Dad opens the door, I'm in there. In the drivers seat. let him try to stop me! Woof!

Dog fence struck.....

By lightning. When Patton wandered nonchalantly over the line the other day, I said to him as if he'd understand "yo, what's up with that"? Turns out that the underground wire took a lightening strike and burned out. I don't know how long it hasn't been working, probably a few days.

It even burned the surge suppressor and the outlet. Fortunately the house did not catch on fire. I guess there actually are risks involved with running metal wires around your house and then connecting them to it. Who would of thought? Maybe for an encore I'll leave a trail of garbage from the raccoon den to the trash cans.

Dog gone training!

Ever since we had the dog whisperer out to give us some much needed tips, things have been going a lot better with Reilly and Patton. They live for the evening "chucker time" and I'm not missing the opportunity to work on their obedience skills. To Reilly, the chucker has a value on par with prime rib, rare prime rib au jus.

We start with the sit command. Then stay.

Stay! Doing well! Such improved will power. Don't go 'til I give the command!

I yell "Go" and toss the prize over the house and she's off to the races!

Patton: "Whatever, knock yourself out."

Making them both sit together. This time it's for Beggin Strips!

Lay down. Good Pups!

Both of you stay! Wait 'til I throw it.

Such good dogs!

New Car, Awesome Dog!

Ok, I'm not one to make a big deal about cars. In fact, if I could ride a bike to work and just rent a car when needed I would. But Honda's are awesome. I just filled it up and 34.8 mpg for a comfortable highway ride!?! I just wish it was totally made in the USA, Bubba! And then there's the best dog ever! Patton, helping me pimp out the pic! I taught him a new trick. Roll-over. Except he does it on the driveway, he's like a huge swiffer mop, one roll around and he's cleaned a 100 sq ft area of oak flowers and pollen. maybe we could train him to do the scooch around the floor in the house. No more vacuuming!

What's been up lately?

For those of you that do actually check my blog on occasion, I'm sorry that I have not been posting lately. I hope to correct that this weekend when Tyler and Morgan come for a visit. T and I plan to take a road ride (bicycle for you non-biking types). I have no doubt that he will put me to shame, but I'm looking forward to it just the same. However, I plan to make him pay for out-riding me by wearing my bike shorts and Coleman cooler helmet. When you're 55, you get a free pass at dorkiness. But I draw the line at the aero helmet!

It's hard to keep in shape when you sit in a car and on a train for about 3 hours a day and then sit at your desk for another 8+ hours. I really have to exercise more than the usual weekend chores and occasion bike ride. Last weekend, my sister and I helped Mom move next door to a 1 BR apartment. Even after one has downsized, moving is still an ordeal. I think it's finally getting under control, but it takes a while. Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I hope you are feeling the energy soon.

I got a new (used) car, a 2005 Accord with 65K miles. I really like it and the nice thing is that it has a tach. I noticed that if I keep and eye on the tach and try not to let the rpm's get over 2500, the gas mileage is pretty good. I'll know for sure after my next fill up, but I'm hoping for 34 ave. It also has a CD player, first commuter car I've had with a CD player. What am I going to do with my 8-tracks now? Irma likes it too. She took it to get the Chinese take-out last night. Even moved the seat back for me so my knees didn't do the dashboard crush thing. Thanks, Honey!

Two weeks ago we hired a dog whisperer. Trying to get Reilly the Shepherd dialed down from lunatic canine to just adorably nuts. So far it has been going well. She's still a shepherd though and maintains her level of paranoia at anything that isn't ingrained into her dog brain as totally normal. This morning I was petting her and thought I felt a tick. I held her on her back, still petting her, as I did the pet/tick-check maneuver. When I let her up she shot back to the bedroom to her bed and curled up in a distressed ball of imagined guilt. Patton on the other hand enjoys the tick checks so much that he is severly disappointed when they stop.

I'm going to get lunch now. Yes, it's a slow day at work. Hope you all have a good weekend......

And Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there!