THURSDAY

.......I had to drive through a light rain in order to get to the bowling alley today. I arrived at the very last second because I also had a Pro time check at the hospital at 11:30. The blood check was fine and my bowling results were as good. 140-133-148 was the result of the series. My second line was the best score on the team and the last one was tied with the best score of the team. I'm beginning to feel a bit better about my league results. Now to keep it up!. . .  .Stopped by to see Bob on my way home, his niece was visiting and I didn't stay too long. Watched football this evening without pigging out. I did break down and ate my evening cookies and milk before the day ended though.

WEDNESDAY

. . . . Doggy and I spent almost four hours at the fishing hole today. There are still no fish in there but that water looks really inviting for fish. Rain is expected Saturday and that might makes things more difficult but maybe it will bring the fish in. If it stays 'warm' I will put up with some rain. The temperature was 36 again this morning when I got up. Feels a lot like winter!

TUESDAY

. . . . . It appears I bowl much better if I concentrate mightily each time I walk to the line. Today I averaged 132 for the first five lines then decided to slow down and really 'put all' into my delivery for the next five lines. That resulted in a 154 average. I only accomplished a 143 for the day but that is several pins above my average so lesson learned [again].. . .  .After bowling I drove by Billy's place but he was not sitting out in the nice weather so I just waved at the house and continued on to see my good buddy Bob who is recovering from a broken leg/hip.
He is doing fine and looking well. I stayed about 20 minutes but was getting hungry so I left to get my Safeway stop completed before driving home. No ball games on schedule for tonight so perhaps I will get to bed early and catch up on my reading.

MONDAY

. . . . . .It was a beautiful day to be at the fishing hole. When I woke up this morning I was really surprised to see the sun shinning and not a cloud in the sky. The temperature was fine atthe river but that was only because I was wearing my Blizzard Suit. After fishing we came home and watched Baseball and Football while enjoying some Sunday Night popcorn that we didn't have last night. 

SUNDAY

. . . . . . I am happy to report that I did get into town for ten lines of bowling today. I averaged only 136 but that is better than my league average so I guess I will not complain. . . .I stopped in to check up on Bob again today and on the way I saw Billy sitting on his front porch enjoying a dry spell between showers. I stopped for two minutes just to say howdy and let him know I am still alive and well. . . . Bob is doing well and I did not stay long since he was enjoying lunch. . . . .I watched the end of the NASCAR race and part of the Redskins Football game. This evening I tuned into the World Series during the commercials of Morgan Freeman's Science show. The title of that was 'What is nothing". That is the sort of thing I enjoy on TV. It is not easy to find though. I could say that most television is 'nothing' I suppose. It was a good day but the rain was a surprise, the weather man did not expect it. It can never be ruled out around here though.

SATURDAY

. . . . . The World Series game I thought I would be watching last night is on tonight. I have been switching between that and the Oregon Ducks football game.. . . ChiChi and I were at the fishing hole for almost three hours today without catching anything, of course. It turned out to be a nice afternoon after the clouds parted and allowed the sun to show his face. I will attempt to stay awake long enough to watch the end of the ball game. Last night I made the mistake of turning on the movie 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?' and it ran until ten. I was sleepy when it started but like a good book I was unable to put it down. I don't think I had ever seen it before. It was one of the better Hollywood productions. Very well done and no foul language, I have no idea why it is so difficult to do that these days. Perhaps it has a lot to do with the 'dumbing down of America' that is going on.

FRIDAY

. . . . . Got to the fishing hole around noon and left just before 3 o'clock without catching anything. The wind was not bad today. The sun never did come out from behind those thick clouds; I was able to take the cool day with little trouble. Tonight I will watch the World Series commercials for a while and if the game keeps me awake I will be up late enough to see who wins.

THURSDAY

. . . . . . .Remembering Barbara today. . . . . . My bowling experience was poopy again. I averaged 125 for the three lines and my team lost. We were playing the same team I bowled with last year. I hate when that happens. . . . . I stopped in to watch Bob do some therapy workouts today. He's doing fine and loves the food in that place. . . . .  On the way home I drove by Teigens for a short visit. Sol has purchased a small pickup to get around in. Things are going fine with them. Caren sent me home with a large bowl of stew and another jar of jam. I have yet to finish the previous jam she gave me.. . . .The weather was great, I may get in some fishing tomorrow. Gotta' wait till morning to see if the sun is going to come out.

WEDNESDAY

. . . . . ChiChi and I were at the fishing hole for three hours. We didn't catch a fish but the sunshine was nice. The temperature was 46 when we arrived around noon and was 66 by 3PM when we drove home. I'm still using a bobber with eggs; I don't believe there are any Stealhead available these days and am convinced that when they arrive I will hook a few. [Have to be positive, you know]. . . . .  The World Series is on, 40 degrees in Boston. That is like playing baseball in the wintertime.

TUESDAY

. . . . . I bowled ten lines again today. The first five averaged out at 130.8 and when I settled down and really payed attention I got a 137.2 for the second five. I didn't feel good about it because my league average is/was 135 and this only came out to 134. Thursday is League bowling. I'd like to raise my average but you know how that goes. . . . . .After bowling I stopped in to see how Bob was doing with his broken hip. He appears to be well and happy, expects to check out of there on December 6th. I am guessing he will make that date in good shape.

MONDAY

. . . . .  .I had the laundry all caught up by 9:30 this morning. I am happy to count that as exercise. . . . Doggy and I spent about four hours at the fishing hole today. It was very cool until the sun came out around 1PM. After that is was a pleasure to sit in the sun and listen to the river gurgling by. No fish were caught but I am sure that is only because there are no fish in the river at this time. I have great faith in the eggs I am using for bait, the same ones the Coho went after last week. If the weather holds I will be looking forward to returning on Wednesday. .  . .  .Silly dog rolled in something dirty this afternoon, such a mess. I'm glad he is not sleeping in my bed. He is past due for a bath, but after today I am sure I will have to force myself [and him] into that chore again.

SUNDAY

. . . . .I bowled ten lines and my results were so bad that I threw two more just to bring my average up. Well, that never happened and I ended the day with a 130.5 average for a total of 12 lines. But not to be discouraged, I shall return Tuesday and try, try again. I stopped in to see Bob again after leaving the bowling alley, he is doing very well and looks good enough to walk out of that place and put in a day of work. I am sure his freshly broken hip would not agree but the rest of him is just fine. 

SATURDAY

. . . . . Just another 'nothing' day. I did spend an hour or so on my Presidential Libraries Project but that was about it. I look out the window and see that I have not yet picked up my mail. I watched NASCAR this afternoon and plan on some football this evening. Lazy day.

FRIDAY

. . . . . . . .Doggy and I spent a very quiet three hours at the fishing hole today. There were no boats on the river and I saw no other fishermen so I am taking it for granted that there are also no fish being caught. Had I been sitting in the shaded sitting area I would not have been comfortable  but by moving my chair into the sun all was fine. We got back to the house about 3PM; the weather was cloudless all day but there is no doubt fall is on its way.

THURSDAY

. . . . I should have stayed home today. Or perhaps just not gone to the bowling alley. The team would have done better because I did not even bowl my league average and we lost. . . . . After bowling I stopped by to check in with Bob in the recovery facility. He is doing very well and I am convinced he will be out of there in early December. . . . .On the way home I stopped in at Safeway to pick up some groceries and while I was there I also got my flu shot for the year. . . . While at Costco last Friday Caren purchased a six can case of electronics duster so I stopped by to pick up my half. She was at a doctors appointment and Ron had no idea what I owed for my half so I took my cans and ran. . . . We had wonderful weather again today, I didn't even wear a jacket when I went in the market. That will not last much longer but the weather man seems to be in a good mood these days. He still predicts another week of Indian Summer. I wonder if that is politically correct. Perhaps we should call it Red Skins Summer. This PC stuff is a lot of crap. According to this person. Man. guy. male. Whatever. 

WEDNESDAY

. . . . .I left the house at 11:30 this morning in able to keep my appointment in Portland for my Pacemaker check. I have joined a control group of 1500 patients across the country who have the same device implanted in their chests. The plan is for the hospitals to pay special attention to us for the next three years to determine if the device truly is faulty [some claim so] or not. The main problem is the insulation around the wires being absorbed by the body and the wire coming in contact with bare muscle. I guess some folks have had the device shock them unnecessarily at various times. There was no sign of that problem with me. I will return every six months for the next three years. I will not have to go during the winter time though, that is a good thing. . . . .It was relaxing to be on the road for a couple of hours today, the weather was great for driving and the hours were such that there was no heavy traffic either direction. The care is running like a top. I even was lucky enough to get the cruise control to work for me during the trip. It has not been working at all for the past couple of weeks. I guess something is jamming it up. At least I know that the fuse is not blown.

TUESDAY

. . . .  .ChiChi and I drove to the fishing hole this afternoon. The weather was beautiful if cool but the water is showing a great improvement. I put a plug in the water and started a new book. About five minutes later I had a fish on. I was sitting about 50 feet away from the pole and by the time I got there the fish was already played out. I reeled in a two pound Coho and removed the hook before tossing him back in the water. He did not swim away so I figured perhaps I would take him home and put him in the frying pan. I placed the landing net over him so he could not float away and twenty minutes later I noticed that he had regained enough sense to swim through the netting and escape. Good for him. So far this year I have caught and released three small fish. One hundred years from now there will no longer be any fish in the Cowlitz River. Too bad. 

MONDAY

. . . . .I kept my appointment with my dentist. She sure is a cute little thing, a real doll, great smile. She did a fine job filling the one tooth and waved good by as I left. The girl in the front office is Jessie James reincarnated, she robbed me of $308.75. That much for a single filling? I have heard that houses of ill repute are a lot like that; you love the girls but the Madam will steal you blind. . . . . I also stopped by the bowling alley and did a lousy job for the first five lines getting only a 126 average. When I buckled down and really paid attention I got out of there with a 150 for the second five. . .  .I can only do well when I really pay attention, it seems.. . .  .Stopped by to see Bob in the therapy facility after leaving the bowling alley, lunch came while I was there so I kept him company while he ate. I did not stay too long [he eats fast] and was home by 2:00, in time for my own lunch. The Monday Night Football game is on so I will watch those commercials for a while and see if the game is exciting enough to keep me around.

SUNDAY

.......I hate myself for not getting out of the house and getting a long walk today. There is no excuse for being so lazy. I wasted the day watching football and I suppose eating too much too. Tomorrow I am forced to get out because I have an appointment to be robbed by the local dentist. Perhaps if I am feeling well enough after getting the tooth worked on I will go bowling. If that is not the case I know I will be practicing the next day. There were three football games to sit through today and another one this evening. I just do not know what to say about me.

SATURDAY

. . . . .I had a happy day at the bowling alley today. My first five lines produced a 142 average and the second set of five came to 157, giving me 149.7 for the day. I will return Monday and hope to do as well. After bowling I decided to go see Bob in the Rehab facility. As I was driving down Hudson Avenue I spotted Billy relaxing on his front steps so I stopped and visited with him for a couple of minutes. Billy is looking pretty good. Good color, gets around fairly well. I asked him if he had any complaints these days and he told me he did not like getting phoned early in the morning and reminded to take his medicine. I told him I would not like that either and asked what time they called him. He said about nine or ten o'clock. I then asked what time he goes to bed and he admitted to seven or eight. Life is tough sometimes.. . . I got home in time to watch the end of the Oregon/Washington football game and the start of the NASCAR race. Good weather is expected next week, perhaps the river will clear a bit.

FRIDAY

. . . . . This turned out to be another one of my famous nothing days. The laundry is caught up but that is all I have to brag about. I could have very easily taken the dog for a walk but I was unable to drag myself out of the door except to walk the 6 feet to the mailbox next to the kitchen window. My landlord get his exercise delivering it that far. The weather was threatening all day but I knew walking would be safe because each time I checked the radar picture it showed no rain in the area. Just plain lazy, I suppose.

THURSDAY

. . . . . . My league bowling started out with a bang today. My first line was a 143 and the second line was even better at 155. I was feeling good about my results and felt I would be able to continue into the third game. That is when the computers controlling the two alleys were were bowling on broke down. There was a twenty minute delay while things got repaired and in that time I lost all control of the ball. I was very unhappy with the 113 I turned in. Had I bowled my average in the third line we would have won the series. I felt a little better when I got home and discovered that my average for the day was 137. That is two pins better than my league average.. . .  .After bowling I stopped by to say hello to Billy; he was busy meeting with his caregiver who had pen in hand and was recording things on a note pad. I did not stay long because it was apparent they were discussing stuff that was none of my business. . . .  .I then stopped by the recovery facility that my buddy Bob is in. His hip is not causing him any pain and he is staying with the therapy program. He looks good and has a great attitude about his predicament. One of the guys from the '52' class was visiting him at the time so we had a nice three way conversation.. .  .This evening the plan is to watch Football and try not to eat too many chocolate chip cookies. Off and on rain today, normal for this time of year.

WEDNESDAY

. . . . .Ron and I had lunch at the Sushi Restaurant in Kelso today. He likes sushi and I had never tried the stuff so away we went. It was my Birthday present to him; he suffered through his 59th last Saturday. . . . I can find no fault with Sushi; I ordered what Ron ordered and since he usually does not order the raw fish I still have yet to admit that I have not yet eaten raw sushi. I have no idea what was in my dish except to say that the salad was made of Squid. Perhaps it was uncooked Squid. I don't know. I am not a lover of sea food so I can't say I will make an effort to try it again but I can at least have an idea of what is expected should I ever be invited to that type food in the future. . . . This afternoon I used CheapAir.com to make my reservations for my winter in Mazatlan. The price this year is $544.00. That is $22 higher than last year and does not include the baggage charge but as far as I am concerned it is cheap at half the cost. All of that sunshine, Natalia's  company and her cooking for two months of the winter is hard to beat. A few weeks ago she told me the bowling alley is now open and if that remains the case I plan on taking my bowling ball. Hopefully I will be able to improve my average. The extra exercise is a plus too!

TUESDAY

. . . . ..  . . .I arrived at the lab for my blood draw at 10AM today. I had taken a breakfast drink with me so I would have something to take my morning pills with after the draw. I then stopped by Safeway for some apples and was happy to find some peaches on the shelf too. I love peaches with my cereal in the morning and I had thought I would see no more this year. After that I attended the ‘52’ luncheon. About a dozen showed up minus my friend Bob Vetious. I was told Bob had taken a fall at home and broke his left hip. I was told what recovery facility he was in and after bowling practice I stopped by to see him. He was in therapy and doing well, he realizes how important it is to not be dormant too long at a time and is happy to take part in any exercise program available. He has me convinced that he will be out of there and home again before Christmas. I plan on stopping in to see him each time I drive by the place.. . . My bowling was pretty good, for me. My first five lines created a 128 average and when I really started paying attention I was able to drag a 154 average out of the second 5 lines. The total average for the day was 141 and that is the same as my League results last week. I am happy that is shows some consistency. The true test will be day after tomorrow when I bowl the league games. . . . .This evening, while watching O’Reilly on the TV my Comcast provider went off line, depriving me of telephone, PC and Television. I was able to write this on my Documents program and wait until later to post it. ‘Later’ turned out to be after 9PM. I did get caught up on my reading though, all was not lost!
 

MONDAY

. . . . .My plan had been to go bowling again today but for some reason I kept putting it off. After lunch I picked up my book and started reading and for some reason decided that too was not for me . I then loaded the car with fish bait and the doggy and drove to the fishing hole. The water is still pretty bad but by using eggs I felt the fish could find my offer by smell. While that was [not] working I put  the idiot stick to work and shoveled the accumulated mud and sand off the sitting area. I was forced under the umbrella three times while it rained like the dickens but I did get the sand removed. We left around four o'clock without any sign of a fish and drove home. The rest of the day was very quiet, I don't remember seeing any more rain either...... My doctor called and asked that I go in for a blood draw in the morning, before breakfast. I am supposed to meet the '52' gang for lunch at 11AM so perhaps that will me my first meal of the day.. . .  .I sprayed the Boundry around my tires and Roy's truck tires this afternoon, I hope that keeps ChiChi from peeing on Roy's tires and garage floor. Time will tell and I am sure Roy will keep me informed of the results.

SUNDAY

. . . . . Doggy and I ventured down the hill this morning to check the river. There was not a cloud in the sky, a most beautiful day. I just checked my on-line weather and it claims rain is expected for 12:15 am, about four and half hours away. I am not going to stay up to see how far off that prediction is.. . . .The river is looking much better, more slate colored than tan or mud. Perhaps this next rain will not be so bad and I can start fishing soon. This afternoon I watched football and a good movie called 'Tumble Weeds'. I have no idea who the actors were but the story was great and I would enjoy seeing what comes next in their lives. Tom, the Computer Guy, delivered the PC about 5:30. Too much dust had settled on the innards of the machine and the power supply burned out. Tom suggested a can of air be used every three months or so to keep it clean. I have put it on my grocery list. It was a good day, Roy has company and their dog gives ChiChi fits so I am forced to keep him inside so he won't bark so much. I have renamed him 'Mister Barker'. Things are good!

SATURDAY

. . . . .I  checked out the condition of the river this afternoon when I drove in to bowling practice. The water is still high and muddy looking with more rain expected by this time tomorrow. Those poor fish; they are getting past me. [As if I would catch one if they didn't].. . . . .The first five lines of bowling today created an average of 147; I felt very good about that but the second five did not hold up to my expectations. The total for ten lines was 139.4... I will return on Monday and try again. After bowling I stopped by Pet Smart and bought some Boundry to use on the tires in the garage. Roy is upset because ChiChi keeps peeing on the tires and leaving wet spots on the floor next to the tires. He only does that when it is raining because the little prince thinks he is too good to go out in the rain just to pee. The little snot-bucket.

FRIDAY

.. . . . . . . . Being in need of some exercise and since the sun was out this morning I washed the car for the first time in several weeks. It is sparkling again, as it should. ChiChi and I drove to the Teigens to dry off the car and to visit with Ron for a while. Caren was in town doing some running around and Ron was in the process of working up enough ambition to mow the grass and if the rain held off wash the car. We didn't stay too long and up to this posting there has been no rain and none expected. It was another good day, we are doing well!

THURSDAY

. . . .  . . . . Spent the morning on the laptop paying some bills then drove in to the bowling alley for the regular Thursday League. My scores were 119- 138- 170 for a 141 average. During the second half of the third line I discovered I was not holding the ball the same as I had been several days ago so after I switched my score rocketed upward. I am sorry I had not discovered this earlier in the day. I also decided that part of my problem is the holes in the ball were a bit too small so after I got home I took a piece of sandpaper to them and my grip is improved because of it. I am looking forward to Saturday when I return for another practice session. The river is   still high  andmuddy so fishing is out. Might try mud wrestling, it is almost that thick.

WEDNESDAY

. . . . . . I never left the house today. I did a lot of reading and generally accomplished little. The river is still high and dirty so perhaps there are a lot of fish getting past the fishermen and getting upriver to spawn. I did notice four deer in the backyard, laying in the sun [when the clouds allowed] and being just about as lazy as I was. If that grass gets any higher I won't be able to see them. That would be a shame, seeing them there is most relaxing.

TUESDAY

. . . . . .I took a look at the river when I drove into town this morning. It was not a pretty sight. It is the color of mud and slowly climbing up the bank. I am sure all of this will change as the weather improves but I expect that to be some days away.. . . . . Bowling was not surprising or encouraging but it was nice to see that my last game of the day was my high game. My average turned out to be 132. No big deal. I am now looking forward to Thursday. My computer is still where ever Tom took it the other day. No report from him as yet. I am happy I have my laptop; it's good to be able to keep up with the world. In the meantime I am wasting time watching commercials on TV.