How I Spent my Summer (So Far)

The last day of July and I thought to myself, "self, what have you done this summer worth writing about?"

Sadly, most of my time was spent at the IHL doing moderately interesting things.

.

I did get a few chances to get out of Runamuck. I went to the Mystic Land of Retail with FCC, and experienced precisely how much shopping I can endure before starting to contemplate a murder/suicide pact. On the up side, We did visit an outdoors enthusiasts mecca where I got to see a hill of stuffed carcasses. I could have stayed there a while, but there were more stores to go to. So many dead critters; so little time!

We had a chance to go to a friend's camp for a while and enjoy the peace and solitude of a location even more remote that our lonely log cabin atop the Great Mukluk. We even had a chance to try out a kayak. FCC took to it like a natural. I, on the other hand, climbed in and immediately sank the boat. I either have to lose a few pounds, or find a much larger kayak. I'm currently looking for a 12 footer!

In a week's time, I'll be off to Mudflatts for a family get together/60th birthday celebration. My oldest sister is the birthday girl, and will be surrounded by all her family, as well as my older sister, and last but not least, my old sister. A chance to torment family should never be missed!

Later, Mushers!

MacThumper goes to GA

Hard times for the Presbytery of Carlton Bay. They needed another elder to go to the General Assembly and the only one they could find was me!

I've always wanted to go, and seeing as GA is meeting in the Holy Land, AKA Cape Breton, I was especially pleased to be made a commissioner. The Massive Binder of Reports have arrived, accommodations and registration have been taken care of, and relatives on the island have been given due warning (hide the china, break out the Royal Chinette.)

All that is left to do is pack, load some good tunes on the MP3 player for the flight down, and oh yeah, read the MB o' R! Got to get moving!

Later Mushers!

Discretion

While preaching about Jesus meeting with the apostles after they had spent the night fishing, Rev. Candy asked how they reacted to this guy on shore telling then to put their net over the other side of the boat.

"Who is this guy? Who does he think he is? Who died and made him Boss?

It took a fair bit of effort to not to put up my hand, and shout, "I know! I Know! Jesus did!"

Rev. Candy later said that she noticed that my face had turned beet red at that point and appreciated my restraint.

With age comes discretion!

Later, Mushers!

Cuz I am one Classy guy

FCC and I were visiting Rev. Candy to drop off the bulletins for this Sunday, when we heard her teen aged son Hamlet, get up, go to the bathroom, and close the door.

"Ah," said I in a voice most refined, "Hamlet, must be preforming his morning ablutions."

Now, most people would have stopped right there, but I had to go on to say, "Now that sounds better than 'going for piddle', doesn't it?"

As FCC gently, but steadily banged her head on the edge of the coffee table, the Rev. agreed that the phrase "morning ablutions" had a certain...sophistication.

You will have to excuse me. FCC needs a fresh compress for her forehead.

Later, Mushers!

Sunday Morning

While FCC went with her cousin, Piper, to go shopping in the mystic land of retail, I had the day to myself. Well, myself and the folks at the restaurant I had a leisurely breakfast watching the sea reading Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point."

Well, I looked at the open book and stroked my beard thoughtfully as to leave the impression that I was doing something intellectually stimulating. I was actually trying to get the theme song for the old cartoon "George of the Jungle" out of my head. I was successful only after bringing to mind "Achey Breaky Heart." Out of the frying pan and into the fire!

Excuse me, but I have this urge to line dance!

Later, Mushers!

Hello Again!

After six months of silence...I'm baaaack!

I wish I could say that I was doing something mysterious; something worthy of the silence. Alas, this is not the case. I ate, slept, worked, and successfully avoided frostbite.

The good news is that, in spite of yesterday's cold snap (The Weather Network reported an early morning low of -43 C), spring is here, and we can shed the first five or six layers of clothing. Rejoice!

I am so glad that I can replace the Buddy Wasisname's song that has been going through my mind Lately ("Peeing in the snow, and staring down the hole; its the only thing that makes me think of spring, spring, spring!") with something more...festive. I'm thinking Julie Andrews, and "The hills are alive with the sound of music." (As opposed to the sound of tinkling!)

Later, Mushers!