In Search of Internet Service

We fired our internet provider of two years. It was down more times than it was working. It had been an adequate union, but 'not available' was the killer. Currently we are in search of another service that won't break the bank.

'Bundling' is the big push by many groups these days, but the costs are unreal after the honeymoon phase. It feels like they are trying to boondogle us into a bungling batch of nothing. Making & breaking contracts makes it tough to commit. Phones are a must, but do we want it all?

Stay tuned to our new internet, faster, simpler and easy next week. Posts will resume, then.

Birthday's Best

Well another birthday has come and gone. It was a good day, with lots of well wishers via phone, Facebook, mail and in person. Allan gave me a sleek new camera small enough to pack around 24/7. Thank you. A Bonus Birthday.

Thinking back to other birthdays I remember ones such as:
One year I awoke up at 4:30 to watch the sunrise from a lounge chair on the back lawn. A Beat the Sun Birthday.

I got a brand new Schwinn two wheeler for my twelfth birthday. We were inseparable for years until it wore out. At sixteen a bright red Wilson tennis racket was waiting for me. I gave it to the grandkids last year. A Biking Birthday.

For my twentieth birthday brother, Jim, gave me some ice skates. I still have them, but the padded lining has turned hard and powdery. Smiley face drinking glasses showed up about the same time, thanks to a good friend. A Bought Stuff Birthday.

At twenty-one I got an engaged. The ring was hidden in the glove box. We got married in September. A Big Future Birthday.

Ten years ago I tried roller blading and broke my wrist. Later that day the car broke down and we had to hitch a ride home after seeing the movie, Mulan. We spent all evening in the ER. A Bummer Birthday.

I'm lucky enough to have a good weather birthdate. Except for about five years ago when it rained all day, most have been - Balmy with Blue Skies Birthdays.

When my birthday was on Sunday several years ago, there was no hiking, biking or shopping. I was able to nap and gave a lesson at church. A Behave Yourself Birthday.

Sometimes I have tried to cram so much into this one day, it would bomb and I regretted doing so. I've had several Bombed Birthdays.

Allan reminded me I was as old as he is now. Prior to that, I was excited for the 'Big' day. In the words of Tiny Tim, "Happy Birthday, Everyone!"

Gals Gabbing

A group of my high school friends got together for lunch this week. A few of the gals hadn't seen one another since graduation. What fun we had reminicsing about old times, jobs, marital status, grandkids and such. Some of us went to elementary school together and go way back. We laughed about and tried to remember some the antics that occurred. Who says you are at a loss of what to say. We talked about old flames, the haunted bathroom, teachers sneaking Coke in the closet and much more.

I pulled out the ole camera and snapped a few pictures. Some of us look the same, others better and yet, who cares. We teased the oldest that will be sixty this year, glad we are the youngest of the group. Call your friends and set a date to gab with the gals.

It's About (Ant) Time

"The ants march in the ants march out,
The ants march up and about your snout."

Do you remember singing this familiar song while marching around with childhood friends on ant and insect hunts?

With a late spring and cool temperatures the ants have stayed, underground or where ever it is they stay, until warm weather brings them outdoors. Ant swarms dot my sidewalk. Both large swarms of them and small piles of sand show their spring house cleaning has begun.

Usually the ants come indoors for a few weeks mid-spring, until it is consistantly warm enough to gather food outside. Perhaps their winter stores are depleted and our homes are a perfect emergency '72 hour kit' with plenty of food and to spare. No matter what I do they usually are found running bootleg from my kitchen to infinity and beyond. Or at work my lunch bag, left on the floor, has been invaded by these six legged "what's yours is mine" creatures.

It may take a while before we notice one ambitious ant first, then a trail of them trying to pack away the kitchen sink. Soon we realize they are back in force. No amount of sweeping, mopping or tidying will hamper their wagon train toting off whatever they like. Vacuum often or you'll discover they are even in your carpet under Dad's favorite chair, gathering crumbs from last nights snacks.

Can you imagine their conversations, "What a haul at the house on the corner." "Tell your family it is a smorgasboard." "We have hit the mother lode in that room!" All the while we are oblivious to them 'marching in, out and about."

Keep an eye out for them, because they will be back, sooner or later!

Rainbows Redefined

It had been a stormy afternoon until about 3pm, when a full rainbow presented itself out of my picture window at work. One of those big ones you seldom see, that takes your breath away and you stop to contemplate its beauty. Two hours later I was rushing to my mother's bedside at the hospital. She died a few days later, and the rainbow has become a significant memory of that event.

This weekend another full rainbow was visible as we drove east to the freeway from visiting Antelope Island. Even though I am dealing with her death fairly well, rainbows, singing some hymns and such can really set me off.

Putting flowers on her grave as well as some plastic memorial bunches we found in her home, made for a colorful decoration. The death date has been carved in her headstone. We are moving forward with estate matters. Blogging has been more difficult. The desire will return, but it all takes time.

He’s a Handyman Hero.

Part of my duel exhaust car muffler rotted off about a year ago. My ears became deaf to the rumbling sound, shortly thereafter. I promised the mechanic when it was inspected to replace it, but didn’t. Last month Allan & Kent (his brother) tackled the job. Welding wasn’t an option, when the rust holes were larger than the muffler itself. A new one was installed.

That was about the time whenever I applied pressure to the brakes, a noise like an ‘airplane landing above my head’ belched forth from the car. Could it be the pads, I asked Al. “What sound, I can’t hear anything,” he replied. Eventually, other drivers looked for the airport as we approached intersections and Allan decided, to take a look at the brakes. Sure enough, with much patience and pressure both rear wheel pads were replaced.

The final straw was our fence collapsing from a powerful wind. He dutifully took apart the fence, neatly stacking the slats in a pile. Next up: preparing to dig out the sheered-off posts, replace and stain them back into duty.

Bane of the Bur Buttercup

Bur Buttercup is a noxious weed. Less than five years ago Allan pointed out some scraggly, bitty plants growing along the roadside, identified it as Bur Buttercup and said to watch out for it! This year it is everywhere along previously barren parkstrips, fields, and roadways. Every spot of ground has become it's new home, as this prickly burred plant agressively muscles its way onto our lands.

Each morning while out jogging, I fill a grocery bag or two with the pesky vermin and toss in the trash. An Army corp of volunteers is needed to turn the tide as this 'Missouri River' epidemic weed is on the verge of taking over.

"Fabian Menalled -Bur buttercup (Ranunculus testiculatus) is an exotic annual weed, native of southestern Europe that has become widespread in gardens, small grains, pastures, wastes areas, and along roadsides in the western USA. It is a winter annual that emerges, flowers, and sets fruits in the spring, when temperatures climb into the 45 to 50-degree range. It is a toxic species because it contains ranunculin, a chemical that changes into to protoanemonin, a highly toxic compound. The transformation of ranunculin into protoanemonin occurs when the plant is crushed. There are reports of sheep poisoning after ingesting bur buttercup.

It is important to control bur buttercup before they produce flowers and seeds. Hoeing, pulling and digging can control bur buttercup. They can be sprayed with 2,4-D, Ally, Banvel, Banvel + 2,4D, Finale, Liberty, or Roundup.

Categories: Weed, Bur Buttercup Date: 04/14/2005 go to MSU.montana.edu for more."
Saddest of all, who has even noticed the blight right under their feet? Ask most homeowners about Bur Buttercup and they won't know what you are talking about.

Please grab a bag, sprayer with 2, 4D or a hoe and get out there now before it is too late. It may already be!