I have my stuff done, almost. Got all the washing done and things sorted for my Ireland packing. We went to Blgs Monday and got the proper sized carry-on bags. They are sure little, but will hold quit a bit. More than it looks. Even got a paperback book to read in the airports and a puzzle book for variation. They fit in the little bag. Can also get camera stuff in it.
Raked the sticks out of the back yard yesterday. Now I have to do the side. Used my handy dandy push mower to knock down the cottonwood tree sprouts. The grass didn't need mowed, just these tall little hummers and a couple of taller weeds. Now I can rake again. That will be my physical labor for this trip. Vacuumed some cobwebs in the basement and window sills.
I looked up addresses online from Spuddie's address book. Sent notices to all those that matched. Quite a few didn't match up so they don't get one.
Made the picture cds for Ed and got those in the mail too. I called him and he's still at the same address. Have called Gma everyday and she's anxious for me to get back. She doesn't actually say that but drops subtle hints that I should be there no later than Friday. Since I got so much work actually accomplished I really don't have a good excuse to stay longer. All the bills arrived and have been paid except one insurance one.
Hope you have all the pics off my flickr site that you want as I'll change them when I get back to Mtse. It works faster on wireless. Whooeee!!
soiips
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Hyattville Parade
Gma got to ride in the parade on the Old Timer's float. Thought there would be several people on it and they said there would be ice water on the float too. Didn't happen. Gma was the first one there to be on it. Had to ask a couple of different people where to get the ice water. Finally got some. We got there about 3:17. They were to start lining up at 3:30. Didn't know exactly where to go and they had one street blocked so had to detour around that block. The instructions said "south of town at the fork in the road". Asked someone on the street and she said just go around this block and head out of town. It was by the logging road, you'd see a bunch of cars there. ok. That wasn't a problem. Just like she said. Couldn't see which float was the one she was to be on and didn't see any other old timers out there. One official said just pull up on the other side of the sheep wagon and the float was there. They had steps for them to get on. Since we were sort of early we opted to stay in the air conditioned car until closer to the time to start. I was instructed to leave before the flag bearers started or I wouldn't be able to get out. ok. Finally they said Gma could sit in the truck pulling the sheep wagon until they started. No other old timers had shown up. So I left her in strangers' hands. The wagon driver said he'd let her off wherever I wanted uptown. I didn't know where I would be because people were parked all along the road in town. He said he'd drop her off at the second bridge or wherever I was standing. He'd see me. ok. I did get a really good parking spot by the second bridge. Then I went closer to town to watch and see what else was in the little town. Saw Eddie, Ginny, and Curtis sitting on the corner. They were supposed to be on the float. They had been told to wait on that corner and the wagon would pick them up. On that corner the parade would have been nearly over. They asked where Gma was and I said she was on the float. Where was it? Way out on that road out of town. By the time they decided maybe they should try to find the float the parade was at the first bridge. We got some officials to hold them up there while Ginny loaded the two guys into her car and whipped around the block to the line up. At first they said just stay at the corner and they'd get picked up. ok. Then the lady lining people up said let them through. ok. One of the flag bearers said that was who they had been waiting for. He said "Do you know who that was. They probably were in the bar and were late." I didn't bother to correct them, they wouldn't have believed me anyway. So I went back to a corner which wasn't crowded and I could hear the announcers. Got pics of the first of the parade. Two of my sister's classmates (one in real estate, the other a politician) were in it and Mike Enzi (politician). This isn't an election year either. When the Old Timers came by I had to hurry to my car, because the guy was going to drop Gma off there. They started to let her off and she decided to ride around the loop with them and go back through town. I'm not going to argue with a 101 year old. They did a loop further up the road and came back. Then she was ready to get off right at my car. The fellows were to get dropped off at the bar. Don't know what ever happened to Ginny. Gma said she did get turned around in the parade line up and was supposed to meet the guys at the bar. We just got in my car and left. Gma was pretty well done in. Really hot. It was 91. She had been given a bottle of cold water. Someone asked the wagon driver if they all wanted a drink. Said they'd get him a beer and Gma a Tequila Sunrise. She never got that but the driver did get his beer. He gave her some which was nice and cool for her. She just had a sip. Said if she had any more they'd be picking her up off the wagon bed. She'd never have made the whole trip.
I think they were all having fun, but those three from Meeteetse were the only old timers on the float. Too bad we couldn't have stayed for some of the later stuff. Hub Whitt was playing later on in the evening. Think they had other entertainment too, but that was way too long for Gma. We didn't go to the picnic either as it was at noon and the parade wasn't until 4:00.
We decided we will have to go back the Hyattville some time and eat at the little cafe. Gma says they had good food there. It was closed today as the 4H kids were selling food and stuff. The picnic grounds are out where there is an archealogical spot with petroglyphs. Will have to check that out sometime too. The map shows a gravel road from Shell to Hyattville and another gravel road from Hyattville to Ten Sleep with little marks that indicate a scenic drive. Will have to go on those roads. Gma has been on them with Fendts and Griffins, but I haven't.
We got milk shakes in Worland on the way home. Gma got her nap from 7:00 to 8:30, then to bed at 9:00. I put the parade pics on picasa.
I think they were all having fun, but those three from Meeteetse were the only old timers on the float. Too bad we couldn't have stayed for some of the later stuff. Hub Whitt was playing later on in the evening. Think they had other entertainment too, but that was way too long for Gma. We didn't go to the picnic either as it was at noon and the parade wasn't until 4:00.
We decided we will have to go back the Hyattville some time and eat at the little cafe. Gma says they had good food there. It was closed today as the 4H kids were selling food and stuff. The picnic grounds are out where there is an archealogical spot with petroglyphs. Will have to check that out sometime too. The map shows a gravel road from Shell to Hyattville and another gravel road from Hyattville to Ten Sleep with little marks that indicate a scenic drive. Will have to go on those roads. Gma has been on them with Fendts and Griffins, but I haven't.
We got milk shakes in Worland on the way home. Gma got her nap from 7:00 to 8:30, then to bed at 9:00. I put the parade pics on picasa.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
mail box saga
Yesterday when we went for coffee we noticed a big post propped against our fence (on the inside). Hmmmm. Where could that have come from? Oh!! Our mail box is gone. There it is down the road on a funny looking metal post along with the Cowboys' mail box. What's going on here? Who moved the boxes and why, and when? I didn't notice that when we came in Sunday. Must have been done by the construction guys. We drove to it and Gma opened it to see if she could reach it ok. She could but it sure wobbled on the skinny metal post. Looks kinda flimsy to me.
Called the Post Office to see if there was a reasonable and logical reason for moving the boxes. The post mistress had no idea about what I was talking. They have no regulations for where you place your box or what you put it on. The box does have to meet some standards and has to be far enough off the highway for the carrier to be off the road when putting the mail in the box. She suggested I call the Highway Dept. I did, but no one answered. Good luck with getting them to move it back.
Gma didn't say much about it and said she'd ask Dan to move it back. I thought those who moved it in the first place should put it back. They didn't bother to ask if we wanted it moved. It's quite a bit farther for a 101 year old woman to have to walk to get her mail if she ever has to when I'm gone. Although Arlene always brings it to her door when I'm gone. Actually it wouldn't hurt me to walk further for it. However, that's not the point. The point is they moved our possession without asking and for no apparent reason, at least not to us.
This morning at coffee Gma asked Edward if he had a post hole digger on a tractor. He does and would move the boxes back whenever she gives him the ok. She told him "those idiots moved it". She also said she'd ask Dan what he knew about it before we did anything. When I went into the post office I stopped in the office and Arlene was there. She told me she knew why they moved it. Apparently the highway dept has a regulation that there has to be a 10 foot approach to the box and a 10 foot exit space. The boxes are then placed in the middle. They are on the metal post because it has more give if someone runs into it, and it is less likely for the box to come off and go through a windshield. The post will break away. Also when the snow plows are working the snow bounces off the metal and doesn't make a drift. So it isn't a postal federal regulation, but it is a highway federal regulation. Probably based on some politician's idea of safety and convenience that has never used a rural mail box or even been anywhere near one, or lived in a rural area. But I guess it is sort of logical and possibly reasonable. Depending on your point of view. I can accept the explanation, but I don't have to like it. Gma said it might be logical, but it wasn't reasonable. They could have started the approach sooner so the boxes would have been in the middle where they were instead of moving them. Arlene said we could probably call Rick and he might have them moved back to across from our driveway, but then her approach wouldn't be 10 feet, but she would have room to be completely off the road. She didn't mind where it was or even if there were two separate boxes. The way they have it now both our box and the Cowboys' box are on the same post. The highway moved all the boxes on the route. On another of her routes they moved all the boxes to the right side of the road. So we aren't the only ones being rousted. It's a highway thing. Great! And they never tell anyone they are going to do it, not even the mail carriers or the post offices.
The box has been in that particular spot for 40 some years and not been a problem, now all of sudden its a safety hazard. Somebody did back into it last year and squashed them, but that's the only incident in over 40 years. The snow plows have never run into it in all that time. The construction guys poured asphalt on the road and along the approaches to all driveways and along those mail box pull outs without hitting any of them. They had some pretty big machinery too. The boxes were moved after all that was finished.
I guess it's Gma's call now. She can get someone to move it back or not. I have an explanation for who and why. I kinda feel if we move it back and some dingbat hits it we will get sued because it isn't "regulation". Someone will hit it just because they can and it will be our fault. I can just see that one coming.
Does everyone in the country have to have a mail box problem? Is this the "in" thing for 2009?
Good Grief!!!
Called the Post Office to see if there was a reasonable and logical reason for moving the boxes. The post mistress had no idea about what I was talking. They have no regulations for where you place your box or what you put it on. The box does have to meet some standards and has to be far enough off the highway for the carrier to be off the road when putting the mail in the box. She suggested I call the Highway Dept. I did, but no one answered. Good luck with getting them to move it back.
Gma didn't say much about it and said she'd ask Dan to move it back. I thought those who moved it in the first place should put it back. They didn't bother to ask if we wanted it moved. It's quite a bit farther for a 101 year old woman to have to walk to get her mail if she ever has to when I'm gone. Although Arlene always brings it to her door when I'm gone. Actually it wouldn't hurt me to walk further for it. However, that's not the point. The point is they moved our possession without asking and for no apparent reason, at least not to us.
This morning at coffee Gma asked Edward if he had a post hole digger on a tractor. He does and would move the boxes back whenever she gives him the ok. She told him "those idiots moved it". She also said she'd ask Dan what he knew about it before we did anything. When I went into the post office I stopped in the office and Arlene was there. She told me she knew why they moved it. Apparently the highway dept has a regulation that there has to be a 10 foot approach to the box and a 10 foot exit space. The boxes are then placed in the middle. They are on the metal post because it has more give if someone runs into it, and it is less likely for the box to come off and go through a windshield. The post will break away. Also when the snow plows are working the snow bounces off the metal and doesn't make a drift. So it isn't a postal federal regulation, but it is a highway federal regulation. Probably based on some politician's idea of safety and convenience that has never used a rural mail box or even been anywhere near one, or lived in a rural area. But I guess it is sort of logical and possibly reasonable. Depending on your point of view. I can accept the explanation, but I don't have to like it. Gma said it might be logical, but it wasn't reasonable. They could have started the approach sooner so the boxes would have been in the middle where they were instead of moving them. Arlene said we could probably call Rick and he might have them moved back to across from our driveway, but then her approach wouldn't be 10 feet, but she would have room to be completely off the road. She didn't mind where it was or even if there were two separate boxes. The way they have it now both our box and the Cowboys' box are on the same post. The highway moved all the boxes on the route. On another of her routes they moved all the boxes to the right side of the road. So we aren't the only ones being rousted. It's a highway thing. Great! And they never tell anyone they are going to do it, not even the mail carriers or the post offices.
The box has been in that particular spot for 40 some years and not been a problem, now all of sudden its a safety hazard. Somebody did back into it last year and squashed them, but that's the only incident in over 40 years. The snow plows have never run into it in all that time. The construction guys poured asphalt on the road and along the approaches to all driveways and along those mail box pull outs without hitting any of them. They had some pretty big machinery too. The boxes were moved after all that was finished.
I guess it's Gma's call now. She can get someone to move it back or not. I have an explanation for who and why. I kinda feel if we move it back and some dingbat hits it we will get sued because it isn't "regulation". Someone will hit it just because they can and it will be our fault. I can just see that one coming.
Does everyone in the country have to have a mail box problem? Is this the "in" thing for 2009?
Good Grief!!!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Mtse home again
We are back from our quick road trip to Napa. It was not a "fun" trip, but we did manage to have a bit of fun on the road.
We left here Tuesday a.m and had lunch in Evanston. Stopped at the Salt Flats for a potty break and stretch legs. Stayed in Elko at a motel where they had restaurants and gambling. Pat won some money, but I didn't play. We didn't have a night cap because the bar had machines at each place. There was no place to sit your drink and just visit. Figured I'd just spill mine by sitting it in the middle of the machine or something. Anyway we got a good night's sleep and thought we were on the road by 8:00 when actually it was 9:00. Pat forgot her phone automatically changes at the time zones so she subtracted an hour thinking we were on Mt time. Had lunch that day in Truckee. That's a neat looking little town. We decided we need to go back there and just stay a couple of days to look around and visit all the historic stuff. Lots of history in the Sierras. Lots of road construction too. However, road construction is good, the roads really need it. Got to Napa around 7:00 and found all the turns we needed and went right to the house. Called everyone to let them know we were there safely.
We left Saturday morning loaded to the gills. I asked Pat if she was sure her front tires were still on the ground. We had breakfast at the "Black Bear" which had lots of really cute carved bears in front and inside as well. Got on the road around 9:00, not as early as we would have liked, but it was ok. Made good time and stayed the night in Wendover. Had a good parking lot that was down under the hill and had a high fence. Would not have been easily accessed from the street, and was well lighted. They had a "Rain Forest" buffet where we had supper. We played the poker machines until Pat lost all her winnings from Tuesday and I lost $10. That was our Nevada donations. Their bar also had machines at each place, but they did have some round tables where we could sit and visit with our drinks. Had marguaritas for our night cap, but they weren't "perfect". They were just ok. We had "perfect" ones at Applebee's Thursday night. Will have to check out the Applebees in Blgs to see if the serve "perfect" ones.
Anyway we had a good night's sleep there and got breakfast in their " Over the Rainbow" cafe. We were on the road by 8:00 Sunday a.m. Got to Mtse at 5:00p.m. and unloaded part of the stuff, then Gma and I took Pat to supper at the Elkhorn and she went on home. We took two cars to supper. Pat said her car was really a lot lighter after we took some out here. We did average 30 miles per gallon on the whole trip, even loaded like we were.
Today Gma and I went to coffee and Seniors. Now I have to get caught up on the newspapers and then I will be ready to see what I actually brought home with me. Have lots of pics to scan and some genealogy to copy.
Echo called today and invited us to the Hyattville Old Timers picnic and parade Saturday, July 25th. The parade isn't until 4:00p.m. so maybe we will skip the picnic part and just go for the parade as she said there will be a float for the "old timers". Gma will be in good company on the float as they have several from the basin to ride it. Curtis and Eddie will be on it too. She didn't mention Clarence. Anyway Gma should know some of the people and there will probably be some of the Ten Sleep friends there as well. Echo said she thought it would be really neat to have Gma there as she had so much to do with starting the "Old Timers" picnics in Meeteetse some years ago.
We left here Tuesday a.m and had lunch in Evanston. Stopped at the Salt Flats for a potty break and stretch legs. Stayed in Elko at a motel where they had restaurants and gambling. Pat won some money, but I didn't play. We didn't have a night cap because the bar had machines at each place. There was no place to sit your drink and just visit. Figured I'd just spill mine by sitting it in the middle of the machine or something. Anyway we got a good night's sleep and thought we were on the road by 8:00 when actually it was 9:00. Pat forgot her phone automatically changes at the time zones so she subtracted an hour thinking we were on Mt time. Had lunch that day in Truckee. That's a neat looking little town. We decided we need to go back there and just stay a couple of days to look around and visit all the historic stuff. Lots of history in the Sierras. Lots of road construction too. However, road construction is good, the roads really need it. Got to Napa around 7:00 and found all the turns we needed and went right to the house. Called everyone to let them know we were there safely.
We left Saturday morning loaded to the gills. I asked Pat if she was sure her front tires were still on the ground. We had breakfast at the "Black Bear" which had lots of really cute carved bears in front and inside as well. Got on the road around 9:00, not as early as we would have liked, but it was ok. Made good time and stayed the night in Wendover. Had a good parking lot that was down under the hill and had a high fence. Would not have been easily accessed from the street, and was well lighted. They had a "Rain Forest" buffet where we had supper. We played the poker machines until Pat lost all her winnings from Tuesday and I lost $10. That was our Nevada donations. Their bar also had machines at each place, but they did have some round tables where we could sit and visit with our drinks. Had marguaritas for our night cap, but they weren't "perfect". They were just ok. We had "perfect" ones at Applebee's Thursday night. Will have to check out the Applebees in Blgs to see if the serve "perfect" ones.
Anyway we had a good night's sleep there and got breakfast in their " Over the Rainbow" cafe. We were on the road by 8:00 Sunday a.m. Got to Mtse at 5:00p.m. and unloaded part of the stuff, then Gma and I took Pat to supper at the Elkhorn and she went on home. We took two cars to supper. Pat said her car was really a lot lighter after we took some out here. We did average 30 miles per gallon on the whole trip, even loaded like we were.
Today Gma and I went to coffee and Seniors. Now I have to get caught up on the newspapers and then I will be ready to see what I actually brought home with me. Have lots of pics to scan and some genealogy to copy.
Echo called today and invited us to the Hyattville Old Timers picnic and parade Saturday, July 25th. The parade isn't until 4:00p.m. so maybe we will skip the picnic part and just go for the parade as she said there will be a float for the "old timers". Gma will be in good company on the float as they have several from the basin to ride it. Curtis and Eddie will be on it too. She didn't mention Clarence. Anyway Gma should know some of the people and there will probably be some of the Ten Sleep friends there as well. Echo said she thought it would be really neat to have Gma there as she had so much to do with starting the "Old Timers" picnics in Meeteetse some years ago.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
it's me!!
Wireless works in the trailer. They installed a modem and a router. Works fine, so far.
I put a bunch of pic on picasa this afternoon. Put on files with over 100 and it only took less than 10 minutes each. The small files just took a couple of minutes (the ones with 40 some). They took an hour before. This works really snazzy. Anyway you can check out all the CA trip pics and a few others. Thought Kev would like the construction ones. Ride to the Wall ones were just taken today.
Now I have to try out the flickr pics and see if they load faster. Hope you got all the ones you wanted off for this time. They are Gpa's trip to Sweden.
I put a bunch of pic on picasa this afternoon. Put on files with over 100 and it only took less than 10 minutes each. The small files just took a couple of minutes (the ones with 40 some). They took an hour before. This works really snazzy. Anyway you can check out all the CA trip pics and a few others. Thought Kev would like the construction ones. Ride to the Wall ones were just taken today.
Now I have to try out the flickr pics and see if they load faster. Hope you got all the ones you wanted off for this time. They are Gpa's trip to Sweden.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Mtse connection to wireless for me
The TCT West man just left after hooking up the wireless connection. The phone works and my computer works. We ran a speed test to Chicago and it was really good, he said. I signed the paper and they will send me a bill. Works for me.
He said he could hook up to any phone jack wherever we wanted, but we only had one which was behind a cupboard. Had to move the chest of drawers and the cupboard with all the photo albums in it to get to the jack. Not that big of a deal really, but sure was dusty down there. So I did a quick sweep up job while he was outside. He had to put on a new jack with two outlets. Then I had to find an adapter for the three prong power strip and he grounded that as well. Apparently the outside box needed replaced because it wasn't up to code anymore. He said they quit making that model about 40 years ago. I said it was probably "state of the art" when it was put in. Gma said they got the phone in 1979. That's when the line was put in out here. Before that she had to run to town and use McLean's phone. Anyway it took a little less than an hour and everything seems to be working just fine.
The road construction is working on the approaches today and they did ours shortly after we got home from coffee. Good thing we got home when we did and didn't want to go out for lunch. I got pics which I will share later.
He said he could hook up to any phone jack wherever we wanted, but we only had one which was behind a cupboard. Had to move the chest of drawers and the cupboard with all the photo albums in it to get to the jack. Not that big of a deal really, but sure was dusty down there. So I did a quick sweep up job while he was outside. He had to put on a new jack with two outlets. Then I had to find an adapter for the three prong power strip and he grounded that as well. Apparently the outside box needed replaced because it wasn't up to code anymore. He said they quit making that model about 40 years ago. I said it was probably "state of the art" when it was put in. Gma said they got the phone in 1979. That's when the line was put in out here. Before that she had to run to town and use McLean's phone. Anyway it took a little less than an hour and everything seems to be working just fine.
The road construction is working on the approaches today and they did ours shortly after we got home from coffee. Good thing we got home when we did and didn't want to go out for lunch. I got pics which I will share later.
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