You Can't Make This Shit Up

Demolition on our existing deck began this morning. It is taking no time at all for three men to tear our deck to pieces. I took Ozzy out back to take a look at the process and snap a few pictures. As we are walking back to the house along the 30 year old spruce trees that line our property, Ozzy stops to do his business. I turn and look only to discover that he is peeing on one of the worker's sweatshirt! I'm not one to ever act sheepishly but I called out to the guys and asked whose shirt it was. When the one replied that it was his I told him what just happened. Of course everyone got a huge laugh out of it. Then the other guy said the dog peed on his shirt because he's a Sox fan. I can't argue with that. Said sweatshirt is currently in the washing machine.

Grettings From Cabo

Rick makes everyday seem like paradise but the man has some serious competition with Cabo. This place is absolutely amazing. The resort has 7 pools each with its own swim-up bar, key to any good vacation. There are several restaurants and each one that we've tried is outstanding. One of them has the most delicious shrimp tacos that I'm totally addicted to. We finally ventured into town yesterday only to discover that there is no real reason to leave our resort. What a life, thanks to the big man. As my Italian Grandma Rose used to say, "She sure fell into a pile of shit when she married him!"

In other news:
While here in Cabo we able to successfully negotiate a price for the new deck and screened porch we're about to build back home in the HG. Demolition should begin by the end of next week and the project should be complete in about 4 weeks. We seriously considered taking down the pool before building the new deck but decided that Audrey needed the pool. What fun it will be to have another little one floating around this summer.No more slivers for my nieces and nephews! I know they'll be happy to learn that. I look forward to posting before, during and after pictures.But I have to say that having workers at the house everday for a month does not appeal to me. At least they won't actually be in the house.

BUENOS DIAS!

Tax Day

Never a good day in our house. And yesterday looked as if it would be no exception. But wait......not so fast......For reasons which I won't get into, we ended up having to drive downtown at 8:30 last night to mail our taxes at the main post office. As we exited the Dan Ryan into the loop, the traffic was a nightmare with a thousand other idiots like ourselves waiting to mail their returns. Then there was Berto. Berto is the man. There he was in his orange vest and Cubs hat walking up and down Canal Street collecting returns from all the losers like us who waited until the last minute. In years past we have always waited until the last minute because we always owe, and owe big. But this year we are actually getting a REFUND! Only because we overpaid. Not because of anything else. But a REFUND is a REFUND!

After dumping our returns in the reliable hands of Berto we headed into the loop for dinner and ended up at the Rosebud Steakhouse, one of our favorite restaurants. It occurred to us as we sat down that the last time we were there was the day Audrey was born. The restaurant is only two blocks from Northwestern Hospital so we hunkered down and waited for the call from Justin. And when it finally came we could not haul ass fast enough to meet Audrey. So not only do we have the wonderful memory of Audrey being born to associate the restaurant with but now tax REFUND day. This may become an April 15th tradition.

What a Gem!

While in KY, Bonnie and I took a few side trips. One was to Nashville for the night. Nashville is about an hour and fifteen minutes away so whenever Rick and I have gone in the past we have never been able to experience the "honky tonks" because we always have to drive home. Not this time. Bonnie and I set out early one day and made our first stop The Hermitage, which was Andrew Jackson's home. We spent almost five hours there. Very interesting. Excellent guides. I highly recommend it if you're ever in the Nashville area. According to Bonnie's AAA guide, it's a gem. I definitely agree.
A few facts about Andrew Jackson: He was an orphan at age 14; He was the largest single slave owner in American history, estimated to have owned as many as 140+ slaves at one time; He and his wife, Rachel Donelson, did not have any biological children. They had one son who was an adopted nephew.

After leaving the Hermitage it was time to check into the hotel and begin cocktail hour. Very important business. We enjoyed some libations and were off to dinner. Dinner was at one of those Tex-Mex places where you can throw your peanut shells on the floor. I kid you not when I tell you I had one of the best pork chops ever at this joint. Sante Fe is the name of the place. They also had 32 ounce margaritas for $4! You can't beat that with a stick.

One of the main reasons for spending the night in Nashville was to be able to go to the honky tonk bars and drink and have a good time and not have to worry about driving home. All along our intention was to take a cab from the hotel to the strip of honky tonks, party and dance like fools til the wee hours, and cab it back to the hotel. But after talking with a hotel employee who told us of a benefit concert that was taking place that evening at the Troubadour Theatre adjacent to the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, right behind our hotel, we just had to change our mind and go with the concert instead. For $15 we saw 3 hours of live music from the 4th row of a 400 seat theater. It was amazing and we both agreed it was the best $15 either of us has spent in a long time. Acts included Crystal Gayle, Stu Philips, James Intveld, Stonewall Jackson, Jim Ed Brown, David Ball, Jesse McReynolds and George Hamilton IV.

The next morning we took our time rising and then headed to downtown Nashville to check out some of the honky tonks, including the famous Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, have lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe and visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, another gem.

Our other side trip was to the Museum of the American Quilter's Society in Paducah. The quilts in this museum are nothing short of breathtaking. There were old quilts and new, hand stitched and machine sewn, miniature and large. Absolutely worth the trip. And another gem. Three gems in three days. Top that!

I didn't take many pics but if you're so inclined, take a look.

Cadiz Spring 2009

Kings of the Boat

Sunrise in Cadiz

I am always up early. Maybe it was the years of 5am (sometimes earlier) skating lessons or maybe it's just in my genes since the rest of my family has the same problem. But days like today I am glad to be an early riser. Before I took this shot of the sunrise over the lake this morning, I washed all my kitchen cabinets. My mom and sisters will appreciate that.

Today is our last day here. We had planned on staying until Saturday but the weather forecast for Thursday and Friday are foul at best. So we'll head out tomorrow and stop at U. of I. on the way home to take Lauren out for dinner. Then Rick will go back to work on Friday. Probably a good thing for him since we leave for Cabo on the 19th and he'll be out another week this month. The man still has to bill you know. Everyday can't be vacation.

What a glorious two weeks this has been.

He Can't Help It

The man must burn. I need him to burn here at the lake. The garbage pick up here is a situation. Since the majority of the people who have homes on the lake do not live here full time the sanitation company has a terrific policy of "pay as you throw." You don't have any kind of service contract with them you simply leave your money (cash or check) in an envelope taped to the garbage can and they haul your crap away. $3 per can, $2 per hefty bag. Simple, right? Except that Monday is garbage day and most everyone, including us, almost always heads back home on Sunday. You can't leave your garbage at the street when you leave on Sunday because there is no one to bring the cans back to the house. Some say, "No problem. Just put the garbage in big ol' hefty bags and and leave it." They have never experienced the wrath of raccoons. Inevitably we often travel home with garbage in my truck looking for a dumpster somewhere. Then we do the dump and run. Lene is very good at this. We also burn anything that is paper when we are here. Totally legal to burn unlike the dump and run. So Rick burns. And he burns well.

But since we were here this past Monday I happened to observe the garbage man actually bringing my neighbor's (who do not live here full time either) garbage cans back up to her house. I immediately grabbed a few bottles of cold water and ran out to the street. I handed him the water and asked if he did that for everyone or just my neighbor and would he do it for me if I made it worth his while. He said he would and I'm going to give him a little something on Monday for his trouble. Why didn't I think of this before? Our garbage woes are over at last. Six years but no more. Brilliant.

So how much do you think I should give this guy? There are two of them. One drives, one rides on the back and does the deed. Keep in mind this is Kentucky.

Side note: There was a terrific ice storm in western KY in February. Rick is burning the tree limbs that fell on our property. We were luckier than most. There were parts of KY that were without power for 12 days, including Cadiz. As I drove in on I-24 last week there were piles of trees every 100 yards or so along the interstate and much more that stills needs to be done. There were no deaths related to the storm which is remarkable. And it has put many people here to work. So those are good things. But man, don't mess with Mother Nature. She is oh so powerful.

Today's Catch

Actually this is only half of today's catch. Rick caught the most but I held my own. Growing up with four older brothers one would think that I would have fished at some point in my life before hooking up with Rick. But that is not the case. Not one of my brothers is a fisherman. So I think I finally have found something that I can beat them at. Or at least a sport I can beat them at. Because I am pretty sure I can whoop any one of them at the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle or a game of Scrabble but the sports, not a chance. They always kicked my ass and never let me win at anything growing up. That's OK though, for that has made me the tough ass that I am and I wouldn't want it any other way.