Richard's Journal

To greg: yes, we have restored the whole house over the years including the sills the house sits on. Big job jacking up the house. That required a specialist in that field. If not done right, it can cause structural damage but they were rotted. It is a post and beam construction and all the major components are attached using wooden pegs not nails. It has been worth the time and money. I hope it remains in the family but you never know. I will post a couple of pixs for you. Interesting side note is that george washington was president when it was built. We moved here in 1978 when my grandmother died. My father and grandfather both grew up in it. It has sentimental value to me.

Cheryl mann, yes, i did comment on raising your arms on a roller coaster. You might enjoy mushing on your list of things to do. Most of our runs were incident free but when my nikita and natasha spotted a rabbit in the woods just off the trail, the rest of the story got ugly. Picture a rig all wrapped around a bunch of trees and vines, 2 dogs still screaming for blood and a musher ( me) in a world of hurt. I was in my 30’s by the way and i think the rabbit was laughing all the way home.

After a couple of posts from our canadian best buddies regarding their thanksgiving celebrations i read up on it and was enlightened. I knew our thanksgiving was based on plymouth rock, the pilgrims and plymouth plantation ( please cancelers don’t make us change the name). I visit plymouth regularly and like plantation just the way it is. I assumed there was no alberta rock or newfoundland pilgrims but i discovered a very interesting tradition and i wish my neighbors to the north and our heart warriors in particular, many more thanksgivings with their rebuilt or replaced heart valves. Our household will stick to turkey and no moose meat with canadian bacon stuffing however.

Greg, your moose picture brings back my only moose encounter on my one and only trip to maine. A bunch of us rounded a bend up by rangley lake on snow mobiles and there he was standing in the trail and he looked peeved , 12 feet tall , with steam coming out of his nostrils. Like an angry orderly after you ask for a new urine bottle at midnight ( they never got mad by the way) By the time we managed to turn around and take off he was hot on our trail . He caught up to the last guy in line who jumped off to watch his snow mobile get crushed.

Here is hoping gregs dog has a few more years in him. Our trainer always says a food motivated dog is an easily trained dog. Its why at class we bring cheese sticks and hot dog pieces. I also thought gregs dad looked good for 86. But then i need cataract surgery this winter. As for klara, she is overwhelming me with these high tech medical terms. I may fly to croatia for my next follow up exam. But maybe not. My annular ring has finally stopped ringing. I thought it was my cell phone. And rose, i could tell in the picture that gregs dad was on the left. Lol. For those in the wilds of alberta that don’t know what a turkey is. Its a 2 legged human that seem to be more common in todays world. Greg, never been to canada but enjoyed watching sgt. preston of the northwest mounted as a kid with his trusty dog king. Does that count? You may need to ask your dad who that is.

Adam, as i look at that cute picture of bodie on the couch my attention is focused on his tail. I will have to take a picture of shadows tail and i wonder if your buddy has a little siberian husky in there.

Greg, i just looked up rocky mountain house canada. Wow, you are out there buddy. Is david thompson still around? Why do i have a sled dog in massachusetts and you have a couch potato out in the wilderness. You’re in ididerod country. Lol.

Klara, day 3 is upon us. Hope you are able to take a shower. It only gets better. On day 4 they make you mop the floors so get ready. The lasix is a treat. It made me go alongside the road on my way home. My wife was upset but it was either that or yellow underwear. She got over it. It reminded me of my youth after too much beer. Stay well and no laughing, it hurts.

Happy birthday to klara our K girl. Sorry you are having a little discomfort but it will pass in time. After all, its not a walk in the park my friend. Or else you would want to do it every week. Keep the faith and hope your bed is extended. Your usa buddy.

Ana, took shadow to a car show sunday for an hour. He acted like a true gentleman not the wild crazy dog he can sometimes be. He met a ton of people and there was actually a line forming to meet him. He made up for it today by being a nut case all day. The life of a puppy.

Hey ana, where are you? Hopefully home and doing the jig on the kitchen floor. Thinking about you. Sitting on the boat and taking things home little by little. We are trying to sell it and have an offer but still a lot of details before money changes hands. It will be like losing an old friend after 35 years.

Ana, the car show this weekend is to collect money for a vietnam vet wall for local service men and women who gave their life there. As you may recall, returning vets were treated like garbage by many. Like they started the war. The politicians that started it probably have buildings named after them. I was lucky to have served at ft. Sill in oklahoma and not overseas in 1966. What a target i would have been. When i think of the deplorable treatment many received, jane fonda comes to mind. I’m not fonda jane.

Ana, 2 days till d day. It will be fine. Just took the chaise lounge section i cut out of the middle and i am going to attach it with hinges to the end so i have the option of a longer version if i want it. You may request my services as an assistant to your surgeon now that you know how mechanically inclined i am.

Ana, i also have a serious , sensitive side but i think TGIF is the order of the day in preparation for your successful surgery. I suggest a picture of engelbert on your huggy pillow. My prayers as well as many others will rule the day. Even shadow wishes you well.