I guess I got rotated out.

You usually have a good idea of what the weather is going to do if you watch our hound girls. I was awakened with one extra hound on our bed and another peering over the edge. (Prissy's arthritis limits her ability to hop onto the bed. If she hops up there, get out the Ark and call Noah). Maple Syrple was restless, and all the sudden bounded off the bed and under it. Almost immediately there was a brilliant flash of lightning followed by it's sharp crack. Rain began to pelt the windows and you could hear the occasional piece of hail. By this time, one could see multiple sets of "whites of the eyes" as all the hounds look to me for solace. The only person oblivious to the thunder storm was Krl. Zzzzzzzzzz. It has always amazed me that the hounds have come to fear storms, with the possible exception of Maple Syrple (we don't know prior to her coming to us), the hound girls have never been left out in a storm. Go figure.

I spent most of my day at Lowe's picking up supplies. There was one elderly gentleman I ran into who was asking "Where are the associates when you need one". He lamented "We should have gone to Home Depot". "Naw!", I told him. My experience has been that at Home Depot you are constantly bothered by associates who have absolutely zero product knowledge but have grasped the concept of customer service. (What a joke). At least at Lowe's you aren't subjected to uneducated associates interrupting your thoughts. On the other hand you aren't going to get any help loading either. (At Lowe's you will never see an associate unless you don't need one).

The painter and I spent a portion of the morning looking at the back porch. There are some trim issues that need to be addressed before he can paint. Of course with the forecast of the next few days this may not be an issue. I may have ample opportunity to make any repairs.

The next project is the roof. I was on a portion of it yesterday and the simplest remedy it going to be to accelerate its replacement. Insurance had given the go ahead a while back. I had been in hopes of putting one of the new metal roofs on, but it appears a composition shingle roof is most economical at this point. I cannot remember how many times we have had the porch redone. I know of three times for total replacement and then twice more for repairs. I think Maple Syrple could do as well as the last workers a college buddy sent out.

I may live. I swear yesterday morning the rigor mortis had set in. I sounded like Rice Krispy's with every movement. Thank goodness the Tylenol was on a lower shelf. Two Tylenol with two tablespoons of WD 40 as a chaser should do the trick.

Be the real deal.

FATHER, You know. We add Lucille (Hag's mom), to those we lift up to YOU for your care.