Office Signs

OK, lets be honest now. Those of us who work in an office know that everything does not go as planned all the time. Sometimes we may be tempted to post a humorous sign expressing our feelings.

Here are a few that are posted in my office:







Any of them look familiar?

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Government Staff With Good Humor

How often do we see those bland warning signs telling us what not to do? This group in Canada has the right idea.
Click on the picture for a larger view.



Lions, tigers and bears...oh my!

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The Tower Is On Fire...

Eiffel Tower on Fire

Eiffel Tower is the central landmark in Paris and on the occasion of the Bastille Day, computer controlled fireworks are ignited on the Tower in a sequence. The photographs taken by one of France's finest photographers carried by the French Newspaper, Le Monde, are breathtaking. I am sure you will agree!







And I was always impressed with sparklers!

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Someone Get More Ice Please

If you were around in 1919 (just before prohibition started)

and came upon the following poster.. .



I mean seriously, Would you quit drinking?

Oh yes, the good old days when men looked like men, and women looked like...men.

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The Great Camping Adventure

This camping getaway has been in the works for a long, long time. Maybe you know how it goes " some day we really need to do this."

We talked and talked about it over the years. When we thought we were finished talking about it, up the topic would come again.

Well, this weekend we took the plunge and charged ahead. The planning was key. Everything had to be perfect otherwise the dreams of that perfect camp out getaway would be a gigantic disappointment. After years of dreams, we were not about to screw this up.

After several days of careful packing and checking those check lists we felt pretty confident we were ready.

After checking the many lists one more time we were off! That was the most liberating feeling ever. Finally we took the step...we pulled the trigger if you will.

OK, back to the story.

Mentally, physically and spiritually we set out on our trip of a lifetime.

With heads held high and a spring in our step, we walked out of the garage and charged towards our big adventure. We finally arrived at our long sought after destination about 30 seconds later and entered our little house on wheels.

We are camping this weekend on the driveway here at Coyote Ridge.

Sometimes we get so busy that we just can't get out of town so why not "pretend"?

We live out of town with woods all around and have a large campfire area so why not?

We did get some pictures of the big adventure. We even had a few visitors to the campsite and we took some pictures of them for you to enjoy.

Ladies and gentlemen...Our great adventure in pictures.....




While sitting out in front of the camper having a cold beer, Sue noticed a deer walk out of the woods to our east and walk into the woods to our north, right behind us. The deer was joined by yet another.





After several beers it was time to get the campfire so we could prepare our evening meal....mmmmm...hotdogs over an open fire.







The weather was perfect. Highs in the low 80's and lows in the 60's. Early Sunday morning at about 6:00 the rains came, dumping about an inch in two hours. That is such a great sound to hear on the roof of the camper. I just smiled and rolled over for a few more hours of zzzzzzzz's.

So was the trip everything we had been dreaming about? Without a doubt....YES!

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Sue Has new Wheels

Sue and I decided that it was time to get some exercise and see some sites at the same time. A new bike was in the cards for her and we found the one of her dreams.



We added a few accessories and off we went complete with helmets and blaze orange hunting vests. What a sight!

We did well for the first time out. We went about three miles and decided that it was still a bit hot and humid to push it. We will see what the next few days have in store for us as far as the weather goes.

More later.

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Oh Deer!

You never know what you are going to see when you look out the windows here at Coyote Ridge.

I was helping in the kitchen Thursday evening and glanced out the window and commented that the three deer standing out in the back yard were beautiful. Hey wait a minute, this isn't a picture you are looking at, it is the real thing.

I grabbed a camera and took several pictures until our four legged friends had enough of me. I had to use the zoom, so the pictures were not as clear as I had wished for. Oh well, you get the general idea.





We are sure these are the same deer Sue spotted in the yard shortly before 6:00 this morning. She only saw two at the time, but the other was probably lurking in the woods while the other two offered up a very nice visual moment.

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I don't Think So!

Dinner in the Sky: A chef prepares meals while diners enjoy panoramic views harnessed in seats that swivel 180 degrees, suspended via a crane.

Here's a dining concept that'll make your head - if not your stomach - spin: It's dinner at a table suspended 165 feet in the air with chairs that swivel 180 degrees.

Dubbed Dinner in the Sky, the attraction is making its U.S. debut Monday in Orlando at the annual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions convention. About 25,000 attendees are expected at the one-stop-shopping event, where the amusement industry rolls out new thrill rides and related products.

The high-flying dining venue was introduced in Europe last year and consists of a platform suspended from a crane. Guests are harnessed into 22 seats, with space in the center for a chef and two helpers. With local officials' blessings, the platform can be transported to just about anywhere the crane can maneuver. One recent spot: in front of the Amiens Cathedral in France, with dinner prepared by a three-star Michelin chef.

'It was like eating with the 12 apostles and Jesus Christ,' quips David Ghysels, co-founder of the Belgium-based company.

Ghysels sees all sorts of U.S. possibilities for the dangling restaurant, including air space over the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls and golf courses.

'I think human beings always like to see what's happening from the air,' he says. 'And there are so many wonderful natural spots in the U.S. Dinner in the Sky could go anywhere.


Could you enjoy your dinner that high up?



I don't think everyone is real happy with the seating arrangements.

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Time For An Update

The headline may be a bit deceiving in that there is not a whole lot new. You know the drill...work...work...work. I have lots of stuff going on at work, all positive, so that is good.

Sue purchased a new bicycle last night so we have to add on the "accessories" after work and take it out for a spin. I suppose it would look funny to wear our motorcycle helmets so we had better find bicycle helmets. I don't like the looks of the typical bike helmets so we are looking for those "all sport" helmets that don't look so "Lance Armstrong".

I will get pictures of the new wheels in the next day or so.

Tune in again real soon for another edition of "Now What Are They Doing".

Much Needed Rain and A Few Pictures

As you may have read in a previous blog, I got the grass mowed...in the rain. No complaints at all from me. If it is not lightening, why not? After pulling the tractor into the garage I then changed the oil, oil filter and air filter. It is a nice feeling knowing that the machine is in good shape and ready for work.

I took a few pictures off the back deck. The Day Lilies are in full bloom and a few of the plants around the edge of the grass and woods are starting to show some color.







That is all for now. I do hope that you stop in again soon for another edition of "Now What Are They Doing?"

Gittin It Done In The Rain

It is Saturday and you would think that sleeping in would be in order. Well, not today. We were up at 6:30 ready to do battle with projects. We gathered up all the garbage and went through some shelves and found even more junk to get rid of. We had enough to fill Sue's pickup truck and headed off to Nicollet where a garbage truck is parked every Saturday morning. This is a very nice service offered by the rural township where we live. The cost is included in our property taxes somewhere, so that makes it especially nice. Those who live down the road less than a mile are charged $2.00 per bag since they live in another township.

The truck takes anything except tires and batteries. They even take construction materials as long as it is not commercial construction waste.

Well, enough of that. I don't think you tuned in to hear about our garbage.

On our trip home it started raining and the forecast sounded like rain all day. I was not about to let a little rain deter me from mowing the lawn. I climbed aboard the tractor and off I went mowing. I was pretty wet when I finished an hour later but the lawn does look real nice.

Sue picked another mess of wild raspberries. This has been a good year with at least 3 gallons collected so far. She said that there are thousands more berries around the edge of our woods ready for picking in another day or two.

I just have to show you a couple of pictures. Some of my "biker" friends posted these pictures.




Can you imagine the power that 1975 Honda Goldwing has to generate to push those lights? One of my buddies said " I wonder if he gets to ride the bike or does he spend all his time replacing bulbs?"

That is all for now my good people. Tune in again soon for another edition of "Now What Are They Doing?"

Busy Week & Looking Ahead To The Weekend

How did your week go? Hopefully everyone survived with enough energy to plow into the weekend.

This was one of those weeks where everything seemed to be an emergency and had to be dealt with immediately. I really don't mind that at all, as long as indeed it does get done. It did, and I am still walking upright and taking nourishment.




With the age of digital cameras come some interesting picture results. Have you ever run into those people who just "have" to be in the picture, even tho they are not invited?









Odd people for sure...but...I have a feeling that the vast majority of us have done the very same thing...except for the moon.

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Trip To Seattle

I was looking back at some pictures of last summer's trip we took to Seattle to see our youngest son Andy and his girlfriend Sarah. We had a fabulous time and I want to share some pictures with you.

These are two really great people and they showed us a great time!

We saw so many things and the memories will last a lifetime.

Below you will see some pictures of Mt. St. Helens, A ferry we took from Seattle one evening and a plane ride Andy and I went on to tour the area.

I hope you enjoy the pictures!













So, there we have it...a short trip with pictures showing the beauty of the great Northwest and some fine people.

Tune in again soon for another edition of "Now What Are They Doing?"