indiana territory: June 2007

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Saturday, June 30, 2007

He's here

Just came in the door. The dog is ecstatic.

THE HOME STRETCH

Ah, Hibernator is coming up Ind. 3 and when he called (8:58 pm), he was passing Meijer's. Well, I'm pooped. Such effort at cleaning has convinced me to work on maintenance.

Summer took a shower because she wanted to look nice when he arrived and now she is watching out the front window. Cameron was helpful all day long.

Update: It is 9:27, so he should be getting close. The sun is setting in the northwest and, oh, it dawns on me that the fireworks will be starting soon. I guess there is some use for the June 30th Fourth of July fireworks.

FIFTY MILES SOUTH OF FORT WAYNE

Hibernator is, as the title says, 50 miles south of Fort Wayne and heading toward the Indiana Poo & Bear Colony. Right now, I am going to call and check on the mother-unit's back and then go get some ice for the Hibernator.

IN INDIANA

Okay, Hibernator is in Indiana, on his way to Indianapolis and I am going to take a moment to look up the Indianapolis interchanges. He was around Salem when he called.

KENTUCKY

BLUEGRASS - doesn't that just make your mind and eyes woggle?

He has crossed into Kentucky and we either lost our cell phone signal or he hung up.

cleaning

a little . . . just washed some glasses, silverware and dishes and crushed some cans. heading upstairs with vacuum. don't hold your breath for updates on this post.

update: made it up into master bathroom.
progressing to sitting room after trip update.

update two: been vacuuming sitting room and bedroom, putting clothes away, feeding the dog.

104 MILE MARKER ON I-65

Ridge Top, Tennessee - Highland Speedway. He says someone launched his motorcycle off the Interstate and into limestone cliff. The motorcycle doesn't look bad, but the person didn't fare too well. He thought something was going on ahead of him because two police cars passed him going flat out.

152 miles to Louisville.

Rolling, rolling, rolling . . . Buick!

SIX MILES INTO TENNESSEE

Hibernator says when driving through Alabama, California license plates are considered signs of Sodom and Gomorrah and you want to drive the speed limit.

UPDATE: Recently passed by David Crockett State Park which sounds a little funny to a person who had a Davy Crockett hat as a boy.
Aha, a quick Google search shows there is a Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park.

STILL IN ALABAMA

Mile marker 353 in Alabama on I-65, 96 miles to Nashville. This means he is now parallel to Looney Road.

I-65

I-65 close to the Alabama/Tennessee border.

Here's the mileage:

Tennessee- 119
Kentucky- 137
to Indianapolis (I-465) - 107
to I-69 - about 16
to Fort Wayne (Lima Road exit) - 111

Total: 490 miles. Hmmmm, how much cleaning can I get done in 490+ miles? Oh, dear, oh dear, oh dear.

Then he has to come from Fort Wayne here.

HIBERNATOR STILL IN ALABANA

Hibernator is about 60 miles from the Tennessee border on I-65 and the official time is 11:48 am. Cell phone coverage is not good so we think he said he will call us back when he reaches a more civilized area.

Okay, the official computer time and the official blogging time seem to be a little off.

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

Hibernator is in Tallapoosa County in Alabama and calling in to report. Coming up to Sylacauga . . . okay. HERE'S a hybrid map from Google.

LATE TAKE-OFF

Just received a message from Hibernator and he got a late start (6:30 am) and we'll see how things unfold. On the other hand, my mother is down with a pulled back muscle; fortunately she is a reader. Anyway, I am here with my cellphone, listening to see if Hibernator has a problem on the road or mother falls and can't get up.

UPDATE: picture of starting point

FOLLOWING HIBERNATOR

Last night Hibernator said he was going to try and leave by four this morning; I do not know if this happened or not, but am assuming that because it is 7 am, he has probably taken off by now.
He had planned to leave Warner-Robins and head toward Alabama where he would catch I-65 north to Indianapolis, however Google directions advise taking I-75 north to I-65, with a driving time of 12 hours 22 minutes. Ah, I had better go get the cell phone and velcro it to a place near my ear so I won't miss an update.

Friday, June 29, 2007

KENDALLVILLE SAYS THE FOURTH OF JULY IS JUNE 30th

Yo, there. Guess what? It is apparently not convenient for Kendallville to celebrate the Fourth of July on July 4th. So the rockets red glare is scheduled for June 30th.
Ah, let me see; what did the soldiers at Valley Forge say? Could it have been, "Sorry, George the General, a winter stay here is not convenient. Let's resched for May." No, I don't think it was that.

Jeez Louise, and we can't be there on the Fourth? Well, I'm not surprised; many Christmas Eve services have been held on more "convenient" dates. I guess if people feel they can tell the Lord to take a raincheck, they have no problem doing the same with Uncle Sam . . . and John Hancock, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and all those other fellows.

HIBERNATOR SEEKING COOLNESS

Hibernator, seeking coolness, went shopping and bought himself a lot of fashionable clothes. No, that isn't it; it is not an appearance sort of thing - it is literal coolness. Hibernator, having experienced days and days of 95+ weather in Georgia is heading here where it is much cooler, although we think it has been really, really hot.

Actually, Hibernator is cool; he makes pancakes, takes the dog for outings, does things with the kids, including playing Risk.

We are waiting for him . . .

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

WHETHER WEATHER

It's been humid; it's been hot. The forecasters continue to mention scattered thunderstorms and pop-up storms, but we have had no rain . . . although, as I look out the den windows, I see that it is dark in the southwest. The front yard is so brown and now appears to be balding - I would say this is not a good year for lawnmowing companies.

Ack. Now it is lightening up in the southwest; I wouldn't mind a little lightning, actually.

UPDATE: I see sunlight.

Monday, June 25, 2007

AUTOMOTIVE FOOTBALL

On Friday of fair week in Noble County, as some time during the Combine Demo, some big old cars are going to play a game of football, using a compact car as the ball. We don't think they are going to do much passing.

QUENTIN'S DOG SHANE

TODAY IS CUSTER'S LAST STAND DAY

Sunday, June 24, 2007

COOL HUMIDITY

This is not a bad weather state, as long as you don't do a lot of moving around because then you get sticky. It is sort of a puttering day; I used the weed-eater and sawed some dead limbs off the spruce in the backyard and swept some needles from last year's Christmas tree off the little back deck.

Yes, the needles were there from the Christmas tree; we pulled it just out the door after Christmas and . . . well, we left it. It got very dry and when I pulled it out to the curb this spring, most of the needles fell off. Hmmm. I wonder what happened to that fruit salad we set out in the garage to keep cool? Just kidding . Or, maybe not.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

NaPoo (Native American Poo)

Hi, I am getting ready to do a great Indian moccasin dance for my good friend Ron.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

THE WEEDS ARE PERKED UP

It rained all the way over to Albion this morning, and was still sprinkling when I came back; it seemed that the grass visibly turned green while the rain was falling. This is good because now the soil will release the weeds better . . . although maybe the rain will make them grow so fast they will overpower my little grip and turn the yard into a wilderness and the mailman will have to leave the mail on the sidewalk. Or not.

At least the temperature is down from the nineties.

RAIN

Well, if I owned a lawn mowing service, I would be perked up a little; Kendallville is all wet. How wet, I don't know since I sleep through most weather activities at night. Yesterday the grass was so dry it looked like the hairy mold that grows on things left way too long in the refrigerator.

Oh, it just dawned on me - I own a lawn mower and I mow my own lawn and - ACK - if it was a decent rain, I'll be back pulling the old starter cord.

Monday, June 18, 2007

HI

This is Rose; she is very nice and people just don't want to disappoint her. This is her picture for ichatting.

POWER OUTAGE - SO PART OF TREE OUTED

Saturday, June 16, 2007

SOME PICTURES

The puzzle Kathryn Feller and I worked.

Summer looks at her incredible spreading toes and is astounded.

Once again, the clematis.

Friday, June 15, 2007

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

OATMEAL PAN

SUMMER AT GRADUATION; SUMMER CELEBRATING LATER

KENDALLVILLE'S KROGERS . . . ER SCOTTS . . .er KROGERS

I made my first visit to the Scott's purchased by Kroger Co. in Kendallville. They had new checkout pay keypads and hot dogs for 77¢ a pack and Jack's pizza 5/$10. Once, many moons ago in Cincinnati, I interviewed the then CEO of Kroger Co. and I don't remember his name. He was an academic, though, hired into the "real" world to see if he could put money where his lecturing mouth was. He seemed to be a nice guy, Maybe I should look up his name. Could do that. What would it get me? Oh, heck, I'll do it anyway.

A SCARY LOOKING MAN

Chris Cooper, the actor who plays Robert Hanssen in Breach, presents an unsettling appearance throughout the movie. First of all, in some scenes his makeup looks like that used in the early days of movie-making when B&W was only game in town, only in color the effect is worse than not good - he looks like the corpse of a vampire with lip stick.

I'm creeping myself out here.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

BREACH REDBOX KENDALLVILLE

Aha, I have rented Breach online from the local Redbox. AND I rented Ghost Rider . . . and both for a dollar each . . . WooHoo. This is especially nifty because Ghost Rider is based on a comic style and I don't care that much for that genre, but for a dollar, I can watch Nicholas Cage do cool motorcycle stunts.

Oh, by the way, I was looking on www.realtor.com to see the insides of some houses for sale in nice neighbors in various cities. Does anyone other than myself wonder where the people keep all there stuff? Some places have walls, floors and furniture. Nothing else - no magazines, papers, books, afghans and so forth. And lace. Some people have lace tablecloths. My table is covered with stuff, just covered. But then I am a slob. It is less boring that way.

SIGN FROM RURAL KING

Rural King has some neat things, which was a surprise to me when I first went in the store. I mean, it is called Rural King, but then I figured even we rubes might have some wit that corporations acknowledge. At any rate, I found this sign here. It isn't so much witty as welcoming, but I did buy one that says "Never try to ourstubborn a mother."

GARBAGE AND SERV-ALL

The garbage has been out front for one whole week now. It wasn't picked up last week and we called and called and they said they would come, but they did not. What will happen today? First, will they show up and, second, if they do, will they decide there is too much garbage now and not take it. ACK. It is a tense morning folks. Check for updates.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

SYDNEY AT SCOTT, SCOTT, SCOTT AND SYNDEY IN LEAVES

I LIKE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR

The first three weeks in June - if you leave out any frustrations, irritations, general Jody bad moods and whatever - have always pleased me. Even though I have long been out of school, I still remember the first freedom of early summer, with the rest of it following before school started up again. I liked the lingering daylight, stretching on each day until the 21st before ebbing. I still like it. However, now it is the 13th, and, given my nature, I am already anticipating that sadness that I experience when the sun stays a little less each day and the muggy days of July and August loom.

When I was in 10th grade, Mrs. Bitner has us all memorize the poem that begins "A what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days . . ."

Monday, June 11, 2007

GOING TO SCOTT

Heading to Scott and Mother's for a few hours - Sydney's going too and will have some (don't warn them) CATS to chase or at least stare at before he himself takes a paw to the face and decides to come in. It's supposed to be 85 today, but out in the country it doesn't feel nearly so hot and, in fact, there is almost always a breeze somewhere outside. This is boring . . . what I am writing. I could make it more interesting but then I would have to get into the adventures of the Poos, Woos, Moos and Foos, not to mention the Jakes. Heaven knows that would get the FBI here.

Saturday, June 09, 2007

THE PERFECT WEEKEND?? In Indiana??? You jest.

According to what I just read at the weather website, this little part of Indiana is supposed to have two weekend days of sunshine and temperatures that will be in the high 70's on Saturday and the low 80's on Sunday. As I understand it, that is two days of sunshine all day long. This is unusual for Indiana; more often than not, a sunny blue-skied morning will turn cloudy by 11 am, leaving everyone with deflated spirits.

You may know this is likely to happen - and living in Indiana will surely teach you this - but you always are sucked in by the physical impact of the sun and and a clear morning and then as the morning goes on, let down. You can feel the chemicals in your brain: NO CHEER FOR YOU. . . BUMMER, BABY . . . HAHAHAHAHA.

If the prediction holds, it will be an unusual Indiana weekend . . . It is very hard to trust an Indiana sky and here Chicken Little comes running with the cry of My Spirits are Falling; My Spirits are Falling - and he is not being an extremist kooky chick.

But let's say you let yourself believe it will be good weather, then the problem becomes: I can't waste this weather; I must do something fun. But what?? The pressure is tremendous. When I was in Sacramento in the early 70's, we had day after summer day of sun and I practically killed myself by my Indiana-induced attitude of "Wow, the sun is out! Let's do something."

I hope you aren't toying with me this weekend, Indiana.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

SYDNEY

Well, Sydney went to Huntington to have his eyes seen by Dr. Krohne of Purdue and it turns out he has cataracts - his left eye is mostly covered and the right partially, so he does have some vision out of his right eye. He has all signs of a syndrome involving the relative small size of his eyes and presence of cataract that, she believes, has probably impacted him from birth. Surgery is a possibility, but in animals, there are changes of negative outcomes and so we will think - and even if we do decide to operate, I am strongly leaning to only doing the left eye and not fooling around with the vision he does have in the right eye.

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

You have new Picture Mail!

Cameron and Summer

honor roll

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

OH WOE IS ME

Today is the last day of school. I have a word to express my feelings: NOOOOOOOOOOO!

Monday, June 04, 2007

IT'S GOING TO BE 90

Oh, rats, it is cool now and supposed to be cool tomorrow and cool on Wednesday and then, when we, Sydney and I, are going to the doggie opthamalogist in Huntington, it is going to be 90 degrees. Sydney is 10 and now he has some irregularities in the back of his eyes - for one thing, Dr. Barnard cannot see the back of one of Sydney's eyes. We think it is a genetic problem common to collies and sheep herding dogs and don't believe there is pain involved. The girls at the clinic remarked on how well dogs adapt and Dr. Barnard cautioned, "Just don't move the furniture."

Friday, June 01, 2007

LACEY SPENCER - EAST NOBLE - KENDALLVILLE

Lacey and Casey

Hi, today the article I wrote about Lacey Spencer, selected by Ms. Donovan as an outstanding senior, was in the Kendallville Mall. I really enjoyed speaking with Lacey and admire all that she has done to deal with situations in her life.

Congratualtions on your graduation.

Explorers used to go into unknown territory to see what was there; I am going into the realm of blogs to see what I can add, and, in writing posts about my life here in Northeast Indiana, to see what I can discover about myself and the place I live. Maybe this is not so much a new-fangled blog as it is an old-fashioned pot-bellied stove around which stories and news are exchanged and shared.

: Name: Jody

Yo, there. Okay, I don't exactly look like my picture here. I have written for some papers in different places and at present I am writing for the Kendallville Mall. You may have read some of my articles; you may not have. A lot of the time I write for myself, and sometimes I don't do it on paper. Sometimes I write in my mind where the words can soothe or encourage or firmly establish a feeling in my memory place. Would that be my heart? Maybe. Sometimes I write funny stuff; I think I am at times melancholy. I don't think of myself as a writer or storyteller. I believe I just have a need to attach words to things. Perhaps it is a way of praying , a need such as that expressed by C.S. Lewis in the movie Shadowlands:"That's not why I pray, Harry. I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God. It changes me."

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indiana territory