I guess I’m spoiled by *** and **** Star hotels but it’s slim pickens here in South Dakota. The choices are Super 8, Sleep On Inn and their ilk. Ours features an indoor water park and tiki bar casino attraction. Shown is an hotel amenity; tie wrapped to the desk with fishing line so you don’t have to open your beverage with the furniture

Waiting to see if I turn green – – or not. I’m usually first in the breakfast line. The eggs and biscuits tend to dry overdone if you arrive for a helping after an hour or two or more of simmering. This morning I’m downing my scrambled eggs which are still wet and just the way I like them. They have an exotic flavor of charcoal broil. Ummmm. Unusual, but then again, I’m in Texas so maybe this is how the locals change things up. Having finished and while weighing the second course I hear another patron in the place making noise about the eggs being bad and something about having gone off… The head waiter takes a sample from buffet, makes a face, and within ear shot agrees with the suspicion. I see him take the offending batch back to the kitchen. I sit there pondering my now empty plate.

warning: critters were harmed in the making of this post
The exterminator service is sooo fired. Pesky ant varmits are winning the battle. I have found a temporary remedy and one that uses no chemicals or carcinogens. It is not harmful to the environment. Safe for pets. A torn piece of masking tape is quick and clean. Most satisfying, you can yell “Freeze!” or “Die You Gravy Sucking Pigs!” as you stick the sink and counter space.

The casual reader may dismiss this post, family may derive some closure.

I gave up my buddy pal this afternoon… I hadn’t realized how his 10+ year existence was integral to our lifestyle. Our dear pet was always triggered to react predictably to the rustle of a key chain, footsteps, his master’s voice. He would watch you leave and wait patiently in the drive for your return knowing your vehicle by its exhaust beat drum.

He was the neighborhood “best trainned dog” and the park’s “frisbee champ“. The community will remember him for his ability to selfishly guard his tennis ball at the top of the drive and then precisely release it (to roll down to the curb) as one walked or drove by. They could then lob it to him and the process could repeat. He would wait there focused on that dang ball, until someone got a clue and heaved it back. He knew the property line.

Our best routine were all of those prime years when he and I would jog the park. It was always great exercise and on some days when I was lost to the computer keyboard his pining would give me incentive to get up and take him, irrespective of rain or shine. And so we would. It was always a good run and sometimes there were stories to tell.

Our children loved him growing up. They learned about dog handling and responsibility. It was hard to let him go. He is comfortable now. We shall miss him.

I’m in a windowless classroom all day all week and the instructor is quite good at keeping us from drifting off. Every couple of minutes there’s a hand clap or a table slap report for punctuation. At first analysis I thought teach sounded like Fire Marshall Bill Burns with sentences beginning: “Lemme tell ya somethin’…” but now I’ve decided his voice is, if you can imagine it; Ned Flander’s (Simpsons) mixed up with drill sergeant, R. Lee Ermey (Mail Call).