I hate it when an inanimate object is smarter than I am.  I’ve had that experience the past couple of weeks.

The fill valve on our swimming pool hasn’t worked since we moved into the house.  Whenever I opened the valve it leaked badly.  So for our first year in the house I filled the pool with a hose.  It was a nuisance, and sometimes I overfilled the pool.  Not good.

Continue reading Anti-Siphon Valve →

It’s a nice morning.  The cool California air feels good.  I’m enjoying having the day off and my taste buds are already tasting the chicken that Bev is going to marinade for dinner tonight.

We’re going to go to Costco later today to look at small picnic tables.  We’d like to have one to go on our small patio outside the kitchen door.  We both think it would be nice to be able to eat breakfast out there or to have dinner when it’s not too hot.

Continue reading Memorial Day →

Last winter, Bev ordered a new window for our house.  It was going to replace the dilapidated aluminum slider that opened to the back yard.  A glass company here in town built the low wall the window rested on and installed the window.

The next stage of the operation was to get a stucco company to finish the exterior wall to match the rest of the house.  The first guy that agreed to do the job only did the first coat, but never came back.  Then a guy named Frank called us and agreed to do the job.

Continue reading The Plaster Guy →

Friends of our took a three day vacation to San Luis Obispo, and they asked us to keep their dog.  We were quite happy to do that, especially since “Dingo” has visited us before and done quite well.

This morning he came to our bedroom door and notified us of his need to go out.  I got up to let him out, but as I moved through the house I dropped something and moved quickly to pick it up.  That quick motion scared Dingo.  Long puddle…..

I was barefooted and thankful that I did not walk through Lake Dingo.  It was also a good reminder why Bev and I do not currently have pets.  There’s too much to do to take care of one properly.  So we can love on Dingo and then send him home.  Perfect.

I got invited recently to attend a Chamber of Commerce seminar called Volunteer Leaders Workshop.  It takes place on June 9 in Sacramento.  The stated purpose of the workshop is to assist in developing an effective leadership team to guide your Chamber to excellence.

It is presented by Superchex which is a group of Northern California Chamber executives, and it provides “activities to enhance the professional knowledge and skills of its members.”  I’m really pleased to be able to attend this seminar because it adds to a base of knowledge and experience that I’ve gained through my lifetime.

Continue reading Superchex →

Bev and I have kept an eye on American Idol.  We haven’t been able to watch it much, but we have monitored the results. 

We already knew that Melinda Doolittle was a huge talent that deserved to win.  Plus we enjoyed hearing her powerful and lovely voice.

But stupidity and style points are what won the day.  NOT talent.  Wednesday night she got booted off because of fickle voters who clearly wouldn’t know a singer from a hole in the ground.

This result plus the untimely exit of other talented people proves that this show is not about ability.  I’m no longer curious about the outcome.  It’s meaningless.

Saturday was the day of the annual Chamber Car Show.  Merced is a popular location for auto buffs, and this annual May show is well attended.

In previous years the show was held at the County Fairgrounds.  Because of recent changes, the car show was moved to the Castle Air Force Base museum rounds.  It was a nice venue with plenty of room.  It was also beneficial to the museum, because it drew people who had never see the planes on display there.

Continue reading Car Show →