The Smoke

How many of you are dealing with the smoke from the fires in Quebec? I couldn't believe how thick it is and how much we can smell it all the way down here in Connecticut. I have never experienced anything like this in my life. Yesterday, New York City was the #1 polluted city in the world. That's just crazy.

While this is annoying for us, let's not forget how it's affecting our friends in Canada. Acers and acers are being destroyed, and firefighters are risking their lives to stop the spread of these fires. They are in our prayers.

I'm Walking...

I did some walking yesterday. Sam and I went to The Dinosaur Place down in Montville. We saw 40 life-sized dinosaurs, and also some plants that were around when the dinosaurs roamed. There was a special trail just for dinosaurs that were known to be in Connecticut. One, in fact, has only been found in Connecticut and nowhere else in the world. The map said the trails covered over 1.5 miles, but we did some double backing, so we probably walked over two miles. It was a pretty cool place. If it was not so expensive, I'd go back again soon. Actually, off-season is almost half the price, so we'll see. After, we ate at David's Place right across the street. We drove, though.

Later in the day, I went walking with Kerri, Riley, and Sandy. It's best to bring about six bags with you when walking the dogs, because they like to spread out their activities. They never seem to want to do it all at once. During our walk, we saw Sam and Amelia's nurse from elementary school, Mr. J., walking his dog. To this day, I still instinctively call him Dr. J., which nobody younger than 40 understands. So that was a good walk, too.

It also happened to be a gorgeous day to be outside. It's been a while and it felt nice. Today is equally as pleasant. "It's a good day for a mow." Which, of course, you do by walking.

Humidity, Dew Points, and DoorDashing

Following a winter that would not quit--it snowed on my birthday, April 22, for the first time in my life--and a spring that didn't seem to exist, this summer is dragging on. How many days can we have of this humidity? Actually, it's going to break on Sunday, but it's been a long time coming. And come to think of it, "humidity" is the wrong word anyway. The sticky feeing is not the level of humidity, but the dew point temperature. In the 50s and below is dry. In the 60s it starts to get uncomfortable. Anything 70 and above is just icky. It's been in the high 60s and low 70s for almost two weeks. But come Monday, it will be in the 50s again.

We just ordered some food with DoorDash. It's like UberEATS except there are a lot more restaurants to choose from, and the prices are amazingly reasonable. It's a bad habit I don't want or need to get into.

There is a paper bag on the floor next to where I work at home, and I always think it's one of the dogs looking up at me. Perhaps it's time to go through the bag and get rid of it?

The food will be here soon.

A Happy Snowman on a Bag

So this is the happiest snowman on Earth? He seems to think so. Since purchased on January 1, 2017 at Walt Disney World, this guy has been hanging rather inconspicuously in the dining room. I say inconspicuously because not one person has ever asked why a Walt Disney World bag with a snowman on it is hanging from a dish rack in our dining room. Maybe they don't see it. Maybe they don't care, I wonder how he feels about it. I'd ask, but I don't think I would get much of a response. Well...alright...I'll ask. Nope...silence. No comment, I guess. When we have our heat wave next week, maybe things will be different, but I think he'll be ok.

Nice scarf.

Greetings Again!

So...who's out there?

%$#*@& Denny Crane Says

I caught a little bit of William Shatner's new show, "Shit My Dad Says," (I don't care...just say what it is), and I couldn't help but think this was Denny Crane in an alternate reality if he didn't become the hot shot Boston laywer and instead settled down as a family man. I'm going to watch this week's episode with that in mind and see how more funny it is. I bet I'm not the only one who sees this. Boy, I miss Boston Legal.

So now As The World Turns is gone. Les Moonves is on his mission to exterminate soap operas...just to say he did it. Mr. Julie Chen needs to be stopped. His counterparts at both ABC and NBC quit and got fired, respectively, and now it's ol' Les's turn. This guy also cancelled Guiding Light, The Ghost Whisperer, Joan of Arcadia, Judging Amy, and Star Trek: Enterprise...all shows I believe ended before their time. This guy has an ego bigger than Donald Trump, he loves power, and enjoys people being afraid of him. Dan Rather called him out a few years ago, and the guy has been a bastard ever since. But then again, this is all just TV, right? Nobody cares about TV anymore.

Something I say several times each Saturday: "HOUSE!"

So the Hartford Whalers are coming back. No, wait...that's not right. The Connecticut Whalers are coming. Oh...geez...that's not right, either. Ah, I have it...the Connecticut Whale is just about here. Howard Baldwin is full-steam ahead with his plan to bring the NHL back to Hartford. I didn't feel any sense of closure after the last Whalers game over 13 years ago. I just didn't feel it was over. Maybe I was right. The Connecticut Whale is our chance to show the hockey world Hartford is a major league market worthy of the NHL. Let's do it, folks.

I saw REO Speedwagon at the Durham Fair on Saturday night. Kevin Cronin said twice he had a cold. Keep complaining about it and I'll want my money back. They played a couple of songs I haven't heard in a long time, so that was cool.

Way to go Hartford Colonials! They're 1-1 but easily could be 2-0. Looking forward to the next game at The Rent. Come out to the game, people!

Happy Birthday Gavin

Gavin Owens was born four years ago today. His third birthday was full of celebration and joy and happy faces and a very excited little boy. His fourth birthday is very different. He is not with his parents and sister and family and friends, but with God and Jesus experiencing the ultimate Joy that we all hope to also experience when the next stage of our lives begin. More about Gavin's story can be found at http://www.gavinowens.com/ and http://www.adamowens.com/. Let's all pray that everyone who loves and misses Gavin has the strength to ovvercome the saddness and experience the many wonderful ways Gavin graced this planet with his physical presence for 3 1/2 years. I never met Adam or Karen or Madison or Gavin, but I feel like I know all of them. Adam and Karen have been so open about their experience that it's impossible not to feel like I've known them all my life. It's amazing and wonderful. I have these friends that I have only communicated with on the internet, yet feel like they are my neighbors that I see and talk with every day. You know, that's awesome.

I can go on and on, which I kind of did on Adam's blog this morning, but I just wanted to briefly express my feelings on the day Gavin's birth is celebrated. Four years ago today, the world was changed for the better. That is very much worth celebrating.

Happy Birthday Gavin!