not a negative outlook

Sometimes I can't believe myself

    I had a phone call.  Needed to call someone back.  Checked the phone and found the number.  It sounded familiar.  I dialed it.  As I was waiting for the call to be answered, my cell phone started ringing.  I answered it.  No one there.  No one on the house phone either.  Seems I called my cell phone then hung up on myself.  That's why it was so familiar.
    Still can't find the keys to Emily's rental.
    Set this week as garage cleaning week.  It's almost Wednesday.  I haven't even looked in the garage except to get in a car.  Maybe next week.
     Julia lives near Vevey in Switzerland.  It is a neat little town, very lively.  I enjoy going to the market and exploring the cobbled streets.
     So, here are a few shots of what I saw around Vevey.

 Dana....this one's for you.

 Magazine kiosk near the market

I think these are Chinese Lanterns?  

 I had egg plant twice while here....quite tasty!

 Flat peaches.  These are a white fleshed peach and the look like turbines.  They are good.

 I goofed.  The red soap toward the center is called "vin rouge" but I did not buy any.  Should have.

 Caramel is boiling.....

 This is what it becomes.

 More eggplants!

    There was a festival going on.  You could buy a glass, and as you wandered the market you could fill it with wine from one of the roving carts.  I love the carts....always wanted one but they are expensive and I have no idea what I would do with one!  But I still like them.

 This cheese has truffles in it.  Truffles are rare and expensive mushrooms, so that may explain why this cheese is 30 CHF a kilo, or about $7 a pound.

 You need a big blade and strong arms to slice cheese.

 In old town of Vevey....I love the sound of these horns.

 The police station.....

Switzerland is neutral, but has always been militarily prepared

What can I say?

smile, please

I take too many pictures

     In the old days of film photography, I would be very careful with pictures.  I knew the cost in developing could be high, so I was careful to take only the pictures I wanted.  Even then, getting a developed roll back yielded pictures that screamed, "What the hell was I thinking?"
     The pictures and negatives went into a shoe box until they could go in an album.
     Now, with a digital camera, I just shoot and shoot and shoot.  I don't have a shoebox to store them in, but I do have a computer with a big memory.
     Big enough to store 13,540 photographs and 131 videos.
     131 videos.  Amazing.  I did not know I had a video option on my little camera.  Once I discovered it, a new world opened.
     And my phone?  There is a video option there also.  I have some great videos of blankets sitting on the ground at the Buffett concert, (1:31); the camera in my pocket after being at Emily's new house (2:45) the Cubs convention, the train ride in Switzerland.....
     Needless to say, I have learned to turn the phone off after I take pictures.  That way I don't accidentally film 2:45 of the dashboard on my car.
     I have made a goal of deleting pictures I don't want.  I started tonight.
     I now have 12,350 pictures.  I still have the 131 videos, which I don't understand because I have deleted several.  I thought.
     I deleted blurry pictures of the moon, pictures of flowers, (Yes, those were going to be made into 8 x 10 prints and installed in my antique window frame that was salvaged four times from Emily's basement.  I can always take new pictures.) my last class's Christmas program and the sumo wrestling event at Tilton my last year.   Ok, I did save one of the sumo pictures.  (Beth, it was a costume.)
     I saved pictures of my 60th birthday party because it was so much fun and brought back great memories.
     And every picture of Julia leaving or arriving, and every picture of Emily and her dogs, and every picture of Jackie telling me not to take her picture, and pictures of family.....all those I saved.
     But I still want to cull another 5,000 from my computer.
     I figure I will go slowly through the vacation pictures and eliminate blurry or duplicate photos...that should take care of at least 4,000.
     Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorite  pictures from my steam train ride  and train museum visit during my recent trip.....and I did not comment on all of them!

Craig reliving his Australian days.......

 There were hooks at the top of the windows and the leather straps were notched, like a giant belt.  Passengers would open the windows and hook the notch, which would hold  the window open.

 How do you clear snow off a railroad track????  Here's how!

 On the return trip, the engine backs down the mountain. I don't think it is pulling the train, more like holding the cars back so they don't careen madly down the mountain.

 Some old, and some new, friends.

     The gang's all here...except for Elizabeth and me.  Someone has to take pictures.
     Well, those were some of the highlights from my steam train trip at Julia's.
     Tomorrow, a walk around Vevey.
     Peace out, dudes.

where do I begin?

It has been a busy week for me

     I think I am nuts.  And if not crazy, then just tired.  Crazy tired?
     We came back early Wednesday from Switzerland.  Went out to dinner Wednesday night, baby sat the dogs Thursday night, Cubs game Friday afternoon, energy fair volunteer Saturday morning, Jimmy Buffett Saturday night, church picnic Sunday.... I am damn tired tonight.
The Cubs won Friday.  This makes me 1-5 in games at Wrigley this year.  It was great to see a win and be able to wave my W flag in the stands. Yes, I was one of those goofy people at the end of the game.  John and Dan put up with me but seeing a Cubs win makes it all worth while.
     By the way, they have now won four in a row and are 4-2 since I returned to US airspace....so nah nah nah to all you naysayers who thought I was the goat!  (No Doug, I am a goat of a different color.)
     Saturday morning I was ticket taker at the Illinois Renewable Energy Association fair in Oregon.  I love this event, because there are many good ideas on how to reduce energy use in the home.
     Unfortunately, there were not as many vendors as in years past.  Plus, I only had a few minutes to go through the vendors because I had to get ready for Jimmy!!
    I was a Buffett virgin three or four years ago.  Since then, I have been to 4 concerts.  Or is it 5?  Holy cow, can't remember.
     Anyway, if you have never been to a Parrothead show, you are missing a very strange and exciting event.
     We got there at 3:30 for a 7 p.m. show and the parking lot was full of people tailgating.
     You see all sorts of people and behaviors.  There was a Jimmy's Jugs cut out where people are invited to step up and show their breasts.  And yes, one young lady did while I was watching.  I am sure her mother is proud.
     There is also a free drink dispenser for Margareta's that strongly resembles a male reproductive organ....that sort of rhymes with genius..... and anyone could step right up and get a mouthful.  (Note:  I did not.)
     It was fun watching people.  Not only at the x rated booth, but at the show in general.  People go there to have fun....and we did.
     Chris cooked burgers, Carrie brought food, TC had cookies, I brought potato salad and we had a great cookout and concert experience.
      I did try yelling for a friend of mine, but I guess she did not hear me among the 30.000 or so that had to be there.
      So I was a little tired for the church picnic today.  We cut up fruit for our dish to pass.
     We just had our knives sharpened.
     Put the two statements together and you will know why I am wearing a bandage on my finger.
     Some pictures of the weekend.

Big crowd at the yard

Neon hat give a way in the bleachers

 Harry came back for the seventh inning!

So, if beer is $9 and you buy four......

 Just liked the reflections in the building

 Where is this foot?

 Grillin' and chillin'

 Getting close to the neighbors....who were nice people.

 Three cars down from us was a former student and his wife....they recognized me and yelled my name.

It's a costume, thank heavens!

 Weird world, isn't it?

 Flamingos in the hair

Plenty of coconut bras and even a cheese bra

Read the shirt]

The yougins in front of us mush have taken 300 photos of themselves

 Monica, that is a cigar said Bill, never

A good crowd.
And a good night.

finally

The curse is broken

     After watching 5 Cubs games, and seeing 5 defeats, I thought I was cursed.
     But today restored by faith in the baseball gods.  A come from behind 5-3 win and a 2 game winning streak.
     Life is good.