`lag

that did breakfast for under $5. So like three eggs over easy, toast, a couple strips of bacon would be like $4.50 and another 50 cents for coffee, really two eggs, toast and bacon would be like $2-3. Then Cracker Barrell came along and charged $9-10 bucks for the same and everyone started going there. Go figure. Sell some junk too. Yeah, I mean, everything's clean and bright and colorful as opposed some place that's been around for 40 years but yeah, great marketing I suppose.

I knew of the Galax Fiddler's convention but must have been at home while this happened. Some good names there... I mean, like I'm a bluegrass guy. ** Edited by `lag at 7/23/2026, 4:33:10 PM ** Edited by `lag at 7/23/2026, 5:06:59 PM

but...looks like they fought back and are still around. ** Edited by `lag at 7/19/2026, 5:17:12 AM

Somehow I managed to find a Pontiac J2000, A Ford Escort (really a Mazda) and a Mazda 6 covering over 30 years. Before that had a little British sports car. Got practical I guess with the CX5s w/auto.

...as she glides along the woodlands, o'er the hills and by the shore... Went out to Cresson, PA to see "Big Boy" the largest operating steam locamotive make a relatively short stop. This was after a week of screwups. Heck on the way there I got pulled over for speeding, apparently I passed a state trooper obliviously, but he let me go, almost apologetic, "what was i supposed to do"? Very strange, Haven't been pulled over in say 40 years and already twice this year. In a perfect world (well in a real perfect world I would have gotten a $20 ticket for the horseshoe curve outside Altoona PA) I would have hit the tour in Duncannon PA on Tuesday - only a two hour drive and could finish an eight mile section of the AT that I've been thinking about for a long time - but my brother wanted to get some papers signed with his usual bad timing. So, kind of my last chance w/a 2:45 hr drive to get there before the tour gets really out of range, decided this was a once in a lifetime chance and got there in time. Pretty cool to see the wheels turn and see it moving. It really does bring a tear to your eye, no reason to overthink it, just the kid in you. Had the perfect picture lined up too except I managed to fumble it. Sort of a lower gully along side the track so you're looking up a bit at front 1/4 view of the 4014 w/blue skies and puffy white clouds as a background and some engineer hanging out the window like he was Johnny Cash. ...hear the mighty rush of the engine, the hobo's lonesome call you're travelling through the jungle on the Wabash Cannonball🎵 Drove back through the horseshoe and while out there availed myself of the opportunity cost and did a little hiking in the obscure Trough Creek state park. PS That horn is mighty loud close up. PPS Note the drive wheels slip twice going up the hill. ** Edited by `lag at 7/12/2026, 9:24:27 AM

someone mentioned him..

think I know where that's at. Gotta love clothes that say "this is me" I feel safer now.😂 ** Edited by `lag at 7/8/2026, 2:16:10 PM

but it's pretty much the major drainage through Alaska. My next guess is the Columbia river, but was thinking we were sharing so it's up now. ** Edited by `lag at 7/2/2026, 12:54:06 PM

Going back to Pele coming here to push the sport you get that feeling that more people were watching but it's never really felt like it's had that pop. This year you can feel that pop. Everyone's having fun, as you mentioned stadiums getting filled, civic associations getting out for the visitors etc. This time it feels really different.

I'd need to see it played so I could get a feel for that. Even pickup basketball you sort have an offsides rule eg taking the ball to the top of the key in a halfcourt game to allow the D to set.

it, what the dynamic might be. Essentially it's a rule against a fast break, like we see in basketball, So I guess what would happen is it would force a couple players to lay back on defense just in case so in a weird way it would make it harder to score with fewer players at the offensive end. Paradoxically it would hurt scoring I would think... ...but I dunno, that's why I'd like to see it played that way once to understand the rule. Not really into it though haven't watched any game or highlight yet.

least concern and a problem in other ways. My late dad had a bird feeder just outside a window and I could get a good look at a cowbird from a couple feet away.

It's just how my mind works.

I've annoyed the finches enough with my painting. I owe them one.

And I just got a notice from the power company that we may recycle up to 50% tomorrow. Plenty of sunshine here. ** Edited by `lag at 6/30/2026, 6:01:51 PM ** Edited by `lag at 6/30/2026, 6:06:17 PM

either, a very textbook picture. *at least knowning instantly what I was looking at. ** Edited by `lag at 6/30/2026, 11:35:30 AM

at this point it might be more like fried chicken.

Can you pick out the cowbird egg?, sneaky little suckers, dumps their eggs in other bird’s nests, and let the other bird take care of it, the cowbird chick will grow faster and get most of the food if in fact, it doesn’t shove the other chicks out of the nest. The moral dilemma is do I dump the cowbird egg or let Mother Nature take her course? This nest is right behind the front door lamp, I usually get house finches every year nesting there. They take off when I go outside, but I suspect in nature that’s part of the deal, they deliberately nest there to scare off their predators with the human activity. All this because I’m painting around the front door to meet the homeowners violation, yes, this is my “ cure.” idiots. Problem is mama bird doesn’t like that. I’m within a couple feet of the nest, and it flys off to a branch and continually scolds me. Me: “I know, I know, just let me get this finished and I’ll be out of your way… Got my two hours in, I’m done for the day. Last ride for my Mountain Khaki (r) shorts I think using them as a painting tog, I will have only one pair left. One of those "perfect things" which you can no longer get. ** Edited by `lag at 6/30/2026, 2:19:36 PM

game...that's a good look for the US.

** Edited by `lag at 6/28/2026, 3:24:05 PM

Perfect rain, light soaker since yesterday evening, enough to keep everything green despite the two year drought but would need a few days of this to also contribute to the eight inch rain deficit/reservoirs. Got a lot in yesterday, so can guiltlessly sit here, drink coffee and read this morning. Finished "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" last night, the third book of Stieg Larrson's "The Girl with the Dragon Tatto" trilogy after which writing the three, he promptly died. Rate them 5-star, 4-star, 3-star (and 3-star means OK in my book, er books...) I really enjoyed them but my suspension of disbelief was becoming frayed. The anti-hero got shot in the head in book two...so I kinda had to find out how that turned out in book three. Full recovery, no problem. er, OK. Nice scene worthy of Hitchcock though when two characters are both bedridden but both want to kill the other person two doors down in a hospital, so a matter of who recovers first. Finished "War and Peace" a few weeks ago which felt like I had been out of the country for ten years. wow. Still turning things over in my heads even disagreeing with a lot of things but that's what makes it a classic, you keep thinking about it. Also very jarring to go from that to relatively light but fun reading. Best soundbite for W&P is if you haven't read it, read it now. The reading's not hard, it's just long w/lots of footnotes. OK, there's a fair amount of French w/more footnotes translating it. Yeah, if you were thinking about it, I agree. Reading 12 books a year has become a habit now so cool in a way, I've remade myself in the last year and a half. Read Edgeman's recommendation "The Lincoln Lawyer" before that, between the girl... and this, who knew I would like detective novels? Surprise to me. Got a nastygram from the HOA and I'll admit the front door and trim was looking a bit beat up, but jeez, it was a "violation" and they referred to a due date (like about two weeks) for "the cure." The cure? is my house sick? Think I'll paint some giant measle spots on it. No biggie, did a little sanding, and power washing last night, biggest problem is a little rot at the bottom of some boards, have to figure something out for that. Maybe at least get the door today, (under the alcove and out of the rain) Little bird's nest behind the front door lamp complicates things, Usually, it's purple finches but not sure of that now. Two pale blue eggs in the nest. Every time i step outside a bird takes off, so get my painting done before they hatch. ** Edited by `lag at 6/28/2026, 3:23:43 PM ** Edited by `lag at 6/28/2026, 3:32:42 PM

** Edited by `lag at 6/28/2026, 7:57:36 AM

back in the day. He'd do these in show advertisments for a particular Arby franchise including the franchiser's name. "and I particulary like the curly fries..." which was pretty funny when he said he had a triple bypass surgury and couldn't eat them anymore but really liked them.

Space needle's one of those thing I've known about since I was a kid, Kinda represented the Jetson's view of the future which I - and probably the rest of America - was into as a six year old kid at the time. Wish I had gone to the Women's bball playoff a few years back and would loved to have checked that off. ** Edited by `lag at 6/20/2026, 12:05:58 PM

One of my favorite quotes written on a wine glass is "Beuvez tousjous, ne mourrez jamais" Drink always, never die. So now I know it's scientifically proven.

Technically not an "interstate" (tic) ** Edited by `lag at 6/16/2026, 9:38:40 AM

other top seeds, er, "pots" in this case ie, 2,3 and 4 in the group round. So the US has done good against a pot 3 team which very roughly means the US is a better than average team in the WC.with one data point in.

(wink-wink, nod-nod) I mean, it would make sense for US to keep going to sell a few more tickets right? Or is that the luck of the draw and/or US might actually be pretty good?

** Edited by `lag at 6/13/2026, 10:53:49 AM

and his asking for money ads come up often these days in my youtube adventures. ** Edited by `lag at 6/13/2026, 8:06:56 AM

oddly enough because I had always wanted to see it and my theory being I had seen so many pictures of it that nothing was new and different. Still I would give it another shot, I think. Maybe I was just having a bad day. But, I love Gaudi, went to his home down by somewhere and loved all the colorful chimneys on top and a lot of maybe more sedate but Gaudiesque features. Go figure. If I ever get back, I will certainly visit Park Guell and stuff and there are other Gaudi buildings around town.

had a great time with "half-acid (half-assed) solutions") Remember all the rumors that he co invented napalm and was working for $1 a year at VT 😉

Did a little hiking, but that hot springs in Ouray* was revelatory after a long day, just floating there looking up at the big swan flying across the starry sky in the evening. This was sometime in September, I was in rapture. Ended up adding another day to my stay. *looks like they rebuilt the thing, kinda liked the way it was but that's nostalgia I guess. Looks nice. Shows it's was a while ago. ** Edited by `lag at 6/9/2026, 2:25:12 PM

might sneak in from time to time to watch him coach. Or maybe that's not a thing, I dunno.

scout camp, whatever, get wet in rain storms, don't sleep, eat junk food, knock yourself out horsing around, hiking etc... ...not a problem. Then you get home tired and weary and boom, catch a cold. Never understood that. Maybe your body is dumping adreniline into the system while you're there, fight or flight mode or something, keeping you going. Get home and you get into shut down/repair mode. You are also exposing yourself to a lot more people again so maybe it's that.

yep, drove up there. Pretty day there... ** Edited by `lag at 6/7/2026, 7:57:30 AM

besides, I've got another eye I can use.

I might have had my Glock in the car. I was listening to the instructor though, keep gun and ammo separate. (have your cc licence etc.) ** Edited by `lag at 6/6/2026, 12:42:14 PM

up at a place called Guntry NE of Balmer, about a half hour drive from where I live. Nice facility. Took the beginners course ~ $125 plus another $25 for the ammo. Not sure where I'm going with this, grins and giggles for right now I think, go up and practice a couple times a month for fun? I sort of also think of this as just one of those skills you should have like changing a tire, really not into home defense...but you never know. Got stopped on the way back by a state trooper, In a reverie and then noticing an array ofblinking lights in the rear view mirror and thinking "oh shoot, how long has he been following me"? Dutifully pulled over using my blinkers* rolled down my window, had my DL out and ready. "You know you don't have your lights on"? (this was 9:30pm and dark outside) Me confused, inner voice: I wasn't driving that fast, people were passing me, I was only slightly above the speed limit... and then processing what he just said ... "oh wait, what"? inner voice: are they burnt out? what's going on? "yeah...er, uh" .He looked at my dashboard "You have automatic headlights..." Me: "uh yeah, sure that's what I usually do, don't know why they're not on, didn't even think about that.." .inner voice: shutup shutup shutup... and I turn them on. He walks away, me over unctuously: "Thank you sir..." (inner voice: what!? you're not going to give me a ticket? why not!? other inner voice arguing with first inner voice: Hey look dolt you want to get a ticket or something?, relax!) using turn signals, pull back on to the highway. he didn't pass me until a little while later so maybe keeping an eye on me for a few minutes. So, I had played tennis earlier in the day, and the shooting course from 6 to 9 was kind of exciting, ie, really concentrating for three hours in class and on the shooting range and I guess I was pleasantly, happily tired afterwards so I never noticed the headlights weren't on, it was still barely light in the parking lot but proceeded to drive on three major highways for 20 minutes w/o noticing, I mean I guess I could see perfectly well on lit up highways at night without headlights. So turned over in my head how I was able to space that out or how the auto lights had been turned off somehow but otherwise dismissing it as stuff happens... but I recognize that for the state trooper it probably is a big deal. Yes maybe this is good guy no brainer police stop but I also imagine a percentage of the time this leads to something bigger eg, drunk/stoned people, can't see/no license plate etc. the usual Friday night idiots as I said, doing due diligence staying behind me back a ways for a while, I even was driving 60 in a 55 zone just to show him I was a regular old dufus white guy, he was probably relieved it was only that. * I'm actually pretty good about using turn signals these days. PS I can't think of the last time I was ever stopped by a police officer, let along given a ticket. (aside from the new world of traffic cameras) maybe ten years ago by a police cadet who didn't give me a ticket. But the last time a good ole going too fast yep, you got me ticket? 30-40 years ago maybe more? PPS My usual quip is about seeing a police officer in the rear view mirror is you panic and look at your speed and..realize you're doing the speed limit and realize you're getting old. The cop car zips around you and heads down the road and you're wondering "what has happened to me"? ** Edited by `lag at 6/7/2026, 6:47:04 AM