Camping 2005-02

Camping, Fishing, Rain, and Cooking.

Well, we are back from our second camping trip of the year. As you should know, we went to the Rifle River State Recreation Area. There were very few people there, and we had a lot of fun, despite a bit of rain and apparently a tornado watch.

We arrived just after 5, drove around to look at the available sites, then went back to the gate to reserve it and buy some firewood at the gas station across the street. After setting up, we got the fire going and we made chili and biscuits over the fire. We sat around for a while, and later went up to the gate to call my mom, since Jenn had no cell service. My mom updated me on all the latest stuff, and I let her know we were all right, and we headed back. To our surprise, we found we had a visitor. A raccoon was snooping around our campsite looking for scraps of food. Jenn hid in her car and I tried throwing stuff at it, and it eventually ran off. My problem was it was behind the table, so when I threw, it landed behind, and the raccoon was pushed forward toward us. Anyway, after all that, we hid our cooler inside and went to bed. There were a few thunderstorms overnight, but not too bad.

Wednesday morning, we woke up and I cooked scrambled eggs and biscuits (this time I used butter, and the came out of the pan WAY easier). We then drove around the park exploring and eventually back to the gas station for ice. We returned to camp, and decided to go swimming and do some fishing, so walked to one of the lakes and tried swimming first. Water was rather cool, and took us about 20 minutes to make it to our necks. We saw some small fish and minnows, and decided to venture toward the boat launch for fishing. There were some 4″ bluegill just below, and they would nibble on whatever we hung in front of them, but their mouths were too small to take a hook. Further out we couldn’t get anything easier. Then the rain started, so we ran back and ended up napping. After waking up, we built a fire and made beans and hot dogs. Soon after we finished though, the rain returned, so we decided to go look at Rose City 5 miles away. Of course, as soon as we left, the rain stopped, but we went anyway. We ended up stopping at the gas station on our way back (it became like our new Meijer) and Jenn got an ice cream cone. We got the fire back going, and sat around it for the rest of the night, with no more rain or raccoons.

This morning we packed everything up, and were home by 2.

Overall it was very good. It always rains on us though. The bugs were a little heavy too, in Mackinaw we had none. Still fun though. It was a lot cooler up there too, though with all the rain, especially late in the day, it made for very high humidity. Would have been nice to get just enough sun to dry everything up last night. My mom said the rain early Wednesday morning was accompanied by a tornado watch somewhere in the area.

I think thats it. We almost bought a raft for the lake, but decided no. I will have pictures up some time soon, I hope.

We saw maybe 8 people the whole time we were there. It was definitely nice. We were right between 2 of the 5 lakes.

OK, thats all.

Next time a ranting on Apple, anything I forgot from here, the Mike thing (finally), and a new poll.

Really.

nick

Is it hot in here, or is it just you?

I’m Baaack

Explanation, WWDC, Yard, Storm, Trip, and Camping.

Sorry about my week long absence. It wasn’t really my absence though, it was my computers. There is a bug in a video chip on some iBooks that causes them to fail, and mine was one of those. Thankfully, Apple recognized it as an issue, and the repair was thusly free, though it did take a week to request, send, and receive. I lost video Monday morning, and received iBook back this morning. Hopefully it will be good to me for some time now.

I am reading an update stream from Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference right now. There have been (in my opinion) false rumors going around that Apple may be switching to Intel chips. I think reality is that they are, but not as the main CPU, but as they already did a year ago for RAID controllers in some of their rack-mount equipment. Anyway, I will probably know the truth by the end of this blog.

So, the back entrance is gone, the patio is too, and we have a 6 ft deep hole in our backyard. Thats most of what I have been doing. The forms for the footings are in, and could be poured as soon as tomorrow, maybe Tuesday. After that, we build up block walls, lay a concrete slab, stick walls, stairs, and a roof. Then just re-level land, put up fence, seed lawn, plant some trees and shrubs and such, and we will be done. Yeah, easy.

We lost power for most of yesterday. Was a nasty storm. South end was one of worst hit areas in the state. Power went out during the second storm, was out about 3 or 4, and didn’t come back till 4 or 4:30. Woke us up cause all the lights and TVs and stuff that had been on, suddenly came back on. So we watched the news for a bit, then went to Rudy J’s, then back to sleep. Was almost unbearable trying to sleep without a fan or anything on.

Tim and my Grandma went to Pennsylvania for the weekend. They took Molly there (new one, not mine) because of a long story I don’t want to get into. I just hope the dog gets a good home.

Jenn and I are going camping tomorrow, for 3 days (Tuesday evening, Wednesday, Thursday morning) at RRRA. I will post on that Thursday night.

OK, I think that’s enough for now. Will add anything else I remember next time, along with a new poll.

nick

“What are you doing here?”
“You know.”
“I don’t think I do.”
“Oh, I think you think you don’t know, but I know you do.”
Blank stare.

Gone Fishing!

Fishing, Backyard, and Camping.

I went fishing, 3 times now. Thursday, Friday, and today. Thursday I went, casted about 3 times, and WHAM! I got something.

Now, you must realize I haven’t been fishing in like 6 years, so I was excited as hell. I finally get it in, and I have no idea what it is, so i just stare at it. Finally, i realize its hanging there half in the water, and as I reach down to grab it, it snaps my line. I run back to the truck to get another lure, and can barely tie it on because I am shaking so much. So I run back to the water, and cast, and cast. A freighter goes through, and that was the end of it. I ended up loosing both lures I brought and finally went home. Friday went about the same, but with Jenn, and today was the same, but a new place so I didn’t snag, though Jenn did.

Our shed is now moved, and it was decided that due to the condition of the back entrance, it has to be rebuilt. So we started tearing it up today. Roger says should be down Monday.

Jenn and I our going camping a week from Tuesday. She opens Tuesday, then has Wednesday and Thursday off, so we will have plenty of time. Hopefully I can sneak away from backyard, and weather is nice.

OK, that’s all. I had something else, but the fishing was enough for now, and more important.

nick

A jerk waiting on a jerk.

Yodel, Funny Word.

Poll, Tool, Yard, and Uncle.

Seriously, yodel, what a word.

New poll is up, sorry about confusion on last one. No more doubling up.

Still enjoying the Leatherman, though I haven’t actually used it yet.

Tomorrow we are supposed to move the shed, but supposed to rain too, so maybe not.

Uhm…

My Uncle john left at about 1:30 or 2 today. He then returned about 3:30. He is still here. Said he was just feeling unwell, so will try again tomorrow.

OK, I am running away, see you again Saturday.

nick

Yodel, it is funny.

Blog-Digidy-Blog

Uhh, Widgets, Toy, Uncle, and Backyard.

Is this anything special? I don’t think so, so it shall be general. This is 205th general, and 265th overall. That means over 77% are general posts. Wow.

One of the coolest features of OS X 10.4 is a new program called Dashboard, which allows you to put “widgets” on your desktop, mini apps that you can bring up and hide away with the touch of a key. Now, you can also get widgets buy buying Konfabulator, but that costs $$, and you can’t use all the new Dashboard widgets. Well, a new app called Amnesty is now out, and it’s free, and it uses Dashboard widgets. I have an issue with it though, you can’t press F12 to hide the widgets, and you don’t get the Apple OS X widgets, which are some of the best. Oh well, it’s not $20 for Konfabulator, and it’s not $69 for Tiger.

I have a new toy now, got it a few hours ago. I nice new Leatherman tool. The Kick. It came with the leather sheath though, and I want the nylon combo sheath, which also holds my Mini Mag Lite, which makes it cooler. Oh well, later.

My Uncle John is in town for my Aunt Jane’s funeral (my other Uncle John’s wife).

We laid our concrete yesterday morning, and lifted the shed up onto some 6x6s so we can slide is onto the slab on Thursday. We are still unsure of the patio, since the back entrance is so screwed up. I don’t know what’s going on half the time.

OK, that seems like it.

See you Wednesday.

nick

I don’t care if you’re the queen of England.
I am the Queen of England!
And I said I don’t care!

Ants In My Pants

Yard, Camping, Shopping, and Moment.

So, despite setbacks, the hole has been dug, forms set, and sand laid for the shed slab. Concrete will be here Saturday morning apparently. Once the slab is poured, and has set for 5 days, the shed is put on the slab, and the yard can be leveled (the main thing we are going for).

It has barely been a week and I am already getting antsy for more camping. I think its because we only did 1 night, and in Pinconning. I need a good 2 night, with some fishing too. I don’t think biking, since it requires taking the truck, etc… Maybe we should consider a bike rack for Jenn’s car?

What else…

I haven’t made it back to Mill End, perhaps tomorrow. I also want to make it to Bay Port to the fish market, but that’s a bit longer trip.

Tomorrow is my magic day, 20-05-2005 at 20:05:20.05 (May 20, 2005 at 8:05ish PM).

That’s about it. I guess I will see you Sunday.

nick

Does it scare you that Ortho, the weed killer company, is also Ortho, the contraceptive company?