Another busy day

As I sit here and write this at 7 A.M. Wednesday morning, I await the arrival of Cole & Nicholas.  It's going to be another hot day so I'm sure we'll be in the pool.

Also coming today is our water treatment company to treat our well with chlorine.  A recent water test revealed we have Coliform bacteria in our water.  My research reveals that this type of bacteria does not directly cause disease and will probably not make one sick.  Nevertheless, it is recommended that it be treated.

Apparently the source of this type of contamination is not necessarily due to a polluted well.  It could be any number of things such as improper sampling, water softener equipment or contamination around the source of sampling.

One thing that could very well be the problem in my particular case is that I dump water from our dehumidifier in our basement into the water softener tank.  Our basement has been known to have a mouse or two in it along with all sorts of dust and debris. 

After the well is treated, water can not be consumed for 3 to 5 days.  Then you have to wait another 10 days before retesting.  So stay tuned.  Results to follow.

A Busy Weekend

Saturday morning with Mike, Becky and the girls at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield which as it name implies is almost exactly in the geographic middle of Connecticut.  Then fussed in the yard and cleaned the pool.

Sunday morning shopping, update my website, mow grass, and spray poison ivy.  Next on the agenda was working on Sandi's quilt frame after which Birds Unlimited opened so I could buy a book and birdseed. 

Then by late afternoon Cole & Nicholas came over to spend the night.  Pete & Jen have to be out very early tomorrow morning so since I'm with the boys every Monday they might as well spend the day here so we can go swimming.

Thanks, Mitt

Tax breaks for the rich.  Screw the middle class.  Thanks, Mitt, but why would anyone be surprised???

Two great discoveries

Who said there's nothing but junk on the Internet?  I've made two great discoveries.  The first is a website called the Khan Academy.  It's a series of thousands of tutorials on just about anything you've ever wanted to know.

The other is a site that streams live web cams of various animals in the wild.  It's great for all ages.  Here's the link to it.  Explore.com live cam.

There's plenty of other good stuff too but you have to be careful--especially if children are using the web.  There's all too many ways to find yourself where you definitely don't want kids to be.

Are you feeling nauseous too?

You'll have to excuse me if this post doesn't make its usual sense.  I'm still quite dizzy.

The latest spell comes from Mr. Romney's sudden turnaround regarding Obamacare.  Now it appears it IS in fact a tax.  A short time ago it wasn't a tax.  Looking back further to when he was governor of Massachusetts the identical health care reform act was a GOOD thing.  Now it's a BAD thing.

Are you feeling nauseous too?  Is there anything Romney is willing to stick his neck out for (aside of course from low taxes for the wealthy, the right to outsource American jobs and his devotion to the foreign banking system)???????

What a pathetic loser!

Happy birthday, U.S.A.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Some things people don't understand about Obamacare

   I've been following a Facebook thread (that in itself is a big mistake but...) lately wherein people weigh in with their thoughts regarding the health reform act the Supreme Court recently ruled constitutional.

The people commenting were responding to something someone put up regarding some remarks Donald Trump made.  As 'most' everyone knows Trump is one of the world's leading gas bags whose hypocrisy is so blatant as to be laughable but that's not really the point.  The point is that so few people understand some of the key components of the health reform act--including Trump himself.

The chief criticism of the act is that people think it will result in more taxes.  What they don't understand is that we are already paying a premium because every time someone who chooses not to buy health insurance goes to a hospital, guess who picks up the tab.  That's right.  You and me.

By requiring people to purchase health insurance, this penalty is removed.  Get it?  Actually, whether or not anyone understands this aspect of the bill is irrelevant.  The real issue isn't really health care reform.  The issue is Barack Obama.  The plain fact is there are a significant number of people who would resist absolutely anything he did simply because of who (or what?) he is.

We have a word for that.  It isn't pleasant.  We have a long way to go in this country!

(Partial) renewed faith in SCOTUS

Whether or not you may agree with health care reform (aka Obamacare) is irrelevant.  The important thing to me about yesterday's ruling to let it stand is that it appears that at least a majority of the court has decided the Supreme Court is where law should be made.  Congress makes law.  Not 9 people.

The other encouraging aspect to this is that a very conservative justice joined the left leaning side of the court thereby giving one reason to believe that maybe, just maybe, the Supreme Court is capable of being objective.

All of this represents a small step but it's a start.

What's wrong with this picture?

Sweet crude hits new low-$75 a barrel.
Price of gas nationwide at the pump down 75¢...EXCEPT in Connecticut!

What's up with that?  I know we have the highest gas tax in the country but even so, why isn't the price going down more?

I've heard and read that it has to do with "zone" pricing.  It's not what gas costs to produce and transport.  It's all about what the market will bear...and apparently we folks here in CT can "bear" more. 

What a crock!  Something needs to be done...

A great morning at Masonicare Newtown

Masonicare of Newtown hosted a morning of activities for families.

Activities included fishing in their large pond, a petting zoo, crafts and food.

Pictured here is Sandi with Cole & Nicholas each displaying their first catch of the day.

Curious little boys

Nicholas and Cole have an odd obsession with the engine compartment of my truck.  On the other hand, being little boys I guess it's not so odd.  My grand daughters have never shown any interest in it at all.  I'm convinced we're pre-wired for such things.

Anyway,  as is often the case shortly after we go out to play, they ask me to put the hood up and then they  stand on the bumper to look things over. 

Inevitably the questions start.  What does that do?  Why?  What are those for? Why do you need them? What would happen if they didn't work?  Suppose I climb in there and you drive away.  What would happen?  Why?  Why do you need a fan?  Suppose something broke?  Could I help you fix it? What's an air cleaner?  Is it for us to be healthy?  Where does the smoke go?  Why isn't there smoke when you drive if you're burning something?  Can you put juice it it to make it go?  Why? 

And on and on it goes.  And yes I patiently answer every question. 

Soon they have the information they need so the next stop is the back of the truck where they like to climb in and explore but mercifully the back of the truck doesn't prompt  as many questions except they can't understand why they can't ride back there when we go somewhere. After all, his daddy and Aunt Becky did it when they were little so why can't they?

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to at least two great fathers out there--Peter Stockwell & Mike Sullivan.  Modesty prohibits me from including myself but I guess I did OK.

Today is Flag Day

Today is Flag Day.  Try to find a moment to throw a salute to Old Glory.

The Right to Remain Silent

Have you had your Miranda rights explained to you?

It was on this date in 1966 that the Supreme Court of the United States confirmed your right to remain silent and warned you that anything you say may be used against you.

More people--especially certain politicians--need to exercise that right.  If they did, imagine how much more peaceful the world would be!

Another milestone

Today was yet another milestone in the Stockwell family.  Cole graduated from preschool.  This is not the first  such event nor will it certainly be the last. But as they occur I'll post news of them here with pictures.

For more pictures go to the photo gallery of my website and click on the link labeled Current Family Photos.

A busy few days

This has been a very busy week. 

Monday and Tuesday were normal with babysitting and volunteer stuff but Wednesday I had to be at Pete's early because he had a meeting.  The day began with the boys at 7 A.M. and ended at about 5:15 P.M.

Thursday I spent the afternoon with Courtney searching for slugs in the garden.  We found a lot of them and deposited them in a container she had for them.

Then  Courtney & I got Brooke off the bus.  Brooke did her homework and we ate an early dinner after which I drove them to their T Ball game.

Given the fact that I tend to dislike activities that are not organized properly, it was a little annoying.  There were kids running all over, getting in the way of the on-deck batter and generally not quite as orderly as usual.  At the end of the game one of the girls was running around doing cartwheels and managed to kick Brooke in the face.  On that unhappy note we went home only to have Courtney become very upset with me for not letting her finish what I thought was a complete sentence.  Poor Becky came home to a rather confused mess.

Friday was calmer but equally busy.  Blood work and yard work in morning, a dreadful round of golf in the afternoon but a pleasant evening with our friends.

Today (Saturday) it's work on the pool, go to Cole's preschool graduation and the girls' recital tonight.

Tomorrow it's off to Becky's in the afternoon for a while.

Monday it all starts over again.

It may be busy but it's all good stuff and it's better than sitting around wondering what to do.

Happy Birthday

On June 5, 1975 Becky Stockwell, now Becky Stockwell Sullivan, came into the world.  Hope she has a great day.  We celebrated her birthday over the weekend.

The house is too quiet

 With Pete & Jen back from Florida the boys and Sadie have returned home.  The house is way too quiet.  Sandi and I thought for a while we had gone deaf.  But the up side is today and Wednesday are Grampy days.  

For a week we went from being grand parents to the role of parenting and we discovered how hard it is.  It's one thing to baby sit for a few hours or even a day but then you go home and relax.  

Parenting requires a 24/7 commitment.  Not an easy thing to do--especially where both parents are working--or more difficult yet, how about working single parents?

I know there's a Mothers and Fathers Day and even a grand parents day but I wonder if there's a Parents Day.

Happy June

It's June!  One of my favorite months.  Not quite summer-hot yet and lots of flowers in bloom.  Here's a little information about June.

Click here

Another Week Rolls Around

Memorial Day has come and gone and now it's head-long into summer with temps today expected to be around 90 degrees.

It was  a fairly quiet weekend with Sandi and me working hard planting flowers, vegetables,  putting up the deer fence and spreading mulch. 

My effort to open the pool has been delayed by an unexpected problem with the pump.  I'm attempting to repair a crack that formed thus leaking a great deal of water.  If the repair doesn't work, I'll have to replace the part.  Fortunately, I have a spare so with the help of the boys, I should be able to get it up and running today.

Speaking of the boys--they will be spending the week with us since their parents are on a trip to Miami that Pete won.

We'll be bringing them to and from school Tues, Thursday and Friday.  They're home with me all day Wednesday.  We're expected to go to Mike & Becky's Friday or Saturday.  I forgot which one.  So it's going to be a very busy week. 

Remember

For your information

It has been brought to my attention that some people have trouble commenting on my blogs. 

If you have a comment to make and cannot do it in this space, click here to email me:

EMAIL

Where's the outrage?????

Several recent polls have shown that a large number of  people (those asked at least) aren't terribly bothered by the fact that the then 18-year-old Mitt Romney committed what today would be considered a hate crime.

Is it normal for 18-year-olds (they can vote) to do such things as part of the growing-up process?  Don't we consider an 18-year-old as grown?

Or how about this:  People don't seem to be concerned with the fact that Romney made his fortune--now safely tucked away in a  Caiman Island bank--by raiding companies, bilking them for all they're worth and laying off the workers!!!

In fact a couple of fairly well-known democrats-at least one mayor and a Wall Street worker (go figure)--condemned the Obama campaign for using tactics that seem to attack Romney's kinds of business tactics.

Personally, I think Romney is not only a bully but a guy with the ethics of a rat as well.  

Why don't others seem to feel the same way?  Am I too indignant with moral outrage?  Should I tone it down just a little?

More to come on this.

Injury and Illness

While Cole & Nicholas continue to steam along at full speed, poor Courtney and Brooke are laid low with first Brooke breaking her pinky toe while playing soccer with me of all people.

Then yesterday afternoon while returning from picking up Brooke, Courtney got sick to her stomach in the truck.

Hope both girls make a quick recovery.

A beautiful weekend draws to a close

The weather these past three days has been beautiful and with the exception of a problem transporting my log splitter to someone's house, very productive.

The lawns are finally mowed, garden readied for planting and mulch spread.

Saturday afternoon and part of the evening was spent with family--always a good time.

The next step is to buy more mulch, spread it, get vegetable plants, plant them and do some painting.

Finally, I'll work on getting the pool opened.

Voter apathy

Recently there was a referendum in our Newtown to approve--or not--the budget for the coming year.  It did not pass by 77 votes.  Voter turnout was very low.

The failure of the budget for the 2nd time probably means the proposed all-day kindergarten will not happen next year.

Voter apathy has always been a problem at every lever--local, state, federal.  People just don't care.  Oh sure, they complain enough but they apparently feel that their little vote couldn't possibly do any good.

Voting is the bedrock of a democracy.  Veterans serve to protect ones right to vote. 

Yea or nay--vote!

A Little Discretion, Please

Have you seen the cover of Time magazine lately?  It shows a picture of a woman breast feeding her 3-yr-old son.

Look-I'm not one of these far right wingnuts who run around the country, frothing at the mouth telling others how to live their lives.  On the other hand, can we have just a little discretion here, please?

Breast feeding is of course as old as mankind.  I've seen lots of women who do it publicly but while wearing one of those blouses designed for it.

The title of the article is "Are you mom enough?"  suggestion that unless you're going around with your boobs hanging out and a 3-year-old hanging off them, you're not.

Here's the other thing that gets me.  Isn't a 3-year-old kid supposed to be using a fork...with his teeth?  I haven't read the article yet because I just picked up vacation mail but stay tuned for more...if you can stand it...and I promise...no pictures.

Back to the Routine

Yesterday, Mothers Day, capped off a great week.  Now it's back to the routine with baby sitting duties, volunteer stuff, talent shows and a yard that hasn't been mowed in a very long time.

With the exception of this past weekend the weather has hampered efforts to get outside work done.  I still have a large pile of wood to cut, split and stack, grass to cut, mulch to spread, a garden to plan and plant and a pool to open.

It will all get done eventually.  It always does.  The forecasts for the coming weekend are calling for beautiful weather so I expect to make a lot of headway on the 'to-do' list.

Last full day in sunny Naples

Tomorrow we'll be headed back home.  While we enjoyed--mostly--our stay here with friends, it's always good to me to be headed home.

This trip was marred by the water leak issue referred to in previous pieces.  The situation has been largely resolved with the plumbing company finally figuring out what the problem was.  It was a five minute fix!

Unfortunately we now have a damaged ceiling in our main bathroom.  The property management association will arrange for repairs but possibly not until Sandi comes down in September with her friend.

It could have been much worse.  This all could have happened while we were still in CT or the upstairs neighbor could be uncooperative or the leak could have been more intense or in a more inconvenient location so we're not complaining.

In the meantime it's back home to family and the routine and improved weather.

The Saga of the Leak: Part Two

Our warranty company sent out a plumber who cut a small hole in the ceiling and confirmed that it was coming from the unit upstairs. He said the water had to be turned off to the toilet as soon as possible.  The guy who lives there wasn't home so I called the management company.   The contacted the owners of record who are in another state somewhere and speak very poor english.  The lady couldn't understand what the management company lady was talking about.  A leak?  Impossible.  They just had new faucets put in.  The conversation must have been hilarious.  Anyway, management company sent out a plumber of their own to confirm and he did.  I wrote a note with the plumber's card and was just about to tape it to the door of the upstairs unit when the son pulled in.  I introduced myself and explained the problem.  He was very nice but didn't have a clue as to what to do so I went up, turned off the water and noted that it was actually the tank that was leaking, not the seal.  There was a large pool of water around the base of the toilet bowl and that's what was slowly leaking through the floor to our ceiling.  Anyway, today it's still dripping but much more slowly so it should be OK by the time our two-day guests get here.  Also, the property management company will arrange for the repair of all damage.  Cool.

So that's it for now.   Another day in paradise.