Agora Report

The gardens lately have been covered with some sort of butterfly/moth and I'm having a tough time figuring out what it is. Anybody have a clue? Also - WOW, everything is covered with Solder Beetles which is a good thing as they eat bad things in the garden.

 
Also yesterday took a photo of Blake when he was wondering around the yard.

 

14 years old and still acts like a puppy (pees on the carpeting)  but I suppose when I get up there in that age I'll be peeing on the carpeting also so . . . . actually the new algorithm makes Blake 69 years old unless you put in the average weight which makes him 75.

Then I caught this little guy at our feeder - we have about four that drop by. It's a family as we see male, female and two young ones. 

Anyway I had the 3rd annual Agora Art Fair Saturday and I was "in-tune" with the weather.  I looked at the radar and there were scattered showers on the Mississippi River.  So we get in the car and are bouncing down HWY 151 which if you are pulling a trailer REALLY SUCKS!   It's construction is poured slabs and every slab seems to be rounded.  You don't feel it in a car but with a trailer it's hell.

So we're bouncing down 151 and  BOLT!!     Wow - a streak of lightning - THAT's not a good thing to see when driving to an art fair.  BOLT  BOLT!!     hmmmmm  OK so DJ looks at the radar on the iPhone and there is now a big multi colored blob heading towards Fitchburg.   The timing looks really poor.  

It gets darker and darker and drops of rain start hitting on windshield.  By the time we pull into the area where I'm suppose to put up the canopy we are in the middle of a torrential rain storm.  People are hiding inside their canopy's and others (like us) are just sitting in their cars.  

We look at the radar again and there will be a break for about 15 minutes. I tell DJ that the plan is to get the top of the canopy up before the next storm.  The rain turns to a sprinkle and we bolt (just like lightning) and feverishly put the top of the canopy together.  We're in a hurry because it takes two hours to set up and be ready to sell so every minute counts. 

We get the top together and the next rain comes!  Back in the car!!

Finally the storm ends, blue sky comes out and we're able to set up.  We were about 15 minutes late but all went well.  It was the best fair yet for me. 

Interesting was that within the 1st hour I had sold the below 12x36 canvas image.  Then the woman who purchased it said "can you hold it for me" and 20 minutes later another person wanted to purchase it and a few others were really looking at it.   As DJ said - this looks MUCH better BIG on canvas then on a computer. 

Another thing was that one image that no one looked at last year has all of a sudden sold three fairs in a row.

I only had one comment (that I heard) sort of insulting a shot of Miller Park.  She said it just looks CHEAP!!  Otherwise all the other comments were just making my head big!  

Vince was a big seller - who could have predicted THAT one LOL. In fact I ran out of them.

Coming in 2nd was Fall in Madison.

For State people I saw Joe Koberstein and Judy Page.  Judy says Hi to everybody at 1 W Wilson.  Joe says you guys can all go jump in a lake you losers!  Well, he might have said something like that.   

On to Sun Prairie September 10th.    Going to Door Country Wednesday.

Have a great Monday - storms tomorrow!

BTW - Ben “Coach” Wade and Oscar “Ozzy” Lusth will be in the next SURVIVOR - SOUTH PACIFIC 

Rod 

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A good Day a Bad Game all "Lumped" in one

Like to thank all for the emails and so forth for that last post! I try not to say to many controversial things but . . . . .  I spend 30+ years in Madison surrounded by all sorts of people.  I have walked in some on the darkest south side neighborhoods and have felt no fear (perhaps that was foolish).  I've hitchhiked through the south side of St. Louis at dusk and had no problems.  I've been robbed at gun point by blacks and beat up by whites, I'm an equal opportunity victim.  But HEY - shit happens and everything is all individual.   The troubles at State Fair Park this year where families were getting robbed and beat up by gangs of teenage girls does not put me on guard worrying whenever I see a teenage girl.

Just sayin.  I was not really THAT worried but it's good to have a heightened awareness at times. 
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Then - in an exciting bit of  news - The BP gas station in Columbus has some of the highest rated lump charcoal you can find.  In fact the reviewers were all excited thinking this is Maple Leaf Lump repackaged as Grove Lump Charcoal.


" burntime, this charcoal set a new Whiz world record, burning longer than any charcoal we have ever tested. Longer than Brassiero, longer than Kamado extruded coconut. " 


" The smoke is exceptionally mild and very pleasant. There is no harshness or strong woodsy aroma in the smoke at all. Frankly, this is one of the best-smelling charcoals we have ever experienced. When starting the fire in a cooker the fire spreads fairly quickly, with no sparking or popping while burning. Also, when started with a MAPP torch, there was very little sparking and popping. There was the occasional mild pop, but nothing like we are accustomed to. The charcoal burned at a maximum temperature of 690 degrees, not rip-roaring, but plenty hot for most grilling uses."


" this charcoal is relatively inexpensive, easy to light, smells fantastic and burns FOREVER. We give it our Recommended rating. "  
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Yesterday was the big golf outing/Brewer game and a fun day was had by all (until Adubya, on the phone said "B*tch what the F*ck you want" to his girl friend and she hung up on him but I'm sure the texting that went back and forth afterword before adubya fell asleep smoothed things over. . . . . I guess you had to be there).

Golf was pretty good but adubya had his worst round of the year which was still 5 better then my score.  But the real story happened BEFORE we even got our clubs out of the truck.

You see, GETTING the clubs out of the truck was proving to be a very large problem.  It was a tight fit, 4 bags of clubs and 4 carts with a topper thingy on top to keep everything in.  We got to the parking area, and lifted up the handle of the tail gate and the handle breaks.  

hmmmm - we can not open the tail gate and the topper thing is connected to the tailgate - FIRMLY!

There was pulling, pushing, tugging, keys being shoved in random openings, strangers being asked to screw drivers.  Network (who is in charge of test patterns on a major network) is reaching inside pulling on random pieces of metal and nothing was happening. Balderdash had gone to get a knife and I believed we were all about to die so I put down the camera, stuck my hand in the corner, pushed a little knob and what was took three young males 10 minutes took The Elder about 4 seconds. 

After that debacle we golfed with adubya teeing off from the tips  (like 3000 yards longer then the rest of the foursome).  

If you recall the blog last year called "Going Commando at Miller Park"  when the temps were just silly, this year the weather was perfect and there was no commando. (BTW - we believe last year that adubya was forced to sell his car after having our sweat soaked clothes baked for 3 hours in his black car in the Miller parking lot). 

So we get to the parking lot and balderdash shows us the secret way into Miller park which saved us 15 minutes at least. Once parked we knew we would not lose the truck because we were behind a car with SV TH LRD on their plates which we THINK was Save the Lard but that makes absolutely no sense since you don't save lard.  Moron cooks.  

I did not take my camera into the park, been there, done that and it was much more relaxing.  The game was for the most part boring but we had a great time.  The guy in the seat ahead of me was more concerned with the stock market and I tell ya - I LOVE the Club section and next time I'm going to by one of the cupcakes on the carts - they look so good.     

Not much news happened and on the way home. We stopped in Pewaukee at a dive bar on the lake and had an Octoberfest and adubya insulted his girlfriend and we cheered as two guys that looked fresh out of Deliverance caught fish from a boat. 

We left and about a mile away I realized I had left my phone on the picnic table and we drove back and I hopped out of the truck and it seemed I was just sitting on it.  OOPs - my bad. 

balderdahses highlight of the day was when we were packing up and he had my camera and spotted a hot chick and took some photos of her. 

AWESOME - I think this will be next years Sports Illustrated Cover. 

OH - adubya took a photo of us with our rally caps on in the ninth and posted it on facebook. I don't know if EVERYONE can see this.   That is aduba in the lower left corner looking like Sluggo.  Then me and Network (the one guy that SHOULD wear a cap and balderdash . . . . . I just don't know what to say about HIS cap.)

Rally Caps 

That's the story - have a great weekend.

Rod

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High Anxiety

I was looking at the garden yesterday after mowing the lawn and and was amazed at the variety of bugs.  It was like the Mall of America for bugs.  Truly - I was considering getting a chair and sitting in the middle and taking photos (I still might).  So many flying bugs I had never seen before including the little humming bird moth I shot last year.  But then as I was among them I JUMP back when I saw this one.

HOLY CRAP he was HUGE!!   AND SCARY.  I find out SHE is a Black and Yellow Argiope.  They do not eat humans but bad bugs in the garden. (also called a corn spider or a writing spider). An interesting thing is that there web is almost invisible yet she makes herself very visible to keep large animals from blundering into it.

But this was no the only reason for High Anxiety.  This came from work last night.
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As you know I work at Cannery Wine and Spirits in Sun Prairie once a week, more as a hobby actually - it's an awesome place. 

Anyway it has a certain kind clientele for the most part as we have expensive beer, good wine, home brew equipment, cheese and steaks high end liqueur and just lots of good good stuff.  If you are looking for Bud, Miller, Coors you only go there because it's handy, certainly not the cheapest. You get my point?

So the night starts off with a young guy looking around the store talking about the prices of the tiny airline size $1.49 bottles of vodka or UV or Rum.  After 15 minutes of mindless banter he says good-bye and Pat (one of the owners) and I agree that that guy would need to be carded since "His girlfriend outside was REALLY not of age for drinking".

As the night goes on I start getting more and more . . . . worker type people buying cases of Bud, Miller, cigarettes, 3 older guys come in and buy a case of WARM Spotted Cow.  Not the normal people I'm used to seeing.  In fact I sold more Bud in one night then I have sold in like forever (we don't sell a lot of Bud). And there are a lot of other people looking at the store like it's the first time they have ever been in.  I tell one woman that I will be giving a tour in 15 minutes if she would like to sign-up as there was still a spot open. (she declined ).
  
Then the young dude comes in AGAIN and buys a little bottle of Vodka - I card him and yup, he's 22.  OK, then more Bud walks out the door.   I talk to a woman who is buying Marlburo's and somehow we get on the topic of closing times and she says in FLA stores close at 12:00.  I find out she is with the Carnival - AHH HAAA!!!  The carnies are in town.  Not Mr. Eds Magical Midway who are mostly younger but these guys seem more older.

ANYWAY - It was about 15 minutes to closing and I had a known customer looking at wine when two . . . . . how should I say this . . . . individuals of color (black dudes) come to the door.  One stands just outside the door while the other comes in dressed in a dirty big tee-shirt, pants down around his knees, one eye pointing the wrong way, right hand grabbing his crotch (maybe it's that "size" thing) looking around at the high end stuff.   hmmmmmm.

Well - this is not ordinary and I'm not appreciating the one guy hanging outside the door one bit.

After 5 minutes the other guy comes in and they are speaking Ebonics I think but I can not actually understand anything.  The tall dudes phone rings and he answers "Bitch, what da fuck you want".

OK then, I know that is how I answer the phone when DJ calls but I don't sound so angry. After an unintelligible conversation they continue looking at stuff and short dude comes up and says "Where you Kanye be" 

What? my what?  "Kanye"

ummmmmm and I start walking towards the liqueur praying something comes to me.  Let me remind you that I have had a gun pointed at me in a liqueur store so it's not like I'm all innocent or nothing, I've been had once, I'm no virgin to the whole gun to the head thing .  When a drunk guy came in a few months ago and slammed his hand on the counter and said "GIVE ME ALL YOUR MONEY" and pointed his finger at me.  . . . . I did not find it as funny as he did.

ANYWAY - I'm walking walking with Kanye Kanye Kanye in my head  - WAIT  COGNAC!!  OK - whew - I point out the cognac and he says "Dat all ye got?"   I say were not big cognac drinkers up here (I don't even really know what it is, I think it's like Brandy).

They seem disappointed which actually relieves  me a little.  They seem to know different cognac.  So they are looking around sort of splitting up and talking gibberish to me and are looking at the top shelf vodka.  Tall dude says something on the order of "You could make a million with dis hear store down south" and I give a nervous laugh and he says "YOU LAUGH shi" and the short dude turns and says "you laugh" and I stop laughing.

They pick up a beautiful bottle of vodka ($35 range) and put it on the counter and starting talking about the Black and White cigars behind me but I'm not sure if that want some or are just talking.

MEANWHILE the known customer is taking a very very long time looking at wine but has one in hand and is now looking at the secondary beer cooler . . . . just hanging out . . .thank you.

Well, it's not 5 minutes to 9 and I must tell my new "friends"  "5 minutes to closing . . just sayin"   "Shi man? where we from stores open 24/7 shi"   "YOU got REMY"?

remy remy remy - I have heard of Remy . . .Remy Martin, a brandy I think.  Nope - no Remy.  "You got no Remy? Shi."

So they come up with cash and are paying for the vodka talking about the lack of Remy.  "Mah, you gotta get remy, remy and cranberry , you get remy and cranberry and you fuck yo bitch all night long".

I was confused, should "I"  drink the remy to fuck my bitch all night long or should I administer the remy and cranberry to my bitch so I could fuck her all night long but I felt I should ask this question at another time. Perhaps Pat will know or I'll ask Kathy.  Being the owners of the store they should know.    
I did not want to sound too white after all.

They left about 9:02 laughing about something the bitch said and I walked to the front of the store and locked the doors!

In retrospect I should have started talking deadwood-speak to them, they would have appreciated it.


Have a great day!
Rod

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Busy Tuesday

It's been a busy week. It's Art Fair week which means I run around getting everything in order. I don't think people realize how many little things need to be prepared for an art fair. It's like setting up a small store from scratch every few weeks.  From matting prints, framing, cleaning glass, figuring out exactly what will go on walls, figuring out the set-up as every location is different, ordering prints putting hardware on canvas packing, book work and so forth.

The Agora Art Fair in Fitchburg is a big deal with newspaper articles, TV ad's and what not.  THEN! THEN!  I had to write a resume and cover letter for my old job with the State as they want me to come back and work one day a week, plus I still have images of the images of Classic boats I'm going through and a Car Show I have not looked at yet AND Lake Mills images AND Fox Lake which I have not had time to get to yet. 

AND AND  I have to mow the lawn today and get ready for 3 days in Door County to make sure the gallery up there is stocked AND make sure teh gallery in Lake Mills is good to go.  SHEESH - so much for taking it easy!

Of course what do I do?  I get a huge book to read in my "spare" time.  George R.R. Martins "A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One"; On amazon 80% of the 2,043 reviews give it 4 and 5 stars.  A couple in the Home Brew club LOVE the series on HBO and I looked up the book and wow - everybody says it's a classic.

One review said this - You will LOVE this book if:

YOU ARE TIRED OF FORMULAIC FANTASY
YOU ARE TIRED OF ALL THE HEROES STAYING ALIVE EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE UNDER CONSTANT DANGER
YOU ARE A MEDIEVAL HISTORY BUFF
YOU LOVE SERIOUS INTRIGUE WITHOUT STUPID OPPONENTS
YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BIASED OPINIONS AND DIFFERENT TRUTHS
LEGENDS
WORDPLAY
LOTS OF CONFLICT
MULTILAYERED PLOTTING; SUB PLOTS GALORE
SUPERLATIVE VARIED CHARACTERS
REALISTIC MEDIEVAL DIALOGUE: not to the point that we can't understand it but well done.
HEAPS OF SYMOBLISM AND PROPHECY
EXCELLENT MYSTERIES
RICHLY TEXTURED FEMALE CHARACTERS
LOW MAGIC WORLD
SWEARING, SEX

That last one were the kicker for me!!

I've read the 1st chapter AND the Prologue which I never read first.  I always save the prologue for when I need a break in the plot.   I tell ya - I'm hooked already.   The one thing I was worried about was the dialogue - I picked up a sailing book with pirates and so forth and even though I knew all the words . . . I could not really understand what they were saying.  I thought maybe I was having stroke or something.  Or like when I tried to watch "A Midsummers Night Dream"  the movie with Kevin Kline and Michelle Pfeiffer.  After 15 minutes I had not actually understood one thing.  The words were there but I did not understand . . . I mean  "Since lion vile hath here deflowered my dear."  WHAT? WHAT?

ANYWAY - the dialogue is perfect.  Just enough medievalness.

One thing I read though is that the Kindle version  - 100% SUCKS!!!  No one likes the editing for Kindle - I thought Kindle was verbatim????   Why would they have to edit for Kindle?
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Before I forget - Public Enemies Celebration will happen the August 27th in Columbus.  You know, I think Michelle and I have benefited the most out of this whole movie thing.  I know I have and Michelle got a big boost in her photography business. 

Make sure you check out my news website  RodMelotte.com
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WOW - how about those Brewers - last night had to be the best defensive game I have EVER seen one team accomplish!  A triple play, four double plays and an out at home!!

In the last 20 games:

Fielder is hitting .403 with a .683 SLG (he will be a Brewer next year - don't worry)
Braun .364
Betencorp (who ALWAYS is a 2md half hitter) .338
Hart .329
Kotsey .318
Lucroy .305
McGehee .297
As a team they are hitting .293 with a .444 slugging

BUT WAIT  Pitchers in the last 20 games have a 2.23 ERA - the bullpen in their last 47.3 innings have a 0.60 ERA.  WOW!!!

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Thursday I do the whole play 18 holes of golf at 7:30 in the morning and then Brewer game in the afternoon with Adubua, Balderdash, and Network so that will be a uber fun day.  I hope I golf better then last year when I totally sucked.  I'll walk the course this year. When I cart-it I always do worse as I don't have a chance to dwell on my last bad shot and make corrections.

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Michele Bachmann - is it just me or does she look like some crazed person about to kill a puppy or something.  Of all the photos Newsweek picked that one? 

Elwood has two sisters, one very liberal and one very very VERY conservative Tea Partyish.  The conservative one said that FOX is way to liberal for her tastes.  Elwood said WHAT?? FOX is to far leaning LEFT? Yes she said.  So he says, if FOX is leaning LEFT who has the right side of the media. She say that is the problem with America,  ALL of the news organizations are slanted left, the REAL Americans, who are actually in the majority, have no news on their side.  Every news organization lies to keep the majority of Americans clueless.

Ok . . . . .  I will admit that MSNBC and NPR are slanted left but I listen to the big 3 networks and they all seem fine.     
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The Department of Homeland Security has recently announced the creation of a program called “If You See Something, Say Something.”  Posters, billboards and advertisements will be placed in airports, bus stations, movie theaters, and gas stations around the country, in addition to the videos that will soon begin playing non-stop inside 600 Walmart stores. This propaganda campaign will be promoting one consistent, repetitive message – the people around you cannot be trusted, watch them carefully at all times!

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Finally - I have not had a chance to check up on Columbus's newest cool thing - the Brew Pub.  When I get any info I'll pass it on.    OH - I did get an email from Karen saying "We are looking for managers in Columbus"  Gain access to positions working from your residence with companies like Apple, Coleman, Adidas, Compaq and much more...

If you are serious about a career change, we want to hear from you.  $256.95 PER DAY!!!!

WOW sweet - I have to click on a link and apply to some place in Isla-Colon Bocas-del Toro,
Republic of -Panama.

What could possibly go wrong!

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Augmenting with Photos

First I must report a name change - "whosinmybasement", after moving to sunny Florida and now becoming part of the problem (all that voting stuff) is THE NEW "Sirwho'sgotnobasement". A name that is 25% LONGER then his last name!
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Angel has a new website Angels Scrapping so make so you make appropriate changes.

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Then there is this whole Bert and Earnie thing with the online petition calling for them to get married.  PEOPLE - THEY ARE PUPPETS!!   Think of what the Tea Party would say if Obama legalized gay puppet marriage.

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For anybody that watches Big Brother - I NEVER thought I would be routing for Brendan to come back into the house but just seeing the look on Daniels face was worth it.  I think last night there was two of the dumbest game playing moves in the history of Big Brother!

First there was Lawon who HAD to make the biggest, stupidest boldest move in BB history!  It was so bad that unless you saw the show you will not understand but purposely trying to get voted out BECAUSE you THINK you will come back with . . . . special powers?   WHAT?    Lawon, you didn't come back AND you still have no special powers!

But he had help from Kalia and Dani who THOUGHT he would come back - so they voted out THEIR OWN TEAM and of course who replaces him.  THEY ARCH ENEMA (pun intended) Brendan.  Every move they made was always the very worst decision they could make. 

Kalia who always said she was a strong black woman (OK, I'm going to get a tiny bit raciest here but why is it on reality shows black woman always have to prove how STRONG they are) kept changing how she played.  First her and Dani had a plan, well, Dani had a plan and she went along with it all along saying it was HER idea.  Then when she realized she was not playing HER game she changed but . . . too late, she had alienated everybody but the devil.

Her and Dani are so screwed.  

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balderdash had his leaving State employment party and I missed it!  Sorry man! 

I heard that many IT departments for the State have a 40% vacancy  and are trying to hire but there is no one out there. The problem is that WHY would anyone want to work for the government. There is no incentive.  You get lower pay and no benefits and old equipment. One of the reasons people became public servants was never the pay which is always lower but because of the benny's. Sacrifice now to have more later.  Now - no benny's, AND no pay.      
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Where do all the Red-winged Blackbirds and Cow Birds go.  In the last few weeks they have all left the area and my feeders are not being emptied in half a day.  The Cardinals and smaller birds have a chance.  BUT - where do they go . . .south? 
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I need your opinions - I have two looks of the same shot - which do you guys like more.  The first was the original which I really liked but then I started thinking that it had that gritty feel that I've seen before.  So then I went with a glassy look.  Comments?  I really like both (perhaps I'm blinded so both suck).

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Any butterfly experts?  This little guy had no fear of me, or he REALLY loved the Garden phlox.   Any ideas on what he is?

I ripped out my New England Aster yesterday as it had botrytis stem rot.  In it's place I put a Russian Sage.

The butterfly garden has been under systematic attack by the Japanese Beetles but with a daily walk-around I've been able to hold off any major damage.  Still some of the petal flowers have had wear and tear.  Here is the current condition.  Notice the defoliated Linden trees in the background.

And of course a close up.

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Went to Sassy Cow yesterday to get some string cheese and stopped at Webers to get new tires.  WHY do people insist on getting there so early and waiting in line.  I was there at 2:00 and had 4 new tires put on my car and drove out of the parking lot at 2:15.

On the way I drove up behind a Transformer.   

Notice when I have nothing to say I augment with photos!

Have a great day
Rod

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American Men

I got an email in my spam folder this morning with the subject.


HELP: 17 Russian women need a sponsor in WI

Well - always trying to help the citizens of the world I though what better place to show 17 Russian woman then rural Wisconsin.   Then in the actual text.

17 Russian women are moving to WI and are looking to experience an American Man. 

YEA BABY!! - they have heard of American Men!!

Actually this all stems from WWII. IN WWII one of the biggest exports to Russia was condoms. Millions and millions of condoms. They had multiple functions. The solders could put them on their guns!! The thing was that American Condom makers sent millions and millions of condoms to Russia and all of them had "Extra Small" printed on the sides. Of course back then one size fit all so . . . .

I did not respond to "Natasha" and her 17 woman.
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Last night in golf - sigh. WHY WHY WHY. I was in my middle/late season flounder as I always seem to get. The days of lower 40s are gone, distant past and the upper 40's are now being played.

The thin was I birdied the hardest hole on the course. After struggling for the 1st 6 holes I hit a 262 yard drive down the middle. Then hit a perfect 7 wood 170 yards to within 5 feet (went 5 feet past) and hit the putt for a 3. The key was the 2nd shot and I REALLY concentrated! WHERE IS THAT ON ALL THE OTHER SHOTS!!

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I've been slaving away on the Boat shots and have 65 up on the new website. Since I have not a lot to say at the moment here are some of the ones I really like.

Comments are always appreciated - balderdash helped me on one as I thought it was "ok" and he really liked it - it turned out to be a fan favorite - The Umbrella's on the Square.

Some of these I'm just putting out there - I don't know what to think of them yet.

 

Workout room in the UW Porter Boathouse

Just a few of the 65ish.

Cheers!
Rod

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Weekend Update

Dolphins interested in Favre question mark? It is where you go to retire isn't it?  Favre "Can I bring my tractor to South Beach?"

And so it begins.
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I did not have a chance to see the Saturday Columbus Journal until Sunday as I was ON THE ROAD AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING on Saturday.  But I see it was the John Pratt edition as he and his lovely wife were featured on the front page and page 9.  Interestingly enough the F&M Bank - JUST as a coincidence, is having a huge celebration on the same day he officially leaves the bank.

WOW - that tells ya something doesn't it.   

In the F&M bank celebration on Sept 1st there will be Civil War re-enactors who will re-enact  how John was actually hired during the height of the Civil War. 

According to the article, Pratt (known sometimes affectionately as WhoInMyBasement, shortened to WhoIt during his Public Enemies period ) is already planning on renting his basement out to snow-bird guests (which was the very first thing I thought of before I realized I would actually miss HIM).

One thing that was leaked about Pratt was that he is a certified scuba diver and actually part of the ultra elite Columbus Seal Squad which is always on the ready to fend off terrorists which might swim up the Crawfish River.  (Rumor has it the Chemical Company fire was a terrorists act as they were near the river but no evidence has come forward.)

ANYWAY - so long old friend.  We will see you in your basement.
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Back in reality (2nd cup of coffee) I spent a good amount of time on 4 of Madison's 7 lakes.  Lake Waubesa (also call Lake Wasabi by someone from Georgia). Upper Mud Lake, Lake Monona and Lake Mendota and drive by's of Gilligan Island (that area where you see all the boats on weekend from the belt-line "lot of nudity and drinking on weekends").

So I'm slowly trudging through the hundreds of photos.  Sunday I was at the Cars and Coffee car show in Lake Mills and have 70 shots there PLUS I have Columbus Horse and Carriage work from a customer or two. - BUSY!!

Horton - I have not forgotten about you!!

So the Classic and Antique Show is a whole blog in itself which will come when I get all the shots finished.  If you are looking for the photos go to  RodMelotte.com - upper left corner in "portfolio".

Classic Wooden boat flying by! 3rd dude from the left used to work in 1W Wilson.

 Car Show shot

Notice the Texas License plate.   Dallas has had 38 days above 100 this year!  SWEET!!   The weather pattern is really very interesting over Texas.  It's like a giant umbrella right over Texas holding in the heat.  All the fronts and weather systems hit this giant dome of ultra hot air and bounce off sliding to the north.  All around the outside of the dome storms are popping up but nothing can enter the dome.

SOMETHING big needs to happen and until a hurricane wanders into the area this could stay like this for a while.

ANYWAY - have a great Monday - I need to get to work.

Rod

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