Seaching for El Dorado - Where's George Now?

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

2012-02-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

CAVEAT TO PARENTS (Save a Ton of $)

I'll reach the 70 mile marker on the highway of my life this year. In Hindsight, when I was 10 and 8, I came upon two roads diverged in the woods. "I took the one less traveled by and that made all the difference".

Ruminating back, I should have taken the one MOST TRAVELED by and it would have only cost me 20 bucks.

Enjoy the video.

WE THE LIVING

2011-12-31T18:06:00.000-08:00

Click on the pic to enlarge

He did not have his ticket punched...but yours was.

The train of life has pulled into the station on Dec. 31, to disembark those who will not be permitted to continue life's journey ( James Arness, Jackie Cooper, Joe Frazier, Christopher Hitchens, Steve Jobs, Andy Rooney, Jane Russell, Duke Snider, Tom Wicker, etc, etc, ).

The conductor looks us straight in the eyes to determine if we should have our ticket punched (the eyes don't lie), "click-click" we are the privileged ones. We can continue on the life train and experience the good, the bad, and the ugly that 2012 will reveal.

The engineer will track the course for the year, as the steward washes off all the grease, grime, & sludge that accumulated during our 2011 ride on the giant H Class locomotive. We will continue our journey into 2012 afresh, anew, a crisp clean blank page ready to receive our entries.

The conductor looks at his Waltham Vanguard pocket watch and shouts...ALLLL ABOOORD!

It's now time for WE THE LIVING to step on board the 2012 Express, and as we do, we pause and glance at those who will not be boarding, all those who will remain on the platform, as we slowly leave the station.

SMILE...WE SURVIVED...WE THE LIVING...HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Note: "We The Living" is just three words and there's no trademark/copyright on those three words but I associate them with, Ayn Rand. A great love story I read as a teenager. OMG! at one time I was a teenager? I'll be the big 7-0 in 2012.

For Tennessee Dan and Joyce

2011-10-22T20:58:00.000-07:00

For Tennessee Dan & Joyce

My Backyard, 2,135 miles from the Cumberland River

Why Am I The Only One That See's This?

2011-09-04T02:25:00.000-07:00

Click on Pic to enlarge (read the details).

I Remember...Do YOU?

2011-02-23T19:18:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the video, my Tennessee connection, Judith Hicks.

I've got three more to add:

The Good Humor Man pedaling his three wheel cart on your block, jingling the bells. You run to catch up to him because your mom delayed agreeing that you could have an ice cream but finally acceded as you promise to eat your entire supper. In his white uniform & cap asks, "What 'el you have" You ask for a Toasted Almond on a stick. He would open the box door, searching around to find your treat as the "smoke" rises up out of the dry ice refrigerated box. You think to yourself, please, oh please don't be out of Toasted Almond or you will have to go with your backup, an Orange Creamsicle. Then his arm rises out of the cold box like a magician pulls a rabbit out of a hat & hands it to you. You're all smiles. You hand him the money and he gives you your change from the shiny metal changer he has strapped to his waste. You watch him operate the magic changer, how does that thing work?

The Soda Fountain/Candy/Comic Book store. You climb on the soda fountain stool with the red vinyl top. The soda jerk asks for your order, what you really want is a Banana Split or a Hot Fudge Sunday but your mom only gave you enough for a soda, so out of your mouth comes. "chocolate egg cream". You watch him select the coke glass, depress the pump labeled "Chocolate", add the milk, and rotate the lever of the seltzer water (fissy) and places it on the counter in front of you. You wonder, how does he get the froth on top to be snowy white?

Baseball Card Bubble Gum: Boy oh boy...one day I opened the Bazooka wraper and I got the rare Gill Hodges of the Brooklyn Dodgers! WOW! My friend wanted to trade me Roy Campanella & Duke Snider ....NO WAY!

Valentine's Day - Mystery Video

2011-02-14T09:29:00.000-08:00

Pop some popcorn, melt some butter...Copy & paste the address into your browser...and enjoy!

PS: "Honey, where are the car keys? I wanna go to town and buy a can of Reddi-Whip"

http://video.aol.com/aolvideo/aol-television/tv-kisses-mash-up/785122580001

Extended Version not shown at the Game

2011-02-07T13:24:00.000-08:00

CLICK on the words "Volkswagen Commercial: The Force" this will link you to Youtube & view this video on Youtube. If you view it on my blog, the left & right sides are truncated (you miss a third of the video screen). This is the full one minute version not the 30 second televised edited version aired during Superbowl XLV.

SMALL WORLD: I don't have TV reception at home so I went to Trapper's Saloon, about a mile from the Canadian border, to see the game on the Big Screen. I wore my "Tennessee Titans" shirt. This young attractive lady (smiling) looked at me several times during the evening. I said to myself, "at 68, you still got it!". After the game, on her way out with the other two ski bunnies she was with, asked me if I were a Titans fan, to which I explained how I recently moved from middle TN. To which she replied, she moved up here 4 months ago from Franklin, TN where she grew up and graduated Belmont. She teaches at the private all girls school in town. Soooooo, it wasn't my looks, it was my shirt (no coach, no Q-back but GO TITANS!).

As I ambled to the bar to pay my tab, an elderly gentleman sitting at the bar asked about my shirt as well. It turns out he's from College Grove, TN and moved to Montana with his wife 5 months ago. They had a 200K mortgage on their home in TN and lost the home due to obamanomics. His wife works part time at the saloon. I had a great conversation talking about middle TN, Cottontown, and Gallatin with someone who knows first hand.

Happy Digital Christmas - Christmas 2.0

2010-12-25T10:30:00.000-08:00

As the right side of the video is truncated, once you click to start the video, click again which will link you to the You Tube original source and view it full screen.

Piano 101 Merry Christmas

2010-12-17T22:33:00.000-08:00

.What you do when you're snowed-in in the middle of nowhere, Montana. I'm on square one, learning the keyboard. Check back in the spring, by then, why, I'll be Jerry Lee Lewis incarnate.

This blog video screen truncates the video left and right sides. To view the full screen version (both hands playing): first click to start the video, once the video starts, click anywhere on the video again. This will link you directly to you tube where you will see the right hand play the keys as well.

Speaking of hands, a few minutes before I shot this video, I was under my pick-up truck installing an oil pan heater. I was performing the surgery lying on my back on ice and snow with an outside temperature of 15 degrees in the dark (using my, when it feels like working, flashlight). I perfunctorily washed my hands/nails which were smuged with dirty grease (as opposed to clean grease) and went streight to the piano for this recital. WHY? because Sara wanted it done NOW!...Yesum, Miss Scarlet".

Lady Gaga Interviews George. Why Move to Montana?

2010-12-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

"Lady Gaga" interviews George on "Larry King Live". Why did You Move to Montana, jorge?

To view a full screen video, link directly to: You Tube. See how below on Version 2

Why I Moved To Montana - Version 2

2010-12-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

Stick with it. It runs 2 minutes 43 seconds...twist at the end....acerbic pill to swallow....written/directed by me. I was fortunate to get Will Ferrell to play me on such short notice.

To view a full screen version , click to start the video. once the video starts, click anywhere on the video. That will link you directly to You Tube, then click on the full screen icon on the bottom right portion of the bar of the video screen. Big is better, anyway, that's what Sara always says. You have my permission to laugh or shout explatives at your monitor during the running of the video.

"If you want to keep our nation's secrets, really 'secret'...store them where President Obama stores his College Transcripts and Birth Certificate" M. Huckabee

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-25T12:44:00.000-08:00

Norman is pictured in the lower right corner (1943)

Wishing everyone a sincerest HAPPY THANKSGIVING from snow white subzero Montana

Things you do B-4 you place the log in the fireplace and open that special bottle of wine

2010-10-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

click on any picture for large view

This is the job including the logs under the 24 ft. long white tarp.

Rented a 20 ton log splitter with a Honda engine

After 23 hrs. splitting ... It's Miller Time!
(12 hrs. Sat. + 11 hrs. Sunday - no brakes)

This is the first of approx. 4-5 stacked units

I'll be on the sidelines for 4 to 6 weeks.
I'll explain in another post.

click on any picture for full view

One Year Anniversary

2010-08-13T18:59:00.001-07:00

August 13, 2009 to August 13, 2010: Content to follow. This is just a "filler" so that I had somethin' recorded for this date.

Founding Fathers

2010-08-06T17:50:00.000-07:00

Cartoon by Michael Ramirez

click on picture to read caption

I don't know whether to laugh or throw-up.

Preparing For Winter in July

2010-07-17T23:18:00.000-07:00

A Hell of A Place To Run Out of Gas

Crossing a Creek heading out of the forest with a load

Cut it, load it, stack it, split it, re-stack it, burn it.

Back in TN when I wanted a warm apt., I simply raise the thermostat setting on the wall, Presto, I'm done! (I could do it with just one finger). Not so at my place in MT. The only source of heat is the wood burning stove. It will take 5 to 6 cords (1 cord = 8'x4'x4') to get through the winter. I've got my work cut out for me . My only helper is my trusty Toyota pick-up. At 206K miles, it's still puttin' along. After I cut all the wood I'm gonna need, I'll rent a log splitter. Well, brake is over, back to work.

click on picture

I don't know why, but I'm in the mood for a Big Mac

Our First Visitors From "HOME"

2010-07-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

click on pic

Pictured (left to right), Judy from Greenbrier, TN, Betty from White House, TN, Miss Sara, and Audrey from Great Falls, MT. Betty is the office manager for M. R. Stokes in Hendersonville, TN. I worked for Mike Stokes as a farm hand and Betty & I became friends. She also made out my payroll check each week, unfortunately, she never overpaid me. Sara & I enjoyed there visit and the updates of what's goin' on at "home".

In the background is the Koocanusa Lake & bridge. The lake is circa 60 miles long. The name comes from Koo =Kootenai indians, can=Canada, usa=USA (pronounced: Koo-can-u-sa)

HAPPY INDEPENDANCE DAY...234 Years

2010-07-04T05:03:00.000-07:00

The group is KISS. That's right, the guys with the black & white painted faces.

Amber Bear Inn, Heron, MT

2010-06-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

Green Gables Room

Black Bear Cub

The Watering Hole...I count 7

I... almost was lunch

click on a pic for enlarged view

Sara & I took a four day trip to Heron, MT (150 miles south and 120 west of Fortine) to look at property at the suggestion of Richard who moved to the area from Fortine. He told us the area had a longer growing season (for a vegetable garden) than Fortine. Heron is just several miles from the ID border and the locals travel to Sandpoint, ID for supplies. We lodged at The Amber Bear Inn (B & Besque), owned and operated by Mike & Nancy (salt of the earth). We stayed in the Green Gables room (Ann of Green Gables?). Their inn is on 450 BEAUTIFUL acres. We saw a moose feeding in the marsh from the bedroom window, a deer with her new baby fawn from the dining room window...you get the picture.

The bear cub you see is about 2 yrs old(?). as it is on its own sans mom. He ambled to the back porch for a handout but it's against the law to feed the wild bears.

I took a solo hike up the mountain in back of the Inn on an old logging road. Just me and my camera...BIG MISTAKE! About 1/2 mile up on the dirt logging road a large adult black bear comes out from the foliage and makes a turn away from me heading in the same direction I was walking. He never looked left in my direction, so he never saw me only 50 ft away. I froze, and thought, I was lunch. My life flashed in front of me, there were things I wanted to do before I died (or got eaten) like, I never saw Toy Story 3 in 3-D. When the apoplexy passed, I took the pic but he was further along the trail and just turning the corner but you can make out the black spot in the pic. I felt like charlie Chan's chauffeur, "Feet don't fail me now"... I'm outta here.

Black Bears: They usually run away when they spot you. They know they're hunted so they want to put distance between you and them. Bears are individuals so you can't predict how they will behave. If on that given day he wanted to confront me, he would have. They can sense fear. If he looked in my direction, he would have a field day 'cause I was afraid, very afraid...well, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

The first thing I did when we returned home...I saw Toy Story 3.

Glacier Natl. Park

2010-06-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

Lake McDonald

Click on pic para el grande (oops!) view

After a week of clouds & intermittent rain, the forecast was for SUN and 75 degrees today (thundershowers tomorrow & Thursday). Well, the leviathan task of unpacking and organizing the shop can wait, with weather like this I took the Harley to Glacier National Park to enjoy the beauty of unspoiled, untouched, uncontaminated, undeveloped, uncommercialized, unpolluted, mother earth as she must have looked eons ago. The ride home, I felt rejuvenated. I'm ready to tackle the shop.

Then and Now

2010-05-29T14:54:00.000-07:00

The Way We Were...

... and...

What We've Become.

Playing On The Monkey Bars

2010-05-26T22:08:00.000-07:00

Click on any pic to enlarge

Ed asked me to help him load a number of used irrigation pipes he purchased 65 miles away in Columbia Falls. I figured it was time for a break from unpacking and leave the large mess at the house to see what I was getting myself into. We could only load 6 pipes at a time and he purchased 24 so this was going to take several days. Ranching is hard work. No problem getting to sleep at night after a hard days labor.

Sara & I are spending most of our time unpacking and figuring where it will all go. As soon as we get organized, I'll post a few pics...until then, we're still living in a jungle of boxes. Tomorrow we head to Kalispell to apply for our Montana driver's license.

Pinkerton Security Guard

2010-05-09T18:27:00.001-07:00

click on pic to enlarge

As the crime rate escalates, we've engaged a 24/7 security guard (except when it rains/snows he runs inside) to monitor the property as we begin the massive job of unpacking and organizing all our accumulated stuff; not only the house, but all my tools for the shop. We anticipate the house we're renting will sell the day we hang the last picture on the wall and step back to admire all our hard labor to get the house /shop just the way we want it... then will be asked to vacate in 30 days.

After 5-1/2 Years.of Planning, we cross the "border"

2010-05-03T22:17:00.000-07:00

click on pic to enlarge

Pictured are Ed Braaten (neighbor & driver), Miss. Sara, & moi.

We departed Gallatin, Saturday, April 30th, 9:30am CST and spent the first night in Boonville, MO. Our second night, Oacoma, SD, and third night, Bozeman, MT. We reached our final destination, Fortine at 4:30pm MST on Tuesday. The total trip was 2,150 miles.

The truck performed quite well but drinks a hell of a lot of fuel. It's a 2008 model GMC with 23K miles. The auto trailer followed straight and true. The gross weight of the vehicle is 20,000 pounds and I'm overweight by 5,500 pounds. Sylvester (brains & stacker), and his crew (George (not me) & Dennis), the brawn, did an excellent job of loading the truck.

Earth Day April 22, 2010 - "Saving The Planet"

2010-04-22T19:53:00.000-07:00

"George Carlin who understood just how pathetic of an argument it is that humans can have a dramatic effect on the Earth. This is a political ideology being used by the left so that they can control the industrial and private sectors."

This humorous video is the quintessential, difinitive, apposite rejoinder. Butter up the popcorn, sit back and enjoy his 1992 home-run at Madison Square Garden in front of 6,500 people, 'Jammin in New York'.

OUR TWO CENTS ON TAX DAY

2010-04-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

Click on pic for full size view

OBAMA CARE CAVEAT: The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a warning about a new virulent strain of this old disease. The disease is called Gonorrhea Lectim. It's pronounced "Gonna re-elect 'im. The disease is contracted through dangerous and high risk behavior involving putting your cranium up your gluteus maximus. Many victims contracted it in 2008...but now many infected individuals after having been infected for the past 1-2 years are starting to realize how destructive this sickness has become.

It's sad because it is so easily cured with a new OTC procedure just released on the market called VO-tem-out! You take the first dose in 2010 and a second dosage in 2012 and simply don't engage in such behavior again, otherwise it could become permanent and eventually exterminate the liberty virus as we know it. Several states have performed the VO-tem-out procedure: Virginia, New Jersey, and now Massachusetts with remarkable results. With the positive results of these states, many of the remaining "57 states" are now considering VO-tem-out.

iPad or oPad?

2010-04-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

What we've come to expect from the Obama regime...er...ah...Administration...
1. We can disarm our way to nuclear safety.
2. We can $pend our way out of debt.
3. We can increase liberty by increaing the size of government.

Green Eggs and Ham at IHOP

2010-03-10T19:31:00.000-08:00

I visited Doc Owen (son-in-law), Nurse Amy (daughter), and Ian (grand-son) this past week-end in Portland, OR. I saw my grand-son for the second time so the week-end was extra special for me. The first time I met Ian , he was about 3 months old. Ian & I took to each other like a duck to water. Boy-oh-boy did I have fun. Just when I started to get to know Owen & bond with Ian, it was time to board AmTrak for the 14 hour train ride back to Montana. Owen was finishing his powerpoint slide presentation on Albumin for a 45 minute lecture to the medical staff this Friday. ..I learned more about Albumin then I really wanted to know (ha,ha). My daughter married a really great guy & he taught me how to make the perfect cup of coffee. Owen, I will not disclose the secret to anyone. I don't know about you, but every time I look at this picture... I get hungry.

Last but not least, thanks daughter for your gracious hospitality during my sojourn in Portland and we're all looking forward to the arrival, this July, of the newest member of the Ratigan clan, my grand-daughter, Quinn.

click on pic to enlarge

Headin' To Tennessee

2010-03-03T21:31:00.000-08:00

I'll be back in the great state of Tenessee on March 17th. and returning "home" to Montana on May 1st with most of my stuff packed in a 26 ft. U-Haul truck. Miss Sara will follow in the rear making sure nothin' falls out along the way. I'll be returning to TN via AmTrak to Memphis, then Greyhound to Nashville. The total trip time is 50 Hours!!! I'm really looking forward to visiting with everyone. Lots of stories to share and a few good jokes as well. See ya in Tennessee.

My New Bumper Sticker

2010-02-19T10:21:00.000-08:00

Ya Know...That's Almost Good

2010-01-27T08:12:00.000-08:00

BC, Canada

2010-01-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

On my way to Fernie, BC to smoke a Cuban Cigar.

Click on a pic to view full size

My First Cattle "Drive"

2010-01-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

I "helped" (just along for the ride) Ed, who manages an 800 acre Black Angus cattle Ranch (North Star Angus Ranch) in Fortine, transport 6 head of Angus to the auction in Missoula approx. 170 miles south. Ed runs the ranch, the owner resides in Texas & rarely, if ever, comes up to to see his investment. We saddled up on the Ford 250 diesel Truck and herded the cattle to market. No problems with mountain lions, wolfs, & injins along the way but Ed had his rifle ready just in case, and I was armed with an extensive vocabulary in case we ran into trouble like an ambush or cattle ruslers. As you can see, we made it!

We traveled approx. 40 miles through the Flathead Indian Reservation heading back home. The tribes gave the rights to the state to build this hwy. labor was provided by the Indians and they also wanted this overpass. it is a deer crossing. They built high fences on both sides of the hwy. so the only place the deer can cross is this overpass. It funnels the deer to only pass here. So what you see is a deer overpass and the humans travel under it. Sounds good to me.

Wolf 1, " Hay, whatja wanna do today?"

Wolf 2, " I dunno, lets go over to the deer overpass and have lunch"

click on the pic to supersize it

Winter Wounderland? or What the Hell am I Doing Here?

2010-01-08T21:36:00.000-08:00

Winter Wounderland?...or...What the Hell am I Doing Here?

From My Front Window...Can You See The Deer?
Click pic to enlarge

How I Start Each Day

Mom & Daughter, My a.m. Feeding

Inviting the "Neighbors" For Lunch

2009-12-31T16:40:00.000-08:00

My "Dear" friends, view the 360 video of the Home/property. Wishing all HEALTH, WEALTH, HAPPINESS, and _______ (fill in the blank). for 2010

Set an extra plate for Christmas Dinner

2009-12-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

I took this pic from the front foyer window. This deer doesn't show up until dusk or early mornings while I'm sleeping for his daily serving of Molases cracked corn & oats BUT today is Christmas so I guess he's stoping by to say thanks.

click on pic to see the deer full size

Wild Turkeys Get Extra Ration for Christmas

2009-12-25T10:35:00.000-08:00

There are Two different groups of wild turkeys that stop by for a free lunch each day. This one is a group of four, the other flock is a group of twelve.

click on pic for full size view to see the turkeys and my fledgling beard.

Merry Christmas

Kitchen and Living Room

2009-12-17T20:33:00.001-08:00

Fred & Babs Goose Down Blanket keeps me warm at night.

Click on an image to view full size

I woun't die of thirst

2009-12-14T11:22:00.000-08:00

It Was Just A Matter of Time

2009-12-13T11:05:00.000-08:00

Snowed In

Forest Service Advisory Sign

2009-12-05T10:36:00.000-08:00

Click on the pic to read it. Read the ENTIRE Sign...ah, life in the Northwest "territory"

WISHFUL THINKING

2009-11-26T20:17:00.000-08:00

Click on the picture for a full image size...because as Sara say's, bigger is better and 'cause you can't read my wreath...OR you could fly up and read it yourself.

Happy Thanksgiving

Pictures of the Interior

2009-11-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

Dining Room - emailing you, yeah YOU

Dining Room

Dining Room

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 2

Downstairs Bathroom

Downstairs Bathroom (different view)

Upstairs Master BD

Upstairs MB

Upstairs Bathroom

Upstairs Master BR

I'll post the kitchen & Living Room tomorrow...after the party, well, it's just a mess.

click any thumnail to view full view

Little Red Riding Hood is Now Safe

2009-11-18T14:39:00.000-08:00

I've been on a number of errands & spent the day in the big city, Kalispell. Anyone wanting to send me a snail-mail, my address is: P.O. Box 461, Fortine, MT 59918 and I have a landline with wifi. My home phone is: 406-882-4687. I have unlimited long distance so, let's talk. I'll take pics of the inside of the home tomorrow. I have no TV so I watch my Columbo DVD's on the laptop. Time to stoke the fire.

Couple of Pics... more tomorrow

2009-11-16T08:45:00.000-08:00

I'll take pics of the inside tomorrow

click on pics for full screen view

All's Well That Ends Well

2009-11-13T13:29:00.000-08:00

To Whom it May Concern: Porsche & I arrived safe and sound last night about 7pm... We're "home". One hell of a snow storm in Bozeman but here in my neck of the woods, no white stuff anywhere. High in the fortys. Today: laundramat, getting utilities started, high speed internet will not be be hooked up until late next week (if then). I'll have to drive into town to the library to check my email, chech the news to see what additional liberties we've lost, ebay & to use the cell phone. (no cell reception at the house). Working the wood stove is a bit of a challenge but I'll pick it up real fast or the house will burn down first. I'll post pics of the house & property manana.

ADIOS-4-NOW.

click pic to view full size

Day 3: Billings, MT

2009-11-11T20:45:00.001-08:00

I'll let the pic do the talking. Yup, I'm in Montana...but miles to go before I can sleep.

Day 2: Sioux City, Iowa

2009-11-10T19:16:00.000-08:00

Weather beautiful, Porsche performing exceptionally, albeit, I'm averaging 70 MPH, I'm not clocking miles as I start late in the morning and end around 5:30 in the evening...not good.
America is a BIG-BIG country. That fact sinks in when you don't fly to your destination. I may not be making good time, BUT! I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

DAY 1: On The Road...Again

2009-11-10T02:49:00.000-08:00

With the Porsche filled with books, clothes & a toothbrush, I left gracious & growing Gallatin, 11am on a sunny Monday morning with Great Expectations... "It was the best of times (fill in the blank), it was the worst of times" (Obama, Pelosi, Reid & their ilk). All my 67 years of accumulated "stuff" finally placed in two 10'x20' storage units at Chuck's & the furniture in a 10'x20' climate controlled storage unit down the block & around the corner, I can now begin phase two: movin' to Montana! Day one, I made it to Warrenton, MO. I guess about 150+ miles East of Kansas City.

Click pic to enlarge

Home with Shop, 5 Acres - Fortine, MT

2009-09-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

I've rented this Cedar siding home on 5 treed acres with approx. 1,200 sqft shop with an option to purchase. The rent is $500/mo. with 100% of the rent applied to the purchase price. The rental lease is 6 months. I take possession Nov 1st (He still has interior work to do on the home, i.e., the Master bedroom is not done). It's located on a cul-de-sac with one other home across the road. The well is 266ft with excellent pressure. The utilities (electric, DLS cables are underground). The "rental deal" is not consummated until the owner's attorney draws up the lease, which is expected to be the end of the week. The owner & I have signed an agreement with the principle issues agreed upon. Brad's (owner) attorney (Connie) will draw up the lease. Connie has a partner in the law firm who lived in Hendersonville & graduated Peabody (small world). He says he goes back to Hendersonville to visit relatives. Well, that was the news I expected to post last Friday but the delay is in the attorney's end. She has a full plate & says will get to the lease ASAP.
I've already given a deposit (money in escrow) of the first & last months rent so were well on our way, albeit, nothing is certain until we both sign the lease agreement. I'zz in da liberry now. I wantz to get me som learnin, 'cause I gotz me a massa da-gee. The Library at Sandpoint, ID. I'm told it's one of the best public library's in the NW. It has wi-fi and I'm currently charging my PC, GPS, cell phone, & camera....Gee, I got a lot of neat "stuff".

click on pic to view full size

Waiting For The Harley Keys to Arrive

2009-08-25T16:44:00.000-07:00

This has been home for the past 6 nights. The lake is my bath-tub so I'm staying squeeky clean everyday. The nights get a bit cool but I bundle-up and sleep OK. I sometimes wake in the early am to empty my bladder. Unzip the tent door, poke my head out, look left, look right for mountain lions, bears, and illegals. When all is OK, I step out and take care of business. One night I happened to look up....OH MY GOD! The sky is pitch black and the stars look like clear bright 100 watt light bulbs. Just awesome! A very humbling experience. I expect to have good news to share on my Friday's post so give me a click on Friday. Yup, I'm checking the papers for property, and drivin' around the county....BUT check me out on Friday. The Harley keys came today BUT the ride to MT on the pick-up bed was a bit much & the pushrods need to be adjusted so here it sits, undriveable.

The good news is the truck keeps on put-put-putting down the hwy. The pic above was taken the first day at this campsite. The Harley is currently being stored in Eureka...Yeah, I said it twice, check back on Friday for really good news (fingers crossed).

200,000.0 MILES!

2009-08-24T16:49:00.001-07:00

The Little Engine That Could....DID! Nashville, TN to Eureka, MT

Houses at My Price Range

2009-08-23T19:52:00.000-07:00

I told the Real Estate agent how much I have to spend & she is showing me homes in my price range. The owner of this gem said all it needs is a coat of paint and it'el look like NEW!. It even comes with the appliances, as shown. The agent, Mrs. Make A.Quickbuck said I better act on this pronto as she has several interested parties who are close to putting down a deposit so I need to ACT FAST. Do I have the word STUPID written across my forehead? I've got some GOOD NEWS to share in a few days, check back Really GOOD NEWS

click pic for full size view.

Eureka, MT Kootenai Natl. Forest Campground North Dickey Lake

2009-08-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

All work & no play makes...you know the rest. This campsite is 15 miles south of Eureka. I'm setting up stakes at this camp site for several days. At $10 bucks/nt. what a deal. Natl. Forest Parks have no showers. Who needs a shower (refer pic above). The Harley is now off the truck and my pick-up has a smile on the front grill. 550 lbs. finally off her back. I left the ignition keys in my desk so they're being mailed & I should receive 'em Wed/Thur next week. I'm going to scout the roads for a home w/acreage over the next few days in this region then head to Rexford, Yaak, Troy and settle in at Libby for a week. I've got setting up the tent down to a science now. I'll post another pic or two of "The Homestead" by popular demand. When I have the time and the wi-fi to do it. I'll post a bunch of pics via Photobucket on line. That's it for now, time to head to the lake for a dip.

Life in the Rich Lane

2009-08-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

"The Homestead" Another pic at "The Homestead" at Whitefish, MT. I'm headin' to Eureka but first a pit stop at "Montana Coffee Trader" (a Starbucksesque internet cafe) in Whitefish to recharge the PC & Camera & my first Mocha Latte (sissy coffee). Do you drink it with your pinkie extended? I can't picture the cowboys of the old west out on a cattle drive sittin' around the camp fire and one old cowboy says, "Gabby, pour me another cup of Mocha Latte"...I hate to admit it but it does taste good. Well, my PC is charged, my camera is charged, I'm headin' out the door...the classic song, "At Last" playing throught the speakers.

Whitefish, MT

2009-08-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

THIS IS IT! I'm at "The Homestead" a 1,400 acre gated community consisting of twenty - 20 acre parcels in Whitefish. "IF" I had the dinero I would sign on the dotted line BUT I left my check book at home. There are no KOA's this far north. I will be camping at Glaser Nat'l. Park for a couple of days and ride the Harley in Glaser. After that I head North to Eureka, Troy, Yaak, & Libby all in Lincoln county. I'll be camping at the parks so I can kiss the wi-fi good buy. I'm going off the grid after this post. I'll spring for a motel if/when it rains. I'm typing this at the only store in town with wi-fi called "Montana Coffee Trader". Once I hit the click button, I'm off the grid until??? ciao ('till it rains)

click on the pic for a fullsize view

I DID IT (Big Grin)

2009-08-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

FINALLY!!! After 6 months of leaving, I arrive at 12:52 MST on Auguat 16th. I enter Montana through the side door on a secondary road, Rt. 212 so the welcome sign is not the type you would see if traveling via the interstate. Knock on wood (Obama's head), the little engine that could has brought me this far sans coughing, sneezing, wheezing, not even a hick-up, albeit, we haven't seen the Rockies yet where she meets her greatest challenge...stay tuned.

Deadwood, South Dakota

2009-08-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

Leaving late Sunday morning & heading to Montana. I'm shooting pics a high 7 megapix, let me know if the pics load normally & fast, it seems to show up OK on my lap top but that doesn't mean you can see it OK, or have to wait a long time for download. If you want too see full size version of the pics, just click on the pic. I'm learning all this as I'm creating the page. The web only lets me post one pic per description (comment) so I may forward you to photobucket where I'll upload mucho pics & you can view 'em as a slide show. I looking at Deadwood in my rear view mirror as I head to MT...One last comment, the big blue blob in my pick-up is the Harley.

Onawa, Iowa

2009-08-15T23:34:00.000-07:00

Better late then never....After months (and months!) of delays, the stars all aligned for my departure on Thursday, August 13, 2009 at noon. The pic is my second day out at a KOA camp site in Onawa, Iowa on the lake. I still haven't figured out how to upload & add comments but I'm stumbling through learning the process...bear with me until I know how to use my new laptop & learn the does and don'ts of the website to make it all work. A visit to Deadwood, SD took me off the planned route, but it was worth it. Especially if you've seen the HBO series Deadwood. I don't want to add too much until I know what I'm doing with this PC & the website, yeah, I'm on my way!

2009-04-08T06:54:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCTION

Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit. I'm a retired college educator who resides in Tennessee. I've taken early retirement after my physician, performing the most complete and comprehensive diagnostic tests, using state-of-the-art equipment, has informed me I'm allergic to Liberals.