Some blog template help needed- anybody?

Over there on the right, my archives are listed by the month and it makes for a long an unsightly list going back for as many years as it does. I would like to change the way my archives are displayed and maybe even just show on the front page the years of the archives. Blogger is no help in their template set up.

So I'm asking. Could somebody assist with helping me get my template altered to change how my archives are displayed? My HTML-fu is lousy and I really don't have the interest needed to get the modifications done properly. If you can help, I'd be very appreciative. Contact me through my email.

Blogging from Wooster Ohio tonight

Made it safely through 2 airports and 2 flights, arrived on time to find my brother, his girlfriend and Mom already waiting for us, just as planned. Avis put us into a Lincoln Town Car and we needed it for all the luggage we were toting.

We made it safely to the birthday brother's home and relaxed there for a bit then left Mom there and came out to the Rodeway Inn where we are staying. Got a nice room. Tim and Milly and I sat for a bit in the bowling alley next door while I had a couple beers and came back in time to find the BSU soaking in the hot tub in our room.

So it's all good. And bedtime!

Hot Mormon Muffins- A taste of Motherhood

I just found this tonight- Hot Mormon Muffins- A taste of Motherhood. It seems they have a calendar and muffin baking videos. Weird.

And I truly doubt it is real...

I covered the boat just in time-

Because I woke up this AM to snow falling, just as the weather guessers predicted. There is supposed to be 2-4” by the time for the afternoon commute which should make the law enforcement and accident cleanup folks quite unhappy. But Fish Slayer is cleaned and covered for the winter so I guess I’ll have to break out some of my other hobbies to entertain me until the spring thaw.

So we're going to Ohio for a Brother's birthday

And in preparation for the trip, I was digging through my photo heap tonight. I found a couple pictures to share with everyone so you can see my brothers and sister. These pictures were taken on the steps of Glamorgan Castle, just a few blocks from the house that my folks bought and Brother Mark kept for years after that. As you can see, we are a handsome crowd-


And, as typical for our family photos, it's just not a photo event until somebody has mooned the camera...

This weekend's birthday boy is on the right...


No, we never have any fun when we get together! As always, click the little'uns for the biggie sized pictures.

OnStar is watching you-

They are if you launch your 700 horsepower Hennessey tuned Cadillac CTS-V and it pulls a .99G launch. Watch the video and turn up the sound because the car sounds good!


No ma'm, there's no emergency.

I have NO idea how I missed this story-

After all, it happened right here in my home town. I guess I missed the news that night...
Father to be gropes nurse enroute to delivery room. It seems that Adam Manning might have been having a celabratory drink or two or three while his wife was in labor, about to deliver his baby. So between the check-in station and the maternity ward, young Adam got all horned up and began groping the nurse that was seeing to his wife.

Police were called, charges were pressed. Babydaddy missed the delivery.

What do we call people like Adam?




Dumbass!

It's that busy time of year

Somehow the fall season always seems like a busy time of year for me with lots of chores to do before the impending snow falls. I guess the difference between fall and spring is that with summer approaching, there’s plenty of time to get everything done but in the fall everything has to be put away or covered up before the snow blankets everything. For whatever reason, I stay plenty busy this time of year.

 

I’ve got the camper winterized, moved behind the fence and covered. That didn’t all happen on the same day but I got it done. Sleek Black Beauty has been washed and tucked under its cover in the workshop for a winter waxing and nap. Most of the garden hoses have been drained and put away. The watering system for the BSU’s hanging vegetable garden has been disconnected and drained. The swamp cooler is drained and covered.

 

The secondary water is off from the city but I still have to blow the lines empty to prevent freeze damage. I need to buy a cover for Fish Slayer, remove the trolling motor and the batteries, figure out if there are water drains in the powerhead to remove and get it moved out from under the carport. I need to mow the back yard for the last time and get the hoses rolled up from back there. I need to refill the propane tanks that I removed from the camper so I can heat the shop. I need to buy the sealer for the fresh concrete in the driveway and get it rolled on to protect it from the city’s impending salt distribution on the streets.

 

All this and the weather guessers are forecasting snow as early as next week. It looks like my weekend is going to be plenty busy between the chores and some clothes shopping that needs doing before our trip to Ohio.

Me and the Geico Gecko are doing business-

I just switched insurance on my truck, the car and Sleek Black Beauty. I've had it up to my neck with the previous company- American Family and although I still need to find new insurance on the boat and house, pretty darn soon I will be completely through with those jackasses at my local agent office.

Proof that Burbot really exist!

Jim and I had a terrific weekend fishing at Flaming Gorge. The weather was perfect, the water calm and the company friendly. We even caught some fish! Not a lot of fish, just 1 Burbot each during our night fishing expedition and some rainbow trout on Sunday before we came home.

The burbot fishing was kind of disappointing since we only caught 1 fish each when the reports were of fishermen catching coolers full of the ugly creatures. Jim and I followed the instructions we had received from Rob, found the right depth of water and the right structure and had the preferred lures. And we both hooked up with just a few minutes of getting our lines wet, so we thought we had solved the equasion. But the fish weren't cooperating and the huge schools of fish- even though they appeared to be there according to the fishfinder, weren't biting on our jigs. I guess that's why they call it fishing and not catching!

This is my buddy Jim-

This is me at the controls of Fish Slayer

I told you they were ugly! This is Jim's burbot. His was much bigger than mine.

The end of my first season of fishing on Fish Slayer.


This weekend was so much fun we may have to make this an annual trip!

Burbot fishing trip plans-

Six jigs, 3 types of glow-in-the-dark tubes and 2 packages of frozen sucker fish meat purchased on the way home tonight. Tomorrow the truck gets an oil change, supper groceries, cigars and beer get purchased and a spare tire and wheel for the boat trailer needs to be bought. Then I can get packed up for a Saturday morning departure.

It's gonna be a good time!

Looks like Fish Slayer is coming out 1 more time this season!

And going to Flaming Gorge reservoir for burbot fishing! My buddy Rob called me today to say that another friend caught 70 of these homely beasts last night and the biggest one weighed 9 pounds.

So Jim and I are going to the Gorge on Saturday for some trout fishing in the afternoon and a late night's worth of trying to fill up the boat with these fish. The weather is promising to be pleasant and I'm pretty excited.

Wanted- 1 very special Stevens Favorite rifle

Many decades ago, I received as a gift from my Dad, a 22LR Stevens Favorite rifle. It was the only gun my Dad ever gave me and I was mighty proud of it. I was probably 12 when I received this neat little rifle. Dad had searched out and found an entire rifle with an already shortened stock, just the right size for me at the time while searching for a replacement stock that he could shorten for a Stevens he already owned. Sadly and stupidly, in about 1976, I sold the rifle to an unknown buyer through my first wife's uncle. It might have been as big a mistake as I've ever made. I sold it in north eastern Ohio.

Anyway, I want the rifle back. I'm willing to pay. The rifle is unique and if anyone has ever seen it, they would recognize that the collectors value today has been ruined because the frame has been nickel plated. My Grandfather had to take the gun for a while during my ownership to make a new firing pin for it and while he had it, he talked somebody in the plating shop where he worked to nickel plate the frame and the lever. It's not polished like chrome but is a very nice shiny matte silver. I don't believe any of the other parts were plated. It also has an ivory dot tipped front sight which I now know was not the typical Stevens Favorite front sight. I believe my rifle was a takedown model.

I have searched the internet gun seller sites and auctions for a couple years. I've even advertised in the local papers back there in Ohio hoping to find the current owner without success. Before I buy a 2nd Savage Model 30 Stevens replica and build one that looks like my old rifle, I'm turning back to the internet to see if this unique Stevens Favorite can be located. Have you seen my rifle? Do you know who has it tucked into the back of a gun safe somewhere? If you do, will you please get in touch with me immediately? You can contact me any time through natemccord@gmail.com.

How Long Is "Your" Password?

During a recent password audit, it was found that a blonde was using the following password:

MickeyMinniePlutoHueyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofy

 

When asked why such a big password, she said that it had to be at least 8 characters long.

 

The driveway work is finished!

It really looks good. Everything went very well this afternoon except that the guy that did the work- and did the measuring for the amount of concrete I needed, can't add. It wasn't 3/4 of a yard of mud I neeeded because when we dumped that much in the hole, it didn't begin to fill it up!

It took 2 1/4 yards of mud to fill the hole! Seems Jack got distracted while he was measuring and doing the math and only told me how much I needed for 1 portion of the job. Fortunately it wasn't a problem- except for the added expense- to go pick up the 2nd load of concrete just a few blocks away.

I'm really pleased with the way this job has turned out.

The hole's excavated-

and the concrete pouring and finishing for the driveway improvement takes place tomorrow afternoon. Tonight I had to dig out the 2nd half of the dirt that the concrete guy decided he did not need in his yard. But he came over and helped me do the shoveling and moving so it's ready for the concrete. I'm taking the afternoon off from work tomorrow to drag home a 3/4 yard load in a trailer and Jack should be done before supper.

Already I'm asking myself why it took me 10 years to get this done. I can see that it will be a huge improvement on the access to the house when it's finished.

Too tired for blogging tonight-

I should be telling you all about the excitement and adventure of removing a ton or more of busted up concrete out of my driveway after busting it up with a jackhammer and hauling it away with the truck in multiple loads over the weekend. I could be telling you about watching the large noisy cutter machine removing the curb this afternoon. I could tell you about the plans for the concrete pouring and finishing that is going to be going on later this week.

But I whupped tonight. I think I'll just tip my recliner back further and nap until bedtime.

Awesome gymnast!

Hat tip to
Cowboy Blob and Curmudgeonly & Skeptical.

Blogging and surfing may now resume-

I've finished Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. It is very good! It's typical Dan Brown- Robert Langdon caught in a bizarre mystery that he unfolds and solves through his expertise in symbology. This one is no different- it takes place in our nation's capitol, Washington D.C. and it is filled with the mysteries revolving around Freemasonry.

It is deep and fast paced. I can't speak to the accuracies of the Freemason details because I'm not a freemason. There are parts of the story that are pretty heavy in concept and some of it spells out hours after the original mystery is solved which I thought extended the story past it's climax.

But it's a good read. I really enjoyed it and the BSU says she is picking it up next. It's a brain teaser and twister and I recommend it!