The New Codgers

(UPDATED JULY 26) Village of “Danger Bay” PROGRESS!

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 05:54:51 -0500

WARNING: LINK POST—LINK POST—LINK POST!

In my former blog-life as one of five “Codgers” I would with some frequency write from “my corner of cyberspace,” mixing real people with totally fictional people in the cyber-city of “Codger’s Corner.” “Codger’s Corner” occupied the same space along the “Cyber-Mississippi” River as my home town of Saint Paul does along the Mississippi River. When we needed a break from the city, we’d all head to the North Shore of “CyberLake Superior,” which occupied the same space as...well, that much is obvious.

With the passing of one of our number, the blog-entity “The Codgers” passed on as well, including our corner of cyberspace. Sometime later, after talking my reluctant friend Jack “Boomer Jack” Boardman into joining me, the blog “Our Saint Paul” was launched. I quickly discovered that I missed our forays into fiction—and felt my blog voice had been lost, or at least modified, by not having an outlet for my imagination, so…

Welcome to “Danger Bay,” a bypassed village of some 127 persons along the North Shore of the “Big Lake.” The name is taken in part from a map-spot along the North Shore of Lake Superior: “Castle Danger.” What a great name! Although I’ve searched for it, I’ve not found the origin of the name.

“Danger Bay” remains under construction—there are many location sets yet to draw—but here is where we are as of today:

First I combined several photos to make the background for the village:

Then I created “Medlar’s Station,” “Silverthorn’s Café” and the little white church:

Jay

It’s September the Oneth! (Updated)

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 06:09:40 -0500

Boomer & I are enjoying our chipped & well-used “Codger Collectible (January ’07 Edition) Mugs” of organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, Guatemalan-Roast coffee, and enjoying a late summer Saint Paul, Minnesota morning on my back porch.

Yeah, Jay, and your over-sized and totally ripped-off version of my replica “Pruett’s Pig Powders” thermometer tells us the temperature is 65ºF, and I can plainly see that the sky is partly cloudy. And for now, and through Monday, no rain is expected!

This should be a good weekend for the Minnesota State Fair—the harbinger of fall for kids everywhere in the state. Moderate temps, no rain—the place should be packed!

True—for this last week I’ve had to find work-arounds to avoid any of the streets leading to the Fair, Jay. Couple that with the tragic loss of the I35W bridge, and traffic can be miserable.

Around here folks, we don’t wait for mid-September for fall to begin, it begins, conveniently—I think—just when the Fair ends. The kids go back to school, and we start our preparations for our too-long winters, and certainly enjoy the cooler, drier weather of the season.

Thanks for reminding me, Jay—I’ve gotta get the snow-blower fixed.

You’ve had all summer to do that!

Can you spell “p-r-o-c-r-a-s-t-i-n-a-t-e,” Jay?

I can spell it—better yet, though—I sometimes practice it—if I get around to it!

There’s a point somewhere here, for why we are posting this morning, right? Some sort of announcement?

Well, sure—we completed the remodeling of cyber-Ines Hedegus-Garcia’s “Danger Bay” cyber-business! See:

That’s cool, but there was something else. (more)

We completed the update to cyber-Sarah Cooper's General Store:

PAPARAZZI CAPTURE’S IMAGE OF JAY MERTON!

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 05:29:07 -0600

The elusive Jay Merton was photographed while walking Miss Daisy in Irvine Park on Saturday, November the 4^th,2006. I know there has been much speculation out there in Cyberworld about whether or not Jay resembles the image to the right (the axe-like thing).

I’ll let you make your own decision.

Oh crap—he’s lost his head!

Medford Ambrose—on the run, yet again!

Does ActiveRain have the feature?—Should it?

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Fri, 23 May 2008 05:28:29 -0500

I haven’t written a post all week for Our Saint Paul, and yet there was a new post there every day! Like magic a new post (well sorta new—early episodes of Danger Bay repackaged and combined as chapters, but they could just as easily have been new) appeared every day.

There are those who know stuff about blog-building who will tell you that posting every day is important, but sometimes that just isn’t possible. It certainly isn’t for me.

This is not the first time I’ve used a feature found on most blog platforms that allows for timed post deployment. When I have the time, I write my posts and set them to deploy automagically—thus giving me more time during the week to catch up on my blog reading or graphic drawing.

So my question is: Does ActiveRain have this feature? And if not, should ActiveRain have this feature?

Today is not a rerun day: Danger Bay—Episode 80—Port of Saint Paul! The gang is visiting my home town! (HA! Thought you’d escape my shameless blog promotion, huh!)

Why would I post on a Sunday around 1:30pm (when I could be napping)?

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 13:38:12 -0500

To tell you what these little shapes are, of course! Would you’d care to guess??

When I introduce a new graphic, it seems to follow that I’m asked how I draw the graphic, and what program I use.

Although I’ve answered the program question—I’ll cover that again—it’s easier than linking to earlier explanations. I use three pieces of software: MS Word (kinda old, from Office 2003), MS Publisher (to combine hand drawn graphics with jpeg photos, also from Office 2003), Adobe Photoshop Elements (also a bit long-of tooth: version 2.02, 2002).

The question I’ve never really answered, is how I draw the graphics. And today I’ll cover that—sort-of.

I’ve spent a lot of time these past several days working on new characters for the “Danger Bay” story series, and completed the first character, “Medlar Farkleberry,” owner of the Star Gas Station, in what passes for downtown “Danger Bay.”

The bits & pieces above are elements of Medlar’s face, and the graphic below will show the steps taken to build the face of any character, through to the finished product. Each piece is drawn individually.

The following is all done in MS Word:

Draw the shape.
Add color.
Give the shape dimension & shading using “Fill Effects”
Combine shapes, making sure that the pieces are in the correct order(eyes, for example—the pupil must be in the front of the eye, so using the “Order” selection in the pop-up section under “Draw” on the graphics toolbar, with the pupil selected I click on “Bring to Front”), remove the lines, and finally “Group” the elements using the “Group” command on the Drawing pop-up window.
Draw, color, and combine and group the elements into individual features of the face.
Finally combine all to form the face.

Simple, huh (…and that’s just his head)! To see how this all looks in the context of a complete drawing—and get to read the first “Danger Bay” installment—click here!

Oops—I forgot to warn you—another link-post— ;-)

Jay

Old Men & Cyber Codger-Lodges™—Seniors & Scam Artists!

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 06:25:03 -0500

OK, so today we’re broadcasting our post from the “Cyber Codger-Lodge™,” but because it’s a cyber-visit to the lodge, we are compelled to let you know it is raining, and the temperature in Old Saint Paul is a seasonal 49ºF.

As you can see by the above graphic, it is sunny & warm, a computer controlled 72ºF both inside & outside the Lodge, and the flowers are in bloom. So why wouldn’t we of child-like imaginations imagine ourselves here?

Take a few minutes, grab a mug (you know the rest), and join us here on the virtual North Shore of Lake Superior, as we anticipate the semi-annual running of the piranha!

“Its spring,” Fred, with his unwavering grasp of the obvious, announced.

“Sure is,” Carl replied, gazing out at the virtual lake, “the piranha are getting restless, and we seniors all have marks on our doors, and targets on our backs!”

“It isn’t just seniors,” Harold added, “anyone may be targeted. It is truly amazing how many homes need new roofs, new siding, a fresh coat of paint and driveway sealing this time of year.”

“Money is no object, either,” Medford said, as he stirred cream & sugar into his mug of organically & shade-grown, fair trade, dark-roast coffee, “they all seem to know someone willing to extend credit for home improvements.”

“But seniors seem to be a favored target,” I said, “especially if they think their safety & security is in danger. Remember last August Med?”

“Oh yeah,” Medford replied, “you mean that nice young ‘City Department of Furnace Inspections’ inspector who stopped by your place, right?”

“That’s the one!” I said, and before I could continue…

“We were having coffee in Jay’s kitchen,” Med interrupted, obviously wanting very much to tell the story, “when we heard a knock on the door. Before this gimpy old coot could get to the door, we heard couple more knocks.”

“I opened the door, after checking through the sidelight to see who was there,” I added, “and revealed a very official looking fellow, holding a very official looking clipboard.”

“Jay asked him for his ID card,” Medford continued, “and he produced a very official-looking picture ID, and quickly went into his routine: ‘I’m with the city furnace inspections department, and I’m here to inspect your furnace. Every winter, it seems houses blow up due to undetected gas leak, or other furnace malfunctions. The city is particularly concerned with our senior population, and is making an effort to ensure your safety.’ Jay asked the guy for a second picture ID, and asked me to call the city.”

“Yeah,” I added, with a big smile, “he was gone in an instant—musta had an appointment elsewhere!”

“The next day, he came to my house,” Medford said, “and when I answered the door, the look on his face was priceless. Too bad we were unable to get his auto license number.”

Be careful folks—the piranha are swimming and hungry!

Reflections from Jay’s Back Porch—one year—319 Posts!

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 07:04:05 -0500

It’s a fine fall-like 56ºF morning on my back porch here in my beloved old river town of Saint Paul, Minnesota, and I am enjoying my “Danger Bay Collectible” mug of organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, French-roast coffee firing up my remaining brain synapses to synapting, as I consider this, my one year anniversary here on the ‘Rain.

Hello Activerainers (September 16, 2006)

I don’t expect to write a lot in this blog, but from time to time, you may expect me to offer an opinion or two about home repairs & maintenance. Opinions I have many—and I’m usually willing to share (folks my age tend to be loooong on opinions, ‘cause we don’t let facts get in our way).

One year ago today that was my first ever post to Active Rain. It seems much longer to me—as if the time I’ve been here should be measured in years not months!

Wow! I was certainly mistaken in that first phrase: “I don’t expect to write a lot in this blog…” After 319 (counting this post) posts, 24 of them featured, 111,956 points (excluding this post), it would seem my ability at prognostication is wanting—or perhaps, my understanding of the addictive quality of blogging was lacking—not to mention competitiveness.

When I began blogging here, Active Rain was a relatively small group of plucky bloggers, and today? Who would have thought there would be more than 48,000 members—no longer a small community by any measure!

A short trip down memory lane:

I haven't displayed those in a while.

It’s been a great ride—and I loved it! But this is my last post to the ‘Rain. The time has come to let an RE professional claim the second spot in Minnesota! I have a new blog-mistress, “Our Saint Paul,” and she is demanding my complete attention!

But I’m not leaving completely, I’ll still stop by to comment, even if it is only by leaving my new “Comment Icon” just to let you know I’m still around and still care about our Gentle Readers!

I have included many of your outside and AR blogs in my blogroll and in my RSS Feedreader—so that I may remain in contact, and I invite you to visit me at Our Saint Paul—you will be warmly received.

Sincerely,

Jay

Cyber-Visit from the Southern-Tier on Boomer’s Back Porch, a Cross-Blog Adventure!

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 04:28:08 -0500

This fine Saint Paul Friday morning the old replica “Pruett’s Pig Powders” thermometer tells us it is +39ºF, with no wind, making it feel like +39ºF, as we linger on the back porch a moment or two, enjoying our (January Edition) porcelain, not China (but made in China) Codger Collectible™ Mugs (have I mentioned the spiffy March Edition is now available?) full of hot organically & shade-grown, Fair Trade, French Roast coffee warms us and to jump-starts our remaining brain synapses into synapting.

Today’s the big day. The day we attempt to engage the Cyber-Express to transport our Southern Tier guests to join us here on the porch. The mechanism to engage the express is for Daisy to bay four times, once each for each guest.

“Daisy,” Boomer commanded, “bay away!”

“Bow-Wooo, bow-wooo, bow-woo, bow-wooo!” she bayed, and then said, “Good enough Jack? May I have my treat now?”

Medford, setting down his coffee, announced in greeting “Eureka! They popped in, safe and sound!”

“Welcome to Boomer’s back porch,” Jay added, “good job, Daisy.”

“C..c...old!” Broker Bryant exclaimed as the cyber-smoke began to clear, “TLW burnt my toast and then shot the toaster. Y’all got any grits??”

“I didn't burn your toast Blog Boy,” TLW replied quickly and as always, smiling very wide, “I was skeet shooting. Remind me to adjust my site.”

“The lady’s packin’ a shootin’ iron,” Medford exclaimed with a smile, “watch what you say!”

“I see you brought your mugs,” Jay said, lifting his mug from the porch rail, “refreshments are just inside the door on the right, and BB, there is a very large blanket on the futon. C’mon inside and warm up.”

“Better hide your toaster before we come in,” Broker Bryant suggested, with an eye directed towards the still smiling TLW, “TLW’s loaded for whole wheat!”

“Watch it Blog Boy,” TLW warned, with just a hint of an ominous tone in her voice, “I don't need to adjust my site to shoot your husky butt. Go eat a barrel of grits and leave me be.”

“Not to worry,” the heretofore silent Boomer assured, “BloggoddessBroker Teresa tossed the toaster out yesterday, claimed she was hearing voices!”

“Did it help?” asked Medford.

“Not at all,” Boomer answered, “she still hears voices, and I got no toast.”

“Grits-n-coffee all 'round,” Jay announced, “Tabasco anyone?”

The long-anticipated meeting of northern & southern tier “Bloggists” continued for many cyber-hours until Broker Bryant made note of the time: “Sorry Coots, we gotta go. Gun shop closes at 5. TLW needs ammo...y’all really need to work on your tans.”

“Y'all come see us now...Ya hear...” TLW added, leaving unsaid, the implied “else…BAM…SVVVW!”

“You betcha!” Jay replied in his best Minn-e-soda Norwegian–inspired accent, “Lookin’ forward to it den.”

“TLW, you know the Cyber-Express signal,” Medford reminded, “just fire that old Colt .45 “Peacemaker” 3 times, and we'll be on our way!”

And Daisy, on cue from Boomer bayed, “Bow-wooo, bow-woo, bow-woo!”

“One more Daisy,” sternly commanded Boomer, “Brutus has to go home, too.”

“Bow-wooo!” Daisy obeyed, thinking “I’ll see you again, big guy.”

To Be Continued…

Jay, Medford, TLW, and Broker Bryant

Old Men & Coffee Shops, Tuesday Morning at the Cyber Café—Harold Quits Barbering

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 04:11:23 -0500

This fine Saint Paul Tuesday morning the old replica “Pruett’s Pig Powders” thermometer tells us it is +26ºF, with a light wind, making it feel like a brisk +20ºF, as we linger on the back porch a moment or two, enjoying our (January Edition) porcelain, not China (but made in China) Codger Collectible™ Mugs (have I mentioned the spiffy March Edition is still available?) full of hot organically & shade-grown, Fair Trade, French Roast coffee warms us and to jump-starts our remaining brain synapses into synapting, before making our way to the Cyber Café, and our waiting crew of Codgers.

As we approached our usual table, the one in front, by the plate-glass window, where we can (and do) observe and comment on passers by, Molly called out: “Morning coots, I’ll be right there with your coffee.”

“Morning gents,” Medford greeted as we sat down in our usual places.

A chorus of greetings, acknowledging that it was morning, but without commenting on the relative goodness of it followed.

“You two enjoy your day off?” asked Harold, looking out the plate-glass window.

“Indeed,” Medford rejoined, “speaking for myself, not seeing your lined faces made the day very enjoyable. Laura’s honey-do list was pretty long ‘though.”

“As it remains, I’m sure,” I added helpfully.

“It’s nice to hear the birds” Fred offered, “singing their spring songs.”

“And I’ve seen a blade or two of green grass,” Carl added, “the very first of many.”

“Supposed to reach near 50º today, with sunshine,” Fred said, “Maybe March is through tormenting us.”

“I finally had to do it,” Harold, announced out of nowhere, “I has to quit barbering altogether.”

“You did what?” I asked, amazed, “You enjoy those Saturdays helping your son at the shop.”

“I’m nearly 82, and those shakes,” Harold said holding up his mug, and displaying a mild tremor, “make it impossible for me to cut anymore.”

“I’m sorry Harold,” Carl said, “the shop just won’t be the same without you.”

“Oh, I’ll be there alright,” Harold said with a smile, “somebody’s got to give advice to my boy & granddaughter—quality control, y’understand.”

"But he's 55," Carl said, "hardly a boy."

"So?" Harold smiled even more broadly, "he expects me to heckle him."

Changes

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 11:25:49 -0500

Life is full of changes.

Codger Harold Peterson died on Wednesday morning, peacefully, in his sleep. We buried him today. He will be deeply missed by his family and his friends.

We knew sooner or later one of us would make that final journey.

We also agreed that would mean the end of the Codgers as a blog-entity, so as you can see, changes have been made here.

Our other blog and the on-line store have been closed.

This blog started out as just me—and it is again—just me.

Sunday Morning Update:

I just learned there was an obituary in the St. Paul paper for a “Harold Peterson.” This is not our Harold. The name “Harold Peterson” was a self-chosen “Blog Name” and not his real name. It was the only way we could get our friends to allow us to use their words in our blog.

Harold had prearranged his funeral and cremation—he didn’t want all the trappings. Notification of his passing went out by email and by telephone. A short service was held and a moving eulogy delivered by his son. It was attended by some 25 friends and family. His ashes were interred with his parents and siblings—just the way he wanted.

Jay

OLD MEN & COFFEE SHOPS-THE CAST OF CODGERS

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 06:13:48 -0500

The codgers didn’t meet for coffee on Wednesday morning, due to the clean up required after the grill fire on Tuesday evening. We re-convened on Thursday morning (10/5), and although our discussion was stimulating as usual, it mostly concerned politics, that topic will not appear in this blog. I will go this far, however, we are politically diverse, and because of our many-years friendship, we respect each other’s opinions, we can have such discussions without rancor.

Bad segue here, but I think its time to introduce our cast of codgers: Med & Me, well you already know us if you have read our profile. Harold the retired barber: born about 1925, owned and operated his shop for more than 50 years, still lives in the apartment above the shop, he has a wealth of knowledge gained from all those years of listening to what his victims, ummm, customers had to say. Carl, born about 1933, a Korean War veteran and retired Army sergeant-major. After his retirement, he went to work in the St. Paul Ford Assembly Plant, and after some years, retired yet again. Carl now lives in nearby senior housing. Carl epitomizes part of the diminishing middle class: the high school educated, well-paid factory worker.

Our association began as customers at Harold’s barber shop, and later expanded to our now regular morning meetings at the coffee shop.

Medford always brings his laptop, and the café has wireless internet access (the owner hoped to attract the high-speed, low-drag urban professionals, and blames our codger-brigade for his utter failure to do so – we tell him it’s the lousy food), and the boys now insist on reading our most recent blog-post. Anyway, since our more serious, pointed blog entries failed to generate any on-line conversations, we decided to change our focus from that to discussing things that matter to us. Med suggested that we use our daily discussions as a springboard for our blog entries. The boys agreed with one little requirement: that their real names not be used. So gentle reader, Harold, Carl, and any other voice that may appear here are pseudonyms, the names changed to protect the guilty! The mini-bios are factual as are the opinions attributed to these guys (Med & I are who we are).

If you, gentle reader, have any topics you wish to submit to our crew for opinions (seasoned by gentle humor whenever possible), please let us know.

Jay & Medford

Old Men and Coffee Shops 2

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 10:37:22 -0500

Today I have invited Medford to join me in the “operation” of this blog. He has indicated a willingness to contribute his wit & wisdom to it. He tells wonderful stories of the old days on the farm, and has a common-sense approach to do-it-yourself home repairs. He & I may even disagree—but remember, in the case of any disagreement—I’m right and he’s wrongJ!

Old Men & Coffee Shops—in Danger Bay

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 06:21:38 -0500

A Complete Episode (no link-click required)!

Happy Labor Day, Gentle Readers! It is a fine Saint Paul, Minnesota morning with the temperature a pleasant 65ºF. I was just thinking that all too soon we’ll be reporting temperatures in degrees below zero [[shudder]]!

Pleasant as the weather is in Saint Paul, we decided to have our chipped & well-used “Codger Collectible (January ’07 Edition) Mugs” of organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, Guatemalan-Roast coffee, here in Danger Bay at Silverthorn’s Café instead. We both have a very busy Labor Day in front of us.

As we clumped up on the boardwalk and entered the café, we saw Hiram, Sr. behind the counter, Medlar Farkleberry, and an old geezer (who we haven’t yet met) at the counter.

We headed for our usual table, the one by the front plate-glass window when Hiram called out: “G’mornin’ fellas. Please have a seat here at the counter—it’s too early for me to be traipsing all the way over there.”

“Saving your energy for the morning rush?” Boomer asked as we ambled over to the counter.

“The Sparrow is making her first Voyage from the harbor this morning,” Hiram replied as we sat at the counter between Lar and the strangely familiar looking geezer, “Maggie tells me they have 30 reservations for the trip, so I figured I’d better save my energy for REAL customers.”

“Aww Hiram,” Lar piped up, “That ain’t what ya’ told me when these fellers came in th’ door, You said: ‘Let’s jes see who wins a battle o’wills, me—or that stubborn old man—bet I kin get ‘em ta sit at th’ counter!’ That’s what ya said.”

“Stubborn old man?” the geezer next to me piped up, “Just a short time here and he’s already got you pegged!”

I took a closer look at the geezer (in Minnesota—we don’t generally stare at people we don’t know—part of our passive-aggressive nature) and realized who it was: “M…” I began, but was interrupted by Boomer:

“…Jay! We gave him back that name for his own purposes—remember?”

“The ‘Codger,’ as he is known in these parts,” Hiram said, “used to fish commercially, until 61 was re-routed away from Danger Bay. Used to sell fresh Lake Trout from his shop on the pier, but the realignment of the highway caused his business to dry up. In fact, that’s where you guys have your office now.”

“Yep,” the Codger added, “I left the blog, but kept the keys. I have all the passwords (heh-heh), so I can visit whenever I wish, and regale you with my wit & wisdom.”

“But, who drew you?” I asked, taken aback just a little, “You can’t draw worth spit!”

Boomer only smiled.

“OK, there’s only one ex-Codger left,” I thought aloud, “but he says he’s waaay too busy for this stuff anymore.”

“Is this where we meet for the boat trip?” came a voice from the entry…

TO BE CONTINUED…

Gentle Readers, this was a complete episode—brought to you by:

Danger Bay Stories

Danger Bay Graphics (NEW GRAPHICS)

Danger Bay Sets (NEW GRAPHICS)

and

Farkleberry’s Ship’s Chandlery (Collectible Stuff)

Please visit us!

Why Didn’t I Ever Grow Up?

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 09:17:53 -0500

(This post inspired by Sarah Cooper’s post: “When Did I Grow Up?”)

Although some who know me may disagree, this is NOT a post about failing to mature—but rather—why, oh why, was I more blessed with short genes than with tall genes? At my tallest (we DO shrink a bit with age—a gravity-thing I suspect—I’ve lost a half inch somewhere along the way—and I’d like it back!), I reached a towering 5’6”.

It’s Dad’s fault! He comes from a very looong line of short people, reaching an astounding height of 5’4”! Mom, the shortest of her siblings, was 5’4” as well—not too bad for a woman born in 1911. Her siblings ranged from 5’8” to 6’3”, so there was some height there—but that ability to attain normal height was limited to the children of the sibling’s families—not to us.

There are some real disadvantages to being vertically challenged:

Having to look up to see down.
Having to look up to people you really don’t look up to.
Being patted on the top of your head—as someone’s warped idea of humor.
Hating Randy Newman.

BUT—there are some real advantages to being vertically challenged:

Not having to duck nearly as often as normal people.
Being able to swing my legs while sitting on a curb.
Being able to comfortably drive almost any car—including really neat sports cars!
Having less housework to do—if you don’t see it—it don’t matter!
A six foot long bed is just fine.
Not experiencing “acrophobia” merely from simply standing up.

Being short is not so bad-eh?

See you—ahem—shortly!

Boomer

It’s Monday! The Weekend has passed (and for SOME the work week is upon us)

Jay Merton & Medford Ambrose, the Codgers (Retired Handymen) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:34:23 -0500

This gray Saint Paul morning we find Pruett’s telling us the temperature is a cool 62ºF, and out lens-assisted eyes tell us it’s cloudy. The weather people tell us to expect it to be partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. High 71ºF. winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph, chance of rain 30%.

We are here on my back porch, savoring our mugs of organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, French-Roast coffee. I am, at least, savoring the week to come, ‘though Boomer may be of a differing opinion.

From Boomer’s point of view, this week could have had a miserable start. Over the weekend, MnDOT (Minnesota Department of Transportation) closed down the intersection of MN 280 & I94 to expand the number of traffic lanes for this critical detour around the downed I35W river bridge.

Then came the drought-easing rains—all weekend! This could have prevented the planned reopening of the intersection at 5am this morning. If it didn’t open there would have been a traffic headache of epic proportions. At last word, our MnDOT folks worked through the night after the rain subsided, and the intersection should be open. Who says state workers just lean on their shovels?

Boomer is also, amazingly enough, of fast-tracking necessary improvements—he managed to complete ALL his yard work Friday evening! This allowed us both to work on “Danger Bay” graphics. Some of which (we managed to get ahead of the story a bit) you may see here. This includes the debut of Sarah Cooper, who joins fellow AR luminaries Maggic Dokic & Ines Hegedus-Garcia at Danger Bay.

Well, its back to the drawing board—er—drawing software for me, and off to work (LOL) for Boomer. Have great Monday, and we’ll stop back here from time-to-time today.

Jay & Boomer