The Finding Direction Judges have been busy pouring through the excellent entries and have made their decision.  As usual, the ersatz publisher, editor, reporter, photographer, accountant, financier and general flunkie of Finding Direction will accept high praise for their (sic) finely honed judging skills, but accept no flak from disappointed would be winners.  (There are never any losers here at Finding Direction, as you know, except in the minds of some of the disgruntled entrants, who must be placated at all costs by fellow would be complainees.)

And, as usual, all decisions are final, although an appeal process might be considered in the event of an extraordinary oversight by the FD Judges, which is highly unlikely but let fairness abound.

Finally, as usual, the intro into the announcements of the winners is taking entirely too long (the Judges like to read their own words way too much, obviously) so let the announcements begin.

If you remember, and most probably don’t it’s been so long ago, the theme for the contest this time was “Summertime & The Livin’ is Easy.”  All winners have been chosen based on their adherence to the theme.  The first few winners were close, but not quite there.  However, do NOT let that detract from the impact of their photos and their eye for photography.  These are all works of fine art and are to be respected as such, say the Judges.  (Amen, says the reader.)

The winner in the first category, “Reminds Me Most of Home (Texas) In The Summertime Award,” goes to amateur photographer and new to the blogging scene blogger, Heather Welch with her windmill scene, shot in Texas, appropriately.  It must be said by the FD Judges that living in Texas gave Heather some advantage, but not so much as to interfere with the other entrants, as numerous awards have yet to be named.

The next award goes to reader Marilyn Hughes of Poteau, Oklahoma.  It is the “Best Summertime Nostalgic Field Scene Award,” which reflects the rural life that most Americans used to enjoy and live.  Most now have to rely now on photographs such as these to recall the simpler, gentler times in this vast country of ours, now given over in the most part to urban sprawl, spoil and squander of the land in the worst of ways.  How sad I feel for those who have never lived on a farm and been close to the land.  Having grown up on a cotton farm in West Texas, I have great respect for those who still strive in this day and age to provide food crops and needed goods for us all to enjoy.  Here’s Marilyn’s winning photo:

The next award is the “Most Patriotic (4th of July) Summertime Photo” and it was entered by our fair Janice Evans-Lauder, a/k/a JEL-My Place, a long time blogger and magnificent photographer in her own right.  She lives in her grandmother’s little house in Missouri, which is heated in winter only with a wood burning stove and cooled in the summer by nature.  You can only imagine, then, how well this photograph might help fill her summertime livin’ easy plan.

The “Summertime Photo From Farthest Away Award” goes to reader Darlene Morris, who lives in Lubbock, Texas, who entered a photo of two of her grandchildren, Kellen & Sam, taken on a mission trip with their parents in Tegucigapa, Honduras, in central America earlier this summer.  It’s a neat photo and one I think you’ll enjoy – seeing how summer looks on a rainy day in the tropics.

The next award is the “Most Makes Us Think of Taking A Summer Afternoon Nap Award,” which goes to reader and somtimes commenter, Marilyn Hughes, taken across their fields out from Poteau, Oklahoma.  In fact, looking at this photo is making me sleepy right now, since the weather outside the judges’ window is nearly identical to the photo.  (Except for the kinds of trees, of course.  And the fields.  And, uh, the, uh . . . Oh, never mind.  Nothing much is the same except for the feeling of needing a nap.  Would you like to join the judges for an hour or two?!)  (Just kidding!  Read on!)

The next award is arbitrarily given during each Finding Direction Photo Contest so as to keep the FD judges in good standing with their spouse – the esteemed Tom Andrews.  Thus it is that the “Special Tom Andrews Best Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy Award,” goes to . . . duh . . . Tom Andrews.  This is one of his daughter, Kristine, and his two granddaughters, Veronica & Hayley, taken on his sailboat.  Don’t they look like they are having a whole lot of fun.  It is a great photo, you have to admit!

Moving on . . ..  The winner of the “Best Depiction of Violation of Child Labor Laws in the Summertime Award” goes to none other than grandchildren abuser, Greg England, of “Why Soitenly,” the blog that ranks right up with the “bestest blogs” around.  If you haven’t been partaking of his puns, humor and outright wonderfully presented posts, you must indulge.  In the meantime, check out this classic “Grindaddy with the 18 month old twins, Logan & Lilly and older brother Jackson” photo.  It’s priceless.

Not to be undone by Greg’s classic “Grindaddy” photo above, Patrick Mead (see also: Tentpegs) had to enter one of his grandson, Lucas, which wins the “Most Blatant Attempt to Addict A Young Minor Child to Doughnuts in The Summertime Award,” which was caught in that wonderland called Krispy Kreme, with the effects of the child’s very first sugary doughnut showing on this poor, unknowing child.  What hope is there for the future of thin American children.

One of the most cherished awards in the Finding Direction Photo Contests is the “Special Judges’ Award for the Most Creative Entry That Always Stretches the Limits of the Theme Chosen.”  This contest’s winner is Janice Garrison for the following photo of a big garden spider outside her window.  You decide whether this is stretching the theme of “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy.”  Maybe from the spider’s perspective it is, ya think?

There was a tie in the next category.  The “Best Use of Color in Composition For Summertime & The Livin’ is Easy Award” goes to our own Janice Evans-Lauder for this beautiful photo . . .

. . . and to Patrick Mead for “Passing It On,” below:

Janice Evans-Lauder also wins the “Most Beautiful Summertime Sunrise Award,” for which she had to arise much earlier than the Finding Direction judges ever would.  Thus, it is a special treat for them to acknowledge this award. 

The winner of the “By Far The Most Realistic View of Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy Award,” is our own beloved blogger, Greg England for the following photo entry.  It shows a 6:09 p.m. temperature of 106.7 hot summer degrees Farenheit. (Cain’t nobody say tweren’t hot this summer, ya know?!)

And, that photo was taken earlier in the summer before the 117 degree temps hit out in the desert of southern California, t00.

The winner of the “Most Dramatic Summertime Clouds Award” goes to reader, Pat Baker, who is the sister of reader, Marilyn Hughes.  You have to admit it gives one chills in thinking about the magnificence God displays in our heavens each day.

If you will note from the picture, she shot it right in the middle of this summer, too!

Finally . . . the moment you’ve all been waiting for.  The top award winners.  Although, all of the awards are tops in the minds of the Finding Direction judges!  Never forget that, because each of you is very special to the FD judges!!

Third place winner(s) – there was a tie – in the Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest, with the theme “Summertime & The Livin’ is Easy,” goes to (1) reader Darlene Morris, of Lubbock, Texas, for the following entry of two of her grandchildren, Kellen & Sam:

That photo is poetry in motion with little kids enjoying the cool pool in the heat of summer.  Congrats, Darlene Morris, on your winning entries in the FD contest!!

Winner (2) in Third Place is Patrick Mead for the following photo of his little grandson, Lucas, in a photo titled “Whoa!”  You can see why the photo is called that and also why it is a big winner in the FD contest, based on the theme “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy.”

Congratulations to Patrick, one of the top and most prolific Christian bloggers in the blogosphere.  He & Greg are the judges’ bestest two buddies, but that connection in no way interfered with the unbiased judging in this contest.  The judges attest to that and it is true.  May we all be so unbiased in dealing with each and every person who crosses our path daily.

Second Place in the Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest goes to brand new reader and not “too old a” blogger, either, Joe Tudor (his blog is titled Parapet Safety, which you’ll have to check out!) for his fantastic photo entry which brings out the strongest yearnings of the FD judges in thinking of past summer vacations in such places (Orange Beach, Alabama, Pensacola, Florida) where it’s “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy.”  The ambiance and laid back feelings evoked in the photo are marvelous.  The smells of the scrubby brush next to the gulf among the sand dunes and the days spent out in the water and along the water’s edge collecting shells come rushing back to the judges’ inner hearts and minds.  Congratulations to Joe!  Terrific entry for the theme!!  The photo is appropriately titled “Sea Oats.”

Isn’t that just a marvelous photo, y’all?!

The FIRST PLACE winner in the Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest is Heather Welch, fairly new to blogging and to photography, but very talented in both, with her entry on the theme “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy,” that is untitled.  The judges absolutely loved the delight evidenced in the children in the photo using their hands, mouths and all other means by which to down some ice cold watermelon in the middle of a hot, hot summer.  It evokes, without words, the theme “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy!”  What do y’all think?  Don’t you love it?!  I mean, watermelon everywhere, but do they care?  Geez, no!  They’re washable, right?!

The FD judges are awarding a $25 gift certificate to the First Place winner this time, so will be in touch with Heather to convey that gift to her.  All of her work sent in was good, as were all of the rest of the entries, and she is entitled to be the First Place winner!

In conclusion . . . thanks to each and every one of you who participated in this contest and to all who stop by to read on a regular basis.  Without your support and constant encouragement, not only would this be a rather dull place to hang around, but also the less for not having all of you as friends.  In the past, Finding Direction has held summer and winter photo contests, so we’ll see this coming winter if perhaps we can revive that schedule.  It all depends on the Lord, on whom all our lives depend.

May God richly bless each and every one of you who stops by here!  Dee

]]> http://deeandrews.net/2010/08/31/winners-announced-and-featured-in-the-finding-direction-summer-2010-photo-contest/feed/ 6 http://deeandrews.net/2010/08/30/photo-contest-judging-nearly-finished-hang-tight-another-day-or-so/ http://deeandrews.net/2010/08/30/photo-contest-judging-nearly-finished-hang-tight-another-day-or-so/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:51:49 +0000 Dee Andrews http://deeandrews.net/?p=3865 Judging and the writing up of the blog on the winners has been going strong.  WAS going strong, until Tom got sick about six days ago.  It kept on, so I finally had to take him to the doctor today.  The diagnosis:  “Acute sinusitis/Pharyngitis/Bronchitis.”  I suppose it could have been worse.  He’s never had his tonsils out, so I’ve been thinking it was tonsillitis and had visions of popcicles galore for a long time to come after surgery.

He had to have a shot, get some antibiotics, nose spray and strong cough syrup, so hopefully will be better in a day or two.  At least he’s no longer running fever.  Taking care of him can be a “pain,” though!  (Just kidding.  I love him to pieces and when he hurts, I hurt.)

I’ve set myself a deadline of tomorrow, or if not by then, Wednesday, so y’all please understand – show some empathy, if you’ve ever been sick – and pray with us for his quick recovery now that he has medications.

Many blessings to each of you today!  Dee

P. S. I didn’t even mention that my left hand is mostly numb this afternoon from some shots I had to get in the palm of my hand for a couple of “trigger fingers” there.  And, that’s not even my shooting hand!  But, the gun is loaded and ready with a round chambered, so walk easy!

However . . . do not be dismayed.  The judges expect to have the winners’ post up and ready for your oohs and aahs by next week – not promising which day yet – but next week.  So, keep checking.

In the meantime, practice patience and remember why it is we all gather around each others blogs.  We do so to find and make connections; to learn how to live, laugh and love better; to see life in a new and better way; to come to greater understandings of each other.

In my Friday blog, I talked about my “big garden of friends” that I have gathered through blogging and the internet.  It’s been inspirational to me!  You all have lifted me up many times when I was really, really down!  And, you’ve shared the fun times and even joyous times with me.

Before this blog gets to maudlin, let me leave you with some fun thoughts on grandparents.  Some of you are grandparents, some of you aren’t, but you’ve had grandparents and hopefully one day will be one yourself.  Regardless, these are sweet and funny.  Till next time!  Dee

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday.
He asked me how old I was, and I told him, “62.” He was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, “Did you start at 1?”

********************************************************************
After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old
slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she
heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin.
At last she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings.
As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, “Who was THAT?”

*******************************************************************
A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: “We used to skate outside on a pond.I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods.
The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this in. At last she said, “I sure wish I’d gotten to know you sooner!”

*********************************************************************

My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, “Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?”
I mentally polished my halo while I asked, No, how are we alike?”
You’re both old,” he replied.

*********************************************************************

A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather’s word processor. She told him she was writing a story.
“What’s it about?” he asked.
I don’t know,” she replied. “I can’t read.”

*********************************************************************
I didn’t know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something
and ask what color it was. She would tell me, and always she was correct. But it was fun for me, so I continued.
At last she headed for the door, saying sagely, Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these yourself!”

********************************************************************

When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from
attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, “It’s no use, Grandpa.
The mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights.”

*********************************************************************

When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, “I’m not sure, “Look in your underwear, Grandma,” he advised.
“Mine says I’m four to six.”

************************************************************

Children’s Logic: “Give me a sentence about a public servant,” said a teacher.
The small boy wrote: “The fireman came down the ladder pregnant.”
The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. “Don’t you know what pregnant means?” she asked.
Sure,” said the young boy confidently. “It means carrying a child.”

*********************************************************************

A nursery school teacher was delivering a station wagon full of kids home one day when a fire truck zoomed past.
Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog’s duties.
They use him to keep crowds back,” said one youngster.
“No, said another, “he’s just for good luck.”
A third child brought the argument to a close. “They use the dogs”, she said firmly, “to find the fire hydrant.”

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
_________________________________________________________________

In all of you, my dear blogging and Facebook friends, I have a large garden of understanding, hope and joy.  I hope that some of you feel the same way as I do.

God has richly blessed me with love in my life and much love has come to me from great distances here in the past five and a half years I’ve been blogging and have met fellow Christians through the internet.  Thank you all!!

That’s it for today.  Just a short thought and thank you.  My second surgery for cataracts yesterday was also successful and now I’m just resting a bit while healing.  I cannot see through my current glasses very well at the moment, but as soon as I get new ones with a new prescription in a couple of weeks, I should be seeing MUCH better than I have for a very long time.

Cheers!  And many blessings to each of you today!  Dee

What fun ahead.  But, lots of work go into judging, so it will be a few days before the winners are announced and a grand prize given.  (Really – this year there IS a real grand winner’s prize!)

For one thing, moi must have a second cataract surgery on Thursday, to enlighten my vision so I can see better – bright and clear, as I can now see out of my already operated on left eye.  It’s quite a difference, I’m tellin’ ya!  And, I was really apprehensive about having it done, too.

Because of the work involved in getting the winning photos ready for publication and all, and the distractions, like surgery Thursday, I’m not going to give you a definite day yet for when the winners shall be posted.  We’ll see . . . hopefully sooner than later, but I’ll let y’all know.  Keep checking.  It will be worth your wait to see some of the fantastic entries!

In fact, I think that even after all of the winners of the different categories are announced and published, I’ll share some of the other entries with you, too, along as I write my columns here in the future.  Let you see what talent there is amongst you readers and commenters.  I like featuring photos on each column and now have a huge selection to choose from in sharing them with you all.  When I do, I’ll share who the photographer is, so you will get full recognition.

That’s it for today.  It’s Monday; laundry day; getting caught up from laundry not finished from last Monday day; getting ready for the coming busy week day.

What’s your day and week shaping up to be?  Share with us!

Cheers!  And many blessings to each of you today!!  Dee

HEADLINES FROM THE YEAR: 2029

Exploding hydrogen powered cars now killing millions in the seventh largest country in the world, Mexifornia, formerly known as  California.

White minorities still trying to have English recognized as Mexifornia’s third language.

Spotted Owl plague threatens northwestern  United States  crops and livestock.

Baby conceived naturally! Scientists stumped.

Couple petitions court to reinstate heterosexual marriage.

Iran  still closed off; physicists estimate it will take at least 10 more years before radioactivity decreases to safe levels.

France   pleads for global help after being taken over by  Jamaica  .. No other country comes forward to help the beleaguered nation!

Castro finally dies at age 112; Cuban cigars can now be imported legally, but President Chelsea Clinton has banned all smoking.

George Z. Bush says he will run for President in 2036.

Postal Service raises price of first class stamp to $17.89 and reduces mail delivery to Wednesdays only.

85-year $75.8 billion study: Diet and exercise is the key to weight loss.

Average weight of Americans drops to 250 lbs.

Climate change blamed for citrus crop failure for third consecutive year in Mexifornia and Floruba.

Japanese scientists have created a camera with such a fast shutter speed they now can photograph a woman with her mouth shut.

Last  remaining two parent family interviewed on Larry King show.

Massachusetts   executes last remaining conservative.

Supreme Court rules punishment of criminals violates their civil rights.

Average height of NBA players is now nine feet seven inches with  only 3 illegitimate children.

New federal law requires that all nail clippers, screwdrivers, fly swatters and rolled-up newspapers must be registered by January 2030..

IRS sets lowest tax rate at 75 percent..

Floruba voters still having trouble with voting machines.

Now, send this to whomever you want and as many as you want, then, guess what….NOTHING will happen. No miracles, no money, absolutely nothing, except you might make someone smile or very very scared.

I Love This Country!

It’s The People who run the Government That Scares The Dickens out of Me!

Do you have your photo contest photos out and ready to email to me for the Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest?  The deadline is this coming Sunday, and while a lot of entries have been received, there’s still room for a few more.

The contest judges are clamoring to get their hands – eyes – on the entries so that they can ooh and ahh their way to handing out awards to the contest winners.  There will be an overall winner, for sure, but if you’ve been around Finding Direction very long, you know that lots of entrants are winners in the various categories.

Speaking of eyes . . . I now have to have cataract surgery on both of mine.  The first surgery – on my left eye – is going to be Thursday, with the right eye to follow one day next week.

I’ve had cataracts for several years that have been worsening all the time.  But, up until now, they only affected my night vision.  I’ve not been able to see to drive at night for quite a long time.

Now, they have clouded up both my lenses so much that my vision can no longer be corrected to 20/20.  In fact, I’m on the edge of not having sufficient vision to legally drive.  I’ve realized the past two or three months that my vision was not very good, but was hoping I just needed a new prescription.  However, when I saw the eye doctor yesterday morning, I found out it was the cataracts blurring and darkening my vision.

So . . . Thursday morning I’m having surgery on my left eye – that has the poorer vision, and then next week will have the right one done – that has the worse cataracts.

Afterward, I should be able to see much better so I’ll really know what’s going on in the world, which may not be to my benefit, ya know?!  Sometimes, I think it’s better to look at the world through rose colored glasses, which I may do if I decide to have my new prescription for glasses that I’ll need following surgery tinted pink.  Right now I wear glasses with gray tint at the top and pink tint at the bottom on each lens.  It’s very flattering to the eyes and reduces glare a bit.

That’s it for now.  I must go get things in order around here so I’ll be ready to lay low a day or so later in the week.

Y’all be GOOD today and stay out of trouble, ya hear?!  Cheers!  And God Bless Us Every One!!  Dee

I made my coffee a whole lot stronger this morning and drank more of it.  I’m wired!

To keep up the caffeine high I’m on, I’ve decided to go grocery shopping after lunch (which is always a downer in Picayune) in Slidell, next big town down the road, and to stop and have an iced coffee at Starbucks afterward to drink on the 18 mile trip home.

I figure that will give me enough energy to unload all of the groceries, get them put away and to prepare Tom a good dinner.  Being so slumpy lately and being on a diet, I haven’t been cooking too much.  Poor Tom is beginning to waste away to nothing and I’ve got to keep him healthy.  We have exciting things going on in our lives.  (Another reason to get out of the slump, don’t you think?!)

Cheers!!!  (I put in an extra exclamation point for good measure today and to reinforce my onward and upward state of mind.  ha!)  Many blessings to each of you today! Dee

Warning:  This use of caffeine to cure slumps or slumpiness is not recommended or touted for those who are not willing to play the coffee game.  If you don’t drink coffee . . . there’s NO other cure and you’re helpless (and hopeless, imho).  Cheers to you non-coffee drinkers.  You’re in trouble and need some cheering up!!!

(1) you peruse Facebook and old email forwards for good material for a blog post.

(2) you’re too lazy to make fresh coffee and drink the leftovers from the last pot made.

(3) when you’re too lazy to do even that!

(4) you put off phoning anyone because you don’t have the enthusiasm or energy to even hit the buttons on the phone to call.

I could go on here, but won’t.  See, I’m in a slump and it’s too much work.

How do you know when you’re in a slump?  Surely, I’m not the only one in this close to three digit heat.  Let’s hear it, y’all.

I know one thing you’d better not be in a slump about and that’s entering the current Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest.  Some really good ones have come in, but some of you are procrastinating and you only have through August 15 to get them turned in.

Send them to me a jpgs.  If you need my email address, write to me from the contact form at the top of the page here and I’ll give it to you.  I’d like to have some more good ones and I know y’all have some, so share them with us!

That’s it for now.  Get to work going through your photos for the contest and stay “Un” slumped!!

Cheer!  (See . . . I don’t even have enough energy for more than “one” cheer.)

Dee

P. S.  At least, it’s now August and football season is close at hand.  Tom has a new Dallas Cowboys T-shirt and cap, so he’s ready to go.  Those accessories will go well with his new boathouse!  ha!

However, that same day, oil and tar balls began to show up in the water of the lake in Slidell.  Undaunted, he still thinks he can get in some good sailing before the mess is too much.  I told him I didn’t think that was such a great idea.  For one thing, the boat has those brand new blue coats of paint on the bottom of it, up to the water line and a little above, with a second blue line trim running around the boat above that.

The other big thing (in my book, however I guess I’m no longer a true sailor) is that if he gets a tar ball caught up in his motor, that will be the end of the outboard motor and I said, “we are not getting a new boat motor.”  “Period.”  “Forget it.”  “No way.”

Sometimes one must stand her ground, and this is the spot I’ve chosen to stand on.

So, he came come up with an alternate plan, which went like this:

(1) He wanted to put in a long gravel driveway down on the lower end of the front of our property so he could put the boat and trailer on it, instead of having it on the grass next to the garage.  Having the boat on the trailer on the grass up close is not only unsightly, but is also killing the grass beneath it.

The last two reasons above earned him enough permission from me to call our builder/contractor to come give him an estimate.

Tom described the gravel he thought would look nice that one of our wealthy neighbors has in his side yard.  Turns out to be a “special” gray gravel that is twice as expensive as regular gravel.  I couldn’t believe it.

Well, yes I could, knowing Tom and how he always gravitates, as if by magic, to the most expensive whatever it is he wants to purchase.  Again, I stood my ground and said “forget it.”  I was against the whole gravel driveway scenario to begin with, but was beginning to wear down.

Then he decided it would be nice to have cross ties along each side and a shed at the end, as a place where he could store all of his boat extra parts and pieces when the boat wasn’t in the water.  The shed could also hold all of his paraphernalia from Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest that now clutters the garage so that it is nearly impossible to get in and out of the cars.

Our builder came out and Tom got a price.  Then, Tom decided to add to the equation a concrete foundation upon which to place the now metal shed we were going to have to buy, so that the shed could be bolted down.

So, now we were up to a “regular” gravel driveway, cross ties all along each side, pouring a concrete foundation, buying a metal shed to place on said foundation, a culvert at the street’s edge, and, oh yeah – it seems a tree that is in the way is going to have to come down.

All of this is so that we can place the boat and trailer on it (along with its monthly liability insurance) since Tom can’t put it in the water anywhere around here due to the oil spill.

I got to thinking about all of this and came up with what I thought was an even better solution.  SELL THE BOAT!

I mean, he can no longer handle it himself, there’s no place to sail within hours of driving and it costs a whole lot of boat dollars just to have it to look at, much less sail.

But, he’s not to be deterred.  So, now I’m thinking that maybe the thing to do is (1) let him do all of the above additions to the property, which hopefully will be considered assets, (2) get a small window unit air conditioner for one of the two shed windows, (3) let  him put the two old furry bean bags out there that he won’t allow me to part with, (4) and have him go out there with his brand new cell phone (remember the other fairly new one got salt water in it and died trying to get the boat out of the water), where he can watch the NFL channel on his phone.

He was all excited because his “new” new phone has the NFL channel with all Sunday and Thursday night games.  I figure this will present the perfect opportunity for him to take advantage of those games, while he sits there in his bean bags looking out the other little shed window at his sailboat in front of him.  What more could a guy want, ya know?

Me . . . I’m going to sit in the house watching football on the 60″ HDTV and pretend Tom’s gone sailing.