To catch up from yesterday's fishing trip: a couple of odd things happened while we were fishing at Betsy's yesterday. The first was kind of gross; I had mis-cast, and got a sluggo stuck in a bush on the bank. As we were going to retrieve it, I noticed some motion below the stuck lure. Just as we got there, a large bullfrog jumped up and got the lure. I did a catch-and release on the frog. Thankfully, he wasn't hooked in his tongue, but in his upper jaw. When I released him, he just sat on the back deck with me for a few minutes, observing the activities. Then, "Gribbit" and he jumped into the pond.

A little while later, Doug & I observed some activity going on up by the dam. There was a commotion being caused by something large and brown. My first thought was beavers, but remembering that they are mostly nocturnal, I thought probably muskrats. We were both disgustingly surprised to find that it was two very large snapping turtles fucking. The female, the larger of the two, had a head the size my fist with her mouth closed. Open (I assume in ecstasy) it was awesome. She could probably bite off my hand! Snapping turtles are a scourge to most ponds bass populations, but haven't seemed to hurt Betsy's. The female had a shell at least two feet in diameter.

Enough of that. On to the North Star!

Deb & Herm arrived right on time, and we took Lacee home (she didn't want to go with Kim when she came by earlier) and proceeded to the North Star. We were seated immediately. They were not too busy for a Saturday night, which worries me. We used to regularly wait one to two hours to get in the dining room. I think that the Wanamaker Corridor has hurt their business, but I have confidence in their ability to survive. After you've eaten at everyplace on Wanamaker, the service and quality of the North Star will get you back there.

We had perhaps the best steak that we've ever had there. We had an excellent time, of course. The North Star, even in the worst of company, is a good time, and Deb and Herm are very fun people. Deb & I cleaned up our plates, and Herm and Karen contributed to the doggie bags. Herm and Deb used one bag, while Karen & I had one for the real dog(gie) and one for us. Doggie, who is doing very well now after her course of antibiotics, really appreciated the fat & gristle that we wouldn't eat. Dogs don't suffer from the cloresterol problems that we humans have, incidentally. So for those of you who think I'm trying to do away with Doggie, think again!

After the North Star, we tried to think of some amusement, and someone came up with the very brilliant suggestion of playing miniature golf. It was me, of course. And, as usual in most company, I whupped their asses good. Miniature golf is too much like pool for me to be bad at it. I'm good at pool because I have a head for angles, one of the reasons I'm good at x-raying people. Anyway, we all had a good time, and they're all good losers. I like that in a person!

After, we decided to get a hot fudge sundae at Dairy Queen. It was just after ten, and their inside dining area closed at ten. I didn't feel like waiting in line, so we went home. Deb and Herm sat with us for a while on the front deck. They are such a neat couple, seemingly made for each other. I am proud of the fact that I introduced them. I did good!

Herm & Deb liked the spread I did on their wedding. They were not expecting that at all, and complimented me on the excellent job that I had done. I used to be a professional photographer, and I hated it! But when it's a fun job, it's, well...FUN!

Saturday was just an excellent day. I spent the entire day with friends that I love, doing things that I love to do. And on top of all of that, I get to sleep with a woman that I love! What a Life! I used to wonder, "how did I get so lucky?" but now I realize that I *deserve* what I have.

I had told Karen that I would take her to KC today, and it's going to be more complicated than I had anticipated. Steve is taking Patrick camping with him, leaving Kin and Lacee on their own. So we are taking them to KC with us. Lacee will probably stay with "Kansas City Grandma"(Leora) in Olathe, and Kim will stay in the motel with us. We generally stay in the Clubhouse Inn in KC on Metcalf; they have an excellent facility, good service and a free breakfast. Lacee loves her Grandma Leora almost as much as she does Karen, so she will have fun. I'm not really sure what Kim and Karen and I will do for amusement, but it will not be the same thing Karen & I would do without Kim!

I haven't talked much about Kim in this journal. Besides being Lacee's mother, a claim to fame in itself, she's a very sweet, semi-confused young lady. Very pretty, very self-assured. Very much weird. She eschews hugs in a family that hugs. I love her very much, but she thinks that I don't. She tries really hard to be hard, but doesn't quite come across that way. She is pursuing happiness in her own way, and not getting anywhere. I surely wish her the best.

Well, Karen is letting me know that it is TIME TO GO! so I better get this online and roll!