Nilknarf News

The first thing that I did was get the mower blade sharpened. Took it over to Andy at Whelans, took him about a minute to sharpen it. Then I went to Home Depot and bought a blower/mulcher. Works great, but it's only a light-duty one, but it'll work OK for the few leaves that are left after today's work.

The way I do leaves is a little bit different... I hate the thought of putting something that biodegradable into a plastic sack and dumping it into a landfill. Seems like a waste, and *just plain *WRONG**!

So--- I mulch the leaves and put them in a pile in the back yard. I've been doing this for twelve years now, and the pile is getting pretty hefty, since that's also where I've been putting the grass clippings.

But this year... well, it's gonna be a little different. Andy got us a mulching mower, and it doesn't have a bag... so the ground-up leaves are gonna stay on the ground. And in a week or so, I'm gonna put down some grass seed again and see if I can grow some grass. Unless it's too late for that, I'll have to check around, I might have to wait for spring.

I have made up my mind that I'm gonna have some chemical service do the fertilization and weedkilling this next year, though. It's only about $20 a month, and those guys know what they're doing. Me, I read the label about half the time and probably even get it wrong them.

I worked about five hours, then gave up from exhaustion. Not used to this work stuff, not physical labor anyway, but it felt good to be doing it. I'll probably be suffering tomorrow, though.

Took a shower and got out about the time that Karen got home; she and Brian had gone out to the store and then everyone had gone out to Andy and Karla's new house.

So we went out, picking up Kim on the way... we took sandwich stuff and dip, so we had a little party...

Anyway, it's quite a ways out of town, about 15 minutes, Andy said, but I think that it's further than that... I'd say 25 from our house to his.

They're about 2 miles south of I-70 on Keene road, pretty much out in the country. They have propane heat and no cable... but they do have satellite TV.

Anyway, the kids... there were five of them... were pretty terrible, and I started whining about wanting to go home about 17:30. The World series was on, and Andy couldn't get it on the satellite... I don't think that he really wanted to anyway... he wanted to watch some chick... Brittany something.

So I finally get Kim and Karen moving in the direction of the car, and Lacee decides that she wants to stay and raises a big stink about how life just isn't fair. This goes on for ten minutes or so, we finally get her in the car.

So, we get home, I turn on the TV and hit Fox. Fourth inning, the score is... 13 to 0? WTF????

Well, thanx to slow and recalcitrant women, I missed the third inning, which must've been utterly spectacular.

22:34...
15 to 2, it's ended. So, tomorrow will be the whole ball of wax, as it were.

When I was a kid... the world series was played during the daytime, as most baseball games were. And... there was always one or two teachers who brought radios to school, and would let everyone listen to the games. There was no pretext of learning during the games... America sat and listened, and later, sat and watched. I don't know exactly when they decided to do the series in the evening to boost their ratings, but I really feel that it led to to downfall of baseball, even before the strike. Let's face it... before, people were given the choice: baseball... work. Well, duh.

Now... baseball... other leisure activity. A toss-up. Let's face it... baseball's not our national sport any more. Nothing is. The pie is split way too many ways. Baseball, football, basketball, hockey, racing, rassling, golf, tennis... what did I miss? Tiddely-winks?

Does anyone know what tiddly-winks is any more? Do I really know how to spell it? Am I trying, once again, to hoodwink America?

Where does the tiddly-winks champion reside? Is the Piddly Cup still in American hands? Who goes first, red or blue?

Bowling. I missed bowling. I hang my head in shame, I do.

I also missed my bedtime. Lotsa physical work today, either I'll sleep really good, or I won't be able to sleep 'cause I'm sore. I'll let you know tomorrow...