Catching up with more photos

Just like Hurricane Faye, Gustav was nothing more than a strong breeze and some showers now and then. Not that I want a category 4 knocking on the door, but I wouldn't mind slapping up some of this wood Paul and I cut in 98 degree heat. Anyway, here is a movie clip of about as bad as Gustav got around here, as well as some bonus photos from this summer.

Had to bring our pineapple plant inside in case Gustav got strong

Frogger

Giant Root Borer - 3 inches long - Caught in pool filter

We had a bunch of tiny brown praying mantis hanging around the back porch

During the summer, we went up to see the Rayls. Here are all the kids (Mikey, Tyler, Caitlyn, Sam, and Conner)

Mikey and his best Michigan buddy - Tyler

We went to a shark fising tournament a few weeks ago. This 500 lb Tiger shark was caught somewhere off of Pensacola beach. I miss swimming in the AuSable River.

Great White Nerd

Calm before the Storm...

I got back from Puerto Rico Friday night after being there for a week. The highlight was the Bacardi Plant tour. I brought back some vital hurricane supplies from the tour in the form of duty free liquor.

The bottle in the middle is the 12-year aged, hand-bottled, numbered rum. You can only buy it at Bacardi. It is $80 per bottle, but we knew someone on the inside so I did not pay that much. I will save it for a special occasion. Like maybe a Tuesday.

View from my room at the El Conquistador Resort

The Bacardi Bat is the logo because when they first opened the distillery in 1863 in Cuba, fruit bats liked to make the home in the rafters, so they decided it was a fitting logo for the rum.

With Bacardi's lead Mixologist. I had the Mojito. They drinks were free. The barrels they age the rum in are imported from the U.S. - from the Jack Daniels Distillery.

Here are some before shots of our yard as we prepare for Tropical Storm Fay. They are calling for about 15 inches of rain. My neighbor Paul and I went to the Pace Fire Department where they were giving out sandbags. They had 2600 bags yesterday, and were down to their last 200 we we arrived. Paul and I are the only ones with sandbags in our neighborhood. Suckers.

More Photos from Michigan

Here are some more photos from the recent trip. See Jason's blog (e) link at the left to see more photos and some video of the great day at the ballpark to see Mikey's favorite player play for the White Caps - Magglio Ordonez (thanks again Bol!)

Pops lent me his sports car for a couple of days. This is a photo I took of myself while driving 90 on the back roads.

First day on the Everett family vacation on Lake Michigan. Freshwater is nice.

This could be the next X-Mas photo.

This also is a candidate.

Uncle Jason getting lit up by cans o' silly string.

Bol, Mikey, and Uncle Jason in the first row awaiting Maggs.

Mikey and Grampy

We went to Greenfield Village with Nana and Granpa. Here are the kids in front of the Wiener Mobile.

Chow.

Up in Michigan, Up at the Cabin

We are finally all back in Florida after fun in Michigan. I am sadly missing the annual tubing trip this year as I have been traveling so much. Larry and I were able to get up to the cabin for a couple of days to tube, drink beer, have a bonfire, etc. It was nice being able to sit outside and not sweat your azz off. Here are some photo's from da' cabin.

The Cabin.

The AuSable River

Larry looking for his nuts.

End of the trip

Larry picking blueberries, seconds before being mauled by a hungry black bear.

Michigan blueberries

Eat them up, yum

My Girl's Birthday

Today is my little girl's 10th Birthday. Here are some of my fav photos of the little angel (devil).

Happy Birthday Sammy!!!!!

Running out of crap to do...

It has been pretty boring around here without Ras and the kids. Here are some projects I have been working on in their absence...

Ras would never let me get Space Bags. Now that she is gone, I bought some and put my sweaters in them.

I cleaned the garage.


I made a pyramid of soda cans. Once complete, they are going in the trash because I do not recycle when Ras is gone. I do not recycle when she is here either.

Even BarBar looks bored.

Home Alone

Ras and the kids are still in Michigan. I am not traveling for a couple of weeks. I am trying to get some things done around the yard. I have been watching movies. Pretty boring stuff. I did buy a fountain for the pool. The guy at the pool store said it will lower the temperature of the pool by 7-10 degrees. There is a big difference between 93 degree water and 83 degrees. The pool is 85 today. It is nice. My buddy Rob started a blog so folks can keep track of him since he moved to Texas. Ras's dad started one too. Links are to the left.

Here are some photos from today. Soak it in.