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Showing posts from January, 2021

100 and Done! (Countries that is...)

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We are back! This last trip brought the total countries visited to 100! It is a crazy milestone. It is difficult, time-consuming and can be (IS) expensive. After I got back from Antarctica in 2007, I started thinking about it. After 2010 I was thinking about it more (as I moved from NY to Georgia) and in 2014 it had become a real goal. Between Angie and I we have been to 109 Countries. We are tied at 100 countries each. We have 9 countries different in our lists. For example, I have been to San Marino. She has not. She has been to Israel. I have not, yet. There has been some fun competition in this area. That's why we had to establish rules. 1.) Must be listed (as a country) with the US State Department 2.) Being in an airport doesn't count. You have to get through immigration somehow and not in a DMZ or a no-mans-land 3.) A passport stamp is not required. I have been to Canada, Paraguay, and Uruguay without getting my passport stamped. There are friendly borders in many places...

"The Pandemic"

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This pandemic thing really is something novel. I have no comparable experience in my 50+ years on the planet. My take is that it is a two year event. Things will go back to normal considering that "back to normal" is a idealist and comfort filled thought. Cities will continue to grow. People will continue to gather and it will all be forgotten as fast as it came upon us. A couple of pics. 1.) Jewell the cat relaxing. If you twist the pic 90 degrees counter clockwise it looks like she may be dreaming about driving a car or something. 2 and 3.) A train on one of my walks through the woods, a bit of a power-move with 4 engines. The driver gave me two quick blasts on the horn to say hello. It was appreciated. 4.) I took a pic in my neighbors yard (not a game farm) of the local alpha bucks. ... they are conspiring, it appears. -- Who's stuff is whos? Whare are the girls? 5.) A pic out the back door of the house in Georgia. Winter has its own beauty even here in Duluth GA. ...
Our local Kroger grocery store made National news this week. We have two Krogers near us, the good Kroger and the shit Kroger. The shit kroger is the one that made the news. Turns out some kid "processed returns" from stuff that was never sold. It is an ancient scam. I won't believe the store management was in the dark for that much money in that short amount of time. It had to be a case of gross management negligence or the kid is taking the fall for someone else. > Atlanta news story > Inside our store
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I am putting the final touches on the master bathroom. This remodel included replacing the jacuzzi (sold it on Craigslist) with a fiberglass shower unit and added a bathtub. All new drywall, insulation, electric and plumbing. Interestingly, I didnt have to move the toilet. I incorporated LED lighting in the base moulding. This is the first time I installed an electric heated floor under the porceline tiles. Also included heated fog free mirror, and high-end plumbing fixtures (including a German temp sensing shower faucet). I certainly feel I could have done better. But at least it is done.
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Gracie doesnt like New Years eve much. I am not sure why.