Although I’ve been missing for only 11 days or so, I feel like it’s been a lifetime. Really. A lifetime. Having “said” that I figure it’s only fair that a lifetime is different for all living things. In my case it’s the lifetime for a the Powderpost Beetle. My extensive research on these critters revealed that their average lifespan is about two weeks which means that at least some of them check out in 11 days, or so. Considering there are 540 species of these guys suggests there is a lot of negotiating room to justify my supposition.

During those eleven days we managed to get the truck delivered to a body shop to repair damage obtained at the Good Sam Hospital parking garage, and the motorhome to the diesel guy in Deer Island for an oil change. He also fixed the problem with the dash air in the RV, a problem we’ve been working on for most of a year. I honestly don’t think it was ever working, but it works now.

Oh, and we visited with our friends when we all gathered together in Newport, Oregon. Max loves the beach. That’s the only reason we went.

Not true, of course. Diane loves the beach, too and she’s the primary reason for the trip. Seeing and visiting with our friends were a bonus. They all stayed in their RVs at South Beach State Park while we occupied a facility in town that accommodated all 12 of us for a sit-down dinner on our night to cook. It worked so well that we did it twice.

During this time one of our favorite cousins drove all the way from Arizona to have a heart attack and we can only ask ourselves “why would he do that?” I need to call him and see how he’s doing. Last I heard he had weathered the heart attack like a pro and was doing well. Still, I need to call him.

If you keep track of weather patterns you are probably aware of the heat wave cooking the west coast over the 4th. It doesn’t affect me very much because I spend most of my time inside. Oh, I take Max on a leisurely tour of the neighborhood a couple times a day, normally, but we’ve cut back on the amount of time spent outside. Diane’s afraid he’s going to cook his little toes walking on the asphalt. So far that hasn’t been an issue. Me, however, all I do is sweat profusely which helps keep me slim, for a little while.

Another event was put on at our house once we returned from the beach. Siah, our youngest Grandson, is now 3 years old. It was a rollicking good time for those the 2-300 in attendance. Of those were the members of both our children’s off springs and a couple of extras. Always fun.

Time to stop. Diane went by and strongly suggested that I visit the shower so, that’s what I’ll do because I always do whatever she tells me to do, no matter what tone of voice she uses.

Goodnight. Hope everyone had a safe 4th.