Friday 070427 - Pre-lunch; Lunch; Weights for the patio blinds; Yard cleaning; Friday Night TV, "Killing Rain"

I think I must have done some raking before lunch, since lunch was later than usual. Of course, there are alwys the standard household chores: laundry; checking for any accidents by the cats; feeding the felines; taking the morning supply of meds; making the bed; maybe a wee vacuuming or such, I try not to stir uo too much dust, and I do wear a dust mask.

It was a spread-out crowd, and my customary seat by the window was taken, so I moved over to one of the single tables in the smoking section. I was wearing my Pink Floyd cap, and one of the servers commented on it. The third such comment I've gotten from the servers.No one has ever mentioned the Green Day cap, but then they're not as well known.

I did see a police officer in the check in line who I remember from Chili's. He was really a nice guy. One day they were out of something to do with milk shakes, so he went back to the kitchen and made me one special. I also know another police officer who is a part-time manager at Swensen's, a sandwich and ice-cream place. And I have to say , he is one of the nicest people I've ever made. And I don't just mean phony nice. There's a charity that comes from deep within him. In so happens, that I mentioned the other officer, and the manager mentioned that the other officer used to have a off duty job as a male stripper. But the department thought that unseemly for an officer. He is a very muscular guy with a beautiful smile, so I can see him doing something like that.

This time, I read parts of the April "Wired." The focus of the mag was about how more and more companies are allowing employees to publish blogs about their work, even if it's sometimes critical. Microsoft even does it. At an anecdotal level, it appears to be having a positive influence.

(In - Friday - 20070427 - 1323: $7.29 - Cash)

One problem with outdoor blinds is that they move around a lot in the breeze. I knew what I wanted: some type of small weights, I could attach at the bottom. I stopped at Lowe's but never found exactly what I wanted. I could have bought some piece of piping or washers, but that reall was not what I wanted. Customer Service could not come up with any suggestions either. They may have something, but no one could think where to look.

From the start of this, I'd thought of fishing line weights or sinkers. So I maneuvered my little red car toward that megalopolis of sporting good stores - Pro Bass Shops Outdoor World. I always loved the corrugated tin exterior. The texture and color give it a unique beauty.

Inside is akin to a large mountain lodge with lot and lots of merchandise. I headed for fishing section and discovered aisle after aisle after aisle of fishing gear. I finally asked a clerk, and he showed me where the weights were. I could have easily wandered around for hours and never found them.

They had just what I needed: package of nine 4-ounce egg-shaped sinkers. (Out - Friday - 20070427 - 1511 - $9.19 - cash).

When I got home, I changed into my yard gear - ratty jeans, tee, old sneakers, leather gloves, dust mask and Mao Tse Tong cap. (Or Mao Ze Dong, or Mao Zedong or Mao Tsetung.) It rained slightly Thursday evening, and a large nest of some kind had been dislodged from of the front pines. The size makes think it mught have been a squirrel's nest.

I looked up squirrel's nest on the web, and the size look appropriate. I just don't think in terms of squirrels having nest. Condos, maybe; but not nests.

I think that after that I did some more raking without overdoing it.

I turned on the telly and caught the last part of "StarGate SG-1." Samantha Carter was trapped in a totalitarian alternate universe. At the last moment, she's jerked back to the real "reality. It does have a number of ogleable performers. See "StarGate SG-1".

This was followed by "StarGate: Atlantis," which has the ogleable Joe Flanigan. Until a year or so ago, it also had the delectable Rainbow Francks See "StarGate: Atlantis".

Then came "Painkiller Jane". Sean O. Roberts and Stephen Lobo are both interesting to watch.

I managed to get a couple more chapters of "Killing Rain" before slipping into the land of nod.