My Lovely Wife (Joan) seems to think I have to much stuff! So today was the semi annual rearranging of the garage to make it fit, this happens twice a year to accomendate the season. Now with a two car garage, you'd think I'd have plenty of room. I mean 576 square feet of storage space pretty much just for all my stuff. In the house I'm lucky she leaves me a drawer to put my socks in! But with two boats, the pickup and a jeep along with the lawn mower a roto tiller, and an assortment of garden tools, the barbeque grill, not to mention more tools, along with the snow blowers (yes I have two, don't ask!),space is at a premium to say the least! It does take a bit of engenuity I'll admit that. But our younger son, who is still here at home and I have this down to a science now. The Cuddy Cabin goes to the dry dock yard for the winter. The flat bottom remains outside where it normally is, minus it's outboard motor which tucks away neatly on a saw horse in a corner. Large rolling tool box stuffed neatly in the other corner at the front on either side of the work bench. All the other boating items that can't be left in the cuddy over the winter go in storage containers on shelves. The rotor tiller replaces the larger snow blower in it's spot, as the snow blower is gotten out and readied for use. that all moved into place the truck and the jeep fit nicely in the middle, God help me if Joan has to remove frost or snow from the windows of the jeep! She claims this would be a direct violation of our marriage license. I'm told this is in the fine print and it's not her fault I didn't read it before I signed it. Over the years now I'm begining to suspect I never saw the entire document, because there has to be seven or eight pages of fine print!

But anyhow now that I look back at the garage all arranged and stowed away and ready for the winter season. I have no idea what that woman is talking about. I do so have room to keep a motorcycle!

Veteran's Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the guns of the war to end all wars, World War 1 fell silent. In 1938 the Armies of Hitlers Germany and Stalins Russia invaded Poland. The guns of war were once again back to their bloody business. Korea, Vietnam and in countless other places around the world the guns of war have gone about their bloody business, since that day in 1918.

America and our nato allies are now doing battle in Iraq and Afghanistan. Once again the young men and women in uniform are going in harms way for their countries. One of my volunteer duties for the Red Cross is to attend pre-deployment briefings for Reservist and National Guard troops preparing to be deployed. I have seen the fear and concern for them in the eyes of their loved ones who will remain behind waiting for their return. Fearing that knock on the door, that so many have recieved when the military comes to tell them their loved one will not be returning home!

My own son was among one of the National Guard units to ship out to Afghanistan. I will never forget the look of fear in my wife's eyes as she watched her first born son board that bus.

So on this Veteran's Day I ask you to remember not only those who have and are serving, but the families they have left behind to wait and worry.

The trees in my yard have lost all their leafs, so today I went about cleaning the gutters on the house and the garage. Then set about attaching the leaf mulcher to my mower to clear the yard. You see in our town it's now against the law to rake and burn the leafs. I miss the smell of burning leafs in the fall. I understand all the reasons for not burning them now days. But to me the smell of leafs burning in the fall, is as midwest as the smell of hay being mowed. Being a normally law abiding person I haven't burned mine in years. Until today that is, I don't know blame it on the gray and dreary skies we have had of late or a yearning for the past. I made a small pile of leafs in the now empty vegitable garden bed and set them a blaze, sat back and dreamed of the days of my youth as I inhaled the pungent smell of burning leafs.

Okay our weather hasn't been all that pleasant lately. But snow! this is just wrong, it's only October 10th! As my wife and I left a meeting I was speaking at for the Red Cross this morning, we were greeted by snow flurries. Now mind you I'm not all that opposed to winter and snow. But fall in Iowa is more about enjoying the beautiful fall colors and the few remaining days before winter lounging at anchor on the river sipping wine. At least that's my idea of fall!

My wife, our youngest son and grandson have just returned from Saint Louis. We were there for the weekend to attend our nephew Andy's wedding and welcome his bride Sabrina to our family.