Random Thoughts, Written on my new Laptop

Scotland will not be independent from England, not sure how that affects me in either the long or short run, but it seems to be the right answer. We are going to drop some more bombs on somebody we think needs to have bombs dropped on them in the Middle East and Congress gave its permission. They actually voted to do something the President asked for, how unique. Men who batter women, well make that men in public life who batter women are getting appropriately treated by society, even a judge. Just how great is that.

I was taught it was not permissible to strike little girls when I was 4 or 5 (at least so I remember) it may have had something to do with with the arrival of my sister, Sandy. I don’t remember being taught not to hit boys. Knowing my mother I assume there was was more to the former than just the arrival of Sandy, but that was a long time ago and I managed to extend the message to ALL people along the way. I suspect that I have found other ways to establish my position in any pecking order that does not require physical contact or aggressive behavior.

If this looks like stream of conscience it is because it is. The news has been mostly dreadful and I am dreading the coming election with its endless ads, endless lies and endless name calling. Not to mention the possibility of a result I do not want to see, the Republican take over of the Senate, is not at all unlikely (I can’t even say that in the positive).

We have been in Dan and Malena’s yard since Saturday the 13th. We will be here until the 27th and then drive the Jeep back to Rochester for a couple of weeks before returning here. Our current plans include a trip to Charlotte NC to visit Leigh and Patrick (and Hazel) in their new home before continuing on to Red Bay. While sitting here I have made some improvements to our setup. With permission, I bought a nice new drinking water hose that I have attached to the nearest hose bib to provide continuous water rather than my former process of running out a collapsible 50 foot hose and filling the tank every 3 or 4 days. Makes showering a lot more pleasant as we don’t need to take navy showers. I even removed 6 very sharp pointed self threading screws from the deck plate in the  utility bay so I won’t pierce a hose or my hand and replaced them with stainless steel bolts and locking nuts. Thank you to the guys on Tiffin RV Network for that recommendation.

Dinner last night at Al Carbone just north of Charlottesville. Wonderful Peruvian Mexican fusion. Friends of Dan and Malena treated us to a barbecue a couple of years ago as they were working on recipes for the restaurant and they have launched it. Chicken grilled low and slow over green charcoal with an amazing sauce had me licking  my fingers  and the plantains were heavenly and I could not get enough of the grilled jalapenos and onions. Carol had corn on the cob with mayonnaise and cheese which she really enjoyed. Everything else that came to the table was consumed by the six of us. Want to wish them good luck and I am sure we will be eating there again.

Quick note on the new computer. I was able to restore almost everything the way I had it on the old computer. Just a few more programs to locate and install. I am writing this on it and getting used to the key board being shifted to the left to make room for the number pad which I really do like. I think I got my first number pad as an add-on for my Apple //e back in the dark ages and really find them a preferable way to enter numbers. The solid state hard drive really works to bring this machine up really fast.

I will not report on the weather, it just is.