Raving Amicks

I just picked up a few things at Ikea to get my room a little bit more organized. I got this cool bookcase for $30 in the “as is sale scetion” instead of the usual $50 price and put a big curtain up in front of my closet since I took the closet doors down. It feels good to have everything in its place now, aka stuffed under the bed.

Picked the first of my early corn. It was wonderful.. This is growing in my Vancouver HP garden, so keeping it watered has been a challenge. But the taste of fresh corn is unbelievable and worth it!

Attended the NW nationals in Kent with some friends of mine who have been drag-race fans since they grew up in Chicago. Amazing! My first time and it was impressive. The nitromethane-powered engines of NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars produce approximately 7,000 horsepower, about 37 times that of the average street car (my M3 has 240 hp).  When the high-end dragsters go by, it’s like a heart attack. Chest pounding, the smell of burning rubber and nitromethane…..!

Was at the Hood River Saturday market awhile ago and a lady was selling (among other things) some gigantic pine cones.   Turns out they are from a Coulter pine (native to a few small areas in So. California).   Her grandfather or great-grandfather brought some seeds back from  a trip and planted some in Hood River.   One of the trees survived to maturity.   Anyway, I bought one of the pine cones for $1   (great centerpiece) and found a few remaining seeds in the pine cone.   You guessed it – I planted some and one has come up.  Here’s a picture of the pine cone and the sprout.   The cone is 8″ long, but they get bigger.    Loggers called them widowmakers ’cause if one fell from a tree and hit you on the head – you’re a goner!

Got the pool table delivered. It came on a pallet and the three heaviest pieces were the three pieces of slate – each about 150 lbs. Your Mom and I unloaded the pallet and loaded the stuff into the back of the Jeep and hauled it up the hill to the house, where we carried it in. Several trips as you can imagine! Had a guy come out from Portland to install it.  Your Mom kicked my butt in our first game of 8-ball, but I got her on the next.