Entry for June 6, 2010

 On my trip to Chattanooga through Western North Carolina, I witnessed unbelievable fuel mileage on the company car. At times the electronic message read 75mpg, 95mpg, 135mpg and then 200mpg. So maybe it wasn't exactly safe to snap a picture with my camera phone, but I had to capture a 200mpg reading. The downhill slopes of I-40 were steep enough to throw the computer off just a little.

I played a round of disc golf at The Sinks disc golf course near the TVA's Chickamauga Dam along the Tennesse River. The Sinks is named after the numerous sink holes throughout the course. some are pretty deep and some are full of water up to ground level. I was more conscious and cautious of the ones full of water than the deep empty ones. The disc doesn't float and the water is muddy witch would make retrieving a water bound disc nearly impossible. I did really well keeping out of the sink holes and was extremely lucky on one sink hole that was about 20 feet in front of a basket. I hooked a tee shot that went straight toward the sink hole. When I walked up to the area where it landed, the disc crossed the water and was on dry land. The strange thing was, the disc was soaking wet and the water looked undisturbed. Overall I enjoyed playing the new course but I am not a big fan of its layout. I guess I enjoy the rolling hills at the courses near home.

Today I decided to get back in touch with the overgrown plant life around the out buildings. I made good progress around the big building cutting back the iron wood, ivy and trimming the Crape Myrtle that was brushing up against the roof. I turned my attention to the patch of mulch between an oak and pecan tree. There were some bushes that decided to sprout up in the mulch bed. As I was clearing the overgrowth around the pecan tree, a strange and painful feeling was shooting through my right thumb. Then another pain in my left forearm. As I looked at my forearm I noticed a bee methodically inserting his stinger. So..... I swatted and slapped every place I could as I ran like a little baby to the house. I was hit twice on the thumb and once on the left arm. I managed to get the areas cleaned up and with Gin's help, inspected the sting sites and applied medication.

I retreated from the work around the mulch bed in lieu of a safer location. I completed trimming back the brush along the property line beside the long out building and called it a day. Again, I learned a lesson about home invasion and the right to bear arms. Bees, hornets, yellow jackets, mud daubers, wasps and fire ants have the same rights as you and I. The difference is ,they will shoot to kill and not worry about asking any questions. 

Gin and I are excited about Baby Dean's arrival any day now. Jessica is doing good and wanting the little guy to make his arrival very soon. Nolan has become more talkative and understandable as far as his language skills. When we stopped by their house to pick up the lawn mower, I said "Chattanooga" to him and he repeated a very close pronunciation of the city name. We are so proud of him and his parents for the way he responds. plays and communicates. Being a Grand Parent is one of the most rewarding rolls a person can live.

P@