{"id":46343,"date":"2020-06-13T20:31:47","date_gmt":"2020-06-14T03:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=46343"},"modified":"2020-06-14T16:47:26","modified_gmt":"2020-06-14T23:47:26","slug":"46343","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=46343","title":{"rendered":"Off And Running!"},"content":{"rendered":"

“We do not have to rely on memories to recapture the spirit of those we have loved and lost \u2013 they live within our souls in some perfect sanctuary which even death cannot destroy.” – Nan Witcomb<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

We traveled and saw the world together.\u00a0 The only place we wanted to see was Mount Rushmore, so I plan to drive there perhaps later on in the year.\u00a0 \u00a0Below is Sue entering one of the locks in the Panama Canal, a trip we took four times.\u00a0 We loved the canal and stopping at the various ports along the way.\u00a0 We especially like the dancing as we took Crystal each time, so it was dress-up every night!<\/p>\n

Sue would stand at the edge for hours, amazed at the ships bobbing up and down like corks as the water gushed from Lake Gatun into the locks or drain from the locks into the ocean.\u00a0 Always with that precocious smile, which put everyone at ease and made it so easy to make new friends.<\/p>\n

I wish we could take one more cruise, but alas, that can’t happen.\u00a0 I will just dream about it as I dream about Sue and me meandering the decks late at night listening to the sounds of the sea.\u00a0 She was a fantastic person, the love of my life!<\/p>\n

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Amazed by the Panama Canal<\/p><\/div>\n

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Today is going to be busy, so I started by cleaning up the front walkway, organizing the tools and materials needed to finish the job, and moving over 1,000 pounds of concrete and drywall to spots where I can wash everything down with a hose.\u00a0 The ninety-pound bags of cement used to weight only ten pounds when I was in my 40s, but now, they are back to ninety-pounds!<\/p>\n

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It was a job moving there around to the driveway!<\/p><\/div>\n

Now that the drywall is restacked and up and on the brick, the high-pressure hose will clean up the concrete dust.\u00a0 I also rinsed off the leaves were concrete has splattered.\u00a0 The walkway looks OK now!<\/p>\n

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Clean as a whistle now.<\/p><\/div>\n

My shopping list was getting large, so I wandered over to Ralph’s.\u00a0 The Silver Ghost was ready for the morning outing.\u00a0 I saw a miracle when inside the building.\u00a0 Then a shiver came over me, a feeling of extreme worry.\u00a0 Panic began to set in!\u00a0 What is happening?<\/p>\n

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Yes! Hallelujah, the TP aisle is full! Are people not pooping?<\/p><\/div>\n

It finally dawned on me that the “Great TP Event” was not over, and the world will return to normal.\u00a0 It was confirmed when I saw that we had baking goods available again, plenty of flour.\u00a0 I could not find Wondra yet, but I am guessing that it is not too far away!<\/p>\n

I put everything away, and by now, I was getting hungry, plus I was attempting to eat at the exact time so I could play golf later and then go for ice cream at Joe’s movie night later and not be hungry.<\/p>\n

I lept to the refrigerator and pulled out the makings for Firecracker Meatballs
\nwith Roasted Green Beans & Sesame Rice.\u00a0 The picture looked yummy, and the ingredients interesting.<\/p>\n

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Lookout oven, here I come!<\/p><\/div>\n

The ingredients are already measured, for the most part, but sometimes they have to be separated.\u00a0 The makings are all quite fresh and good quality.<\/p>\n

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I began to work slicing and dicing and creating a mess.\u00a0 I love the sesame seeds being roasted and then added to the wire rice; it makes are a pretty dish!<\/p>\n

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Laid out and ready to go, this technique is my hero!<\/p><\/div>\n

About a half-hour later, I am ready to dine.\u00a0 I platted both servicing and vacuumed sealed the second one for later this week.\u00a0 Note to self: Next time I make meatballs, make sure the bowl is big enough for my hands to reach in and grab the makings.<\/p>\n

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A meal fit for a king!<\/p><\/div>\n

It was lunch, but I threw caution to the winds and served up some real white wine, an excellent Chardonnay plus I fired off the candles.<\/p>\n

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I took my time and savored the vittles!<\/p><\/div>\n

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Did You Know?<\/strong> Vittles is an ancient word for food that we tend to associate with the rural South, cowboys, pioneers, mountain men, and the like. It comes from Middle English, by way of French. … It has been used in English since at least the early 1300s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Now I am off to the golf course starting with a drink at the 19th hole with Charlotte.<\/p>\n

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It was a good game!<\/p><\/div>\n

The plant below is called Leonotis leonurus, “Lion’s Ear.” Leonotis leonurus, commonly called a lion’s ear, is native to South Africa. It is a tropical shrub that can snowball to 3-6′ tall in a single season from seed planted in the garden in early spring. Tubular two-lipped orange flowers (typical mint family) appear in tiered whorls that encircle the square stems.<\/p>\n

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We had a lot of fun playing, and I outdrove Charlotte one time! It was magic!<\/p><\/div>\n

The Silver Ghost and I raced home, freshened up, and headed to Ralph’s as I have ice responsibility this evening.<\/p>\n

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The movie man gets down to work!<\/p><\/div>\n

As they put together the screen, I was not sure how they would get it out of the garage.\u00a0 With a quick flip and a load of verbal coordination, the screen frame came out without a hitch!<\/p>\n

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To the left, to the left, to the left, to the right, to the right, to the right, sounds like a neat lyric for a song??<\/p><\/div>\n

It is Ice Cream night, so everyone brought toppings. I was attempting to be creative. I brought Artichoke Hearts!\u00a0 I can’t figure out why the package was unopened at the end of the evening?<\/p>\n

Notice the single bottle of red wine remaining!\u00a0 \u00a0When you see Amy ask her about “The Great Wine Oops!”\u00a0 \u00a0You can jog her mind by stating that wine sediment is an entirely natural occurrence \u2013 it’s mainly just leftover grape bits. These wine lees (or dregs) are simply part of the winemaking process and are not harmful in any way, nor do they affect a wine’s taste.<\/p>\n

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So many choices!<\/p><\/div>\n

We saw “A Dog’s Purpose.” Summary: A dog looks to discover his purpose in life throughout several lifetimes and owners.<\/p>\n