Last night started at the Chatterbox and ended at the Charles Xavier School for the Gifted just before midnight. Travis had sent an e-mail out a couple of weeks ago inviting all interested to his favorite Korean restaurant in Indianapolis. So when Rich and I got to the Chatterbox Travis was already there with Jack Green, Bill Brooks and David Andrichik. Jenni had gone home, and I figured to stop for a couple and follow her. While listening to the conversation, which was mostly about the amazing racing that the memorial weekend had to offer it slowly dawned on me that this was indeed the night for a trip to Bando's on Pendelton Pike. I called Jenni and she agreed to meet us there, our first step though was to wait for Liz's arrival at the 'Box.' Turns out there are many steps to eating Korean Food.

When Travis was a college sprout he lived in Korea for a while, this is where he acquired his taste for Seoul food. At the restaurant he regaled the attended; Liz, Bill Brooks, Rich, Jenni and I with stories of his adventures and exploits. How as the American he was brought bowls of corn and catsup when he entered restaurants (western food) as a courtesy and had learned the root of the Korean written language in just a couple of weeks, he learned of their ways and traditions, but not of their schedules.

Step 1: After Liz's arrival at he box our small four car caravan headed to Bando's at Franklin Rd and Pendelton Pike, just NE of I-465 on the east side of Unigovia. There might have been a fifth, if Joan had answered the phone, Jack had some interest in attending the event, but we couldn't raise Joan on the phone! We think that they headed up to 86th street if they headed out at all, Jack seemed a little confused by Travis' directions, after each of three sets of directions to Bando's Jack would say, "Where?" Eventually I impressed to him that it was the 8600 block of Pendelton Pike. We all agreed later that he had said 86th street a couple of times in the following "pointless direction" sessions we had. It's just as well.
Step 2: Our caravan converged on Korean cuisine central at around 7:05. Jenni, came around the corner off of Franklin Rd. just a minute or two after we got to the "locked" door of the restaurant. Bando's was banned.
Step 3: A couple of minutes later, we all decided to head to another Korean food place that Travis likes, just up the pike. Jenni jumped into the Bimmer with me and we followed said Caravan to 8900 Shopping Plaza (a good place to get your dog washed or your coins laundered) and Mama's (now that sounds like a Soul Food place), but, to our overwhelming surprise, Mama's had a sign in the door stating that Mama, she no there on lass Tuesday of Month, you go way, come back later! Step 4: A couple of minutes later, we all decided to head up the pike following Travis and Liz until he recognized a sign and a place to dine. There is no quit in these yankee round eye, we want oriental food, buddy. Luckily Travis saw a sign he knew, it was OPEN in reddish neon on the door to Hisago on Post just off of Pendelton Pike. A Japanese, Korean, Karaoke Restaurant. We settled in happy to finally be looking at menus of unpronounceable words. We ordered Sushi (sasha?) and entree's. Jenni, Travis and Rich had Bibimbop (or something) Brooks Ah, Open! This Look Pretty Good

ordered Gulgagi, Liz a squid something unpronounceable (no not Travis) and I had the Bulgogi (of course, duh?). The food was excellent and the Kirin Beers pretty good too. I learned more about Korea in one day than I had ever learned about Korea in one day before. At just before 9 we were all finished, Brooks put his funds in the wait persons cachet and bolted as we sat and conversed (mostly about Brooks, no completely about Brooks, oh wait, we barely noticed he left) then we paid as well and in the parking lot Rich recommended X3 as a dessert, Travis and Liz were full, but Jenni and I had just enough room for two $3.50 apiece blue Icees™ so off to Kerasotes we went. From Karaoke to Kerasotes in a song.

Chuck Pace © 2006
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Layout, beginning stone placement, and the home stretch.

That was hard work. You might have noticed that yesterdays post went up at 3:08 AM. Another being up way too long late night. I didn't stop seeing the light filtered through my eyelids until after 4:15 AM, yet I got up before 10:00 AM. Not exactly raring to go, but ready too. Upon walking Charlie I decided to undergo a project I had been thinking about doing for a couple of weeks. A patio of pavers under the tree in the backyard. The bench we had under that tree was leaning too much, and getting out of shape because the ground was unlevel there, so a solution. Build a level patio for that area (then square up the oak bench). Lowe-pro paid for most of the materials, or to put it another way, I paid for them because of my propensity to add Lowe-pro bags and accessories to the sells of camera equipment. The ground breaking was at 1:00 PM, the final touch and completion was announced to Jenni at 5:13 PM. The funny thing about this was I had only one project I "planned" on doing for memorial day when I went to bed Sunday, that was taking out some dead limbs in the middle of the tree I built the patio under. I didn't get to that, it will have to be another days project.
Well, I Hope I don't get brained by a falling limb while enjoying my new bench-mark project!

Patio with first layer of sand in the cracks. 5:30 PM
By 6:30 I was grilling burgers, chicken breasts and pork chops on the Weber. While slow cooking was taking place, I sat reading Erik Larson's "Devil in the White City" on the new patio. Shortly before 8:00 PM Rich Culy came walking up the side yard, I said you are just in time and pointed to the last plate of meat just taken off the grill. Rich did not partake, because he had just come from Hagerstown and a Culy family rib-fest, we had Corona's, talked about the animals, and the days activities and Sunday's amazing Races. Just before dark Rich headed home and Jenni and I inside (for the first time for me since 1:00).

Our Peony blooms for the first time every year on Memorial Day.
Chuck Pace © 2006
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I drank an entire gallon of Ice Water while building the patio, I didn't pee once until after 9:00 PM.

Yesterday started like so many of my days off. With me not having to go to work (well wage winning work anyway). Friday at work i got a call from the Bloomington Store and talked to Kevin Davis of said. Kevin also works on the weekends at Oliver Winery near Bloomington. I asked if he was indeed working on Sunday, he said from 1:00 to 6:00, So Jenni and I decided to make a pilgrimage to Oliver for wines and picnic snacks, we did just that and ended up purchasing 6 bottles of our favorites including 3 of the Viognier 2005. Sure to be a favorite at the Pace household for months to come. Due to the "holiday" weekend, the tasting room was overflowing when we arrived at around 2:45, we waited until we could get Kevin to guide us through the wines. We liked just about everything we tasted, based upon Kevin's recommendations. The Viognier, one of Kevin's personal favs was not even on my "try" list, but a personal vouchsafing from the Kevmeister and it ends up being the #1 with a cork (you were expecting bullet?). The 2004 Shiraz was also much less acidic than the ones I have tried from the Box, and through grocery store aisle experimentation. After sampling 8 different selections we settled on four different tastes, for different tastes. I purchased the wines, Jenni bought some picnic items, and Oliver Winery had a very profitable visit from chuckpace.com and my muse, the missus.

"None Shall Pass," said the Black Knight! (Besides, it's only a flesh wound)

Then we headed down toward the pond and picnic area with some hummus, fresh french bread, cheese and two Boyland Beverages (Cane Cola and Root Beer), at the pond was a Goose family, mother, father and two goslings. Mother Goose was quite Grimm if anyone venture to close to the kiddies, I went down to get some photos and she sternly warned me off, hissing and charging. Then we headed home, I did a little gardening and mowed the lawn, planted some peppers, and watered the whole lot. Then Jenni and I sat outside and watched the Nascar race from the back yard (through the patio doors, and with the laptop, receiving a fine signal from the LINKSYS wireless in the chuckpace.com world headquarters. I finished second, with the same drivers I had two weeks ago and did so very poorly with. I purchased more transactions, but decided to "let it ride" since I though I had a pretty good crew, turns out I was right. After my favorite driver Kasey Kahne won his third race of the season, and did his interviews, I swithched over to the delayed Indy 500 coverage and watched the end of that as well. What a great finish. A good day for Jenni, and I and the dozen or so mosquitos i fed from the back yard after the sun went down. Todays menu? What else, gardening. and yard work. Why spend one minute more than necessary inside when the whole wide world is just a sliding screen door away?

Chuck Pace © 2006
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The Same Wild Rose shot 10 hours apart. They are Opening!

One of the reasons I am so keen on the whole gardening thing is it helps me erase the days troubles, if only for a few minutes. It is good to commune with nature, and get the stress and strife of day to day existence off your shoulders. Seeing something you put in the ground start to become something beautiful shows you that there is more to life than just the work-a-day race for a paycheck. I really believe that. You start to care about the little things that are your garden of sanity, this is why nature and nurture have the same root (no pun intended). I'm not saying I am more sane because the growing season is upon us, I'm saying I'm getting more insane slower. When I'm gardening, I don't think the weather patterns and Gaia are conspiring against me (even though I have had hail damage twice right after planting beaucoup bucks worth of horticulture in the earth. Or that the wet, dry cycles are trying to stunt or rot the hundreds of dollars and man hours of plantings by having some, if not scads of rain EVERY day in May until mid last week! I am not paranoid, I am smart enough to know that the same rain that's falling on me falls on you. If I didn't know that all I'd have to do is refer to the Robin Trower/James Dewar lyrics from the 1976 Long Misty Days Album, track one, "Same Rain Falls"

He scratches his head and he says
Maybe things will get better
Don't you know that a drowning man
He don't get no better
And the same rain fallin' on you, falls on me

Not everyone has a garden of sanity to retreat to. Some may feel they don't have the time. Some shun the whole concept. Some people may even think that they are the flowers, that they are the blooms that brighten others days, the miracle of nature and the bouquet of fresh fragrance that uplifts the soul of the lucky enough to be near. Not only are there no sentient beings like that all the time (though I have know certain carefree souls who appear worry free and pleasant for hours on end), if there were we would despise them soon and wish for the winter cycle to kill them off like a patch of annuals, so that we could use them as fertilizer for next years crop! Can you imagine bubbly, bouncy, happy, pleasant 24/7? We couldn't wait for the spray from the galactic bottle of "Roundup™" to take their annoying butts to the great compost pile! Some think that they always the focus point of others comments and attentions, that they are talked about when they are not there,

or that others are laughing behind their backs. I say these people need a garden that they can turn their backs on and not worry about their "buds" conspiring or mocking them. Besides, who would really think that people are always talking or laughing behind their backs? That's crazy in and of itself. My friends talk about that kind of person all the time, No They Don't! Just kidding. No really. It's a joke. The kind that people laugh about. You know? Humor. Like that.
Fig 5.281
Fig 5.282
The wanton Columbine proudly displays it's naughty bits (Figs. 5.281 & 5.282) to the world, hoping some insect will come rub up against them and thus assist in reproduction. Well, have a pleasant Memorial weekend, I know I'll be spending a lot of it out in the gardens and with my loved ones.

Chuck Pace © 2006
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This Mid-Afternoon marks the 21st Anniversary of the Arrival of my angel onto the ethereal plain. It was between 5 and 6 PM that on a Sunday in 1985, after a very long strenuous labor, my beautiful wife brought Meredith Anne into the world. We were not sure what her name was going to be, we had two girl names picked out (as a back-up) and one boy name. Everyone we knew told us (and we felt too) that this was a boy. I know there are some people so set on a name and gender that the girl gets the boy name anyway, and is unique (if not at least harassed her whole life). We couldn't do that, Nigel Anne Pace? No she would have grownup hating us. No she was either Madeline or Meredith from the moment we started with the baby-naming books, and all the, what does this name mean etc... As soon as the Doctor sat her in my arms I fell in love, and I told Jenni that it was Meredith. She just looked like a Meredith to me (it turns out she was). Now I'm 1600 miles away, hoping the birthday cards we sent down get there today, and desperately wishing I could hold my baby in my arms again for a few minutes. She and David went to Busch Gardens in Tampa yesterday, and enjoyed the rides and the free Busch beer (nothing is free, it cost $120.00 to get in) and I'm sure David had to sneak a last day before 21 Meredith her beers. Well from now on they only require a "real" ID to get, Babe.

Over the years I've managed to get a few good photos of my primary model, and I carry a few in my billfold all the time, just ask me and I'll get all sentimental and wistful and show you the ones there closest to my... heart. The top photo here is a former billfold shot and is pretty weathered, I photo-shopped some of the abuse off the print, but didn't have time to really work on it much. What a happy baby. Speaking of happy babies, the next one is Meredith the Chicken-eating Puppet on Jenni's arm at a Fox Photo Party. The next one down is a 5 year old Meredith and her Dad, just before we left for a vacation to Sea World Sandusky (where it rained so much that we looked like prunes under our parkas). The next is a seven year old Meredith copping an O.K. "one more photo", attitude in front of the Gazebo her grandfather built on the Greentown property. The next was taken before the Father Daughter 8th grade dance, that's Meredith at 14 and the old man at her side. Our last dance together was at her wedding to "The Very Thought Of You" by Nat 'King' Cole. Since then she has moved to Florida (on the worst Thanksgiving of my life) and moved up at her job. David has had a few different jobs, and they are both making it just fine, I think. I Love You Baby, I'd like the next dance please. If not the next one, save me one. Have a very Happy 21st Princess. Daddy. (FKoM)

"I'm living in a Kind of Daydream,
I'm Happy as a King,
And Foolish as it may seem
To me that's everything"

Chuck Pace © 2006
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I have absolutely no time to make a post today, I usually have left the house by this time. Last night on mass Ave. there was the most amazing show. O.K. not on the avenue but above it. the clouds were swirling, and turning on themselves far above the neighborhood. It was ominous and awesome at the same time. Everybody who usually makes my post was there except Brooks, Travis and Liz. So everybody else gets a bonus mention because I am out of time. Also I took a photo of Rebecca that I will add later, so another bonus mention.

Chuck Out and running late. I think I might stop at Hardee's for breakfast.

Chuck Pace © 2006
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I was so tired yesterday. I only got about two hours sleep the night before. The night and morning of the computer problems that kept me from getting my post up until 6:36 last night. The computer is still in need of a visit to Mac Experiance, but I have gotten it to play long a little. As far as my sleep deprivation, I figured out the problem must have that I was too tired to sleep, that and the little bit of caffeine in my system from the Multiple refills at Hardee's waiting for my Thick-Burger. My first thought was to go straight to bed when I got home last night to reset the sleep imbalance. Then I thought, no better to stay up until all of the Lost is over, be even more tired and really sleep. After the final seconds, (when Jack's twin in the polar observation station called Desmond's girlfriend Penny) I went to bed, waiting for Jenni to come in, though she had to check some "posts" to see if anyone had any theories about the cliff hanger episode and the upcoming season...
When she came to bed we also talked a little about Lost, and some other stuff, and finally she dropped off and took the slumber elevator down to repose. Even as sleep deprived and exhausted as I was, I had to take the ladder down. After tossing around on my side of the mattress for 45 minutes, I went out to the couch again. I chose 5 CD's and put them on shuffle, occasionally I would crest a wave of semi-conscienceness and hear a snippet of Kate Bush, Iian Matthews or Annie Lennox, then go back under for a bit. My first alarm goes off at 5:32 (and I sometimes even get up then) and my second alarm, the serious get up one goes off at 6:00. In my sleep daze, these alarms were 5 minutes apart, I thought I had hit snooze on the first alarm instead of a 28 minute gap from 1 to 2. Next thing I know Jenni is informing me that it is almost 7:00 and she thought I had been up since my alarms went off. Now half an hour later I am still climbing out of that sleep fog hole into a real world. I am climbing the dark ladder. Jenni has already left for work.

Not much else happened yesterday, Jenni and I went to lunch at Giorgio's with Rebecca, I walked the yard but didn't even touch a plant when I got home, and it rained to beat the band until after eleven PM. Today is the Long One, the extra hour of work that seems like three and I have not completely reset the sleep balance, barely made a dent in the sleep imbalance actually, but I must soldier on. If you see me standing n snoring at the same time it might not be because i find you totally boring. I might just be working on my balancing act (which is not to say that your aren't totally boring).

Chuck Pace © 2006
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So it was a great day off. I slept in, I updated my web-site, I worked in the yard, accomplishing a lot of "ground-breaking, grass-roots" renovations to an old, neglected, yet once glorious flowering space (if any of you were thinking I was eluding to Jenni, shame on you!). The weather was just right for my mission, not too hot, not too windy, not to wet, but a baby bear sort of day all the way around. I was able to burn all the scrap and refuse from the night before's breakneck cleaning binge, remove the grass root-bound soil and manually filter out the roots (creating a root ball about the size, shape and weight of a large watermelon) and transplant some of the existing plants into a more pleasant visual array. The bed in question was the first one I ever "built," some fourteen years ago, right after our house was built. It is eight feet long, and 32 inches deep, constructed from landscape timbers and about two hundred forty pounds of topsoil. The first few years it housed beautiful Iris' Lily's, and Glads, as well as an armada of Annuals. Then about five years after being "commissioned" a horrible grub season destroyed my beloved Iris' and most of the lily's, the next year I "baked" the soil. The next year and for years since then a few pretty things have lived and died there, but I always miss the Iris' and have been reluctant to replant a vigorous garden here until this year (hence the grass and weed's got a strong-hold) . Among the pretty survivors are my Star-gazer Lily's which are nearing their sixth blooming season, they were the re-arranged along with four old Gladiola's which I doubt will bloom, they have company with ten new cousins that were interred after Jenni got home.
The only thing I forgot to do yesterday was eat. At least until around four, when I decided to hit Hardee's for a Grilled Sourdough Thick-burger. Thick-Burger should be the nickname of all three of the employee's at the particular Hardee's I visited. I went inside. Read my menu options in front of the "counter thick-burger," and placed my order for the aforementioned #6. "Would you like to upsize that?" "No." "What size would you like?" "The standard size." "Medium?" "No, not upsized at all, the normal, #6, with a diet soft-drink, normal size and normal sized fries." "O.K. here's your cup."
Bear in mind I had been working in soil and sunshine for four hours, I was tired and hungry, and thirsty, but I never lost my temper or raised my voice, I was just happy to be getting thirsty and hungry off the docket, eventually. As I stood there, sipping my soda, I watched the counter "TB" tell the food-prep "TB" to drop some curly fries, and make two regular thick-burgers. There were no customers at the counter when I came in, and no drive through customers since my arrival either, so I assumed these were his "food break" order, especially since the "system " puts the regular orders on TV screens front and rear for all food prep and counter peoples in/out "reason for employment" information. About five minutes later the prep person calls out "curlies, and two thick burgers." Front counter guy says, "Oh, those aren't supposed to have catsup." "What aren't?" "Those two thick-burgers." Now I get to see TB #3, the shift manager, who walks out from the drive through cupola and calmly says to Front counter guy. "Tell your customer that we have to re-do these, without catsup." Front counter guy, walks out from behind the counter, to two elderly people near the windows, and explains the re-do procedure. I hadn't noticed them because they had been sitting there behind me the entire time I was in the store, shrinking from osteoporosis and hunger. I see a different color box slide onto the food ramp and think to myself, "Ahhh." Just then the manager says through to ramp hole, "How's that Grilled Sourdough coming?" " What Grilled Sourdough?" says prep TB? Manager TB, steps to the box under the TV and scrolls through the list of orders without uttering another word (not a very long list, but the manager has taken a drive through order since the Re-do drama.) Looking up at the screen the prep person says exactly, "Oh." The front counter guy goes back to assist in the rush! and I go get a refill on my diet coke. After another four minutes two boxes slide down the ramp, the prep person choruses to nobody in particular, "Two thick-burgers, plain" The front counter guy, from behind her, putting mayo on a sourdough bun says, "Oh, the lady wanted mustard on hers." The manager calmly walks up and hands one of the boxes back through to the prep person, and she disassembles it and adds mustard, he takes the different colored box to the drive through window. The front counter guy walks around from the back, gets the two boxes, puts curly fries into their cardboard homes and carries them out to the old folks, who's hair and fingernails have begun to "grow" as their skin starts to pull back. The prep TB looks at me through the hole and says, "Did I get it right this time?" I sort of raise my hands in a 'wrong guy' shrug and she goes back to the rubick's cube that is a Grilled Sourdough sandwich. When counter guy returns, he glances at me then the TV monitor, and calmly addresses the prep person again, "Hey, you need to drop some fires." I have an amused thought that everyone talks calmly to the prep person, and wonder if she used to work at a post office. Fear and terror can sharpen ones manners. A few more minutes, I go and refresh my drink again, adding a little Dr. Pepper to make it Cherry Coke-ish, I see the manager putting fries in a bag, and the prep person says "Grilled Sourdough." I think, "Ahhh" and say to the manager, "how about three catsup packs too" He looks at the front counter guy and says, "Why don't you go to the storeroom and bring out some catsup packs?" Front counter trundles off, and soon is putting a couple of handfuls of packs on the roof of the burger slide, the manager retrieves my bag, drops some in and politely says, "Here you go." And I'm off in just under 25 minutes, glad that they waited 15 minutes to drop my fries, so they wouldn't be cold. Yum, to a guy who forgot to eat, it was worth the wait, but I don't think I'll hurry in if I am ever in a crunch for time. When I got home there are 9 packets of catsup in the bag. Everyone was so polite and friendly, I'm still in a great mood. I thought about calling Jenni and telling her the story, but she'll have to read it just like you my dear readers.
NOTE: the preceding was written for a 7:15 post. The internet, and my computer conspired to make that impossible. When I got home I relaunched everything and retried so here it is almost 12 hours late.

Chuck Pace © 2006
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Underwood Be-Deviled Hamm! Chuck Pace © 2006

Last night I was placed in an unaccustomed position. Missionary. I had to save someone. Entire worlds were depending on it. I may be over dramatizing here just a bit, but... At about 5:15PM I get a call from John Underwood at Purdue University. He is the photo department head, and is in the process of making posters for the University. Posters that are being printed on the awesome Epson 9800 wide format printer (up to 44" wide). Posters that are due at 8:00AM today. Problem? He is out of Magenta ink. The printer will not function with any missing ink, so... John calls Roberts in Indianapolis. Talks to Chuck, who is always helpful, and had been dealing with and helping John for nearly two decades. Explaining his problem, and time constraints John asks, "Is there someplace I can meet you and pick up that ink, plus an extra lite cyan and regular cyan?"
I say, "Well it is Monday..." and before I can finish my thought John interrupts. "So I'll see you at the Chatterbox, or you can leave them with the bartenders there?" "...and we usually stop by the "Box" on..., yeah, I'll meet you at the Chatterbox"
Later that same day... "More, Coffee Warden?" Oops, wrong story, I was just relating the story to my horts, and cohorts, and mentioning that Frank, John's nephew who is "now" also a Roberts customer has been in the store without John for a couple of purchases, when I look up as Frank is stepping onto the patio, I say, without missing so much as a downbeat, "And here he is now." I ask Frank if John called him, he says, "Yea, said he would be here in about an hour." Others on hand at the Box at that very moment included, Richard Plath, Jack Green, Bill Brooks, John David, Rich, Jenni, Mel Shoffner, Ed Sipes and my surprise guests, Mike McDaniels and Barbarann VanDenBerg, who half filled in for Becky yesterday (truth be known, you only ever have to "half" fill in for Becky) by forgetting she was subbing, and not showing up until noon. But that's a different Story altogether...(insert witty Airplane response here). I hope at least a few of you, other than Brock Kingsley (who always gets it) said But that's a different Story if not I still have that mission in life to accomplish. Rebecca Martin was not there. No one saw Rebecca, because she was not there. Also on the lanai, nay the veranda, no lets just stick with patio, were Beth and Jaque, who are becoming regulars and recognized Rich and I as that which they aspire to be, regular Chatterbox patrons (inside the Box were Kay, Mary Ann and David Beuke, true Chatterbox Regulars and DeAnne at the pulls, glasses and bottles), and I had my four beers (one from a round Mr. Underwood graciously purchased my cronies and I) and two coffees, Barbarann had one glass of Shiraz and rushed out to watch the two hour finale of 24, and the rest of our posse with the exception of Ed Sipes, Jenni and myself headed down to Bazbeux's Pizza for dinner with Heather Basile and David Andrichik. Jenni and I went home, Ed had another in front of him, but said he was heading home as well. Oh yeah. Travis was there too, and said Liz would not be. So when we all saw Liz there we wondered why Travis really had to get home? Bill Brooks was absolutely indispensable in the creation of this post (but I don't know why). The photo of McDaniels in JD glasses is the best shot I've ever taken of Mike. Jenni might say, "Mr. X."

At home I attacked another overwrought, overrun, (kind of like Rebecca Martin now that I think of it) long neglected flower grave... er bed along the back of the house. This was a result of the Pussy Willow, that is a border of said sad bed, and reached twelve feet tall last year being mostly dead (all day) this year. There were no pussies on the willow. and most of the shutes were dead and brittle, but, there is still life and we can rebuild her, maker her faster, better, stronger than she was before. Will will name her Jamie Summers, super pussy Willow! Oddly enough, last year when Jenni and I came back from our Florida vacation, Rebecca Martin brought us home from the airport, and upon arrival at the chuckpace.com world headquarters, I cut several shutes for a then flourishing Pussy Willow for Rebecca to adorn her happy (ding-dong) Avon home. The photo below (Fig. 5-23) shows the pile of Willow and flowerbed detritus awaiting its fiery pyre, "Come on Baby Light My Fire!"

For anyone keeping score, I whole heartedly apologize for the lack of a Sunday post, I self-centeredly, spent the day with my wife in the gardens trying to bring a little eden to my world, not truly understanding that I may be that Eden-Oasis in some of your meager existences. I will try to be more all encompassing and omnipresent. More ME, for those who can't be me.

Fig. 5-23

Chuck Pace © 2006
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So over the weekend I went crazy in the yard. This is what happens when you don't have a decent day weather wise for almost two straight weeks. When a nice weekend comes along you spend all of your time trying to break your back. I got a $100.00 Tamrac points/spiff Visa Card in the mail on Thursday and was able to avoid using it for over 48 hours. Saturday after work I came home, did the garden walk with Jenni, and after some deliberation we went to Home Depot's garden center again. I had decided how to finish off the new retaining wall garden, which is just a vegetable bed it turns out. I needed to put an access to the plants that would keep dirt and mud off the accessee. I bought some stepping stones, some edging materials and some red lava rocks. I also bought some Tomato cages and some more veggies. Not satisfied with that on Sunday Jenni and I spent the entire day outside installing the new elements to the "bed." We also went to Paul's Nursery on highway 52 and Dammans at 30th and Franklin Road. Bought some flowers at the former and even more veggies, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower and a Lilac Bell pepper plant at the latter. The two photos above show Saturday and Sunday progress at about the same time of day around 8 PM.

Two weeks ago I stated I had no idea what a certain "Blade" shaped plant was, well it was and is a Cala Lily, and yesterday morning the "lily" part started to show, and was green. By evening it had turned yellow, so I have two more coming up as well, these were planted from old bulbs I forgot I had in the garage a couple of years ago, I'm glad to see that three of the four survived to make beauty in my flower beds. The stuff is starting to show and grow now, and I am getting excited for the new daily and garden walks with my lovely wife. Like most sunny weekends I also put my Weber Grill to work, I "beer-canned" my first fryer. To put it more accurately, I learned how to "beer-can" my next fryer. This one was a chore, and took over two hours, plus the home-made rub I came up with was overly spicy, though the meat itself was amazingly tender and juicy. The next one will be a known quantity and will be even better. Now it's almost 7:30, and I have yet to walk the gardens today. I will be in them all day tomorrow, if the weather permits, since I have switched my day off with James Willis so he can spend the full weekend with his family. Tonight a few "quick" ones at the box, then home to the garden and my personal eden.

After not updating since April 19th, I have updated the Mention Meter, and added The Son-In-Laws web page to my blogroll (he promised to keep this one more current). Peace Out.
Hey Brock, "SO'S YOUR FACE!"

Chuck Pace © 2006
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Evil Genocidal Clown Currency.

I thought this appropriate, since today is Armed Forces Day. Yesterday one of our long time regular customers, camera guy and Military Reserve Officer, Seth Rossman was in the store. This is only unusual because several month ago Seth went to Iraq. He was in talking to Bruce and gave him a handful of Dinnars, the currency of Iraq and the deposed leader Saddam. Each denomination had the identical portrait on the front, along with the amount in the corners and a lot of squiggly lines of the arabic language, the color of the bills and their size varied with the amount. Bruce gave Rita, the purchasing agent for the store a 100 Dinnar note, she commented that there was a 250 note there as well, and as a joke Bruce said "We'll see if you can earn that later?" I asked to see the 10,000 dinnar note, asked what they called their money (at this point we hadn't turned them over to see the denominations written in english). Bruce pointed to the squiggles and said "It's right there" I later mentioned that the 10,000 note should be called a schoch, because while they were all worthless, this one was the most disappointing. ("Please, my friend, I'll give you two million schochs for that pencil you are holding." " Nah, but you can have the pencil there, camel spit!" "You are moost gracious, indeed.")

Yesterday I did not do any gardening (O.K. I pulled up some wayward grass growing in a flower bed, but I didn't plant anything or get dirt under my fingernails)? Now I must be going I am most assuredly hearing the dinnar bell, for to make wages for my humble fam-e-lee.

Chuck Pace © 2006
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Four days is long enought for a Migraine. Luckily I had called the Dr. earlier in the week and gotten an appointment for my Thursday off. I got Meds yesterday, and aside from the the overly sensative cranium and temples am feeling a ton better this morning. Last night was re-runs night (I think), at least for the few shows I watch. Good thing too, after my appointment, and shot, I came home and planted a few more of the plants we had purchased last weekend, Golden Girl and Celebrity Tomato plants, Romaine Lettuce and some shade loving something
After the Storm

that I can't remember right now. I still have some tricolor violets, a poppy plant and a clematis to inter soon, but at around 5:10 the skies once again opened up, another pure deluge pounded the east side of Indianapolis for nearly half an hour, the storm-drains filled and the gutters ran free with rivulets of detritus and sleet (Deja Vu, Deja Vu). The poppy got pounded, and lost its blooms, I was in the middle of planting the lst of the celebrity tomatos, on a rug and wearing garden knee pads when there was this awe inspiring thunder clap. The track meet at Warrenm Central a quarter mile away was temporarily halted and people advised to get off the aluminum bleachers (I can hear their outside PA and Track announcements from my yard) and with a qiuck count of twenty the sleet and quarter sized raindrops started coming down in buckets. I grabbed all my stuff, tossed it into my wheel barrell and got it into the garage, tis took less than a minute andi I looked like I had just taken a leisurley stroll through Mike's Carwash by the time I made it to the door. Twenty minutes later the sun was out again, and Jenni was pulling into the driveway. We did the garden stroll, I pointed out my latest progress, and the poppy damage and we came in. I noticed Bela longingly watching me and the birds during the yard work, and got a psychic look at her great dream.
Bela's Dream!!! Look out Birds!
The storm had taken out Comcast service. No cable, no internet access. There was none All Night, we went to bed at 11:00. I tossed and turned and got back up at 12:40 AM this morning (I don't sleep well) still no internet or cable. I got up again this morning at 5:10, finally we had internet after I rebooted the modem and router, yeah! The weather forcast is for continuing storms through the weekend. Quack, Quack. Zoom, Zoom

Chuck Pace © 2006
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Hey Beer Guy, I'll have a John Courage!
Remember the old Coors Light commercials, a few years ago? The "Hey Beer Guy" Commercials, where the fans were in the seats at some kind of game? I know the "Coors Light Beer Guy" personally, he is "The Man Who Would Be King of the Forrest!" Our own John David. He is working at Victory Field, and yesterday was a Businessman's Special, early afternoon game. The Business men are special, they tip well.
JD called me at the store at around 4:50 PM yesterday, wanted to know, "Hey Fordene, are ve boak-zing?" The answer an hour earlier would have been a resounding no, Rich desperately needs to mow is pasture, er.. yard, and I have some plants dyeing to get into the fertile soil. So Rich and I decided that if it didn't (or wasn't going to) rain, then we would be off to our respective yard and garden duties. At about 4:20 the skies opened up, a pure deluge pounded Indianapolis for about 20 minutes, the storm-drains filled and the gutters ran free with rivulets of detritus. Therefore, the answer to JD was, yes for no more than three, I have to do some stuff at home, weather permitting (planting is not as dry ground sensitive as mowing).
At the Box we saw Travis and Liz, Meredith Garber and their friend Melissa (who isn't Mel), Brooks in a pin striped monkey suit and tie, Jack and Joan for a bit (but they both Really had to GO!) and David. JD, the new "Hey Beer Guy" was there when I arrived. Krista Bermeo, a budding glass crafter went by, said she'd be back, came back about 15 minutes later talked for a few about old images, copyrights and such, then went on by, only to come back again with some transparencies and some of her new cool blown glass work. She left as we were finishing up, and Rich, JD and I having had our three, said our good nights.
I got home, walked the not too soggy yard, saw two Euonymus plants and one Cistena Plum bush into the ground behind the "new, in progress" garden and wall, and came in and waited for Deal or No Deal and Lost. Just before Lost came on the skies opened up, a pure deluge pounded the east side of Indianapolis for about over an hour, the storm-drains filled and the gutters ran free with rivulets of detritus and hail (Deja Vu). The same kind of hail that destroyed more than half of my garden. I said to Jenni, "I bet this is destroying the new plants." Aaaaarrrgh! Charlie Brown. If it's not Lucy VanPelt pulling away the football, its hail pounding the new plants! Good Grief.
Two planted, before the fading light, one to go.
I am happy to report that after a precursory stroll around the yard the hail did not do nearly as much damage as on tulip destruction day. There are holes in the Hosta leaves, jagged jabs through the Jaleapeño's and cuts to the Coleus but the Euonymus and Plum made it unscathed.

Seizures on the other side.
Chuck Pace © 2006
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Well I didn't post anything yesterday. I couldn't have stared into the glare of the CRT monitor without sunglasses on. Monday at work I started popping "Tylenol Rapid Release Gels®" at about 2:30. By 5:30 I had birthed a full bore-full blown Migraine. I stopped at the Chatterbox, because Jenni and Rebecca were there, and because I didn't feel it could make things much worse. DeAnne once suggested a shot of Jaegermeister as a Migraine reducer (it opens up the capillaries in the brain) and it helped, so Monday night (I'm struggling not to say last night) I had a shot of that after I had a Harp. Mike Wilson was having a Bell's Oberon, which was my favorite "tasting" beer two months ago, so Jenni and I switched to Bell's, we each had two. Mel Shoffner and her friend Kara Afriendamine (Sayger) arrived from the Slab, and all were having a good time. Rich spent a considerable amount of time talking to the two of them. Wilson shared his pizza with Mel and I, I had two slices. Thank you Mike. I'm not sure when Jenni left, I'm not sure of a lot of things. The shot had reduced the pain enough, and the beers did some more to trick me into not feeling so bad, so I had more. Sometime later I ordered Rich, Mel, Kara and I snifters of Buttershots, (Pennsylvania 6-5000) yum. Later I called Jenni and told her to come and get me at 10:02, Mel and Rebecca had called her also. The rest of this Up Chucks update is more than just "thoughtpuking."
Yesterday morning I awoke with the Migraine Fog. Jenni said "get dressed anyway, we have to get your car." By the time we were back to Mass Ave. I knew I would not be able to work. It was a painful chore to even drive back home. Jenni had gotten me a coffee at Starbucks, and I only managed half of that. I took Immetrex, along with an Advil (Naproxin Sodium) and climbed into bed. At 2:30 I got up to walk Charlie, and to see if a better World existed outside my head, I called Charlie a few times and he didn't show, I looked in the cage where he sleeps sometimes, and he wasn't there. Then I noticed the front door wasn't closed al the way. E-Gads, I thought I hadn't shut the door, and Charlie had gotten out, I walked out the door into a bright drizzle, and there under the tree in the front yard was Jenni walking Charlie. I hadn't realized she had come home, I even left her a text message before I got dressed to walk Charlie. After a bit, we went to Applebee's and had brunchinner, then came back home, later I had to wake Jenni up to watch Scrubs, and then I took a soaking bath. The real yesterday was three hours long.
This Morning I awoke into a Fog again. But a different kind, a meteorological event, sure I am a little groggy and foggy from the aftermath of the Migraine (it can take a couple of days to have "normal" back on the menu, and I don't always order it unless it is the "Special"). Now I have to get going. Time waits for no man, but I have a 24 hour day to drift into instead of the three hour one I just recalled. I have a Drs. appointment at 3:00 tomorrow, I'll get a new scrip fro more Immetrex while I'm there. Joy, Joy.
Till then, then. Brainiac Out!
The photo up top in not Charlie Brown and the Little Red Haired Girl, that's me and Kara Sayger, Good Grief!

Chuck Pace © 2006
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What goes with a blue-tooth earpiece? Sapphires, of course!

There was a World War II Movie titled the Longest day, it was about D day, it came out in 1962. I remember seeing it on TV a few times when I was just a sprout. This post has absolutely nothing to do with that film, or the topic or subjects of war.

Yesterday, my only true day off this weekend just went on and on and on. It seemed like I had more weekend yesterday than the conventional two day weekends. Is that weird? I got up early, trying not to wake Jenni, and went to Marsh and bought a Yellow Rose plant, and two Cyclamen plants, surprise breakfast fixings, two newspapers, two (to my wife on) Mothers day cards, two mini garden tables and some really great dessert items. This was my Mother's day surprise for Jenni, so when I get home 25 minutes later I see that she has been up and launched her computer. I find her back in bedroom with the TV on. I tell her she is not allowed to leave the room. I go back into the kitchen sauté some Asparagus in real butter (with a hint of canola oil), dice up some red, yellow and green bell peppers with a vadalia onion, which I stir fry with some Tennessee pride original sausage (with my home grown sage added), then add everything to farm grown brown egg omelets. I set the table (here I mean putting place settings and food on said table, which always sets in the dining room with only a little persuasion from gravity) with coffee and orange juice and the omelets and asparagus spears on the side. Then I let Jenni out of the bedroom and bade her come to breakfast. She thoroughly enjoyed the spread. Told me she enjoyed the cards and everything and was most pleaded to be a Mother on May 14th. It was hours later I gave her the silver and sapphire earrings that complete the set of Necklace and ring I got her last year. I rained all day yesterday. There was no qualifying at the track. We watched the season finales of Earl, and the Office which were taped (a pre TIVO non-digital solution to the oblivious set now graduating high school) on Thursday night so that we could watch the cliff-hanger finale of Smallville. When the rain became drizzle we would go out and walk our growing, changing (non digital solution) yard, and both stopped to pull up some herbs that had taken over the south beds next to the heat pump (a role I sometimes play for Jenni). It was a great day, I called my folks and talked to my mom until "she" was ready to go do something else, a very rare moment in Madge Pace conversational history, Jenni called her folks and talked the required two hours (O.K. 96 minutes, but using Jenni time keeping principles, already established in the chuckpace.com universe, 61 to 80 minutes is an hour and a half, 81 to 115 minutes in two hours, and 116 minutes to 4 hours is "All Day" so I can safely use either time keeping method to say it was a long time) at least two hours but it might have gone on all day.
Speaking of all day, I have that ahead of me now that I have gotten my internet to work, and my post to be posted and I have to make with the income generating activity, so get off my back, off my sight and lets get back to work, yeah, you too. Happy Mother's day D+1 and counting.

Chuck Pace © 2006
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Today is possibly the most important shopping day of the year. Not Christmas Eve, not the day before Valentines, not the day before your anniversary. Mother's day honors the very craft of reproduction and existence. Without mother's there could only be asexual reproduction and cell division day, and many of the live forms that were involved would have no sense of time, the others would only know seasonal change and adaptation to elements. No one day would be significant. No one life force more important or crucial in the creation or continuation of a conscientiousness than any other. Sentience is the child of motherhood, the realization of the existence a being capable giving life and sustaining it until a level of independence is obtainable. So why is today more important than tomorrow? Because, sadly it is the day that many remember the importance of their mothers. It is a good day to be in retail. But a very telling testimonial to the states of selfishness, indifference or appreciation. For some it is financial, and that is fine. But, honoring one's Mother is not necessarily to bestow booty and material goods, try some of the unconditional love she heaped on you when you were an aggravating, urinating, defecating, noise machine capable only of squeezing fingers and feces.
If you are the Father of one or more of these life-forces, you are equally, or greater in debt to the birthing partner. What was your part in the process? Think about it? You can name the financial responsibilities, sure, but remember there are Millions, nay, quadrillions of life forms on the planet that can't write a check that have been your equal or superior as zygote donors. Mother's day should follow Labor day. Father's day for some is merely followed by a good smoke. Those who went from donor to parent, owe their partners and their mothers the gift of life and happiness. Yes mothers can be cruel, and mean and demanding. There is some part of their psyche that can never forgive the pain brought on by both party's that gave them the title Mother. Just remember, as crazy as she can make you, the first thing she did biochemically was make you, you ingrate! Call her, hug her Love her as unconditionally as she did you, at least for the day in question. You owe her so much more. How does everything sound? Got a check for that? It's bigger than a box of chocolates and a cut flower arrangement.

For Madge May Pace, Ruth Pace, Violet Flatt Martin, Jenni Lee Pace, Peggy Mason and every Mother. I Love You.
Chuck Pace © 2006
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All in all it was just another brick in the wall.
So yesterday I was scheduled off. The sacred day off for rest. Well, I must be one of the wicked, because there's no rest for them. Doris McQuain from "the store" is letting us borrow (possibly buy) her Sears Craftsman II Roto-tiller. I didn't have a sparkplug or a gas cap when Jenni picked it up. I went to my local sears and they were clueless about what it would take to get this thing operational, suggested the Sears Service/Parts center on English Ave. and gave me a phone number. so on Wednesday every chance I had free of customers or tasks at hand I tried the number. After Three "We are unavailable right now" auto disconnects, and one ringing through for 10 rings without an answer I was given a "direct number" by the lady who had been transferring me each time. That number never was picked up, but the guy at my local Sears who gave me the original number said they are there until 8:00 PM, so I decided to stop on my way home Wednesday. They close every day at 5:00, except Saturday and Sunday, which is 4:00. So yesterday, my cherished day off, I got up fairly early, did some simple chores, walked the dog in the drizzle, and got ready to take the English Ave. excursion. I got there at 11:10, got waited on about five minutes later, I had model number for Tiller, and a list of parts needed (w/o numbers). The ladies helping me complained that their computer system was "slow" it took 15 minutes for the Tiler model number (133202) to come up, then she had to launch the specific parts search, tick, tock, tick, tock. I found a gas cap that looked correct (a flanged affair, with to extended tines that match the tank top, and quarter turn sort of like a radiator cap) and was holding it when she finally found the Spark plug number, luckily it was a $1.99 part, she then hit the search for the cap tick, tock, tick, tock, bingo it was the one i had found, in the interim I had also found replacement batteries for my Sears brand garage door opener, so I was good to go at 11:56. And I had expected it to take a while. Ha. I called Jenni and asked if she had eaten yet, drove to Anthem and took her to Dunaway's Palazzo Ossinegio Restaurant for lunch. Then home. I placed the cap, found the right size plug socket and placed that, set the Tiller in the "Start-up" settings as listed on the motor, and about dislocated my shoulder trying to yank the starter cord. Several more tries convinced me that the beast was indeed dead. The motor is locked up, and I suspect the cylinder is rusted in place from when the plug was purloined, even though a tarp was kept over the machine. The weather was still bizarre, drizzle, then windy then partially sunny. Then at time combinations of the three. I decided to go to Home depot, buy the remaining 6 Wall blocks I need to finish the wall, and some more plants. The softer moistened ground made the final five holes I had to dig easier, and I was spreading the eight 40 pound bags of top soil in no time. Twenty two Marigolds went in as a border next then some California
Wonder green bell peppers, and some Jalapeño plants. Without the use of a tiller I could not plant anymore of the plants I intend to put in the new bed, so I had to stop there. This was about 5:15, and Jenni was still at work. So I cleaned up and waited for her return. We watched Smallville, and I taped the Earl/Office extended season finales to watch later. We went to bed at 11:30, and I only got about 2 hours of intermittent sleep, prior to my alarm going off at 5:30 AM, so I must have done something wicked that I don't remember because I got no rest on my day off or the subsequent evening.

Chuck Pace © 2006

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Yesterday as I started my Web-Authoring software (which usually takes about six minutes to load up), I figured I had a few minutes to kill, so I got out of my jammies, brushed my teeth, selected the perfect wardrobe for a Tuesday and dressed. When I returned to the world headquarters I noticed the "automatic" Software Update screen over the still not completely launched Rapid Weaver page. I clicked the quit option, since I didn't have time to wait for that stuff, and the Rapid Weaver takes up considerable computing space all by itself. The pinwheel signifying activity started pin-wheeling. Fifteen frustrating minutes later, pinwheel yes, other activities not. I had to hard start the computer.
Jump ahead the five minutes it takes to re-boot, i launch the Rapid Weaver again. It goes through it's six minute assembling process again, then unexpectedly quits. I'm sure the look on my face at this point is between quizzical and constipated, I say "hmmm." Relaunch the Weaver again. Same results. New look. More stern, I say something else altogether "I say something else" Relaunch the Weaver yet again. Same not unexpectedly result. I have no time to make a post know if the thing did come up properly. I restart the computer again, grab my hat, and get my coat, pick-up all the troubles I had left by the doorstep, and get my feet to the crummy side of the street. On the way in I noticed I was going to be late if I took my normal route, so instead of going south at Shadeland and getting Washington St. in I go North, figuring I can stop at the new Starbucks at 21st St., grab a quick cup, then hit the interstate and be sailing in no time. I also figure i can see my friend Charlie Schleicher, who co-manages that store. She's not there, but I order and get the "Hey do you have time for us to brew some fresh? There's just half a cup here" Why, no I don't. I'm late for work now. The "solution" was to put two shots of coffee and thermal-nuclear hot barista water in at the "bar" and I'm soon on my way again. I guess a lot of the people that drive 70 Westbound from Shadeland to downtown took Monday off. I say that because there is a reoccurring pattern in the way this group mentality handles the commute. They all forget how to drive over their weekend off. Mondays they usually brake jam every quarter mile or so, for no apparent reason, by Tuesday it's every mile and a half or so, by Friday they almost all make it without one phantom braking incident, and are ready for their diplomas. Then the New week starts, the blackboard is clean and they don't have the foggiest idea what's up ahead in the next quarter mile, best be safe and reduce speed to a forty mile average. So on this most aggravating Tuesday, I get in cue with the "Monday" Slamma Jammers. I get to work with just seconds to spare. Anxiety is dripping off of me in torrents, and my Frankenstein Venti Coffee is still to hot to drink. When I do manage the first sip that doesn't leave lip flesh around the sip-hole I notice that this cup is just a little strong. Strong like bear, to be exact.
I tell Phil about my compu-hassels, he says to run disk utility and verify and repair disk permissions. I did that this morning, since I worked until dark on the retaining wall in the new garden area. Worked like magic, that's why I was able to sit here and bitch about yesterday for you all.

The Wall nears completion,
I still need to add a lot of soil, and roto-til the spit out of the earth there (it is literally dripping with worm spit!). Then plant and seed and watch and grow. Joy. Thanks to Doris McQuain for the Tiller, it makes a great gas leaking door-stop.

Have a good day, I'm leaving my troubles by the doorstep again today.

Chuck Pace © 2006
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Saturday I finished placing the pavers along the side of the driveway, then I put more dirt down and grass seeded there as well. Then I planted some Hosta seeds in some peat starters and let them soak up some sunlight, but they are inside now. I spent a considerable part of the day outside, when the weather is as nice as it has been the last few days you hate to spend the time on inside projects. Speaking of Projects, Sunday I was outside puttering around while Jenni was in Greenfield getting her hair worked on, I walked the dog a while, then staked him in the yard on a long lead and sat and enjoyed (my future vision of) the yard. Suddenly a new thought! I had to go get some stakes and some string. I had decided right then and there that I should build a retaining wall and new flower bed in an empty corner of the yard. My yard is shaped like a piece of pie with a forked off bite taken from the point. So up near the crust there is a large area where there was not "gardening" going on. See Map below

The Pie With a little more filling going in. (the Green areas are existing flower beds)


Friday night I went to the box for the first time all week. I have been going home and Yardening all week. Travis was there as was Brooks and Eddie. The primary reason to go to the Box on Friday was to see Joe George, in town to visit and trek down to the Kentucky Derby. I still had Joe's Bowling Balls, Shoes and Case in stewardship since his move to Florida, and he was coming to reclaim them. While I was there Liz showed up and unwrapped Sasha, who was very flat but healing nicely (Liz thinks that the nail wil stay intact and not drop off). I got a couple good photos of Sasha and her mobile home (sort of a Airstream looking number). Travis and Liz like being mentioned in my posts so much I think they should get married.
These two like getting there picture on the web so much they should get...

Liz gets great pleasure from the attention that Sasha has brought to her. She and Travis like being the center of attention, that's why they have mixed feelings about my being at the box at the same time they are. I am like a shiny bug zapper to most of the people that frequent the box, and it draws attention away from the only slightly shiny Travis when I am there. Pam Walker got me a button for my birthday that says Social, and has a Butterfly on it. Well I think more like Social "Zapper!" That's much more in tune with my persona. Butterflies are girlie, bug zappers are the big pain, and for some less luminary, the end. See. Zapper, not Butterfly. But I get what Pam was trying to say. I love her thoughtfulness. She's definitely Number Four with a bullet (but not a ZAP!). Here are the shots of Liz, Sasha and the Mobile home. This is merely window dressing for my site. See you all too soon (for You maybe). The last little photo is the shot of pure demented joy Liz got when I told here she was the featured guest on my site today! Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

Chuck Pace © 2006
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A Star is Born; Chuck Pace © 2006
Now I have to walk the yard every night when I get home and every morning before I leave. Not just so that Charlie can have some relief, but because the changes are coming rapidly now, and some are just, I mean woah. My Hostas (taking no hostages) doubled in size since yesterday morning, one eight inch section of vining roses has 14 buds on it, the apples will start appearing soon, the dragons are still snapping, the first dragon head columbine is about ready to open, and the little ground cover plants I bought last summer with the leaves that look like watermelon skin are sprouting gorgeous blue flowers with a star in the throat. Pam said I would have an Eden in my yard soon, well I've eaten the apples every year, and one peach last year too. Sound the trumpets, ring the bells, the trumpet vines have gone from scary craggy fingers of mystery to shiny leaves in two days as well and the Lilly of the Valley are ringing a chorus to the bees. The Blade leaf thing I shot yesterday has also grown by about 4 inches overnight.


Today after work I will be making a brief appearance at the Box. I have Joe George's bowling equipment from before his move to Florida, and he is coming to reclaim it on his way down to Louisville and the Derby with his mama (she looks good in a derby, I know).

Chuck Pace © 2006
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I added more transition to grass dirt and redid the bed.

The easiest to do and most interesting thing yesterday was watching a very disturbing Lost what an ending!
Prior to that I came home after work and mowed the yard. Then I moved three more wheel-barrels full of dirt to the new paver and paths areas, and shade grass seeded them. I also planted some Heliotropes, Convolvulus, Columbine and Basil in the re-deux bed next to the path. Jenni planted some Columbine there as well. Either I will be the most frustrated gardener in the world, or I'm going to have some great looking stuff sometime. Right now there are a lot of small greening things happening, but no blooming or climbing or ground covering things happening yet. Yes I'm getting impatience. Maybe I should buy some impatiens. When the last frost of the season was a memory I went seeding happy. I've distributed so many different things in the seed beds around the house I'm afraid to weed. I have no idea what this blade shaped plant to the left is for example. But I know I planted it, or a bulb or a seed. Well that's it in a nut-job, er.. nut shell.

The rest is purely conjecture, confabulation and convoluted contradiction. So I'll not go into it and I don't have to get myself out of it.

Chuck Pace © 2006
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Looks like one prediction came true. Chuck Pace © 2006

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The Great El Predicto said just one word, "Sunrise"

I should be on the physic network. Dionne Warwick should know what I'm thinking. Kreskin should call my number without ever looking it up and ask me if my card was indeed the three of diamonds. Why? The Nascar Race (postponed until Monday). We all know that restrictor plate racing is dangerous, and a total crap-shoot as far as who survives the BIG ONE. If you didn't know that, act like you did, I don't want to have to channel the spirit of Orson Wells to call you just to explain restrictor plate racing. I managed to pick four of drivers out of six that would not be running, or would be taken out of contention by the big one. Only two of my drivers were running at the end only one was on the lead lap. The next one running was 38 laps down because the big one on lap 9, where I lost two drivers on the spot. I got a physic e-mail from Jean Dixon, she said "Wow!" They've recently deciphered a cryptic message from Nostradomas, it said avoid Chuck's picks for the Derby this weekend.

Well, you probably already knew that was going to be my post today. Wait! Hold the phone, I just got a text message from Houdini, it says "Annabelle Believe."

I had to listen to the Sparks Song "I Predict" before work. I bet you already foresaw me listening to that. Everyone except 'Lightnin' who I predict will say, who is Sparks? My favorite song by them is "Tryouts for the Human Race."
Sparks, Angst In My Pants "I Predict" 1982, Ron Mael, Russell Mael Music.
You're gonna take a walk in the rain
And you're gonna get wet
(I predict)

You're gonna eat a bowl of chow mein
And be hungry real soon
(I predict)
Are my sources correct
(I predict)
They're gonna find the Queen is a man
But that Philip don't care
(I predict)
Lassie will prove that Elvis and her
Had a fleeting affair
(I predict)
Are my sources correct
Are my sources correct
Yes I know they're correct
(I predict)

Men, if you say your prayers
You'll never lose your hair (I predict)

L.A. is safe
Ain't gonna quake
Ain't gonna quake
(I predict)

And somebody's gonna die
But I can't reveal who
Cold beer will cure a cold
Cold beer and pretzels, takes care of cancer
Moscow will march to France
They'll do the Can-Can Dance
Don't worry, it'll work out
Maxim's will throw them out

They're gonna stop Saturday night
So you better have fun now
(I predict)
They're gonna stop having the sun
So you better get tan now

And this song will fade out
And this song will fade out
And this song will fade out
(I predict)

Chuck Pace © 2006
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I was going to put over bored, but that's not true either. Today is the first day of the 5th month. Meaning that 2006 is already 1/3 over. Where is it all going? Why does it go so fast? I think it is the routines that makes it seem to go faster as you get older. When you are young everyday is full of new surprises. Then as you get into habits and routines, the surprises become fewer and farther between, until the only memorable stimulus is the out of ordinary, and the days that lack that lack presence. Therefore time seems to speed up as fewer new experiences get added to your perception bank. I'm not over bored I'm over experienced. There, pure and simple.
With yesterday's rain out at Talledega, the Nascar Fantasy league and the Race are going to be missing a lot of viewers. That made yesterday a little more routine too. I needed to watch that race. I fell asleep watching the pre-race before preemption stuff and woke up with an episode of Cheers on. Needless to say it was all downhill for T.V. viewing after that.

David the Son in Law flies back to Sunny Florida and the love of my life (and his) Meredith today on AirTran. He's still asleep as I post this post. Meredith is off today, it's a shame she couldn't get two or three other days off and come up to Indiana with David. I just miss her terribly. Well time has this way of moving on, like I mentioned earlier. I include two of my "on the phone with customers" doodles from Saturday (before I went to the Pacers loss) both of which are appropriate it seems. Up top is the Sunny, Man Over Board and down here closer to the end is the Corpulent Flying Doodle bug. Have a good flight David, call when you get to Florida. I'll be expecting the call. I never have a plan when I start doodling on a call, and I'm usually surprised when something emerges from the scraps. Love to the kids, joy to all.

Chuck Pace © 2006
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