What a weekend!!

This past weekend could not have been better for an over all experience unless a woman had been entered into the equation. No women are knocking at my door, o well, maybe next week. I started the Friday off returning home from work early so I could make the finishing touches on making my house hospitable for my Dad's overnight visit with two dogs in toe. Dad has two dogs, a Border Collie named Blackie and a Golden Retriever named Pal who I always encourage him to travel with them rather than board them at the kennel. This is the only the second or third time he has brought the dogs, I love having them as guests.

Once Dad got to town we did the usual, let the dogs turn my yard into a suer and then go out to eat.  He has to eat at Central Bar-B-Que when he comes, there is no question as to why anymore. We once went to Mortimer's down the street and I could tell that he was still longing for that slow cooked pork a few blocks away once the meal was done. He lives in Northern Arkansas and there is nothing that compares to the world famous slow roasted Memphis BarBQue. So his philosophy is never miss an opportunity on his routine stay.  I say his routine stay because the whole thing plays out the same every time he comes down. He arrives around 430 or 5, we go eat at 530 or 6 after some brief conversation at my house. We eat and  leave the restaurant, go to the grocery store where he picks up some soda pop, granola bars and cream for coffee. We also pick up the dvd from the Red Box and head back to my house where we watch the movie (Red Baron). After the movie he reads in bed and lights out at 1030. The next morning we have coffee and talk until about 1130 am when he packs the dogs up in the SUV and drives the 3 and Half hours back to his home. This is the routine about every two or three months when he comes to visit. The visit never takes longer than the 19 or 20 hours, short and sweet but always enjoyed.

After Dad left I watched  Manchester City just squeak by Manchester United (Man U Fan) in the FA cup semi finals. I did not really care who won since Liverpool Football Club are not in it anymore, just who cares, I don't. So once that atrocity ended  I went for a five mile walk with the new trekking poles that I have never used. This coming weekend I am planning on doing a backpacking trip in Arkansas and the poles will help with the 20 miles I am going to walk with 40 pounds strapped to my back.

That night I went over to my good friend Don's house. He was cracking the a crank case open from a Type 3 Volkswagen engine to see if this case was any good or not. Turns out this one was not any good but cracked. This is Don 's fourth or fifth case that is no good. If you know anybody that has a Type 3 crank case let me know. While Don was reeking havoc playing with motors I thought it would be a good time to make an alcohol stove that I could use on my trip. It turned out well, the stove, kind of ruff around the edges but I will make another - take a look at the first burn.

Then I took it outside for video Two.

The stove works as you can see from the video, just looks ghetto is all. Nothing wrong with a little ghetto engineering from now and then. I will make a more refined version after I get back from my trip.

Then Sunday came out of no where, before I knew it the big game was about to start between Liverpool F.C. and Arsenal. The first half bored me to death, 0-0, Arsenal were dominating possession and we were not able to win mid field battles, where is Glen J when we need him. The Second Half seemed much of the same and then I got a phone call in the middle of the second half, I talked and watched the game in a glance from time to time. I finished my phone call with two minutes plus stoppage time to play. The stoppage time was a incredibly long eight minutes because of Jamie C's injury. So I stopped and finally gave the game my whole hearted attention. The game was getting heated, chances were flying and then with about two minutes to play (in the stoppage eight minutes) tragedy struck with Spearing fouling Fabergas in our 18, which resulted in a penalty kick that VanPersie drilled into the net. I could not believe myself, I decided to finally start watching this game and this happens. Well I had not had a moments rest when all of a sudden a foul is called against Arsenal just outside the 18 that Saurez takes but is deflected away from goal, this then leads Lucas to chase the ball down and get trampled by Eboue which finally leads to another penalty kick for Liverpool this time and a equalizing goal. Wow!!! I felt kind of dirty after watching that but I had not taken a shower in two days either.

In the afternoon Don convinced me to go practice my golf swing - I just have video.

And

Then there was skating, dont laugh, we are trying to get there. Learning to skate again when you are nearly 40 is a very slow and willful process. Videos are elementary but promise to get better.

DON

Rufus

Now yaw be nice!!