Swearing...

No, no, no...not that type of swearing!!!  I was just sworn in as the newest member of the Portage City Environmental Board.  We make recommendations to the City Council regarding ground water, wetlands, and other environmental issues impacting our town.  Didn't think I'd have to swear an oath, but it didn't hurt and I didn't have any aftereffects.  I figured I had a leg up on the other board members since I have my very own environmental consultant on retainer - Mr. Billy Beck, Kansas State Watershed Forester!!!  That way I won't look too uninformed - I'll keep my iPhone handy just in case I need a quick consultation.  It looks like purple loosestrife is our primary enemy, but coming in a close second is the "Darth Vader" of wetland invaders - phragmites (I shudder at the sound of its name...yeah, it's a real plant - look it up).

Chip and Lucy enjoying Winter (psst, don't eat "yellow snow")

Well, Pat remains in St. Louis helping her mom recover from hip replacement surgery.  She's earning her place in Heaven!!! (As if she hasn't already earned it putting up with me for 41 years!!!)  Saint Patricia will have her shrine someday.

Dad doing Dad Stuff in the Winter, brrrrrr...

Lucy, Chip, and I are making the most of our "freedom" - get up when we want, shower (or not), pee in the yard (Chip and Lucy), pick up our toys (or not)...you get the idea.  Our meal planning strategy hasn't quite worked out the way we had hoped.  Nonetheless, we survive!!!

Finally getting around to getting the painting done - complete, finished, done did!!!  Now I can get back to retirement the way it's supposed to be.  Ha,ha,ha!!!

Busier than ever with the Tea Party as I am now the President of the VanKal Tea Party Patriots.  Good grief, it's like herding cats trying to get things done, but we are making progress.  Bring on the Dems - I think 2012 will be a watershed year for Freedom and Liberty.  Otherwise, we'll rank behind Burkina Faso in economic vitality, Chechnya in terms of religious freedom, and Greece in terms of unmanageable debt to GDP ratio.  Not a very pretty picture - all the more reason to elect a real President, a Conservative majority in both Houses of Congress, and replace the communists on the Supreme Court - Yeah, that would just about do it!!!