July 28 Erie, PA

Fun day today. My sister picked us up at about 7:45AM and took us out on Lake Erie for some fishing on her boat. We all caught one fish. I got a very small bass, which disengaged itself from my hook about five yards from the boat. Margie caught a very large smallmouth bass. It put up quite a fight and had her straining with her pole. It was a whopper! I saw it gasping for breath in the bucket and got all sad so we let it go. Deb then caught a smaller, undersized bass so we let that one go too.

So we caught three bass. The weird part is that we were fishing for walleyes. Oh well….

Lake Erie has recovered nicely. The water was warm and clear. No health restrictions at all now. On the way back we stopped at a beach off Presque Isle for about an hour's worth of swimming. We anchored in 4-5 feet of water and had a clear, clean, and sandy bottom. We swam around and then went on a short tour of the bay before heading home. At home Deb had to slather on the aloe cream (Thanks again, Howdy!) because I was kind of a unique color after my time in the sun. When will I learn?

Bob and I swam to shore. There are many flat, skipping rocks. I seem to have lost the knack that I had in childhood. The water is 79F. No eels, rays, jellyfish, sharks or alligators. Just clean, fresh, clear water and air mattresses to float on under sunny, blue skies.

Bob said when they were growing up that the paper mill's sludge flowed out into the lake as a bilious, bubbly smear. It is clear now. Actually part of the improvement is due to the notorious zebra mussel, since they filter so much water daily they have actually helped to clean the lake.

When we got back, there was a message from John, Margie's husband, who told us that my mother's boat had broken a propeller and that my dear old mom would be three days late in returning from the North Pole. So now what? I guess we'll reschedule some things….

We made our third Disinformation T-Shirt today. My sister wanted one so we designed one for her. It turned out quite well.

He keeps making these shirts, but no one notices that the information is incorrect. But it keeps him busy…and amused.

It's also my young son's 32^nd birthday.

The refrigerator may be recovering. It's a "wait and see" situation right now. We're keeping our fingers crossed because we don't really want to spend $700 right now.

July 29 Erie, PA

We were going to ride our bikes to my son's house in Northeast - about 50 miles RT - but we awoke to some scattered showers and forecasts of terrible thunderstorms in the area. They never materialized, and it turned out to be a decent day.

We took Vinnie in for a check-up, and he's in good shape. He only needed an air filter and a PCV valve so we're ready to go again.

We lolled about for a while and then went blueberry picking with my sister. Big fun. We filled four buckets in less than one half-hour. Neither Deb nor I had ever done this before, and this is a great year for blueberries so we hit it right. Yummy! Big and sweet! Some of them are the size of grapes. The growth on some of the bushes is so heavy that you can strip handfuls right off the vine and into your bucket. My mom's freezer is now full of blueberries.

I had never eaten fresh blueberries before. They are not the same as those in the can (like canned corn and fresh are not the same veggie).

Then we decided to go in pursuit of the elusive walleye once again. Back to the boat! The lake was a bit choppy, but we headed out anyway. We took the GPS with us so we could record the spot where the big ones were. This proved to be totally unnecessary. We got skunked! Not even a nibble. But we had a good time anyway. The sunset was magnificent, and the evening was warm and balmy.

July 30 Erie, PA

I didn't want to get out of bed until I finished my book. Carl Hiassen, a novelist from Florida, has a unique set of characters in each of his stories. Recommended reading for the weird!

Vinnie got a bath. Baked on bugs and road grit have been removed.

Marge took us out swimming again. We anchored right off the northern end of the peninsula and floated about for awhile until we cooled off. I had Bob and Marge bring me back, since I was not ready for another evening bobbing about in the boat waiting for the elusive fish to bite. I had a pleasant evening at home and they didn't get back in till about 10 PM.

We took Deb back to shore and once again headed out in pursuit of the elusive walleye. I call it a Wallyfish. It was quite choppy with 2-3 foot swells so it took us a while to get to Margie's secret spot. About five minutes after putting my line into the water I got my first wallyfish. It was quite exciting. They have teeth and are quite ferocious looking. Since Margie doesn't "do" worms or fish I had my hands full trying to get this thing off the line, put on new bait, and try and keep myself balanced in the rocking boat.

About five minutes after we got ourselves back together Margie got a whopping big strike. Whatever it was - she insists it was a trophy wallyfish - broke her line. Major bummer! She was not happy. Then we started catching small bass. These things were 5-12 inches long and were most annoying. All they did was steal the bait and waste our time. Marge did catch a big bass, but we weren't after bass. We were in pursuit of wallyfish. So we threw it back.

There was a slack period, and then Marge caught "it". We weren't at all sure what "it" was, but "it" was very large and very heavy. I could hardly get "it" out of the net. "It" was kind of roundish with an orangy, goldish, yellowy color and a small round mouth. We took a picture of "it", and I'll certainly report back here when we find out what "it" was. We threw "it" back so as not to be a threat to civilization. I just hope it wasn't a trophy sized whatever-"it"-was.

We caught a few more small bass, and then headed for shore. It was another wonderful, balmy evening with a beautiful sunset.

So we did catch one wallyfish which I brought home and cleaned in my mother's kitchen sink. Don't anyone tell mom what I did. Marge wanted me to filet it, but I don't know how so she's going to have to cook it like it is. We're having it for dinner tomorrow night.

July 31 Erie, PA

Bob's cousin, Karen, and her friend, Cal, came over for breakfast. Karen was supposed to have breakfast with Doty, Bob's mom, but she is still stuck on the icebreaker in the Arctic. Bob cooked. Blueberry pancakes with those lucious berries we picked a couple of days ago. They were good. I was surprised.

Sigh - Why is she always so surprised when I cook?

We have decided that the fridge in Vinnie is fine. The $700 cost of a new one had no impact on our decision making process.

Today we did a bit of sightseeing around Erie. We found the "Erie Rock" which was an important landmark when the French laid out the City of Erie. We also paid a whopping $4.00 each to visit the Erie Museum. For years I have been telling Deb that the museum had the pot in which the remains of General "Mad Anthony" Wayne were boiled. When we got to the museum, however, we found that it had been restored as the original old mansion prior to its becoming a museum. All the old stuff I remember as a kid was gone. What would Deb think? I was morose. And totally disheartened. Until I found, in the corner of one room, the very same pot. They had saved it! And inside the pot itself was a book describing the boiling of Mad Anthony.

Vindication! Once again I was Happy Bob.

The museum is housed in a magnificeent old structure much in need of repair. Old silks is ripping off the walls. All of the wood was exquisitely carved. All Bob cared about was that old iron pot.

We did a bit of shopping and made Disinformation T-Shirt #3 - It shows the Statue of Liberty in San Francisco Bay. Truly a work of divine inspiration!

No one has noticed his shirts yet. I guess I don't look at T-shirts much either.

Margie was having us up for dinner so we went home to rest up. While we were resting and watching TV we noticed that the stations were broadcasting severe storm warnings. Just as we left for Margie's the storm hit. WOW! I had forgotten the intensity of these things. Thunder, lightning (very close), and a total deluge. Great fun. It reminded me of why I left Erie in the first place. Deb was impressed by her first Erie storm.

The storms whip in and leave just as quickly. Lots of trees down. A good portion of the town was without power until 0500. That means no fans or air conditioners!

Dinner at Margie's was very good. CRUSTY BREAD!, steak, salad, melon, corn on the cob, and Deb and I took a flirtatious white wine. After dinner we went to Connie's for ice cream. The turtle flavor is kind of a chocolate triple chocolate fudge death-by-chocolate flavored ice cream that's to die for. I loved it. I'm going back for more before we leave here. It's `almost too good.

August 1, 1999 - Erie, PA (still)

After searching the Internet we decided that "it" was a drum or sheepshead. We could have saved and eaten it.

Bob drove me out to the driving range today. His sister likes to golf, but I wouldn't go until I was sure I could still make contact with the ball. I haven't hit a golf ball, since I met Bob.

I was impressed and thought she did very well. The balls didn't go super-far, but they all went straight.

We drove around the countryside for a while. Small towns and back roads. Corn fields and barns and groves of hardwoods. Stopped at a fruit stand for more tomatoes and corn and melon.

I was quite proud of myself. We went exploring (got lost) in the countryside outside of Erie, and I actually found my way back. It probably helps that Erie is on a lakefront, and there is only a 180 degree arc in which to get los… I mean, go exploring.

I have terrible allergies here. I am most miserable. I think it is the high mold index with all the heat and humidity. I am most happy submerged in the lake.

If she doesn't straighten up and quite bitching, she may be most happy very soon now. I figure three minutes should do it.

August 2, 1999 - Still stuck in Erie

The family matriarch comes home today. We spent quite a bit of time cleaning up and putting my mom's house back in order. Marge and Deb went off to play golf while I had to do - once again - all the work. Work, work, work…. When will it end?

I have drugged myself, so I can go outside and play. It is a most glorious day. Temperature in the mid-70s with low humidity. The heat wave has broken here. Fluffy white clouds are scattered through the sky and a light wind blows through the trees. Does this help me hit the golf ball? No way! I haven't played since I met Bob. It's true that you get better if you play a couple of times a week. Well over two years and it showed. I did get a couple (really just a couple) of good shots off, and I'd think, "Ooh, I have it again" and then I'd top one or plop one in the lake.

Vinnie is almost reloaded again and ready to go to Cleveland. Next stop!

Bob's mom missed her connecting flights. It is not her fault; plane delays. The travel agent could get her as far as Pittsburgh tonight, so Bob and Marge took off to pick up Mom. I volunteered to stay at home and man the phones and be the central coordinator. You are right! I did not want to drive 2 hours each way to Pittsburgh tonight. Plus there was not enough room in the car for me to go. They should be home around 2 AM.

Marge and I had a good time driving down to Pittsburgh. We played "Guess What This Is?" on the CD player on the way down. I called my daughter, Sarah, en route to the airport, and she met us there. Deb has never met Sarah, and I have only met her husband, Joe, very briefly at the wedding so I'm not suure Joe really exists, and Deb is not quite sure Sarah really exists. I hope we can all get together over the winter and get to know each other. But at least I got to see Sarah briefly.

My mom and Warren are home safe from China. They are still sick from some crud they picked up traveling. Mom says China in summer monsoons and heat is not the place to go. After experiencing the heat of the South the last couple of months, I would agree that going to a third world country might be somewhat miserable.

We got Mom and Betty (finally) at the airport and drove them back to Erie. We all finally got to bed around 2:00AM. Long day.

August 3 Last day in Erie

That old lady doesn't stop. They didn't get home until really late and I heard her rummaging about her own house before 7 this morning. We gave her the benefit of the doubt, since we figured she didn't know which time zone she was in. She had a 30-hour day yesterday getting home.

I took a nap. I was tired. Kind of a slow day. Went out for lunch, went to Waldameer, a local fun park, and Marge came over for dinner. I showed my dear old mom how to surf the net

Today was another kick-back-day. We read. Doty, Bob's mom, unpacked her North Pole clothes. Bob and I gave her computer and web-surfing lessons. She liked the picture of the cat that we put on her desktop.

We're mentally getting ready to resume our adventure tomorrow. We put some of our "stuff" back into the van today and spent the rest of the day lolling about. Not too much activity today. I'm still tired from my late night last night. We had dinner in, and we're going to bed early.

End of Week 12…