And no, it’s not State Farm. Many thanks to a Hip and Ridge Construction worker for volunteering to plow my driveway. I was at the end of my second hour of shoveling by hand when he came by. I would have shoveled well into the night if he hadn’t helped. My snowblower couldn’t handle the thick, wet snow. It was damn near compacted to ice. So, hence the reduction to manual shoveling. I offered to give him money, but he adamantly refused. So, instead, he’s getting what pittance of free advertising I can give him.

Come the spring; I’m going to see if they can repair the gutter damaged by that mammoth ice dam of 2020. And maybe build us a new deck in the process.

I was out tonight hunting down Loki, who decided not to come back when called. Through the trees and brush, I noticed something new. A dead Birch tree was blown over and hung on our power lines. We hadn’t lost power. It didn’t even flicker. We’ve had wind for the last few days, so who knows how long it was hanging there. However, while in my office, I saw a flash of light from the corner of my eye. I decided to notify Minnesota Power about the situation. Less than 20 minutes later, a lineman showed up to cut the tree off the line. I talked to him and let him into the backyard, where he discovered that one of the lines had pulled away from the pole. So, now I have two linemen ready to cut our power and climb up the pole to reattach the line.

I work 10 hour days, so it is for me.

[scene in the kitchen]

Tina: It’s not Friday yet.

Me: Well……..

Tina: Shut up!

[I walk away laughing a quiet, maniacal laugh]

Well, per Google. 8:47 PM Monday, July 26, 2021 (CDT) Sunset in Duluth, MN.

According to the view outside, it set an hour ago.

A significant storm is a-coming.

Update: rain has started to splat on the house. The thunder sounds more crackly and is not booming. Trust me; it sounds scarier when it sounds crackly.

Yeah. It’s Friday, but my first Saturday because I work 10 hour days. 3 day weekends are nice. The only problem is that Tina works my first Saturday, which sucks. So, I’m sedating my sorrow by watching “Infinity Wars” and “Endgame.” On my iMac. Through the Disney + website. It’s grand.

But Tina’s not here, which still sucks.

Because I’m such a magnificent, sadistic masochist, I mowed the lawn after my bike ride. Look upon me and marvel.

If you’re wondering where to send the flowers should I successfully kill myself, contact Tina.

I stopped by Kwik Trip to pick up some hamburger buns. When I got home, I discovered that a package of Bavarian Cream Pasteries had perpetrated a daring escape. Tina will be pleased.