Mostly True Tales

I woke up this morning to a funny noise coming from my laptop. A grinding noise, that I had hoped was anything but the hard drive. The machine wouldn’t wake up so I powered it down and the noise slowly ground to a halt. Now when I power it on, I get the grinding noise and a folder in the center of the screen that flashes to a question mark, then finally a giant “NO” sign, you know, the circle with the line through it. That’s computer hieroglyphics for, no boot drive.

I knew it was coming, my little Powerbook G4 is over 4 years old now and certainly at the end of it’s life cycle. Recently I picked up the new iLife 08 and was disappointed to learn that the new iMovie would not even install on it. I knew the end was near, I just didn’t know how near.

I guess there is never really a good time for a drive crash, but this couldn’t come at a worse time, I’ve been at the lake for 5 months now and haven’t done a full backup in all that time. Fortunately I did a partial last Tuesday night when I was in St. Louis, but that was mostly pictures. Due to space limitations, for that past couple of years I have stored my pictures and music on portable external drives, so for the most part that data is safe, but there will be some loss of the most recent stuff. Not to mention, my Quicken data.

It stinks, but the worst part is, now I don’t have a laptop, or the $$$ for a new one. On a good day, I would packing up right now and preparing to head into St. Louis. I could be at the Apple store when they opened and get a new MacBook Pro. But, something tells me today’s not going to be a good day.

Well that was a quick trip, I drove back to the lake today so I could be in town for the Shootout Boat Races. We are, of course, 100% occupied, and have a couple of guests, that are friends of neighbors. This combined with the fact that this can be an especially crazy weekend, made me feel I had to be back here.

This will be a wacko weekend, I can feel it in my veins. The boats started rolling in early in the week before I left. They have added a lot of pre-events to the event this year so the whole thing is starting early.

As I’m driving down my lake road this afternoon, I see, parked by the side of the road, possibly the most expensive Mercedes ever built. The picture was taken less than a mile from my condo.

Yesterday was the first day of school for both Bonnie and Sarah. One of the classes Bonnie had yesterday was Advanced Composition.

Her first assignment and the only homework for the day was to write a poem about herself. It is due tomorrow. Tonight, she brought me a copy and asked me what I thought.

I think it’s beautiful, honest, sad, and funny, everything a poem should be.

Once again, as I read her prose, I know I have succeeded, in changing the world forever.

She’ll be embarrassed I published it, but I can’t help it. I’m proud.

A poem about yourself is a very hard thing to do.

“Unto thy own self, be true.”

Of course, I’m prejudice, but I’d have to give it an A.

Me
By Bonnie Kessel

I am:
A student at Ladue high school,
A soccer player,
Caring, honest, understanding, and hardworking.

I have:
Never been out of the country,
Heard the lullaby “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” a thousand times,
Parasailed over the clear waters of Lake Tahoe,
The best friends anyone could ever ask for.

I believe:
Happiness isn’t about money or fame,
Puppies are the cutest animals on earth,
You only get one life, so make the most of it,
In myself.

I wish:
The world was a better place,
My nails would stay painted,
My little sister knew how to knock.

My Favorite:
Holiday is Christmas,
Food is pizza,
Books are the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” series.

I love:
Muddy paw prints on the sidewalk,
Snowflakes on Christmas,
Blowing out birthday candles,
Tiny baby shoes,
My family.

I had a few clear days on the lake calendar and decided to visit St. Louis for a few days and drove in this morning. Man it’s great to be home. I hadn’t seen the family in a little over a week, not to mention the dogs. I have to return to the lake either Thursday or Friday, but this was a great excuse to bring some stuff home and prepare for my winter transition.

Of course everyone was surprised and glad to see me this afternoon when the Kids got home from school. The dogs were especially happy. Of course, Marcia had siding put on the house while I was gone this year, I think it was the roof last year. She likes to do these types of projects while I’m out of town. I prefer it that way too. The house looks great.

The Shootout boat races are this coming weekend, and I will have to be back at Parkview Bay, because the race weekend is usually one the most (if not the most) crazy weekends of the year. This year it will be a toss up, between the Shootout, and Labor Day weekend, I’ll let you know.

It’s great to be back in my office in St. Louis. A good indicator of how long I’ve been gone is the “Born On Date” of my Bud-Light, March 15th, 2007. It tasted fine. It’s good to be home.

I can’t believe it’s almost over. It’s a mixed emotion. I normally love it here, but this hasn’t been a normal summer at the lake for me. It’s been hectic, fast, hard, and a lot of work. It seems like I spent less time than ever with Marcia and the Kids. I never thought I’d hear myself say it, but I’m ready to go home to St. Louis. I hope to return a little early this year, a few days after the Labor Day, rather than halloween.

The Kids start school a week from tomorrow and went home today to prepare. They probably won’t even make it back next weekend. I have some SVIP’s (that’s Super VIP’s) arriving on Wednesday. I’ve got a lot to do in preparation before they arrive. It’s a family reunion of sorts a big group, headed by a old friend and Teacher of mine. I’m hoping their stay thru Sunday will be healing and strengthening rather than stressful.

Of course, it’s horsefly season, just in the morning and evening. And, the heat has been about 100 degrees for over a week now, it’s suppose to get worse this coming week. My guests are planning on playing golf Friday, I hope they have an early Tee-Time, but not too early, the horseflies swarm on the golf courses early in the morning.

It’s been an odd year on the lake. The price of gasoline has made it somewhat slow, but somehow it seems to have been crazier. The last 2 weeks have been nuts, like everyone was saving up.

Two big weekends to go, the Shootout Boat Races and Labor Day, then it’s over. The post season begins, which is my favorite, I will go home and become a weekender. Perhaps by then, I’ll want to stay and enjoy the fall, but I doubt it. I love the lake, but I would go home today if I could.