Well, the drive to New Jersey was easy. Well, if easy means getting pulled over twice, searched once, and basically being treated like the red-headed step child. Now I know why I never leave the house!

Signing into my network took some doing as well. I thought I had everything all worked out, but no. No, it can never be easy, can it now.

I found out that our tenants have been sub-letting our NJ property for the past two years...I smell a lawsuit coming. Anyhow, the people who're in the old homestead seem very nice.

Oh well.

I'm heading to the beach in a few moments to do a walk from here to Point Pleasant and back. My gosh, I’ve forgot how good the Jersey shore feels. I’m going to look forward to spending three days here in September.

For those BT people who’re into food...I had a HUGE bucket of fried clams with a side of coleslaw for dinner last evening. So there!

WTH Jon, pulled over twice!!! Did you forget to remove the easy rider gun rack and shotgun, did you forget to remove your turban and "I brake for Jihadist" bumper sticker or (I'd better skip the last thought about darkened windows and rap music).

Jon, have a great time and eat some clams for me.

Where on the Jersey Shore are you, Jon? I'm headed for Cape May on Saturday. I'm going for the crab and flounder first!

Glad you made it safe and sound and were able to get hooked up to BT finally. Can't believe they acutally sublet your house!!! Definite problem.

Did you REALLY get pulled over twice?

ok... very jealous on the bucket of fried clams

Well, after much headache, pulled muscles, "da po-leece", and such--I arrived in the lovely and scenic town of Barton Vermont. Whew!

We (as in the people I own this place with) were supposedly on a broadband satellite connection for our internet. Nope, didn't work. I contact the person within our tiny company whom set up this wonder of modern technology, and low-and-behold: the dipstick uses dial-up--and he doesn't even know it. I don't know if this should be a "Duh" or a "Grr" moment.

Ok, negative hat off, positive hat on. I forgot how darned pretty this place is! It's not just our place, but also, the entire area. The total lack of people and cars is stunningly quiet. In fact, I have yet to hear a siren of any type (One of my pet peeves).

Nobody has messed with my armory since I was here last--two years ago--that is a good thing (Watch out critters, Jethro is on the loose). A really good thing, considering that another one of my business partners in this venture recently discover the joy of blasting away at anything that moves with semi-automatic assault rifles. Whew, again! Those Hollywood-types; don't ch'ya know.

The screen house by the lower lake is wrecked--again. As are four of our six canoes. You know, I just don’t get the whole "Hey Bubba, let's sniff paint and tear stuff up" mentality of a lot of these local kids. Sorry, but mummy and daddy aren't giving them enough work to do on the farm!

Anyway, it's hot here today (about 80), and I'm prepping for my friends wife and daughters (an unexpected treat--grr) to arrive.

Actually, I shouldn't "grr", because they've been coming here as long as I have (not the kids--they came later--but mum and dad). Anyway, their kid is riding dressage in the Orleans County fair this year...her first outside the snooty Washington crowd.

Wish me luck,
Jon

Welkum ta Vahmont Jon. Gud luk!

Seriously, I don't understand the mentality of some punks myself. A few years ago some dirtbags pillaged through quite a few boats out in front of our camp. If they could not find items with a quick resale worth, the 8%^*heads damaged the boats. As I always take the electronics off the boat, they decided to slash about $3,500.00 worth of new canvas. On top of that they threw everything that wasn't secured to the hull overboard.

Again, welcome to Vermont! I wish you many relaxing days and evenings.