Long weekend

Shhhh.  Don't tell anyone.  I snuck in a vacation day today to make it a long 4 day weekend.  No solid plans, just minor chores around the hacienda this weekend.  Probably cook something on the grill, take the children to the dog park, wax the truck, test drive a few more cars, mow the yard, plant some more flora, get fitted for a tux, take the kids out for dinner, catch up on wedding plans.  

Actually, today I am hanging around waiting for the bug guy to come nuke the house.  We usually have him over once a year and that normally keeps the hordes at bay, but in the last 2 weeks I've encountered 5 big 'ol Texas tree roaches inside the house - some dead, some quite alive (3 is my limit before I call in a tactical strike).  Also have a plumber out to fix a leaky shower  faucet.  I'd attempt it myself, but my luck & experience with that kind of plumbing work is not good.  Besides, I've got a home warranty policy that takes care of this for a few bucks, so I'll let the experts deal with it.  

Long weekend ahead.  Monday is Memorial Day.  Lots of people bbq'ing, car sales, mattress sales.  School is about done and summer is about to kick off.  Junior is supposed to be down this weekend with his bride to be.  They have plans to meet with the minister, decide on a DJ, work on invitations.  So far, the wedding tally is going well.  We have the chapel set, minister locked in, reception hall reserved, photographer picked, caterer is lined up, cake place is almost firmed up.  Stephen called me yesterday and told me that he and his best man have been fitted for their tuxes and Rebecca's dad and I need to go to Men's Warehouse to get fitted (another weekend chore).  Looks like is is shaping up to be a full agenda this weekend.  Hope everyone gets off early and can enjoy their weekend!    

Chicken dance

Spiders.  I hate 'em.

Devious little bastards who just look evil to me.  I know.  They are supposed to be beneficial and eat many other insects (mosquitoes, ants, etc.) but I am no fan of spiders.  If I encounter one in the house - Live and let die is my motto.  Most are small don't pose a threat but we have a few down in this region that look like something out of a Wes Craven movie.  A few of the trails I run during lunch are along the bayou and chock full of all sorts of critters.  I have run across two giant wood spider webs that just scared the shit out of me.

I try to keep the homestead free of insects, but this is south Texas and bugs are fact of life down on the coast.  Roaches, fireants, spiders, termites, ticks, cinch bugs, mosquitoes, wasps, scorpions, asps are part of the landscape.  I will try to nuke the yard every year to drive out most of the hoard, but it is only a temporary solution.   What really irks me is how fast they can set up shop.  I walk the dogs twice a day (3 times on weekends) and from the time I walk them at night until the next morning, one devious little bastard will set up house right between the two bushes on either side of my back door.  I mean these bushes are at least 5-6 feet apart but sometime between 2100 and 0500 the following morning, there will be a large number of INVISIBLE strands crossing my path.  Nothing like stepping out of the back door at 0500 with two highly energetic dogs dragging you forward and you walk through a barrage of webs.  Now, I am not Fred Astaire.  I have never claimed to be a skilled dancer.  You'll never see my face on Dancing With the Stars.  But step into a spider's web that early and I can do a great chicken dance routine.