Kayaking and Air Fryers.

Last weekend I was able to take a couple of days off. So for the first time in my life, I went Kayaking at a park near me called Stony Creek. Although I have some experience with rowboats, I’d never been in a Kayak, but it’s something I’ve been wanting to try, so I finally did it. I rented a double one and put my daughter in front. She’s 17 and they wouldn’t let her rent a single. (I also tend to look big in pictures with Sarah because she's 5ft 2 inches and I'm 5 inches taller than her.) 

Pictures by Brittany (my son's girlfriend) 

My view from under a shady tree

We managed not to tip over. I’m a good swimmer, having lived near a large lake most of my childhood, so I wasn’t afraid of flipping, but the water wasn’t that warm, so I preferred not to flip. Plus I have no idea how I would’ve got back in the kayak. I’d like to try a one person kayak next year and hope to get a chance to try going down a river. As long as the current is too strong, I probably could handle it. Anyway, after we hung out on the beach for an hour. 

I also bought an air fryer last weekend, and I was really looking forward to using it. I’d seen a commercial about it and it looked great. You can make fried food without oil. So I had a 30% off coupon at Kohl’s and I went and bought one. So that day I tried to make French fries in it. The directions said half way through cooking that you have to “flip” the fries. So I pulled out the tray, stirred up the fries and put it back in, but then the tray was hard to get back into the unit and it wouldn’t come back on. I fussed and fussed with it. Unplugging it, taking the tray in and out. Meanwhile, dinner wasn’t getting done. It wasn’t until about 15 minutes later it finally decided to work. I figured the fries would need some extra time to cook considering the delay. I was right, but even after another 15 minutes, some fries were browned and others were still hard. (These were fries cut right from potatoes, not frozen. They always come out great in my deep fryer.)

Kohl’s was great about taking it back, but they didn’t have any brand that I wanted to try. Anyway, I haven’t given up on the air fryer. I ordered a different one from Amazon. I went with the Secura brand because I have a pressure cooker by that brand and I’ve never had any trouble with it. (It makes fall off the bones ribs.) 

Meanwhile, Stony Creek has a zipline course. I've been tempted to try it, but I might have to go on the junior one first.

Have a great week!

A dog's addiction: Laser Pointers.

When trying to write

Friday evening, I was playing with my dog Loki (a 1 year old Golden Retriever) using a laser pointer, only to realize that he’s obsessed with it. He’s an active 1 year old golden retriever and wants to keep busy. I thought “spot” would be an easy way to get him some exercise. He wanted to keep going and going. After the third time, I was done for the night, but he kept pestering me. I tried to ignore him, but he was relentless. So I thought maybe he has to go out. I got up and headed for the back door. Instead, Loki stops at the desk where I keep the laser pointer and looks up at the shelf. Then back at me, then at the shelf, and so on, asking me to do the laser pointer again. I could see the obsession on his face and got a bad feeling. It’s the sort of feeling when you realize your child is headed for trouble. Because he continued to pester, I ended up gating him in the kitchen for the last half hour before I went to bed.

Then, I did a search online to find out if dogs can get addicted to “spot.” Sure enough they can. I read about dog that was so addicted he would chase, not just the laser pointer, but other lights and shadows. He was doing this constantly, trying to bite the light. This caused him to destroy, not only his teeth, but curtains and carpeting. I read that the laser pointer messes with a dogs mind because they can never catch it, creating an obsession. I could see my dog was on his way to trouble, so no more laser pointer.  

My daughter thought I was over reacting, of course, but I said to her “Listen to my years of experience. I know when something isn’t right.” She still thought once week would be okay.

Do you play “spot” with your dog? Am I overreacting?

Writing update: Still working on the edits for Lightning Shifter. I’ve also been writing the A.I. series, but I don’t play to post any further chapters of it on my blog. However, for anyone who left a comment on any of those chapters, you can get a free copy from me when it’s finished. Just let me know. 

Rough Weekend

Due to a storm that went through Friday around 6:15 p.m., I don’t have a post for my A.I series. There was a lot of rain, some hail and the wind gusted to about 100 mph. Not much thunder or lightning. There was no warning or siren.

Part of a tree landed on our house with a loud boom. My trampoline flew about 300 feet. It damaged our fence, and I’m seriously grateful nothing else happened. The storm created a lot of work and chaos. The power went out of course. It doesn’t take much to knock the power out my house in the first place. That’s why we have a generator, but it doesn’t run the AC. So it was a hot night, listening to a roaring generator. A big weeping willow tree also lost a big limb, and almost hit my son’s car.

However, everyone is okay and there is only some minor damage to the fence and the gutters. Instead, of a trampoline, I got a new small pool. I’ve never had a pool fly away, so it seems safe.

Hoping for a more relaxing week. 

Why I added to the work I have no idea, but it's done.

Spotted two deers Sunday Morning.