A number of choices could replace the fourth word in this post’s title and still make sense. For example, missing, lost, broken, trashed, injured, and dead (if the item was a Ford). Useful seems to fit best in the case of an item (see photo) I found while on a bike ride last month, although that raises the question of why someone would leave it on the road. I mean, who doesn’t need a pair of scissors?
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Found on Road—Useful
Posted in Biking, Mud Bay & Rocky Point
Battling a Rat Part II
This is Part II of the battle, which took place in January 2017 and ended in a draw.
When you fail to think things through, to consider various possibilities, things don’t always go as planned. That’s obvious, I know, but it’s my best explanation for the outcome of the rat battle.
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Posted in Home, Mud Bay & Rocky Point
Battling a Rat Part I
This is Part I of the battle, which took place in January 2017 and ended in a draw.
You got a rat problem, you get a cat, right? In my case, I already had Trek, a Bengal cat, on retainer (see photo), so I figured the problem was solved. But I wasn’t battling just any rat, and Trek apparently thought of the rat more as a housemate than an enemy.
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Posted in Home, Mud Bay & Rocky Point
Richardson’s Law
I think most people have heard of Richardson’s Law, probably not by name but surely by sentiment as there are other ways of stating the same idea. The problem is that the law is easy to break, intentionally or not. In need of a continuing reminder, I had it printed on a small plastic sign that I attached to the sun visor of my daily driver. When I’m traveling and the driving gets stressful, I glance at it for some relief.
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Posted in Cars, Friends & Family, Travel
Last Summer’s Project
Is it a good time to be thinking about last summer given that I’m snowed in with more snow on the way? The answer is yes—if nothing else, to relive the memories of warm weather and easy travel. But there’s another reason. The results from a project at Treasure Island (see “before” photo above) easily beat my expectations.
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Posted in Home, Treasure Island
Changing the Date
The day doesn’t start, or more accurately, the date doesn’t change, until the Mud Cat returns. The behavior that enables this ritual originated at the intersection of superstition and faith. But it seems to be effective.
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Escaping from Mud Bay
Last night’s storm dumped seven inches of snow on my driveway, which, in an S-curve, snakes down a steep hill to reach my house (see photo). I’m snowed in. Trapped—at least as far as motor vehicle access. But I might not be marooned.
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Posted in Mud Bay & Rocky Point, Weather
Another Roof Leak
The people at Patriot Roofing in Gig Harbor, Washington, stand behind their work. That’s based on the company’s quick and professional response this week to the latest leak in a troubled area of my roof (see photo). The best part: They did the work at no charge.
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Comfort Food: The Perfect Egg Sandwich
The Mud Bay Blog makes no claims about how healthy this sandwich is.
I have been making the perfect egg sandwich since I was a teenager. A buddy in high school showed me the steps to prepare one, a simple process that I learned on the first take. After more than five decades, it’s time to pass on what my friend called “the perfect recipe.”
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Will 50 Be the New 40?
Note: This post is about temperature not age.
The historical average daily temperature in Bremerton in February is 42 degrees. Many scientists tell us that our planet is gradually warming. Whether Bremerton’s average daily temperature for February will reach 50 degrees in our lifetimes isn’t known. I don’t have the ability to analyze reams of weather data in an effort to predict the future. It’s easier to relate a temperature anecdote instead.
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Posted in Mud Bay & Rocky Point, Weather





