To provide you assistance in your busy schedule today, I have taken the opportunity to review and condense the news for you so you will not be wasting a lot of time turning pages.

Weather: Looks like a great weekend, review of the Doppler Radar site at 7:22 a.m. indicated no formation of moisture throughout the Cook Inlet Region. It is going to be sunny today and tomorrow. Enjoy a day outside.

Gas Prices: Dipped slightly but we should see no great affect on current prices for
sometime. Government is considering giving us all a $100.00 rebate check - wow, that will fill my truck up one time. Reduce the Federal Taxes on gasoline and it would have some positive affect.

Hillary Rodman Clinton: Recent polls shows that 38% of the registered demorcrat voters would vote for her in the 2008 election for president. However, only 23% of those same voters would vote for Hillary Clinton. Is something wrong in this poll or do they think there are two different people or is there a stigma attached to the single name of Clinton?

Sports: Baseball - who cares. Basketball - Really no one cares

Entertainment: Flight 93 is at the top of the news, other than that there is nothing worth watching so enjoy the day outside.

That is all the news, so with the time that I have saved you, go out, rake the lawn and have a picnic with the kids. Enjoy the spring, as it is great day to do some "bird watching".

HEREBY, let it be known that proclamation Duo is declared official this date in the Year of 2006. Proclamation Duo is hereby executed by the Grand Poopah of the Eagle Clan and Elder of All Clans.

ARTICLE 13 is invoked and remains in good standing.

HISTORICAL DATA: The Buffalo that once roamed the vast prairies of our nation and the grain fields of Delta Junction was in jeopardy of becoming extinct. However, those vast herds have once again appeared in large numbers. The members of our own Buffalo Clan has likewise multiplied in numbers since the formation of that particular clan. Since the visions of the Elder, this clan has increased by a number of Septimus.

WHEREBY, With the increased population of Septimus within this single clan, it has been brought to my attention that the Buffalo Clan has an unfair advantage in friendly, competitive games of skill or chance that the clans may participate in during the gathering of the clans.

THEREFORE, Proclamation Duo is officially decreed ordering that the Buffalo Clan be separated; It is further Decreed that a Duo Clan be established by those members being separated from the Bull and Cow Buffalo.

WHEREBY, The Grand Poopah, Elder of the Clans decrees that the following members of the Buffalo Clan are hence forth removed from the herd. These members will include Joshua, Crystal, Natalie and Riley. Until such time as deemed necessary, the member Donald will remain with the Buffalo Clan.

WHEREBY, The Grand Poopah, Elder of the Clans had a vision this day. While meditating, watching the cloud formations, the Eagles soaring in the wind currents and scratching the left ear of Dutch, a vision came unto me. I heard a distant but a distinct sound. I told my faithful companion of this sound and describe it unto him so he would be further familiar of this knocking sound upon the winds.

WHEREBY, From the vision of the soaring eagle and the distinct sound of the knocking, it came unto me the name of the new clan in which Proclamation Duo establishes.

WHEREBY, Upon this date is Decreed by Proclamation Duo that the members Joshua, Crystal, Natalie, and Riley will henceforth be members of the "Woodpecker Clan" as long as the rivers flow, the green grass grows, and the winds whisper in the trees.

WHEREBY, It is so Decreed.

s/Grand Poopah, Elder of the Clans

HEREBY, let it be known that Proclamation Unus is declared as official this day in the year 2006. Proclamation Unus is hereby executed by the self proclaimed Grand Poopah of the Clans. An official title approved and adopted by the membership clans.
Be it further known, by official decree dated April 1981, the Bestowment of the title of "King" was also bestowed upon his Grandness by Official Decree after proving his prowness with a fishing rod on the Anchor River, winning each of the annual King Salmon Derbies that were conducted by the early day clans.

ARTICLE 13 is invoked and remains good standing. Article 13 stipulates that any member of the clan may claim the Title of Grand Poopah or "King" by catching, retaining and showing certified proof that they have personally landed a King Salmon in excess of seventy two (72) pounds. The King Salmon must be made available for viewing by all members of the clans. The King Salmon must be fresh, unfrozen, fit for human consumption, weighed on a certified scale and witnessed by the current Grand Poopah.

HISTORICAL DATA: At the infancy of the individual Clans, the Grand Poopah was an honorary name bestowed upon the Elder of the clans. Upon the concept of the Clan, the appropriate name for each clan was determined by the Elder. The determination of these names were not taken lightly. After consultation and meditation with the heavenly bodies, the Elder had a vision of each clan as the animal in which they appeared in his vision. Each of these animals are unique in their respective personalities and their adaptability to fishing. Furthermore, each of these animals are native to our beloved land called Alaska.

WHEREBY, the Elder of the clan did not bestow a vision upon himself or his mate. Let be known by this Official Proclamation that members of the clans determined a name for the Elder without the benefit of a vision or invoking Article 13. Further more, let it be known that the animal in which they chose without the benefit of a vision is one not native to our beloved land called Alaska. This animal is not worthy of having the dignified position as the Elder of the Clan, Grand Poopah or King. Furthermore, this animal is not worthy of being associated with the majestic bear, moose, buffalo, wolf or the high flying raven.

THEREFORE, after serious consideration and the interpretation of cloud formations and visions, the Grand Poopah makes this self proclamation that his Clan henceforth shall be known as the American Bald Eagle Clan.

JUSTIFICATION: The American Bald Eagle is a bird that represents power throughout the world, soaring on the spiraling winds of the heavens, nests in high locations looking down upon his kingdom, the white top notch demonstrating the wisdom of his age, his ability as a salmon fisherman is well documented, not only in the number of fish that he will catch but also knowing when and where to fish. Being the majestic bird that he is, it is only fitting that the Eagle represents the Elders of the clan.

THEREFORE, With Proclamation Unus on this date in the Year of 2006, the Bald Eagle with represent the Elder Clan as long as the rivers flow, the green grass grows and the winds whisper in the trees

WHEREBY, It is so Decreed.

Woke up this morning to see those little white flakes floating down to earth, it first appeared as though we would see a real snow storm, but after a couple of hours, it cleared off and we enjoyed a beautiful day of sunshine. Dutch and I spent the entire day outside, working on the multi-purpose building. Terry did join us in the afternoon and replaced some of the rock pillars on our lawn fence that the "snowplow driver" backed into over the winter. I will never have that guy plow my driveway again! I was real happy to see her replace them as I thought I was going to have to do it! However, I did support her with advice as to how to do it properly.

I do not know if anyone of you watch the Discovery Channel, I seldom do but Heath stopped by tonight to have dinner with us. He had just recently watched this channel and wanted to know if I knew the last name of the guy that invented the toilet? He had not seen the blog postings that were recently published so he had no idea of our history and that he was actually related to Sir John Robert Harrington. The program on the Discovery Channel was about the history of the toilet. From what he told me, their historical data pretty much followed the same outline as that which I divulged to you in my postings.

Progress on the "multi-purpose" building is nearing completion, at least further along than it was thirty days ago. I had to file an extension with the Kenai Peninsula Borough on my building permit. I failed to complete it on schedule but that is all right since I have also been running a "cost over run" since the keel was laid. However, the interior should be finished tomorrow with the exception of the paneling. Currently the projected completion date is this Wednesday dependent upon weather for painting. Although, I had nothing to do with it, but it has been decided by the decorator in the family that it should be painted bright colors in a spectrum of a rainbow? My personal choice would have been chartreuse and flame.

I missed the Anchor River Ice pool by one minute, it is now flowing free and for the first time in years, there were no ice jams. I was hoping to see a couple of them develop, just to carve out the bottom and give the fish a little better holding area. It is very fishable right now, especially at the forks so maybe I will sneak down in the next day of so and drift a few eggs, just to see if any King Salmon arrived. Strictly a biological data collection process, not for the enjoyment or desire to fish.

Heath was able to drive into the "Hole in The Wall" with the four wheeler, on his way out he ran down the barrow ditch with two tires and it did help drain some of the water out of the lake. I can now see the bottom of camper on legs! We now have less than a month before all of you arrive for the "big" weekend, I have so much to get done before then. Some many preparations to make, so little time! It is so difficult being the activity chairman, I must find someone that I can delegate this responsibility to. I told the wild man that we would once again take all of his slabs for the fire pit. He assured me that he would leave a lot of bark on the outside edge. We should be able to get all of it cut up the week that "Homer" and
"Marge" of here prior to the Memorial Day weekend. We need a good supply of legal firewood, don't want no one getting "shot" this year over a stick of wood!

Spring is finally here, despite the snow that still blankets the majority of the area. Tonight, we were the first to utilize the Anchor River State Recreational Area for this season. We had Hunter's 5th Birthday party across the road from the tackle shop, a great fire, good food, and a bunch of kids! Hunter is so fun to watch, with all those kids playing together, Hunter was off on his own, having a great time. He prefers to be by himself, just him and his imagination. In watching him over the past year, I have noticed that he has a great imagination and reminds me a lot of another little boy many years ago. He actually plays cowboys!
The other day, while working on the "multi-purpose" building, he came out and was playing with some of the small pieces of wood. I watched him for a bit and ask him what he was building, his reply was "a boat". I got him a hammer and a few nails, he pounded on them but not enough to dent the board. So I offered to help, we built the first boat, then grandma helped him build a second boat. Taking his two boats, he headed for the house to paint them. A few minutes later he returned, because he needed another boat while the other two boats dried. This time, we used the saw and cut out the hull and nailed enough stud 2/4's two it to make it look like a super tanker. Again, he took off for the house only to return a few minutes later needing another piece of wood and some nails. He had his hands full as he headed to the house, I followed to get myself a cup of coffee. He did not realize I was behind him, when he got to the deck, he dropped a piece of wood, then while trying to pick up the wood he dropped the nails, the next thing I heard was "God Damm It", I know I should not have but I could not stop laughing as I helped him pick up his nails and wood.
Except for the custom built door, the exterior of the "multi-purpose" building is now completed and I am ready to move inside. Having only a hammer, some bent nails, a 12" ruler and a dull hack saw as tools, it really did not turn out that bad and should work for it's intended purpose. Shane looked at it today after reading our meter, he did not say anything but I could see it in his body language as he was thinking "and we are going to have to move this building", it really should not be that bad especially if we can find a boom truck. It has to be in place and ready for occupants in less than a month. I have started scouting out a location, but only with my binoculars from the bluff, the water is to deep in the lake. Heidi's flower bed is high and dry, that looks like the best location and will be very convenient to the fire pit, Homer won't have to walk so far. The other location that looks good is the Buffalo Clan camping spot, it has not flooded yet, no mud slides and it appears that the trees that were planted are dead as they have no leaves on them. The Bear Clan spot is out of the question, since the trailer has already washed away in the spring floods. There is that one little gully over by the Moose Clan campsite, but that is quite a distance for the little girls to walk at night, especially with Arnie still hanging around. It really looks like the flower bed next to the Wolf Clan is the moist likely spot. There is no way that we will ever get this building into the original site without clear cutting the alders, although it would be easier digging for you guys. Thoughts to ponder.

We have seen pictures of everyone else in the family with a horse, so I thought you might enjoy these as well. This was the summer that Shane and Shana were ages five and four. This is probably one of the best jokes that your Uncle Don played on me, we were living in Durango at the time so he drove the 220 mile round trip from Montrose to visit us. He was driving a pick-up with a cab high camper shell. After visiting for a bit, he told Shane and Shana that if they could "guess" what he had in the truck, they could have it. They had a variety of guesses, but never came up with the correct answer. Giving in, he told them if they would come out to the truck he would give them their surprise. I do not know who was the most surprised, Terry, I or the kids when he opened the camper door and there stood a horse, a saddle, blanket and bridle. One of the kids asked their Uncle "what is his name", he replied "Guess" consequently the pony became known as "Guess"!

No parent in the world can say "no" in a situation like that, especially to Uncle Don! So, we had our first and only horse. Although, the kids always referred to "Guess" in the male gender, the pony was actually a little filly. The kids loved the pony and there are a lot of stories they hold between themselves that their mother nor I ever knew until later years. Like Shane standing on the top rail of the fence, waiting for "Guess" to walk by and then he would jump on his back. The relationship between the pony and Terry quickly became a love / hate relationship, every time Terry would go to feed or water her, "Guess" would chase her.

From the time that Don gave the pony to the kids, anytime there was a gathering of the family, Brother Don would always have to tell the story about getting the best of me by giving the kids the pony.

So keeping this in mind, how could any parent object if a kindly old grandfather showed up with a camper load of baby goats or pigs to give to his grandchildren?

1152 (AP)
Since I rained out today on the construction of the "multi-purpose" building, I thought I might catch up on a little office work. To date, the building is looking good. The roofing and siding architectural design worked out very well, after a little exterior trim work, I will be ready to work on the door and move in to the interior finish work. Have run into a small problem, that is how I am going to move it out of my driveway and to it's proper location - I can foresee a major task in this accomplishment.

I do have a little time to figure that problem out since we are now into full "spring breakup" and the "whole in the wall campground" is slowly evolving into a beautiful lake. The one camper on jacks is still above the water line, but I did see a beaver looking at it the other day. I assume he was considering why he should build a house when a nice one was already on site. The second smaller trailer, the last we saw it was when it was floating across the highway and over the bank. I am sure we will be able to recover it later into the spring.

I know that all of you are planning to come visit me to celebrate the date of my birth on May 18th. If you are traveling in from the north, you will need to make a small detour to get to my humble adobe. Traveling the Sterling Highway from the north, you will need to pass through Anchor Point and proceed to the south end of the Old and New Sterling Highway intersection, turn right on the Old Sterling Highway and drive back north to Anchor Point. My drive way will be the second to last driveway that you can turn into before you reach Anchor Point. You may want to add 31.5 minutes to your driving time in order to take this new route to my home and the "Hole In the Wall Campground". It seems in the wisdom of the state engineers that they will be closing the Anchor River bridge on the Old Sterling Highway to all traffic from May 8th to May 18th. Being that this is a "state employee" in house construction project, I estimate that they will be done by July 4th. Problems are already starting to compound, I am just one mile from my video store business, yet I will have to drive 18 miles to get to the store. They will start launching boats on April 29th, after May 8th, all the boats will have to go around to get to the beach, another 18 mile detour. They also forgot to consider that kids will still need to get to school, although some only live a half mile from school - they go half way to Homer and back again to get to their destination. But, the good news is that the old bridge needed some work and perhaps the reason they have a target date of completion on May 18th, perhaps they are going to dedicate it to me! Heath has come up with a business concept, he figures that if he puts his boat in the river on a pulley line like they have on the Russian River ferry, he can charge everyone $5.00 to cross the river! It is going to be a mess but do not let that stop you from coming down for the spring clean up project, the campground should be de-watered by then. Once again, would someone ask me why I want to retire!

Prior to closing, I have a question that I am seeking the answer. There was a mechanic and a plumber waiting in line for admission to the "International Tool Show" at Sullivan Arena. One of them was the father of the other one's son. How could this be possible?