Some blankety-blank stole the sprinklers

Because of the exceptionally hot weather we’ve been having I have done lots of dragging of hoses and lots of watering. Especially the rhododendrons. I don’t know if Scenic Beach is technically part of the Olympic Rainforest but if not, then its certainly in the shadow. Probably eight or nine months of the year it is very drippy and wet. The other three or four months its just damp. Anyway the hot, dry weather is hard on the rhododendrons and they really get droopy. So I water. Last week I was watering a few areas and every hour or so moving things around. I came back to one area and three sprinklers were missing. The water had been turned off but it was still puddled around the end of the hose so it hadn’t been long. I went to look for the culprit and asked a few people if they had seen anyone messing with the water. No luck! It really set me off. I could just imagine some little pipsqueak liberal, tree hugging, officious, blankety-blank environmentalist deciding that we were using too much water and either stealing the sprinklers of throwing them in the bushes. I was pissed! Kat came by right about then in the guppy (a little golf cart) and I was admonished for my rather loud and profane language. Well damn! I was thinking I’d like to get my hands on the little sucker, but then with my luck the little #%@*%# would be 6’4”, weigh 300 lbs, and have horns and pimples. I told Shawn about it and she started laughing when I said liberal because that’s exactly what she thought. Did I mention that Shawn is a conservative. We have some good discussions. But the sprinklers are still gone.

I meet lots of neat people. I talk to Russ and Sylvia, a retired couple, who come often and sit by the play area and enjoy a little conversation. We have lots of Scouts that stay in the park as a stopover or destination on their kayak trips. There’s Madison a senior or Eagle scout and last week I met Girl scouts Stephanie, Heather, Jennifer, Sophie and Becca who kayaked in for the night. Most times the scouts will take on a project to help them earn their merit badges or kind of pay for their keep. I usually take them some firewood and they try to feed me. But as you can imagine they’re a good bunch. The camp host Mike is another conservative and he and Shawn and I have some good discussions. And I have fun at the gate meeting and directing folks.

All in all, not a bad way to spend the summer. I’m not crazy about working but if you have to do it this is a pretty good place to be. And like I said before, its not the work, it’s the commitment and being tied down. But with my last paycheck from the State of Washington I have earned enough to complete what I needed for Social Security. Our first stop with the pay stub was at the Social Security office. I think I’m set. I have a telephonic appointment on the 18th and I believe that I am done. Except, like I told Shawn, a deal is a deal, we’re here through Labor Day.

Why is it that there are firms advertising on TV that they can save people who owe back taxes huge percentages of what they owe to the IRS? I don’t get it! I thought the government was a little short. Too many damned attorneys! “I’m just saying.”