We have finally done it. After years of planning Deb and I have crossed the Rubicon. No, we didn’t trade the MG for a new Jeep, but more akin to Caesar marching his legions across the Rubicon River from Gaul into the Roman Republic (and starting a civil war, eh Brutus,) the die has been cast. Or in today’s vernacular, there ain’t no turning back now. Plans, and the mortgage, have been finalized for our new house in Wisconsin.

Construction was scheduled to start after Labor Day. And they were right, Thanksgiving is well after Labor Day. Now anyone who has dealt with contractors know that they work on a different schedule. They don’t use the Gregorian calendar, or even the Julian version. Tomorrow is sometime next week, and next week is at least a month out. And Up North you add a couple of weeks for deer camp, the Holidays, the walleye opener, snow days (snow is measured with a yard-stick, not a ruler) and the cheese and bratwurst ice fishing fest. If the Packers make it into post-season play, forget Mondays…….and likely most Tuesdays.

But as of now what used to be a nice cottage at the end of a dead end road, deep in the woods, nestled between two small lakes is now just a large hole in the ground. Hopefully by the time you read this the hole will be cement lined and the garage floor poured. They said we should be able to move in by June. Just not what year.

It’s a long commute from Gitche Gu’mee to Addison, and the local rod and gun club also meets on the third Monday. What I’m getting to is that the club will be needing a new librarian in a couple of months. It’s not a bad ‘job.’ One gets $100 budget and picks what books/videos to obtain. And first chance to read them. As I have proved over the past 14 years or so, it’s easy, any fool can do it.

Forty Cars that Owned Me
By Patrick J. Novak
2007, softbound, 328 pgs.

Reviewed by Amazon
This book is a collection of short stories about 40 cars that “owned” the author. Race cars capable of 175MPH, unique cars like the 1953 Nash with its factory installed queen bed. Three Jaguars including the classic XKE, an Aston Martin DB5, pro rally cars, Cadillacs, Lincolns, Chevys and lots of Ford Mustangs that all had their stories. …..with a number of larger than life characters associated with these cars. Pat Novak had two addictions, fermented liquids and automobiles. He beat one but not the other.

~~ Bill Mennell