STAG PICNIC

 Sitting in the dark.  It's what we do in the morning when the lights are just too bright.  Okay, that's EVERY morning around here since we are up at 0-Dark-Thirty.  I guess you know who rules THIS house!!  When you gotta go, you gotta go ... and Cooper is the early bird in the family.  

In return for his "services", he is well taken care of.  Here he is keeping watch for burglars and otherwise critters like spiders or lizards.  My WatchPup does an excellent job making sure no one walks on the gray rug.  He parks here the entire time I'm at my computer.  What a guy!!!

The morning didn't last long since it was Stag Picnic day at the RV Park.  What female would not want to attend THAT!!  We have one of those amazing Elks RV Parks where you can hang out in the country where it's quiet as a mouse, except for the occasional moo from the cows next door.  Lots of green grass, trees, pickleball court, bocci ball court, a huge two sided building to hang out in, laundry room, restrooms, and even an amazing kitchen you can rent with two of my favorite big ovens.

They call it Stag Picnic day because the Elks Lodge used to be all men.  No women allowed.  We all know where that went, but they never changed the name.  The caveat ... only members (no spouses or kids) get to go to this event ... a free steak dinner and FREE BEER!  As you can imagine, that draws EVERYONE.

Here's two of my favorite men ... Knights of the Roundtable, who not only help with Bingo every Tuesday, but they are on the Honor Guard who perform at least 2 or more funerals every week.  I can barely keep up with them!!

We spent most of the time looking at and laughing hysterically at old pictures we all had on our phones.  We seem to be the first generation who has very few if any pictures from when we were kids.  Nowadays kids have memories by the thousands from all the phone pictures we take.

So this shindig started at 11:00.  I figured to be home by 12:30.  Heck they didn't even light the BBQ until 12:30!!  We were all STARVING!!  And it was WAY past my fasting schedule!  WHERE'S THE FOOD!!  Finally, at 1:30, we saw the steaks coming off the BBQ.  

I have to admit, if MY kids were looking for memories on my phone, they wouldn't find much because I always forget to TAKE any.  Here's what's left of my steak that covered the entire huge paper plate.  There was cole slaw, the BEST homemade chili beans and garlic bread to boot.  YUM YUM!!  People were taking bowls of the chili home!!  Truly, this was one of the best steaks I've ever had.  Maybe I was just extra hungry.

I usually feel kind of out of place at things like this, but I had a GREAT time getting to know the ten guys at our table.  We laughed a lot until I had to go.  Costco was once again calling my name. 

Here's my tip of the day.  Never EVER go to Costco on Saturday at 3:00.  No kidding ... I drove around for 15 minutes before I found a parking spot.  It will be worth it in the end.  My goal was just to walk to the back, order a cake and sprint back out the door.  One of our Knights is having a birthday soon, so Bingo is going to celebrate big time!   

It's going to be a royal pain to pick up a cake on Tuesday at 2:00.  Too bad you can't prepay.  Anyhoo ... you all know I'm looking forward to THAT!!!

Finally back home, I got out my camera for the event of the night.  The Pink Moon was coming to town, though it seems no one could decide if it was going to be full on the 12th or the 13th.  I went outside, set up, and promptly said forget this!  It was a slow rise and not visible ... not to mention the fact that it wasn't the least bit pink.  

It is actually not named after its color, but after the pink phlox of the Northeastern U.S.  They only bloom in spring ... April as it were ... around the time of the full moon.  So when someone shows you a picture like this of the PINK moon, it's not really pink.  It's white, like a normal moon.  

Well if there's not going to be any pretty color, I'm going to bed.  I put everything away and hung out with Mr. Cooper for the rest of the night.  

What's up for today?  I'm hoping absolutely NOTHING!!  Oh wait ... except for our walk.  Mr. Cooper is already chomping at the bit!!!