Super, Sunny Sunday

Virtually every day until the day we die, we are works-in-progress, continually winding our way up life's learning curve. 

At least, I hope that's true. 

Anyway, I learned one of life's many lessons a while back: whenever my frustrations are headed off the charts, it's time to step back, take a breath and do something completely different for a while. 

My technology frustrations had reached that very point a couple of times this week with our cell-phone deficit and with the last-minute realization that this year's Super Bowl would not be available in the comforts of our living room.

For a brief time, that disappointment waned when I learned that maybe we'd be able to watch after all if we turned our TV's to Channel 540. 

Well, it turns out that the Spokane station which carries Fox 28 can block those attempts. And, it did.

So, Bill and I talked in the morning and agreed that if we couldn't watch the Super Bowl, Mother Nature had bestowed upon us the gift of a gorgeous day and that we should take advantage of the gift. 

Feeling bad about getting other Facebook friends' hopes up about watching the game by posting the channel, I posted once again, noting that the channel had been blocked. 

It's truly amazing and heart-warming to see how thoughtful, generous and helpful Facebook friends can be IN AN INSTANT.  

Within minutes, I received generous offers, advice and suggestions. One in particular blew me away:  that we could contact DISH sign up for the Spanish station, change the language to English and watch the Super Bowl, but be sure to cancel the subscription or you'll be paying $13 a month, the FB friend noted. 

To which I responded, "Isn't it ironic the hoops we have to jump through to get the service for which we have already paid?"

Although I really appreciated the advice from my friend and former student, I could not help but think once again about how we customers are the poor saps in the grand corporate world of bottom lines. 

Moreover, while we're talking channels not available, cell service gone bad, I must ask, "Didn't I hear somewhere that Congress had enacted a bill which became law on January 1 designed to get rid of those obnoxious, never-ending robo-calls?"

Well, all through January and part of February, I've been receiving threats of going to jail or having my Social Security hacked.

 Worst of all, Donald Trump calls at least two or three times a week., yelling to me how much he's done for me and the state of Kansas. 

"Get rid of the robo calls!" I yell back while pulling the plug on the land line phone so I don't have to listen to him invading my kitchen.   

Yeah, frustration levels do manage to drive us over the edge on occasion.  

I really did want to watch the Super Bowl for numerous reasons, but I also love the SUN after a month of frustrating weather which would not allow us to walk away and do something else. 

So, Bill and I did go for a lovely drive, and we did listen to the first half of the Super Bowl on Sirius Radio. I'd say we got the both of best worlds cuz we knew we'd see the celebratory images regardless of who won.

BUT we may never see the lake so serenely breath-taking or the Cabinet Mountains along the Bull River highway quite as stunning as yesterday's breath-taking display.

We stopped along the way several times.  One stop included a brand-new picnic ground and boat launch a mile or so north of HWY 200 along the Bull River.  

It's Avista property, so the place will be well maintained and a perfect spot for a beautiful drive and a picnic.   

As we were walking the little park, two eagles sounded off with their sweet-sounding melodic chirpings. I managed to catch a couple of shots before they went their separate ways. 

Meanwhile, the game progressed, and we felt like we hadn't lost the entire opportunity of Super Sunday because the announcers were so good at providing images through words and pinpoint observations. 

Plus, we had pretty much all the outdoors to ourselves with little or no traffic along the highways.

Upon arriving home, we had our "party":  warmed up homemade pizza and a bottle of Sierra Nevada ale.  

While watching the news and a fascinating documentary on the late opera star Luciano Pavarotti, I checked my phone several times and announced updates on the score. 

I knew my friend Mow would be beyond thrilled with the final score as her Kansas City, MISSOURI, Chiefs won the Super Bowl.

Twas certainly a different approach to experiencing Super Sunday, but I think Bill and I won all the way around. 

A gorgeous and heart-warming day, indeed. 

Enjoy the photos, and thanks again to all who tried to help us out with our technology deficit. 

Happy Monday. 

I wish the owners would have put the date on this poster which we saw at parking area along Bull River yesterday, but I could feel their pain. 

So, if this is a recent loss of the pups, I hope someone seeing it can help these Border Collie lovers out.