Summer 2008: Day 10, 60 years 13 days after a Honeymoon

Today, the 30th of June, we had intended to have lunch with Grumpy's cousin, Marvin and Gaylene in Arnold Nebraska. Sadly, their daughter recently died rather unexpectedly so they are understandably occupied with other matters and our visit will have to wait for another time.

This post is from the great (little) city (town--pop. 1302) of Valentine Nebraska, where the First Wife and Grumpy had planned to spend our honeymoon night. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we fell (literally! -- dead tired at 2 o'clock in the morning of the 18th) into bed in Mission SD, about 33 miles from here. Why I didn't drive the extra 33 miles, I will never know.

Anyway, with much planning, and not a little malice aforethought, Grumpy arranged reservations for the Trade Winds motel ("Valentine's Finest!") for this leg of our return trip wandering around the Midwest this summer of 2008. We scouted the town from south to north (our historic route) and from east to west trying to see if any old memories were triggered. Then we just had to go find the old bridge across the Niobrara, traveled so many pleasant and memorable years ago. Unbeknownst to Grumpy, this bridge is historic in many ways! Not only did these two ancestors of our joint family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren cross this bridge 60-plus years ago, but now we find that it is on the National Register of Historic Bridges and is the only one of its type in the United States. It was designed by a (then) young Civil Engineer from Russia who had graduated from the University of Nebraska some few years before he got the task of designing it!

Well, we had to take some photographs of the happy citizens who crossed it 60 years 12 days ago, and then recrossed it on their return trip from visiting Grandpa Zierlein, 60 years and 11 days ago. The Bride (aka, First Wife, alias the Grand Mother) stands near the approach to the southbound traffic.

A return trip was necessary now as it was then. Now the road simply blends into the new highway US-20 eastbound; then it was necessary for the Bride and Groom to hurry back to the Black Hills where they were employed at the Petrified Forest in Piedmont (north of Rapid City). Hence, the photo of the car coming back across the bridge -- with the Bride intact inside the nicely air conditioned car. The "historic" car was a 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe 85 four-door sedan. The "85" stood for the theoretical brake horsepower of the engine, a value not experienced by the time the power arrived at the rear tires, and especially if the car was driven at the speeds for which it was best suited, namely 45-50 mph, where the RPM was less than half that required to obtain that famously-advertised horsepower.

We celebrated this nostalgic return with a delicious dinner at Cedar Canyon Steak House, in downtown Valentine. The First Wife had her favorite, prime rib, and Grumpy growled down a "medium-well" filet mignon, which was actually what I would call "medium rare"!! The menu told what their definitions were, and I asked for the medium well, but got just about what I wanted -- it could have had the branding iron held on it a little longer. It bellowed mildly when I poked my fork into it.

Summer 2008: Day 10, Reprise on Gas Mileage

Some of you may have become suspicious that Grumpy has been reluctant to talk about gas mileage because, after the first two fantastic numbers, he is no longer proud of the Red Rocket. In fact, I have gotten behind with my bookkeeping and therefore hadn't done any calculations until this morning. Let me assure you that, although she is dirty (from traveling too many miles on secondary -- or tertiary!-- roads and occasional rain drops, that the big 3.0 liter Honda engine is still turning out impressive (to Grumpy, for sure!) gasoline mileage! Of course, Grumpy is not about to make light of the fact that the Grand Mother (aka, First Wife) has played a critical (no pun intended!) role in the first place by asking me to drive slower on this trip!

The reader will recall the first two tanks -- 34.66 and 38.01 -- then the next, after considerable "town" driving in Mobridge SD, was 33.52. But the last two are 35.04 and 35.39. The overall, cumulative mileage therefore, is 35.346 mpg! I believe that this, based on five consecutive fill-ups and driving 2155 contiguous miles, is a solid, reliable number. Grumpy is going to keep the Red Rocket! [But I will quit bragging; I don't want anyone to start adding gasoline to the tank to trick me into boasting about impossible mileage figures, like the guy who owned an early VW "Bug"!!]

Summer 2008: Day 9, Nephew Alvin Bell and "Helpers"

We regretfully missed seeing Nephew Alvin last summer when we visited Kansas, so Grumpy vowed that we would stop to visit him this year if we couldn't visit anyone else! Grumpy was disappointed that Shirley was not able to be here this time. She had a wedding to attend in Wisconsin and had left just a day or so before we arrived.

Further complicating this visit is the fact that two weeks ago, a class F3 or F4 tornado set down over Alvin and Shirley's place, causing extensive damage to the trees, house and outbuildings. Thus this post will concentrate on photographs of some of the most unusual damage caused by this tornado.

This 1500 pound red granite boulder (about 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 on its base by 3 1/2 feet high) had been standing on this exposed bottom before the tornado lifted it out of the depression in which it sat and tipped it over on its side.

Alvin's previously "cherry" condition Bereta Chevrolet, shown here, has both windows on the driver's side shattered, the hood wrapped up over the windshield and an ugly dent in the side just rear of the driver's door to Alvin's left.

This previously-round steel grainery was sucked flat, apparently by the extreme pressure difference between the pressure inside the tornado funnel and the outside air rushing in. The roof was also folded flat by this same phenomenon. The round concrete floor on which it originally sat is toward the camera to the right.

After surveying the damage (much work had already been done, cleaning up the debris from the trees and other items strewn around the yard by the tornado), we all drove into Holton and had lunch at the Trails Cafe. Their fried chicken and roast beef are among the best restaurant cooking we have had on this trip! The participants included Elynor, Alvin, the lovely Samantha and handsome Billy (the latter two, grand children of Alvin and Shirley). Grumpy was there, too -- he can be seen if you turn around and look toward the camera.

Summer 2008: Day 8, Sister Hazel and Nephew Paul

Arising early Saturday morning (but not early enough to catch sister Hazel in bed!) we "invited ourselves" out for breakfast. Hazel obliged with home-raised (organic) eggs, including this huge, double-yolk one which Grumpy had the privilege of eating. Also on the menu for breakfast was an unusual and tasty grain cereal, Anoa (from India? Grumpy forgot its origin), as well as homemade whole-wheat bread with Raspberry jam.

Hazel had chores to do, since Paul had gone to the Iowa state convention, so Grumpy went along and took a few photos of the process. Three horses were also fed with the milked goats trying to "horn" in on a few bites of the horses' oats. This resulted in the goats getting the best of Hazel -- so unexpected that Grumpy failed to get a candid shot of the upended and disgusted kid sister that he loves to tease! Maybe next time!!

Hazel has 8 laying hens and two roosters. Billy Graham is the handsome fellow shown here as he announced that morning was here! The reason that the other rooster is not also photographed is that Albemarl, although quite old, is not of the opinion that he is no longer sufficiently virile to "take care" of all 8 hens. Thus, if the two roosters are allowed to be free at the same time, they would fight to the death of one of them. Hazel explained that the schedule is that Albemarl gets the hens during the night and early morning hours while Billy has charge during the day to early evening hours. Everything seems to work out fine, as Hazel reports that she gets at least seven beautiful brown eggs each day.
Grumpy took several photographs of his favorite little sister, but chose this one as his favorite for the BLOG.

And this post could not be complete without this group photograph of Elynor, Hazel and Paul (holding Tootsie). Paul arrived back from the convention in time to join us for lunch and a short visit before we had to again retire to our motel (the Best Western near the Des Moines airport). We were treated rudely by the personnel at the front desk when we arrived at this motel and vow not to patronize it next time we come this way.

Summer 2008: Day 7, Cousins Edythe and Harry

We left Olivia MN early on the 28th of June, stopping around noon at Elynor's cousin Edythe Cavanaugh's farm house near Lohrville IA. We called ahead of time, as is the courteous thing to do, and found out that Edythe's daughter Mary Louise and granddaughter Rose with greatgrandsons Cassius and Frank were visiting! How fortunate to be able to see all. We had the pleasure of meeting and entertaining Mary Louise when she came to Seattle about 30 years ago to go to college.Pictured above are Mary Louise, holding six-month old Frank, with his 92year-old Great Grandma Edythe looking on approvingly.

As we drove into the farm yard, we were greeted by young Cassius sitting at a tea party which he had established under a grand old American Elm tree. Grumpy accepted Cassius' invitation to have tea -- with cookies! "NOT the eating kind", Cassius explained, "They were the kind you dip in your tea and then suck the soft part off of."

Cassius' and Frank's mother is Rose (Mary Louise's daughter), pictured here, holding the ever-in-motion Frank. Grumpy was succesful in making friends with Frank to the extent that he sat contentedly on Grumpy's lap for a pleasant time while we all visited after a lovely lunch provided by these Cavanaugh ladies.

Before we could leave Edythe's home, we had to watch young Cassius swing on a swing hung from a huge, overhanging branch of the same American Elm tree that also served for his earlier tea party.

Continuing on to Altoona IA (just East of Des Moines) we found cousin Harry Kunkle convalescing at his home. We learned that Harry had only recently been hospitalized for a breathing problem, part of the complications of MS, the disease he has been battling for over 20 years.

Despite his ever-present illness, Harry remains amazingly active and an always gracious host and an ever-delightful conversationalist. Elynor and Harry chatted away for about an hour, recounting memories as Grumpy recorded other interesting items, including this tree Azalea of which Harry was particularly proud. He also showed us photos of his granddaughter and the honors she had earned.

A visit to Harry Kunkle's is not complete until you take note of his rare animals. Here on the right is Lewis, an African Grey parrot. Lewis is a bundle of nerves; in order to "calm" himself, he picks the feathers from his breast and legs. Or maybe he thinks he needs to line a nest? He talks, but only to young men like Ramiro, who met him a few years ago.

The other unusual animal is Francesca, an Italian greyhound. Francesca is a "little overweight", according to Harry. She needs more exercise -- a daily walk of a couple of miles would do just fine. Ramiro was honored to be asked by Harry to take her for a walk when he was here!

Summer 2008: Day 6, More Visiting Aunt Margaret

The second day of visiting started out as vigorous as the first, with each sister talking as fast as they could -- and at times, both talking at the same time! Grumpy could hardly keep up, so any misquotes in this BLOG about their conversation is entirely unintentional or accidental.

Grumpy watched as the conversation peaked and waned. He waited to get his words in edgewise, but the sisters never seemed to hear him -- they just kept with on their delightful conversation; glimpses and images of girl-hood memories that made Grumpy's heart fill with admiration and even some envy.

As the day wore on, however, the principals inevitably grew tired and soon one of them was nodding off asleep. There was considerable sympathy with this one falling asleep: after all she had celebrated her 92nd birthday the month before. And besides, the physical therapist had taken her for a "session" where no quarter was asked and no pity given.

Then before Grumpy could hardly move the camera fast enough to focus on the other sister, she too fell asleep! Grumpy was elated that he had this rare opportunity! Why, he took several photos, just in case some of them didn't turn out in sufficient resolution to be able to determine the identity of each individual. These two photos should impress the reader that Grumpy did an admirable job.
With both of them fast asleep, Grumpy could not bear to lose this historical picture opportunity! [I'm sure that the astute authors and photographers who read this will understand his dilemma. Grumpy may not live to a ripe old age if either of them finds out their pictures were taken while they slept. But he will pass on, knowing that he saw his chance -- and he took it! Not to worry, though Grumpy will not say whether he heard either of them snoring! As far as he was concerned it was just some more of their conversation -- with his bad ear, he couldn't tell the difference.]

Why, even the best friend, Jan was soon found to be fast asleep! Grumpy would not have forgiven himself had he missed this unique photogenic opportunity! Three talkative ladies -- all fast asleep at the same time!! It may be historic!!! The Guinness Book of Records must be contacted!

Further observation found even the faithful dog, Gracie, dozed off, even while attending to her self-appointed duty of barking at all door-knocks and approaching "prowlers" which she may have seen or imagined outside the patio sliding doors.

Later in the day, everyone was alert and eager to drive to the nearby town of Granite Falls for an afternoon snack at the local Dairy Queen. Afterwards we were driven by the local Mallard ducks with their half-grown ducklings, and finally an afternoon photo of the Minnesota River valley with the younger sister, Grumpy's First Wife, posing beautifully in her gorgeous pink-flowered dress from Hawaii. [Grumpy tried without success to convince her to pose with one leg up as is customary in the Zimmerman Clan. But her innate Norwegian heritage prevented her from doing so on this occasion -- Grumpy will try again another day.]

Summer 2008: Day 5, Visiting Aunt Margaret

Today, we went back over to Renville (from our lodging in the Sheep Shedde) to visit Aunt Margaret. We found her occupied by her physical therapist so while waiting, we had lunch and a cup of coffee or two.

Margaret is 14 years older than the Grand Mother. Obviously there were many, many memories of their childhood growing up together. Well, you may reasonably suspect that, with an 14-year older sister and a "bratty" little sister, there were some differences in the two opinions as to who had the most fun! Both laughed much and long.

The memory-telling and the visiting took it's toll so that at times Aunt Margaret dozed off for a few moments. This gave the Grand Mother a chance to rest her vocal chords, and Grumpy time to sneak a few candid photos of the two of them.

The saddest part of the day came late in the afternoon when Margaret's friend, Jan Gauger, kept insisting on hearing the "Sad Dog Story". Grumpy knew that this was a tender subject for the Grand Mother and wished the subject could be dropped. But the hassling continued until the Grand Mother finally relented and started telling the story. Grumpy will not attempt to retell it here; the interested reader must plead personally (and preferrably privately) with the Grand Mother to retell the story if must be told.

The Grand Mother had tears in her eyes as she finished the story; and so did Grumpy. She excused herself, going to the "powder room" to "freshen up" and Grumpy followed soon thereafter.

Summer 2008: Day 4

This morning, after awakening at sun-up, we drove northeast from Mobridge to the little town of Eureka SD. An article in the South Dakota magazine about a restaurant there, serving old-fashioned German sausages, had sparked an interest in Grumpy. He wanted to see if his memory of the delicious taste of German sausages was correct. Eureka was some 30 or 40 miles off our short/fast route to Olivia, but the Grand Mother concurred with Grumpy's crazy idea and so we went.

The restaurant, City Cafe ("right on Main Street") was little more than a hole in the wall; long and narrow, with the kitchen and dishwashing facilities down one side and a row of assorted tables and booths stretched down the other. The menu said, "1 pancake (flat) -- $1; 2 pancakes (short stack) -- $1.50; 1 egg -- $1; 2 eggs -- $1.50; 1 sausage -- $2". The Grand Mother and Grumpy each opted for the one pancake, one egg and one sausage [the latter, the main purpose we came here in the first place!].

The pancake was about six or eight inches across [wise judgment #1], the egg was normal but the sausage was about the size of the palm of a man's hand and 5/8 ot 3/4 of an inch thick!! When we were done eating, we knew we had been fed!!

From Eureka, we drove west until we came to a main north/south highway leading into Aberdeen [used to be the second or third largest city in SD!], where we topped off the gas tank after some 440 miles, then got back on US-12, our main route to Olivia. This took us around the south end of Big Stone Lake, which forms part of the border between MN and SD. The Grand Mother declared that she was hungry by this time [nearly noon], and Grumpy thought he could use a cup of coffee, so we stopped at the Cottage Inn a hundred yards or so before we crossed into Minnesota. After sloshing down a delicious roast beef sandwich with a cup or two of coffee, Grumpy discovered that the cook was renowned for her pies!! Today was rhubarb pie day. The Grand Mother and Grumpy were both stuffed, but just had to have some of that pie. It was actually Rhubarb Meringue pie!! Sure was good!

Since our route went through Renville, to our motel destination in Olivia, we stopped for a couple hours visiting with Aunt Margaret before checking in. More visits with Margaret in subsequent posts.

Posted here are photos taken of our motel. Ordinarily such photos would be unnecessary, but some comments about the name of the motel by a certain Philosopher in a recent post, requires that these photos be posted -- if for no other reason than to relieve his anxiety over what he may have been thinking about the way his Grandpa Z treats his Grandma Z. [I think he is perhaps just "buttering her up" for some Ginger Snap cookies, or something. At any rate he sure does get his Grandpa in a heap of trouble!].

Summer 2008: Day 3

We left Miles City this morning at about 8 a.m. -- pretty late start for this old traveler! Usually, Grumpy likes to get up before daylight and hit the pavement just as the roosters start to crow. Oh well, we got a good night's sleep anyway [Well, Grumpy did, but the Grand Mother made some comment as to how she would sleep better tonight when it wasn't so cold. Gee, I thought the icicles on the floor lamp meant the room temperature was about right! It was sure better than the night before at the Brooks Street Motor Inn, where the air conditioner didn't work at all!]

Today was a shorter drive -- you see Grumpy miscalculated the distance between Missoula and Miles City, and I guess he took it off of the distance between Miles City and Mobridge SD. The GPS kept informing me that our ETA at Mobridge was about 11 a.m.! It was probably a good thing because shortly after heading out on US-12 toward Bowman ND, we encountered a herd of cattle blocking the highway! It brought back memories of last summer when we were marooned behind a herd of buffalo in the North Dakota Badlands! Grumpy fumbled for his camera and didn't get a picture of the herd until they were completely across the highway and being guided down the grassy right-of-way by about 5 or 6 cowboys -- oops, it looks like there are some cowgirls in there too -- I think this one was the boss-lady. Friendly, though and allowed us to take her picture with the tail end of the cattle herd over next to the right-of-way fence.

Later, we had to stop in McLaughlin and see if we could find the location where we parked our "trailer house" in 1951-1952 when I was located there with the Soil Conservation Service. Yep, here it is -- about where that little tin shed is there in the back of this house. The house has been built on what was an otherwise empty double lot when we lived here.

Next, we had to see the hospital where Susan was born. Here is where the front door was; there were a bunch of steps leading up to the first floor level where the Grand Mother basked in luxury after having Susan the morning of 3 June 1952. Her room was the window at the far right in this photo.

After a cup of coffee and some darn good soup at the "Prairie Dog Cafe", we sped on down across the once Mighty Missouri and into Mobridge SD. This is the town where Grumpy put in his flying hours to obtain his Private Pilot's license dated 1952. The place where the airport used to be is now occupied by the highway that we enter Mobridge on, and several businesses, including the Mobridge Kountry Inn where we stay tonight.

The Grand Mother wanted to get some postcards to send to people who were not fortunate enough to be able to come along on this slow trip to ..... As we shopped, two people came to mind who lived here: Kenton Jundt [his folks, Emil and Irene, were good friends of ours when we lived in McLaughlin, and we will be seeing them later in this trip near Rapid City] and Ward Timothy Jundt [named after yours truly, and my godson!!].

Ward described himself as "wearing shorts and a checkered shirt, and tall, skinny and good-looking." He was all of that, as you can see in this photo. I was proud to meet him after all these years! We were living in Seattle when he was born in 1956; our only contact was via the cards and remembrances appropriate for a godfather to send his godson and namesake.

We were unable to see Kenton as he and his wife had gone to Minneapolis for a car show. But we had coffee with Ward and met his long-time girl-friend, Dawn, and her cat, "Cisco".

Next stop: Tomorrow, the Sheep Shedde in Olivia, Minnesota! Don't miss a single episode of this continuing saga!

Summer 2008 Auto Trip: Days 1 and 2

The Grand Mother and Grumpy [not too grumpy to start out with], left home at about 0500 hours Saturday 21 June 2008. Grumpy filled up with gasoline (at $4.269 per gallon) and set the trip odometer to zero. The GPS numbers [including the top speed!] had all been set to zero before we left the home place up on the hill. We stopped at Perkins Restaurant in Ellensburg for breakfast.

This picture of the Grand Mother eating her breakfast shows how happy she was with Grumpy's driving this first 100 or so miles -- he had set the Cruise Control at 65 miles per hour and had passed only three trucks so far; no passenger cars or other smaller vehicles had even come close to being passed by the Grump.
As this next picture indicates, Grumpy was not altogether happy with the prospect of this "snail's pace" of travel: 1700 miles more at this pace!! [Grumpy wasn't sure but that he would go berserk watching the slugs cross the road as he approached them!] But Grandma cheerfully and sweetly said, "You could set the Cruise Control to 60 miles per hour!"

We tooled on, arriving in Missoula, surprisingly [to the Grand Mother as well as Grumpy!] at about 3 in the afternoon!! And this after stopping for lunch and an hour or two of shopping at Lincoln's Silver Dollar Bar in Haugen Montana. The cruise control still being dutifully set at 65 miles per hour.

Grumpy received his reward when he filled up with Conoco gasoline in Missoula: first of all, gasoline was only $3.999 per gallon here and secondly, and even exciting, was the fact that the slower pace enabled Grumpy's V6-powered Red Rocket to acheive 34.66 miles per gallon on this tankful! Well, Grumpy remained somewhat skeptical -- another tank or two would bear out whether this was a case of a poorly-filled tank or some other kind of data variation.

We had reservations at a fairly decent-looking motel out of the downtown high-rent district. Grumpy had reserved a first floor (no stairs for Grandma, if you please), non-smoking, senior-citizen, air-conditioned room. It even had full provisions for an even more disabled person! Well, it turned out to have some distinct disadvantages. First of all, the Internet didn't work -- I could connect to the motel wireless network but couldn't get onto their internet. Next, the hand shower for the disabled was -- well, disabled!! It was broken. Then, during the night we realized that the air conditioner wasn't really doing much. In fact the next morning, it was cooler outside that it was in our room!! Finally, unlike almost all motels these days, there was no "complimentary breakfast". Well, let us just say that it was an experiment and next time we will NOT stay at the Brooks Street Motor Inn.

Today, Sunday, we woke at about the same time [Pacific Daylight Time] and, after getting dressed and packing the luggage in the back of the Red Rocket, drove down the street to a Denny's Restaurant where we enjoyed excellent service [Grumpy opined that they apparently weren't managed by the same people that managed the one in Renton on Rainier Avenue], and good food. We were on the freeway with the Cruise Control set at 65 mph by about 0800 PDT.

We toyed with the idea of having a one-o'clock lunch in Billings, but with a nice tail wind and light traffic, and with the absence of anyone speaking up to say, "I'm hungry!!", Grumpy kept his pedal to the metal --well, not really. Remember, the Cruise Control!? So we came on to Miles City Montana, arriving here at about ten minutes before three in the afternoon. Grumpy drove directly to a good restaurant [that served beefsteak and other good foods].

Next we stopped at the nearest gas station and filled up for the trip tomorrow. WOW!! This second tank was even better than the first: 38.01 mpg!!] Grumpy was starting to think that maybe this slow driving was going to pay off after all -- if he didn't go stark raving mad, first, that is!]

Then to bed here in a Super 8 motel, complete with Internet that works and air conditioning that even now, threatens to cause these two old folks to snuggle next to each other tonight!

Stay tuned!! Next stop, Mobridge SD. We may not have Internet there, either. If so, the next time we will post will be from the Sheep Shedde in Olivia MN.

Sixty Years of Marriage!

[Tuesday June 17, 2008 -- Seattle WA]
Well, the Grand Mother managed to put up with old Grumpy for sixty years. Imagine that! Sixty years of listening to him tell the same story over and over again and getting himself into trouble over "silly little things" like putting a tablespoonful of peanut butter in his mouth just before or right after taking a big bite of the Grand Mother's delectable Lemon Meringue Pie. Of course, Grumpy never admitted to causing trouble for himself; he always managed to find a Grandson whose name he could remember and whom he blamed for his getting into trouble with "Grandma". (This invariably resulted in "Grandma" sentencing Grumpy to "No more Lemon Meringue Pies --- forever!!" Ultimately, she would either forget or forgive and Grumpy would get another Lemon Meringue Pie after doing something extra nice.) Somehow, the Grand Mother managed to survive all these years of frustration.

Grumpy thought a well-deserved meal at a fine restaurant was what the Grand Mother (aka, First Wife) should be treated to. So he planned to take her to the Black Angus at the Crossroads in Bellevue. This restaurant has earned our respect for the finest beef steak and prime rib dinners around.

At many previous anniversary celebrations, we have enjoyed the company of our long-time friends Warren ("Mitch") and Margaret Mitchell. Last year, on our 59th, the reader may recall that Margaret was with us when we went to the Windmill Gardens in Sumner. So it seemed somehow less of a celebration if Margaret didn't come with us this year as well. Both the Grand Mother and Grumpy had this thought, but neither voiced it until just the day before, when Margaret called up to invite us to be her guest for the "big day"! We looked at each other and, in unison said, "YES! YES!! YES!!!"

So it was that the three of us found ourselves enjoying a three-course lunch yesterday at Black Angus.

"Someone" let it be known to our excellent waiter, that it was our 60th Wedding Anniversary, so our two desserts were garnished with the words, "Happy 60th" written in chocolate syrup on the outside edges of the dishes in which they came. A small candle was also inserted in each dollop of ice cream to complete the thoughtful and delicious desserts.

Many happy returns of the day!!