Mom called this morning from Aunt Junie's house. She and Dad are leaving today to begin their drive home. They plan to make it to Chugwater, Wyoming today.

[Chugwater?]

Yes, indeedy, and here is the story of how Chugwater got its name:

Before any white men came into the area, a Mandan chief was disabled during a tribal buffalo hunt. His son, Ahwiprie, also known as "The Dreamer" had to take charge of the hunt. He came up with a plan of driving the buffalo over the nearby cliffs. When the buffalo hit, they made a chug-like sound, either from the impact or the bursting of their stomachs. So, the place where the buffalo were stampeded was called "the place" or "water at the place where the buffalo chug" because of the little stream close by.

[How, um . . . interesting.]

But lest you think that Chugwater is just some antiquated buffalo drop site, they have their own website, complete with all sorts of juicy tidbits and factoids about their community. Such as:

- It is 1961 miles from New York City.
- The population is decreasing, with only 8,145 in the county in 1990 compared to 9,898 in 1980.
- Annual average temperature is 46.7 degrees.
- Elevation 5,288
- Chugwater has one of each of the following: Elementary school, Junior High School, High school, Library, Day Care, Senior Center, Baseball Field, and Motel (The Super 8).

[But they have TWO RV parks. Jeff and Lucia - for future reference.]

I also note with interest that they have NO Building Codes. Lucky devils.

Suki is slowly becoming interested in the fishcage again. She had ignored it for two days, but I found her wedged between the wall and the cage staring at the fish again last night. Although, you know, I THINK it is the fish she's interested in, but maybe it's really the water.

Last night I went to take a bath and as I lay there in the tub reading she came in and walked along the edge of the tub. She batted at the water a few times, tried to drink it all, and then laid down on the edge, the bottom of one leg in the water! Didn't phase her in the least.

[Not sure if that means she's dumb or smart.]

I guess I could find out by having her take the on-line IQ test I found. G'head, give it a whirl! I promise I won't ask you how you did.

[Or tell you how I did.]

Quote du jour:

"If an animal does something, we call it instinct; if we do the same thing for the same reason, we call it intelligence."

-- Will Cuppy (1884 - 1949) US writer, critic

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