Thread Drift

[Bruno28]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZkhdFH2vJU

Hi Beta - Plastic Bertrand - enjoy.


I was 21 when I bopped to this. I feel very old....I'm off to lie down in a darkened room.

[maillotpois]

We leave for Hawaii in one week... Yay!!!

[snapdragen]

We leave for Hawaii in one week... Yay!!!

Oh shaddup! What island?

[betagirl]

LOL Bruno. Thanks.

Those wacky French. My first exposure to the song was back when European Vacation came out. There's a fine film.

Oh shaddup! What island?

Ditto

[betagirl]

Hey Lise and other Chicago ladies....

What a FINE day weather-wise we're having eh?

[Lise]

Hey Lise and other Chicago ladies....
What a FINE day weather-wise we're having eh?

And yet, I see people out riding in it. WHY? It's Sunday! Go back to bed! That's my plan! (for those who don't live here: 62 and raining. In the spring, that sounds like heaven. At the end of summer, it sounds like.... )

[Nanci]

I'm uploading my Blair Witch Space Shuttle video to YouTube right now. It's ok. Here's my explanation- I'm riding along, riding along, watching for it, then, yikes!! It looks like a fire in the sky- it takes me a moment to stop, get out the camera, decide whether to take a picture or a movie, oh no, it's set on macro, does that matter for a movie, thrash around, finally start.

I did so much yard work this morning- killed weeds in sidewalk cracks, poisoned I mean fed the fire ant mound that had to start up right in my new little flower I planted, take the torts out to graze, mow about an acre around the house, weed out my poor azaleas in the front that couldn't even be seen for the weeds. Got two thirds of the way through before the weed wacker died. Two loads of laundry. Trimmed pine that was almost reaching the ground. Why, in the south, do trees grow down, not up? Found a slug for Fagalo. Got the last nightcrawler out of the fridge for Fagalo. Found a Katydid for Fagalo.

Maizey shed last night, now she is prowling around looking hungry and gorgeous.

I forgot, on the way to Indian Harbour Beach Friday, my friend drove. We left about three hours later than I wanted to. Got a flat just out of reach of calling her DH to help. She calls AAA. I locate the spare and tools, just in case. She calls AAA back- after 30 minutes (we were supposed to be "red-flagged, at the top of the list" since we were on the shoulder of the Interstate, not even pulled off, which, BTW, is what caused the flat in the first place, pulling off to get her bike seat off because it was starting to rain. I can't stand waiting, so think I will just take the lug nuts off the tire. And get the spare out. (It's one of those stupid spares that you can only drive 50 miles on, at 50mph...) So then I get the jack, and can't find a good place, and finally get the jack under the _round_ axle, which is where the manual says to jack it up, change the tire, friend is amazed because she has never shanged a tire in her life, an hour after getting the flat we call AAA to say never mind. Head to the only gas station there is, a truck stop, they don't do cars, and hem and haw and finally locate a guy who knows how to do car tires, and finally get it fixed, and the manager says it's free, so we give the surly mechanic $20 anyway...Then we get there, at 8:00 PM, and she discovers she has forgotten her entire bag of clothes- all bikeclothes, pajamas, cosmetics, etc. Calls someone to borrow bike clothes from his wife. Goes to Publix to buy lotion, a T-shirt to sleep in, socks, etc. Then, in the morning, discovers the missing bag stuffed down between two seats and is very happy.

We get to pick up the new baby tonight!!

So we will have:

Two feral pigeons- Dillbird and Milly
Cornsnake- Maizey
Eastern Box Turtle- Fagalo
Two Desert Tortoises- Koko and Buttercup
Glass Lizard- Russell Junior
California Kingsnake- not named yet

[salsabike]

Phew. I am back in Seattle after a month in Albany NY with my mom in hospital. I think and hope she is stable and a little better, although she has no appetite and accepted a feeding tube last week in the hopes it would let her rebuild strength, energy, get some exercise, maybe get hungry again, and get out of there to a rehab place. Had many 10-12 hour days in the hospital seeing very scary stuff happening to her and tugging on staff sleeves whenever necessary. Was feeling awful about having to return here and asked her over the phone this week if she needed me to come back, and she said, enunciating clearly, "It is not necessary." Made me laugh--it was clear she meant it. Came back here to Seattle having to start work last week (school psychologist) and move out of the house this week as they are taking off the old roof and putting on the new one in this crazy house expansion we're doing. And then Mr. Salsa left at 0:dark:30 this morning for an east coast work trip. Wonder how I'd score on that stressful-events point system? Don't want to know.

Fish, we lost a really beloved cat named Sara some years ago, at a very young age. Our vet, who also adored Sara, sent us a card with this on it: "We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan..." The Once Again Prince from Separate Life Times by Irving Townsend. The card made us cry, of course (still does), but was also a great comfort, so I offer it up here hoping the same.

Got several 50 mile tandem rides in over the last month and got back on my own single bike on Thursday, was very glad to see I could still do that hill I added to my ride without a lot of difficulty! Thought in the last part of the 28-mile ride, "Damn. I really, really need to be back on the bike. This feels so good."

Sheesh.

SK and chickwhorips, thinking about your dads...

Nanci, that is an Okeetee. Snakes look like some kind of fantastic jewelry to me, except for that ewe-eating boa, which looked more like a hog. What an oinker.

Yeah, which Hawaiian island?? I plan to get to the PO tomorrow to send out that TD book to you so you can read it on the beach!

By the way, my extremely convenient brother in law, who is in the State Dept., has just become Deputy Chief of Mission in...JAMAICA!!! Hallelujah. I'm a big reggae addict. Can't wait to visit. (Previous visits to him have included Paris and multiple trips to London. Sadly we were grad students when he was stationed in Ankara, so missed Turkey totally). WE'RE JAMMIN'...JAMMIN'...I WANNA JAM IT WID YOU...WE'RE JAMMIN'...JAMMIN...HOPE YOU LIKE JAMMIN' TOO

[Bruno28]

Yippee - I've finished packing and am off to Prague on vacation tomorrow.

All of you with health issues, sick relatives and pets - take care and I'll be thinking of you.

It's been a beautiful sunny day here (quite uncharacteristic for the time of year). I was out for a gentle bike ride with my 75 year old mum who is fearless and, therefore, quite scary sometimes.

Y'all be good while I'm away.

[maillotpois]

WE'RE JAMMIN'...JAMMIN'...I WANNA JAM IT WID YOU...WE'RE JAMMIN'...JAMMIN...HOPE YOU LIKE JAMMIN' TOO

(My daughter used to think they were singing "Pajama").

Salsa - welcome back!! Sounds like you have had a rough time. You are a good daughter. I am sure that I won't be at all happy about going across the country to take care of my mother if the need arises. We have a more strained relationship it seems.

Anyway, welcome back - I'd be happy to have something to read on the beach...

[LynneK]

Hey Lise and other Chicago ladies....

What a FINE day weather-wise we're having eh?

Just when I think it's cleared up enough to go for a run, the rain starts again! I think this will have to be an invountary rest day ... and a gloomy one at that!

[Trek420]

Bike Against the Odds....done.

I did the 47 mile 4,000 foot route. I'm done in. I saw Cindysue.

[maillotpois]

Oh shaddup! What island?

The big island for about 5 - 6 days and then Oahu for 1 night. 2 nights on Oahu for DH; Em and I will leave a day early do DH and his parents will stay for the TNT bike ride. I have to get her back to school for a 3 day overnight class trip to Walker Creek. Rough life she has...

We've been to the big island before and when we had a week to play with, we decided we just wanted to go back. THere's so much variety in terms of terrain and stuff to do. We are renting a friend's condo, which is nice.

[DrBee]

We leave for Hawaii in one week... Yay!!!

You're gloating... I'm sooooo jealous! I could use a vacation right about now.

MP - you hit it on the head about not being able to tell your pet that you're doing everything possible and about the added stress. I may explode. It's a real possibility. I need to get out to ride. And - I really want to try my new shorts!!!!! The in-laws are here this afternoon, so that might not be a possibility.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts on Roux. We're not sure if he's treatable. From what I've read online, the treatment is miserable and may only extend the dog's life for a few months. I'm not sure I want to make him miserable for just a little more time. If there was a remote possibility of curing him - I'd jump on it. We'll know more about specifics (diagnosis, treatment options, etc.) on Monday or Tuesday. This came on so quickly that I'm hoping it's early. This dog doesn't show he's sick until he's really really sick, so we'll see. The doc said lymphoma (most likely diagnosis) moves very quickly.

Back to happier conversation of pornographic bike literature and vacations. Where would be you most favorite place to vacation???

[DrBee]

Nanci - very cool video! I've heard the space shuttle re-enter - the sonic boom. It flies right over Lafayette, LA (where I went to grad school) on re-entry. It was totally overcast, so we couldn't see it - just heard it.