Thread Drift

[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.

[Nanci]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH1NI4RaM3o

[KnottedYet]

Nanci - very cool!

(dang, Florida is FLAT!)

Hee hee, as I was watching that I was hoping your camera would point back down to your bike again so I could scope it out...

[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...

[maillotpois]

Nanci - cool video!!

Fish - I did the whole super expensive, extend her life for 2 months business with my rottie back in 2001. I probably would do it again. But it was not fun - basically she needed dialysis several times a week, visits to the doggy ER, blah blah. If they tell you right out of the box that it will be miserable and probably won't do any thing significant it may not be worth it. OH! That just stinks.

Favorite vacation spot? Probably the French Alps and Northern Provence. There's just so much great cycling and hiking there. The food ROCKS. And I know this is weird, but I could spend hours in a French grocery store. Locally (i.e., affordably), the best vacation spot is Yosemite. I'm not typically a beach vacation person. We haven't been on a beachy vacation for at least 7 years! Amazing.

[Nanci]

Here he is!!!

[Nanci]

My favorite vacation spot is Cozumel, Mexico. I love the diving, love the people, love the climate, love the food. I've been there so many times...If I could go anywhere, I'd probably pick somewhere in South America, or a grand tour of Australia, or New Zealand. I have no interest in Europe, except maybe Spain. No interest in Africa, India, Thailand or Vietnam or any of that, or any of the Orient.

Choco has finally gone to sleep, after a big exploration and swim in his new 20 long. Must be a huge change after a shoe box and paper towel! He went swimming, and couldn't tear himself away, so went again!

[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.