Friday, August 27, 2010

Off to See the Lizard...

Hum....something about that title just isn't right.

I don't have to go anywhere to see lizards.  I have several of the little critters in my house (Geckos) and dozens of the Texas Spiny Lizards outside under rocks.

Of course they're under rocks, Reffie.  Where ELSE would they be?  SHEESH!

Sorry about that.   Evil Twin hates packing and I'm having her do that for me today.

That's right.  It's time for Hubby and I to head to Glacier National Park in Montana.  While there, we hope to see glaciers, lakes, and other beautiful scenery.  I hope to see some wildlife but the emphasis is on the WILD.  I prefer my wildlife to be at a distance and not expect me to be food.  If I see this guy, I'm not joining him:


 
I must get to that packing.  I'll be finding some warmer clothes and rain gear as they may have a few storms up there.  Hopefully, I'll be able to post a few photos while I'm away.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Fishing for Gingerbread People

It's amazing the things you find right under your nose.  Um, no, not boogers or snot although there is plenty of that, but inspiring architecture and postal creativity within a few miles of home.

Huh?

Deep in the heart of the D/FW metroplex, there are pockets of country living at its best.  Country living is a lesson in self-expression in designing your home and yard, letting your vibrant personality shine through. You are probably not even aware you have neighbors.

One would think some of these folks have been transported to an alternate universe or at least to an episode of the Twilight Zone with Rod Serling's ghostly manifestation hovering around them.   I think I saw Ron this morning on my run....

when I thought I must have transported into the CandyLand game but with rednecks and cars up on blocks as the game pieces:



OK, so this isn't the actual house I saw.  My photo did not show the real beauty of the abode so I borrowed that one.  Now, picture a pick-up truck out front and a Shetland pony out back.

Evil Twin is salivating all over the keyboard, muttering something about icing.

Further down the same road, I saw a fish mailbox.    My photo doesn't do it justice but I like the log cabin house:



Fish.  It's what for dinner (Well, maybe at THIS house!!)

I was glad when I returned to my neighborhood, sans hovering Ron, and was welcomed by Evil Twin's best friend hanging around in my neighbor's yard:



I'm pretty sure this guy is using a machete to whack the bamboo so he can creep closer and closer.


YIKES!

Photo credits:  Yummy house: Chick Dastardly on flickr.com, Creative Commons license (see sidebar), Fish mailbox and Gnome, Reffie.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Centus: Sitting on the Rainbow

I'm glad you stopped by today.  Yes, it's still hot in Texas and we are all a gooey mess down here.  Please send ice cubes.

I'm playing Saturday Centus again this week, writing a story, 100 words or less, using a prompt.

This week's prompt:

I listened to them from my perch on the top step and didn't know whether to laugh or to cry...

I hope you giggle or crack at smile at my little story today:

Sitting on the Rainbow

I didn't know it would be this good.  My first full day in heaven has been nothing but glorious.  The feeling of being totally connected with all living things is indescribable.   You would never believe, though, what Jesus is wearing up here.
 
Feeling light and ethereal, I wandered over to a stairway.  I smiled a bit, remembering the song Stairway to Heaven.  Haha.  There really is one.  

I noticed a group of confused domestic house pets talking amongst themselves.
Climbing without effort, I listened to them from my perch on the top step and didn't know whether to laugh or to cry...

I did both, rejoicing that our beloved furry creatures are here with us.

This week's prompt is from:  Deckside Thoughts

Other stories can be found at this blog: Jenny Matlock

Have a great week!

Monday, August 9, 2010

A Plate of Wet Served with Sauce and Sweat

Hubby and I spent part of last weekend at a ranch in the middle of Nowhere, Texas.  Before we settled in, the high temperatures and instability of a stationary front brought Nowhere some much needed rain.

That didn't stop us from driving back to "town" to eat at a local BBQ joint.  The amount of food on our plates could feed several starving children or one super-sized Texan.  They were a bit skimpy on the sauce which was brought to us in a small flask but they were quick to bring us some more once our flask was running on empty.   I topped off my dinner with a yummy slice of Peanut Butter Pie!

Afterwards, back at the ranch, we captured a sunset photo as another thunderstorm was doing its best to dazzle us:

Hubby was trying to photograph the lightning before it got too dark.


Saturday, we enjoyed a pleasant day in Nowhere, walking dripping sweat all over the 5-mile nature trail before spending most of the afternoon in the shade at the pool.   

 Two geeks in Middle Earth Nowhere

At the pool, we soaked ourselves in the warm water a few times.  It was almost pleasant outside while we were wet.  After dinner Saturday evening, Hubby drove us back to civilization so I could get ready for my race and attempt to get some sleep.


Sunday, I got up at the quiet, non-shining hour of 4:15 am.  This must be before that Crazy Early Girl Dawn but after the crickets and night owls have finally gone to sleep.  I left Hubby snoring softly although he tells me he doesn't sleep well without me beside him (Neither do I when the situation is reversed.)   As I drove out of the neighborhood, I disturbed a baby fox.  He was adorable but I told him to go home to Mommy.

 No, this isn't "my" fox.  It was dark outside, remember?
  My fox was close in size and color to this little tyke.

I found the event without incident and got all my stuff ready.  There were several newbies and since I've done this before I played coach.  Evil Twin tried to intervene and tell people they had to swim naked and wear their bike helmet while running but I didn't let her ruin their experience.  

Sheesh.

The swim was held in an outdoor pool.  This time of the year, the water is Texas warm (cooled bath water).   Although swimming is still tough for me, the water felt great.  

The bike route was reasonably scenic for Texas country; beat-up pickups on the side of the road, trees and shrubbery, a few *old-style churches here and there, cattle and horses in the fields, and flattened and chopped up armadillos in the middle of the road.  Yeah, just the normal stuff.

The course had Texas hills (just ask my legs) and the prevailing southerly summer breeze (My legs didn't like this but my face did)!

It wasn't really hot on the bike since I was still wet from the swim.  My backside was more than ready to be off that bike, though, after the 16 miles.  Places that shouldn't be numb....er...well.....were.

By the time I was off the bike, I was reasonably dry.  My legs were noodles, formed from quicksand.

The running course was on part of a golf course.  I felt like I was wearing an oven.

The best part about the event besides the finish line?  It was the post-race ice-cold water, pancakes and watermelon.

YeeHaw!


*In the larger cities, we have numerous what I call "new style" churches that meet in strip shopping centers.  What the no steeple?

Photo credits:  Geeks: Jan Powers,  Storm: Hubby,  Baby fox: Here Be Dragons on flickr. com, Creative Commons license (see sidebar).

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Want Fries with that Brain?

The heat has boiled brains around here.  I've encountered crazy behavior all over the place.  Evil Twin and I have come up with some ideas as to what should be done with some of these weird people:

  • Annoying children playing in the swim lanes should be fed to the pool monster.  You do believe in the pool monster, don't you?
  • Drivers sitting through green lights and then blocking traffic to turn left into McDonald's should have their order of fries replaced with a limp, everything-tastes-the-same salad.
  • Folks running their lawn sprinklers after the 10:00 am cutoff time (assuming they are using city water) should be met with laughter and air farts the next time they turn on the water for a refreshing shower on a hot day.

A local family found some fossils near a lake.  We were really hoping for something like this:



But it was something more like:



Better luck next time!

I don't have to go very far to find a fossil.  I look in the mirror.

Ha!

Hubby and I will be going to his company's Family Day event this Friday evening and Saturday.  There will be numerous opportunities to prepare food on the hot concrete.  In other words, there are many outdoor activities available and it's freakin' hot.  I think I will find a cozy chair in the A/C and try to stay rested and cool.  I have a triathlon on Sunday morning. 

Wait.  I just came full circle.  I'm the one with the boiled brain.

Photo credits: Dinosaur: Mr. T in DC on flickr.com, Snails: Camelia on flickr.com, Creative Commons license (see sidebar).


"1.00s, 1.50s, 1.75s for the short arms. If you know what I'm talking about, you're probably old, too."

"Boomer brain fog: What was the last, middle, and first part of what you just said to me?"