DOUBLETIME, back to solid land!!

Cleo freaks out, and feels the need for speed!

August's NaBlo Theme *IS* "HOT", Right?

In the bottle labled "Hot Sex" is some sort of alcoholic concoction. My *DAD* is the bar tender. Saltpetre has *never* had such competition.

And realization sets in!

Second thoughts, much? My brave basenji.

Um... Apparently on God's BLUE Earth...

... Cleo will go where the pack goes. This is a little dog for whom fog is too wet a condition, so color me blown away that she's out there, with water on 2 sides of her!

OH NOOOO! Not WATER!

There's no way in God's green earth that little dog will get on that earthquake pier!

After dinner at the lake, we walk!

And throw out the trash and recyclables, and play giant shaddow puppet games and stretch our legs and see the sights...

My 2 favorite people

Reunited!

Cleopatra and Lucy take a post-prandial walk.

Naughty Kitchen Kitty

Yeah, Bertie-Bert. You're *NOT* s'posed to be there. The kitchen window is absolutely verboten.

I understand completely how that simply makes a thing more desireable, more tender-juicy-delicious.

I also understand that you are a cat and that means that you believe that rules and laws simply do not apply to you. I've seen you tussle and finagle with Gravity, of all things!

Only a cat. Heh... Only a *female* cat.

There's no point trying to train or discipline you, *because* of your catness! I don't know if your kind aren't hard-wired for it, if it's sheer bloody-minded defiance, or some diabolical combination, but I'm originally a dog person, and am permanently confounded by you felines.

I also have found you entirely irresistable.

And by "you," Bert, I mean "you collective felines", but mostly YOU, my snuggly, instapurr, faithful little Bert.

My Appliances Are Conspiring...

My phone just reminded me to watch Sen. Obama's speech tonight.

It's about as historic a moment as you can get! My dad got me hooked on historic moments when he insisted my brother and I watch Pres. Carter and "2 other old guys" (Begin and Sadat) sign "some big deal thing" (Middle East Peace Treaty!) "sometime back in the '70s". And earlier than that, Mom and Dad propped my infant self up to view the most famous One Small Step/Giant Leap.

It's an easy bet that even if the networks don't pre-empt the regular programming (we have rabbit ears, so NO, no alternatives) I'll be watching.

I don't even need a reminder.

What my phone doesn't know is that I've been listening to NPR all day. This candidate and this speech were every other topic!

It'd be neat if my phone talked to my tv. Maybe it would save me the trouble of watching it myself...

Canna? YES!

The new canna variety is very nice.

Ah, Grasshopper...

No, really. It's a gorgeous green member of Family Homoptera, not a rogue Carradine on my back porch. Though that might be fun, too.

It's very important to be specific, identifying this lovely visitor. Sadly, at this point there's no cameraphone with a macro lense. >sigh.<

And *look* at those long, movie-star gorgeous antennae! Swoon. Entomology and evolutionary biology are such studies of amazing, jaw-dropping awesomeness!

Dancing With the Stars: Final Season?!?

It just stands to reason. This is the season they're bringing in Ted McGinley. I ask with tongue firmly planted in cheek, he's helped so many other shows 'Jump the Shark' in the last century, why not this one now?

'At the end of the day,' I don't know...

...what the problem was.

But all of a sudden I've got blog posts from *days* ago, some, from almost a week ago, showing up.

I'm not excited about sporadic service, but I guess if this is the best my provider can do, then I'd better adapt. I'm stuck for another year.

Moblogging = NO Blogging... They won't like me when I'm angry...

Still with the missing posts! All weekend I've been posting. Pictures have appeared in Flickr, but no posts here on Blogger.

I don't know, I like my time too well to have to spend it on the phone with TMobile, but it's looking like I've got a grim date with them on Monday. :-(

I suppose that's preferrable to me continuing to get all hot and resentful.

That's when I turn all green and monosyllabic and stuff...

 

They put THIS on a FORD??

They put THIS on a FORD??
Originally uploaded by sunspotting.

In case you can't read the window decal between the bug splats on our windscreen, the ugly minivan (whoops, it's an Excursion, I think they want us to read that as "luxury truck" (chassis isn't high enough to be a truck, really, though the rear bumper is very deceptive), but I'm not buying it; neither the vehicle nor the concept) in front of us says "dontbesick.com".

Now, instead of putting that *ON* a Ford, shouldn't they be advising that to the people who *run* Ford about their product?

 

Organic Detritis Becomes Jewels Afloat

Organic Detritis Becomes Jewels Afloat
Originally uploaded by sunspotting.

Interesting and irresistable, these non-edibles float kaleidescope-like in a cup on the picnic table.

What took my neice and her cousin ages to collect was but a moment's fling to return it to the earth.

 

Who sez life is slower in the country?

Rick hears the Call of the Wild... Again

Ashland County from our car window

Buri Tigtig: Pat's card game

2 winning hands in the same game. Way to shuffle, Leonor!

Pokeberry Pull

"Hey, Adelaide! The sun's goin' down!"

THAT'S *quite* a revelation! And to say it with such joy and enthusiasm!

Family time is so valuable.

Laura & Mag enjoy a quiet moment at the cottage.

En route to the Cabin!

Today was a big family gathering at the cabin near Mohican.

Joe Biden, huh?

So, like so many other millions, I got a text message this morning.

I feel a little let down. I like the guy, but I don't find him very inspiring.

Isn't he a little like a Democrat version of the Republican's Mormon guy, just with salt-&-pepper hair? They have the same teeth, anyway. Very game show host-y.

I'll stick with it, I really want some change. It just seems so SAFE, though, coming from the guy who keeps crowing about CHANGE.

 

T Mobile has angered me.

I have made repeated posts. None are showing up. Yesterday and today, things I have said have vanished. Whether they were things that meant something (Congresswoman Staphanie Tubbs Jones!!) or just random stuff (this morning's Olympic gold medal basketball aspirations...), they were worth the effort to me.

 

Re*Deem*Re*Dream

Re*Deem*Re*Dream
Originally uploaded by sunspotting.

Good thing for Coach K's unflappable leadership. It's a breathless kind of game in today's semifinal v Argentina.

First quarter was breathless, because of the overwhelming and unquestionable dominance by Team USA. Second quarter, because sleeping giant Argentina woke up despite the loss of star player Manu Ginobili, rallying to come within 8 points of the Redeem Team at more than one point. SIX points, even! Breathless, AND nailbiting!

Folks, we got ourselves a basketball game!

 

Missing posts for Thursday

There were 3 posts made from my TMobile cellular phone. ON THURSDAY. They are missing.

I've already been on the phone repeatedly to fix the problem with their agents.

Each time they try to fix it. Each time they quote to me how long I've been a customer. As if that is even a factor.

I've 're-booted' my phone, I've done everything on my end that can be done except spend all the time necessary with the TMobile agents to get to the bottom of this problem.

I don't look forward to those lost hours.

 

Brandywine Bonanza = BLTs!

These tomatoes are about the size of a large grapefruit or average pumello. They're HUGE. We are so ready to thaw the bacon and toast the bread for one of summer's finest traditions...

On trash night, Morgan's recycling.

...or something... I'm confident she's plotting something eeeviiiil.

Hot August Night

Sitting on Daddy's deck after dinner, enjoying conversation and the summer.

Mission accomplished!

L to R: Tony's, mine, Rick's. All empty. Lunch was also delicious! So excellent to get caught up with friends, friends we see with unacceptable infrequency.

I'm telling you, everybody needs scooters.

Veggie Tales sez "everybody has a water buffalo," but that's only true in the Philippines. Here, we all need scooters. SCOOTERS. Just get one. Or TWO!!

Fer cryin' out loud, just get a scooter.

 

Grape Bomb

This is a potent glass full of YUM.

Scooters. Everybody needs a scooter. 'Nuff sed.

 

Paladin Moon

We are home, the car is unpacked, the dog (collected from my dad's) is delighted to have her realm back, the cats have emerged from all hiding places (on seeing the dog, have now returned to them), and we are finally making our way towards actual possibilities for sleep.

It was a good weekend, but very hectic.

I have pictures from today to post but they can wait until tomorrow's clearer, better-rested mind can sort them.

Arrival of my heart

Rick arrives at lunch.

OH COME ON. Is this REALLY necessary?

Why, oh WHY, would it occur to me to worry about 100% fruit juice being laden with fat?

So you might be wondering why there's suddenly a picture like this in the middle of bike-riding pictures? We were in a grocery store, augmenting our Saturday night pizza party with a veg tray and some fresh fruit.

OK. Some beer too. Carbo-loading, you know.

 

Day is done.

Today's MS150 ride was fantastic.

That could be the adrenaline talking, though.

 

Sage advice.

I always find wierd stuff in bathrooms.

She's a Paladin!

Yay! She raised over $7000 last year!

Rick B. left us some cheer!

LUNCH.

HoHos and water ahead!

Beautiful.

Paul at 2nd rest stop!

Made me laugh on the MS150!

So funny (and somewhat reassuring) to see that some things never change!

 

Helpful signs on the MS150.

They also had some identifying loose gravel and dangerous intersections. I paid close attention to my safety and the safety of the riders around me instead of taking cameraphone pictures, so you'll just have to take my word for it...

 

First reststop! 12+ miles down.

Not bad. Not bad at all. Completely fun, in fact!

 

A fine day to kick some MS arse!

An absolutely beautiful morning. Perfect weather, all conditions are ideal!! We don't always get this, so we are taking it in with enormous enjoyment.

 

Stil w the pack! But it s early.

I think this is Prospect St., just before West. Still in Berea.

 

Center St.

... and that's Rick and Mike in the blue Paladins jerseys directly in front of me. Neither they nor I would stay still for the picture, so it was a team effort to make it so blurry.

 

MS GREAT-8

This guy -- Mike Zimits -- and his organization, MS Great-8, is BRILLIANT. He and his friend Cat organize riders to join them on eight other NMSS fund-raising rides during the course of a calendar year to raise funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The money raised will stay local, even though the ride is not.

For example, I live in Cleveland, but would love to ride in the NYC event. Funds raised to participate in that event would be sent in to the Ohio Buckeye Chapter, and I get the benefit of meeting all sorts of riders from way out east.

Did I say benefit???? My benefit today was to ride part of the way with these very fine people. I am humbled by their charity, I am overwhelmed by their friendship!! What warmth.

Plus, they very generously donated $10,000 to our own Buckeye Chapter.

Good people are a delight to find.

 

Any minute now...

At this point, we are soooooooooooooooooooooooo! ready! to! Just! GO!

But no.

There are speaches.

>sigh.<

 

Paladins ready to hit the road!

... and you know, it's actually a little disappointing that it's light out right now.

We spent extra $$$$ and time to put our website on the back of the jerseys/t-shirts in special stuff that reflects.

Meh. Fergesse. It was totally worth it. I'm all about safety.

It'll be useful another day.

Meanwhile? You want to talk about visibility? See My Beloved? You can't miss him!!! He's the one with the Slider Hat attached to his helmet.

Slider is the Indians mascot, a bright fuchsia and yellow plush nightmare.

Definitely click on the link, he's very inspirational!! Rick and I love Slider. He chose the hat the night we had dinner with Bob Feller specifically to be visible on this occasion, hoping it would fit over his helmet!

I'm glad it did. The emcee had a blast IDing it.

We enjoyed being IDed.

 

The crush of bikes and bodies

Like herding cats!

Getting into posish for the team pic!

Getting ready for the morning.

Rick and Mickey strategize and prepare for our VERY EARLY MORNING.