We were in Southern California earlier this month. The last day we went through La Jolla and spent a couple of hours. The big attraction at La Jolla, at least to the Yogi’s, were the harbor seals who hang out right on the rocks.
You can learn about harbor seals from wikipedia here.
It really is quite remarkable, especially to us land locked Okies that, such marine mammals live so closely to humans. We were fascinated.
Some of them are really cute.
Check out Camera Critters
I found the above on video on the geocaching blog. They feature interesting geocachers and I thought this guys story fit the bill. You can follow the link to find out more information about him. He is basically a bomb disposal specialist and has recently returned from Iraq. His geocaching handle is JrBYRDMAN162.
Its been a busy six weeks. Vacation to southern California, wife’s family reunion in western Oklahoma, two trips to Wichita, Kansas in two weeks, ill advised geocaching outing in the Kansas tall grass without chemical protection resulting in massive chigger infestation (I took pics but deleted them, you can thank me now), and a lingering sinus infection. I finally went to the doctor’s office and got to see the PA. (How come doctors are called doctors and PA’s just have a first name? I told the front desk I was their to see Miss R****, and they didn’t know who I was talking about.)
You know how it goes, chigger bites “resolve themselves,” doctors (and PA’s) are generally clueless about running injuries but luckily Miss R**** had an orthopedic student shadowing her that day and he pronounced that I had a swollen ITB (shame on you!!!, its the iliotibial band, a tendon that stretches from your knee to you foot on the outside of the leg)but I should be good to go in a week. Miss R**** was doing a furious head bob agreeing with el studiante, at least Miss R**** was able to prescribe some antibiotics.
So anyway I went home, took my medicine, and healed up. Wednesday night after work I went out for a test drive on the Arkansas River trail and ran four miles with no problems.
Life is looking up.
What have I learned. First, never, ever, ever, go into tall grass without Deet. Second, my Doctor’s day off is Wednesday. Miss R**** is cute as a button and very nice, but she is not a doctor.
Check out Watery Wednesday
I just love Legoland’s “Minitown”
Used and abused picnick.com considerably.
“Star Island” is Carl Hiaasen’s latest book and it is a hoot (sorry, couldn’t resist). Its about a young lady who, although she can’t sing, is a superstar and acts the part. She does drugs and alocohol to excess, stays way out way too late, and pretty much sleeps with anyone who stands still long enough. She pulls a few shenanigans and gets cross-ways with a paparazzi who wants revenge. Throw in two very greedy, uncaring parents, a music promoter, a former Florida governor who disappeared into the swamps years ago and a body guard with a weed eater for a hand this book is very funny.
Note, unlike “Hoot” which was a book for young adults, this is definitely rated “R.”
I rate this book at 3 stars out of 5. It is a good read but I didn’t just love it.
Check out Hiaasen’s web site.
Below is a trailer for the book.
Sweetie and I went to Wichita, Kansas for an autism conference a couple weeks ago. After the conference we sneaked to “Botanica, The Wichita Gardens” botanical garden which may be Wichita’s best kept secret.
We enjoyed our couple of hours there. The grounds are meticulously maintained and and there are surprises around every corner.
There are many fountains, and lots of shade with places to rest.
In addition to the more formal paved walks Botanica has trails winding through more wild areas. I can’t resist a trail through the woods.
with sunlight coming through the leaves.
I love nice sculptures in a garden. This was my favorite at Botanica.
My certified Master Gardener wife was on overload.
Check out That’s My World
I was in Wichita, Kansas last week and took some time to go geocaching in Wichita’s beautiful Pawnee Praire Park just west of the airport. I was worried that the park’s chiggers might be getting hungry.
I came across a couple of white tail deer. You can see the first looking at the camera. His buddy is behind him facing the other way, mooning me I guess.
I come across lots of deer while geocaching or trailrunning and I hardly ever get a picture of them because they don’t stick around long enough for me to get my camera out and ready.
While on vacation recently on the west coast, we came upon a scene that reminded me of New Orleans. Sweetie and I haven’t been back since the year before Katrina. We are going to have to check it out.
Check out Weekend Reflections
Photo from Legoland in Carlsbad, California. The structures are all legos! I kind of got a little crazy with all the tools at Picnick.com
We were in the big sky country of western Oklahoma last weekend and took I this photograph from my wife’s cousin Joe and Cheri’s front yard.
