Something Old - Something New

Tina in kimono at Holloween (No, her hair isn't really gray.)

Wednesday evening I had my last dinner with Tina. For those of you who don't know Tina is my daughter Kat's college roomie. She moved here after graduating from Wells with Kat. Kat went to Japan and taught English on the JET program, Tina got work here. Now Kat is back from Japan and Tina is going to Japan to be a JET teacher. Tina & I have had a lot of good times in the last 4 years; we've gone shopping, visited local art exhibits, hiked a few metro park trails, gone to a local orchard and eaten a lot of dinners at various buffets. Wednesday Tina hosted a modest farewell party at her place - a wonderful little picnic and a quiet way to say goodbye. Now she has an orientation meeting for JET in DC, then she's going back to upstate New York for a month with her family. By the 1st of August she will be half way around the world. It has been a great 4 years with Tina as my friend, May You Live Well & Prosper Tina !

The artwork is Tina's, done for her grandmother's autobiography.

Summer Time is Here at Last !

Kat came by at noon today so we went for a nice motorcycle ride around Greene county - except I kept forgetting which roads were gravel and which were not so we had to turn around a time or two - gravel isn't all that much fun to ride on particularly on the first ride of a new season. But we had a nice hour ride anyway. Then we met Tina for a farewell dinner at Outback - she is going to Japan on the JET program. Then the Urchin and I just sorta hung out for a bit and enjoyed each others company. All in All not a bad way to start a summer. This is Kat's bike, a Kawasaki Ninja 250.

The Camping Life Style

My friend Jan & I camped out at the Lynchburg Izaak Walton league Friday & Saturday. In spite of the really really hot & humid weather we had a great time. We swam in the lake, bailed out her canoe, removed 2 crayfish and various other critter from the canoe, paddled the canoe on the swimming lake, swam some more, prepared various wonderful foods, watched the fireflies, watched other folks having fun in the sun and then swam in the lake again just for good measure. Ah the little pleasures of life !

I'z Got New Wheels !

OK, so I didn't set out to buy a new vehicle, but there it was sitting on the lot a full 3 weeks after I first saw it there while I was getting my Blazer aligned. Tina, Kat and I were at Quick Lane to get Kat's car an oil change and Tina's car a tuneup. Kat took it for a test drive, I took it for a test drive, Kat pointed out it would cost me less to buy it than it was costing in repairs to keep the Blazer functional. So I now have a 2008 GMC Canyon SL 2.9L pickup with fog lights, a 5 speed trans and 2 wheel drive that had 2242 miles on it the day I bought it and a 36,000 factory bumper to bumper warranty. It's the newest vehicle I've ever bought that has more than 2 wheels. Since this picture was taken I've gotten a Line-X spray in bedliner, window visors, a trailer hitch and the trailer lights T-connector. I've still figuring out the best way to set it up for carrying a kayak or 10 ft. tent poles. I am one happy trucker.

It is also now officially summer - the fireflies rose for the first time this year at my friend Jane's house. As far as I'm concerned, when the tree toads start singing its spring and when the fireflies start rising its summer. This silly sun-position-in-the-sky thing is no way to define the seasons ! Its what on the ground where you are that matters, not some date on a calendar when the sun's postulated line of orbit crosses an imaginary line on the earth. Talk about smoke and mirrors !

The New Blog

OK, I've changed blog sites. This one has an easy way to upload photos and LiveJournal does not. So watch this space for further events !