Wednesday a big storm knocked out our power from 6:30 to 9:30. p.m.
After the initial shock of no t.v., computer or microwave meatballs wore off, we tried conversation — yes, actual human-to-human interaction (weird, I know). It felt kinda neat, like we were pioneers or cave people or something. We were even reading books! I’d heard of books. They are quite lovely.
As thunder bullied, lightning taunted and water flooded our garage again, oy (Jim’s working on a new drain,) we roasted “spider dogs” * on a screwdriver over 5 candles. I ate four, ’cause the potentially life-or-death emergency called for stored up motherly Meat Power!
As a little kid I loved storms too. Candles. Sandwiches. Beer. Ahhh, good family times sitting around the kitchen watching the light show back on the hill, we kids always a little scared, but Mom’s ever-present quiet smile reassuring us we were safe.
How ’bout you? Any power outage or storm stories to share?
Ever been camping during a storm?
Ever been hit by lightning?
Ever eat a spidie dog?
* A spider (spidie) or “octopus” dog is a wiener you slice the ends into the shape of +signs. (I did a bad job of cutting those in the dark.) When sliced correctly the ends curl up real cool-like during roasting.
Nothing but the finest of delicacies for my family!
And now, everybody — to the tune of Spider Man, sing…
Spidie dog, spidie dog…
Straight from a cow, not from a hog.
Can you munch them? Listen man,
You can munch them from a frying pan.
Life is a great big hang-up.
Wherever there’s a hang-up
You’ll find some spidie dogs.
Kelly started happily back to school Monday. (Yes, happily — she adores her school.) And I started happily back to my morning running / walking, buttocks-blasting routine here in good old friendly Austin, Texas — U. S. of A.
I took these snaps Monday and Tuesday along my usual 3-mile stretch of the trail (Click-enlarging seems to really sharpen them.)
(Kayakers afar, not ridiculously colorful waterfowl.)
Yes, this is where I get to walk!For free!!!Any day I want, between Park curfew hours of 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Why is it at a St. Pat’s Day party all that green clothing makes me want to barf, yet the green of nature only makes me happy and happier? (And no, I don’t mean green beer barf potential.) 🙂
The city runs through our 10.2 mile trail along Ladybird Lake, which used to be called, but a lot of us still and probably forever will call — Town Lake.
This lake is part of a series of lakes formed by dams — lakes which are actually sections of the Lower Colorado River, which is not at all connected to the Colorado River of Grand Canyon fame much further West. I know, it’s a bit confusing, but stick with me. Future posts will might explain more.
Notice some downtown buildings and their reflections hiding in the photo below?
Flowers run through our trail too! Tons of flowers. My totally non-pro camera did a pretty good job of capturing a few blooms, I think.
Trumpet Honeysuckle?
Blue Plumbago
Mystery Flower (some kind of rose?) It grows on a bush.
Here’s a trail map, which should excite you to no end. (It actually does show super-nice resolution upon a click, and ludicrous-great res with an additional click.)
And below — a couple of the many park benches you’ll find me and my buttocks on (I hardly ever leave home without them. My buttocks, that is. Well, yes, I did once. Leave them home, but that’s a whole other post. Or series of posts.)
Ridiculously green, despite a general drought. Ridiculously gorgeous. I’m ridiculously lucky. And blessed. And happy to be alive.
And back to a school schedule.
I likes our Town Lake trail. A lot.
And you? Have you hugged your nature lately?
(Zilker Park, beside The Trail. Much more on Zilker to come.)
Footnote: Notice I had to add an entire new category for this? … “Just Good Stuff.” I might even go through my old posts and re-direct a few of them to J.G.S.
Stay tuned for more and more “Just Good Stuff” here in Downtown Funstertown!
13. To make a long story shot… [a guest bord by Davina, a Great Life Coach]
14. She was very lung-winded. [another guest bord by that Great Life Coach!]
[If YOU wish to submit YOUR best guest typos for publication consideration and some linky-luv, just contact me. I will love sharing the ones that grab me the most]
15. I will love sharing the ones that garb me the most.
16. Why not hit the Stubble It button?
17. I haven’t been to a nightclub in ears.
18. And the funny thigh about it is I don’t even own fishnets.
19. Don’t worry — I’m sure you’ve been brining up your kids just fine since the git-go.
So glad I wrote down / remembered these funny / sweet things our Kelly said…
Age 4: “Will my bones fall out like my teeth, and bigger ones grow in?”
Age 5: “I’m so glad I’m a girl ’cause when I grow up I won’t have to waste my own money on a diamond ring.”
Age 5: “Mom, the kids at school are saying if you spend a lot of time in the sun your skin will get brown but that’s just nonsense ’cause everybody knows the sun bleaches things.”
Age 6: “Mom, when I have children I won’t tell them that I really love you the best, so I won’t hurt their feelings.”
Age 7: “Mom, I wish you’d met Dad earlier ’cause you’d have gotten to enjoy him more and I’d be a teenager now.”
Age 7. “She had a good luck omelet around her neck.” (Meant amulet.)
Age 7: (When I told her we’d visit Nova Scotia’s Tancook Island on our next trip) “Ooo, Tancook Island. What’s the population? What’s the main industry? Do they have universal health care?” ( I swear she said this!)
Age 7 (While throwing a mini-fit) “I have the right to be angry when I’m mad!!!”
Age 7: “I like your new shampoo, Mom. What’s that scent — vinaigrette?”
Age 7: (At KFC upon learning they had no spoons, only forks for her mashed potatoes) “These people so do NOT know how to live, Mom.”
Age 7. (At a bird blind where many yellow “Caution” tapes were draped on the outside of the one-way glass to, I presume, help prevent the birds from crashing into their own reflections) “That’s so stupid mom — birds can’t read.”
(Friend, if you’re wild about this post, why not hit the olde “Stumble It” button directly here below? Nothing’s gonna bite you if you do.) 😉
