Jungle Habitat - Take 2

Of course I went back....so much more to explore!   I finally found the tunnels - funny thing is that we had hiked over the top of them the first time!!

 Ended up taking a different route and found one of the old access roads which yielded more parts of the safari operation that had been left behind!

And I Quote...

When you rise in the morning, form a resolution to make the day a happy one for a fellow creature. - Sydney Smith

Rotate...

 One photo - three different perspectives!

Sad Landmarks...

 Buildings that were childhood landmarks on the way up to camp, now sit abandoned....

Sad despite the sunshine.

Creative Party Signs.....

Not so subtle signs that there may be a party.....

Morning Walkabout

There's something about being up there that motivates one to get up early and go for a walk.  What a difference since six weeks ago - almost no leaves and incredibly crisp air!!

Only in America….

We sue a movie theater for showing a violent movie….so, why not sue yourself for buying a ticket??

We don't want to get out of the car to get food nor do we want to interact with people who gives us food - shout a number and type of drink and drive around!  (thank you Bobby Marley)  Yet we get an Edible Arrangement - I just saw how much fruit gets wasted when they make these things!  But there is a local farmer who picks up the scraps for his pigs.

We pay for the privilege of making our own stuffed animals instead of getting one off the shelf ready made (most likely by a small child in Asia).

What a country!

Milestone?

There was a five year anniversary that came and went in July.  It was a milestone of happiness for the main people involved but for me it was a reminder of how much time has passed since a coward made a stupid decision.  One of those lovely decisions that can never be fixed or undone.… 

Admittedly, I went a bit crazy in the aftermath of what can only be called a betrayal – mainly due to the way that the whole thing was handled…..and stretched out longer than it needed to be. (on all sides)

It no longer hurts the way that it did or brings out my vindictive side when I mention it.  I have had so many different experiences (including some bucket list items) that never would have occurred had things stayed the same.  The most recent disclosure from someone close to the source let me know how badly things have been going – I did not feel superior or revel in the fact that karma has really been kicking back….I just felt sorry for them. 

I do not wallow in it or want to fix it….it’s just a thought that disappears.

Rudens Veji...

Vasara jau projām steidzas,

Rudens vēji grib mūs sveikt.

Vārdus gruti pašreiz atrast, ko tev teikt.

Vai tu atceries kādreiz,

Skaistos brīžus katru dien‘,

Vai tu aizmirsīsi viņus ātri vien?

Tu uz austrumkrastu dodies,

Bet man jāpaliek ir šeit.

Tu man bieži rakstīt solies - katru dien‘.

Tomēr šaubas sirdī rodas,

Tālums mūs var mūžam šķirt,

Varbūt jau ardievas jau sakam, kas to zin?

Citu vasaru, es ceru,

Ilgas tevi šurpu sauks.

Satiksmes tad, kad ziedēs rudzu lauks.

Piedod man, ja esmu atkal

Tāpat aizsapņojies vien,

Bet par tevi jādomā man katru dien‘.

Jungle Habitat!!!

 After all the years that I lived in the area and was unable to go inside (too chicken since it would have been trespassing), I was overjoyed to find out that Jungle Habitat had been opened to the public for hiking and biking. 

Took me a few years but I finally made it! 

The entire experience reminded me of the TV series "Life After People".

Beautifully sad - lots of stories to tell - lots of pictures to take.....

and much more to go back and see!!

Local Randoms...

Purr...

"Sometime people leave you, halfway through the wood....."

  - No One is Alone (From Into The Woods)

I know that I will soon lose another piece of what helped me get through all the stuff that went on in the past couple of years. The crappy part of pet ownership – yes, they are here for WAY too short of a time frame…but I really thought that we had more time together.

The money spent to figure out what was wrong is not a waste - I'm glad that it was figured out – there is no need for her to suffer longer than she needs to.  I am still hung up on that gut wrenching moment when I was asked if I wanted her to be closed up or to just let her go…. 

Right now there is quality of life – once that slips, I will let her go.  I’m grateful that I have some time left – the cuddles this past weekend were priceless.

Ruckus...

I'm still surprised how much of a ruckus this billboard caused when I posted it on FB....

The whole point of sharing it was to remind people to adopt -

Not a commentary on their respective relationship problems.

August Hike Reflections - Part 2

August Hike Reflections

Floating...

I’m trying to hold onto the zen feeling that this picture brings….

So much has changed since I took this picture.

Two songs are doing battle in my head…

Blow Me One Last Kiss - Pink

And

You Get What You Give - New Radicals

Talk about a blatant show of my brain trying to keep things balanced!

Lavina!

In the world of weird names, mine has the potential to win a prize.  Last week, I spent it with a girl with the same name in a cultural camp where it was not weird, just unique.  We bonded over how people screw it up and how we teach people to say it and how she has never had the experience of meeting another one of us.  Well, my dear, there are a bunch and we have a choir and a BIG event on our nameday!  We decided that next year we will try to get a third one to go so we can have the triumvirate... 

Anyway, the whole thing reminded me of how my mom's name has been altered over the years.  Our neighbor (back when neighbors were good) had survived polio but had some hearing loss.  She always called my mom Lavina and would stand on the other side of the hedges with something for her and call out in a sing-songy voice "Laaaaa-vina, Laaaaa-vina, Laaaaa-vina".  It was cute and no matter how many times she was told my mom's real name, she still called her Lavina.  Mrs. K was a wonderful person and I do miss her.

Ermahgerd!

Flying Shrimp!!!

 OK, in reality it is a hummingbiord moth but it looks like a flying shrimp/crayfish....

Funny thing is that a coworker saw one two weeks ago in Germany, another coworker saw one in her garden last weekend...and now this one....

Lurve...

It's been a week since this wedding....I'm so happy that I was invited to be a part of this very happy day.   This crew misses me as much as I miss them - it felt like a homecoming of sorts. 

From the "You WILL be at the after party" to the side chats, there was a whole lotta love going around.  Reminds me that even though we are far and don't see each other that often, the friendship is there...

It's solid - no matter what.

June Montage...

Meme....Meme.....Meme....

For me it started with the "One does not simply walk into Mordor" series.....

There were others memes (Willy Wonka for one) but the "So call me maybe" series had me chuckling....seriously, there is one that says "I'm a Dingo and I ate your baby"! 

And then this one showed up....

But my absolute favorite is the one below....it's been two weeks since I saw it and I just can't stop laughing!