gp at the mariners

We're still on vacation (but the return to work is *REE-REE-REE* looming). Yesterday we went to a Mariner's game. We had nice seats in the behind-home-plate area. I took this photo before the start of the game:



One of the main attractions of going to the ballpark is the food! Yesterday's fare was Ivar's Fish & Chips; fresh, hot peanuts; and chocolate covered strawberries on a kabob stick. I have learned not to over-stuff, but I can't say the same for Garbage Puff. He was living up to his name yesterday:



The Mariners lost to Kansas City (3-0), but I've always thought when one goes to a game the score is really beside the point. (Spoken like a true Mariners' fan!)

home again

We're baaaack. We packed a lot of fun into 6 days: We saw an improv group, took a tour of Denver, saw a play (Die Mommie Die!), went to the Museum of Nature and Science, did some shopping in both Denver and Estes Park, bopped around our old home in Loveland, hiked in Rocky Mountain National Park, and went white water rafting on the Cache La Poudre River. Whew! The evening before we left, we saw Jackson Browne in concert at Red Rocks, a breathtakingly beautiful venue. I was glad to hear Jackson do one of my favorite optometry songs -- Doctor My Eyes. :)

(Concert pictures below by Offspring #1)

Garbage Puff and Offspring #2 waiting for Jackson:



Jackson!



Big Red Rock!



At some point I might put together a slideshow of the trip highlights and post it. If so I'll be using Offspring #1's photos, because they are waaaay better than my own. (It's my camera's fault, yeah, that's it.)

Had a great day at...

...Rocky Mountain National Park!



(When one mooches a computer, one does short posts.)

colorado!

(Since I'm computer-mooching I will keep this short!) Yep, we're vacationing in Colorado. We didn't notice him at first, but Garbage Puff managed to stow away in the luggage. Once we discovered him, we decided we might as well include him in our activities. Here he is dining with Offspring #1 at the Ship Tavern in the Brown Palace in Denver.



Tomorrow we head to Rocky Mountain National Park.

happy b-day to me

Yep, today is/was my b-day! Offsprings #1&2 came home and we went to the concert at the lake where we listened to bluegrass and had a picnic dinner.



Here's me with my mom and Offspring #1:

And here's Hubby and Offspring #2:


Later Mr. Tumnus helped me open presents.


And there you have it!

mr. tumnus' new apartment

It has been a summer of moves! First my mom moved from her house into a condo, then Offspring #2 moved from his 'slanted floor' college apartment into a nicer (and level!) one.

This past weekend we helped Offspring #1 move from the Apartment of Darkness and Mold up two flights to the Apartment of Sunshine and Happiness.

Mr. Tumnus likes this one better too. He can monitor the comings and goings in the parking lot.



If he wants to take a break from his Guard Cat duties, he can snooze on his Stairway to Heaven.



Playing "Heh, heh, just try to get me out from under the bed" is good entertainment too.


(pictured: Offspring #2 & his girlfriend Tien)

Friday Five: Wild Animal Edition

Mompriest has a family of bobcats living on the roof of the house across the street from her. For this week's Friday Five, she invites us to share our own wild animal story.

I don't have anything as exciting as bobcats, but I have come across some cool animals on hikes and/or bike rides. So here are my 5 Close Encounters of the Animal Kind:

While on a bike ride I have come across an eagle...



...and a coyote:



While hiking I have come across this deer...



...and this fish. (The hike went by an area where there was a 'viewing area' in the stream.)




I don't have my own picture of this one, but years ago in Montana while on my way to Park Lake I came across a moose!


(picture from here)

because it ain't the same without presbygal...

After Presbygal got back from buying her snow cone, we had our picture retaken at Cosmos.


(Click to enlarge)

(If'n you're confused, see this post and comments.)

yep, I'll send you one!

This postcard (featuring a Campbell's Soup Girl lookalike) was sent from Cousin Alta in Rock Island, Illinois to Alta Pierce in Lola, South Dakota on February 13, 1914. (Hmm... Alta and Alta. Sounds like these cousins were two of a kind.)

Cousin Alta used the tried and true technique of "when in doubt, write about the weather:

Is it cold there. it is certainly cold here and the wind is blowing hard. Cousin Alta



I'll be in Colorado later this month. If you e-mail your address to me, I promise to send you a postcard detailing the weather.

because Rev SS asked...

Here's the fam at Cosmos with Rev SS... (See previous post and comments if'n you're confused.)


(Click to enlarge)

only a slight exaggeration...

This weekend we moved Offspring #2 from his old college apartment into a new, improved college apartment! The older apartment had one major flaw. The floor slanted like one of those anti-gravity houses.



This photo is from an old postcard (which sadly isn't in my collection) of the Cosmos Mystery Area in South Dakota. Cosmos is still in business, and their website says "Have you ever experienced a place where the laws of nature seem to have gone completely berserk?"

After being in Offspring #2's old apartment, I can answer "Yep!"

Happy B-day to this guy...

Yeah, I kinda like him.

What's up with Ethel?!

Miss Ethel Greenleaf of Mt Vernon, Washington received her fair share of postcards, but it appears as if she had an aversion to returning correspondence.

In 1907, Marguerite Heritage tried a bargaining approach with Ethel:



Dear Ethel: How are you anyway - Write because I like to hear from you - did you get my other postals - Send me some from out west and I will send you some from here

In 1908, Billy tried the friendly and optimistic angle:




Father used to have a farm 1/2 mile from this old mill and I used to go fishing there when I was a kid. Am expecting a letter soon. is it on the way. Got a few dandy postals lately from friends nearby. Hope I will be out there soon. Yours--Billy

In 1910, L.K. Stelzig was just plain annoyed:



Don't you think you owe me a letter, or a card. It is nearly two months since I heard from you. Yours, L.K. Stelzig

the empty nesters take on the mountain

Hubby and I spent Friday and Saturday at Mt Hood. We took advantage of a gift certificate (which was set to expire) for the Resort at the Mountain. We went on a couple of hikes, rented bikes, etc.

We set out for Ramona Falls on our first hike. Let's just say it was character building.



(Video notwithstanding, we had a great time!)