Hanging out at the Hyatt

Here I am hanging out in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency in Chicago over Memorial Day Weekend, I wonder if that is Mahala's long lost rocker?

TR

Out to sea in the fall

We are headed out to sea in September. WH and DG are taking a cruise to Alaska in September to help DG recover from the sorrow of turning %0 the end of August. The cruise line has been warned to stock up on liquid anesthetics, tasty foods and krill. DG is hoping to see whales, eagles, bears and flightless water fowl. I am hoping to run into a few old friends along the way. Hotel reservations have been made in Seattle for a couple of nights on each end of the trip. I hope the ride is as wonderful as our crossing of the English Chanel last August shown in the picture above.

TR

Contemplating

It is the end of a long week and here I sit contemplating.

Here are some of my pondering:

Have we really survived the week, or is this some sort of unexpected purgatory?

Will we survive next week?

Why me?

Why not?

If I jump, will I know what it feels like to fly before I splat?

Do fish think?

Do fish blink?

Would anyone notice if I had a little sushi snack?

TR

Battling our way through the airports

They may have taken away our manicure scissors, but we still find a way to fend off the airport idiots. You know the kind, the ones who don’t seem to know that you have to empty your pockets and take off your cell phone before you try to go through the metal detector. Just try to get in my way!

TR

In Honor of D-Day

Here I am in St. Mere Eglise last summer. This would be a good weekend to watch the movie "The Longest Day."

TR

Savannah Hilton Head International Airport

You would think after all we did in Scotland last summer they would at least reward us with a decent single malt. Oh well, it sure was better then the typical airport offerings. Nice and refreshing after a long days toil in Georgia.

TR

Alive

Sorry, no picture for this one. We made it home just before midnight last night. US-less Air has done a good job of redeeming themselves. Other than a comically surly flight attendant and of course runway departure delays to assure that we were on time instead of early, the trip went well. The guy sitting next to us described the flight attendant as "Barnie Fife" on an airplane (Meritt you aren't missing a police officer are you?)

Then came this morning. Big Red had to be jump started this morning. He was so dead that the mini Panzer couldn't do the job and an expert had to be called in. We started for the dealer and Big Red died on an expressway on-ramp. No power, no starting, no lights, no nothing. We had to be towed to the dealer who is swamped with work. Maybe there is some cosmic confluence that caused a worldwide breakdown of red cars today. No word on the prognosis. It has been a very long day.

TR

Headed South

DG and I are off in the morning for a quick trip south, flying into Savannah Georgia. DG gets to go get paid for talking for a day about things that he talks about in his sleep, you would never believe the things he talks about in his sleep. I am along for the ride. As pretty as Savannah is, we probably will not see any of it. Our destination is about 15 miles northwest of the city with no time in the schedule for anything but work. Such is the life of a flightless traveling fowl.

TR

Speaking of things that are old

Other then the lack of ice filled water ways, the other drawback of nesting in Lexington, Kentucky is a lack of museums. When we get away for a few days, it is always fun to visit a couple of nice collections. You never know when you are going to see something older then Kell, WC, WH and DG all put together, not much older - but older.

TR

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to certain fuzzy woodland creatures, find someplace nice and indulge yourself.

TR

Michigan Avenue

Hundreds of the finest retail merchants in the world and not a single feather grooming shop in the lot!

TR

Deep Dish Love

Deep dish is real pizza, none of the thin cardboard that you have to fold in half to get any traction, but something that is five times as much topping as crust. Last time we were in Chicago we went to Geno's East, this time to Lou Malnati's. One of them Geno's is best, one of them thinks Malnati's is better. I just want to know why they don't put more anchovies on top.

TR

My Kind of Town

This is the view of Chicago from our hotel room. What a city, the things that a bird can get into in that city. I about waddled my feet off exploring the wild and not so wild sides of the city.

TR

American Military Cemetery in Normandy

American Military Cemetery in Normandy

A visit to the American Military Cemetery in Normandy changed me. I will never again view Memorial Day as the start of summer, the first day to wear white shoes, the day after the fastest spectacle in motor sports. I will forever remember the sacrifice paid to secure the freedom of the society that we sometimes take for granted. The wonderful people of Normandy reminded me why France was worth liberating. Every American should make the trip to Normandy to walk among the 14,000 graves in the American Cemetery.
TR

Real City

I am headed to Chicago for a few days in a real city. New pictures and posting inspiration will follow.

TR

Beyond the Magic Curtain

For those of us stuck forever in coach, there is the mystery of what lies beyond the magic curtain. Legend has it that there are ritual sacrifices of the innocent in the front of the plane, seats covered with the hides of newborn lambs. Rumor has it that they might even serve food, krill at 37,000 feet, hard to imagine.

TR

Inspired Color scheme

I was amazed by the wonderful color scheme on this fast little plane in a museum in Florida (yes there were palm trees nearby.) I wonder if they were thinking of the flying skills of the mighty penguin when they picked the paint colors. As I recall the plane has a reputation of flying like a penguin.

TR

Another Day in Paradise

Even in paradise you have to watch out for the falling coconuts blowing out of the trees.

TR

It is Kentucky Derby Day

Time to break out your derby hat!

TR

I wonder what they do

I wonder what they do in a hurricane? The lobby of the Caribe Hilton in San Juan is open to the outside on the side that cars drive up on. There is a glass wall on the other side, facing the water and stopping the ever present wind from blowing through, but the side nearest the reception desk is open to the outside.

TR

Ready for my close-up

A production company was filing scenes for a movie (they were using film cameras, so it was almost certainly a movie not television) at the hotel in San Juan one evening while we were there. Watching movie making is fun, I think the last time we had a chance was when the modern classic "Earnest Saves Christmas" was being filmed (DG can identify many of the locations in Orlando and tell you where he was standing when about 5 of them were filmed.) This time around we could see little of what was going on, they were filming on a deck and in a suite on the second level overlooking the bar. The bar is the birthplace of the Pina Colada, I wonder if pineapples played any role?

TR

Now Boarding

The theory is that if the plane could fly through the terminal and not stop as it picked up and dropped passengers, it could operate more efficiently. Maybe if they build a moving sidewalk that moves at the same rate as the airplane (like the moving sidewalk in the Haunted Mansion at Disney World) it would work, though at 100+ mile per hour it could be a problem. At any-rate here is a demonstration project underway by USless airways in Charlotte. Dad always told me I should learn to fly.

TR

Shaken out of bed this morning

It felt like a 100 mile an hour wind was rattling the house this morning, but there was no wind, and the rumbling sound was not like thunder, it was an earthquake, my first, check that one off the list of things to experience in this lifetime.

TR

Very Fluffy Bed

It has been a very long week, I could really use a nice fluffy bed like this one. Just one more day without hurting anyone and it will be a good week.

TR

What to do today?

Your Move

Well this appears to be the hottest trend in beach side hotels, giant chess sets. I thought that they made ideal portable perches.

TR

Look at the tail on that one!

And with those lacy feathers and long legs he will never be able to swim!

TR

Work to be done

Someone expects DG to work while we are off on these little side trips. It is a cold cruel world, but work he must do if he wants to be paid for traveling to interesting and exciting places. Here I am waiting for him to finish so that we can go stare at the flightless fowl in the garden.

TR

Nesting in the rocks

Not often, but every once in a while, something makes me want to settle down, stay in one place, hatch an egg or two, like Mr & Mrs Squirrel just did. Of course in my family that means nesting in the rocks near the waters edge. On the other hand, nestling in the rocks might have been brought on by trying not to be blown away. That is Ft. Geronimo in the background, defending the entrance to the harbour and waiting for the rodent invasion.

TR

Nothing to worry about, just a little windy

Yes, it was warm, lows of around 72 and highs of around 80, a nearly perfect tropical climate. A tropical climate complete with lots of humidity, rain, thunder storms, and oh did I mention it was windy, a nice constant 20-30 mile per hour wind blowing in off the ocean. Who say's penguins can't fly! At least it was a warm wind. We arrived home early this morning, wait till I get a chance to tell you about check in at the airport, it is amazing that anyone ever leaves the Island.

TR

Tropical Destination

DG and I are tropics bound in the morning, headed to Puerto Rico for 49 hours. He has work to do, I have a beach to thaw on. We should be able to get a couple of pictures to share with you all. In September we have reservations headed in the opposite direction, we are booked on a cruise to Alaska from Seattle. Plans are underway for a rendezvous with west cost furry critters.

Unless we encounter the Mullet family, Useless air says they will have us home by midnight on Friday in time for weekend posts.

TR

Plastic Jungle Cruise

Someone asked Uncle Bert's class where wood comes from and one of the students promptly replied, "plastic!" I suspect these are well traveled children who have see the plastic forests at the Happiest Place on Earth! I am getting a little jaded but, during our recent visit I couldn't help but ask myself, "why do people come here to see replicas of the world, rather then visiting the world."

This will be a fast and busy week with new and exotic photo opportunities.

TR

Looking for a reason

Sushi and champagne, I am looking for a reason to celebrate. Spring would be a good one. I didn't snow here, but it was cold enough to make a penguin feel at home. Quiet week for DG, he will be in the office trying to get far enough ahead to make it through April without going nuts. The first week in April we are going to Puerto Rico for 49 hours. Lots of things going on locally in the second week.

Ya'all have fun!

TR

Peep

Visiting the relatives for Easter.

TR

Why do they make us wait?

All I wanted was a nice cold glass of water, DG was waiting for a diet coke. Why do they make me wait for the kitchen to squirt his glass full of sweet and sticky, when all I want is ice and water. Simple enough, it reminds me of home. So we sat there and waited watching this nice young couple with 2.6 children at the table across from us. Mom was flustered with the kids, Dad was checking his office email on his Blackberry. The youngest .6 was desperate for attention. When crawling under the table and climbing up on Dad's lap didn't work, he sat in his chair and put his feet up on the table with one foot landing squarely in the middle of his father's salad. Dad simply pushed the child and salad away and returned to his email. Why did Dad even bother to come and wait for his ice water, he could have ignored his children back in the office and gotten his ice water faster.

TR

Internet Explorer 7 has taken up a nasty habit of disconnecting me from my ISP connection when I am working on blogger, Firefox works much-much better.

Rodents on Vacation

You never know where you are going to run into rodents these days. They let them into the best places. I think these two made it in Hollywood or won the lottery or robbed dear aunt Matilda of her dowry.

TR

Visiting an old neighbor

When we are home for a few days it is always fun to stop in and visit with old friends and neighbors.

TR

Flight 6 Ready for Departure

Disney has a relatively new coaster ride, modeled on a barnstorming airplane ride. Up-down-and-around. Our boarding was delayed by a sqauller. Daddy and son had waited in line for 15 minutes, watching the coaster go around and around, at one point so close you could almost swat it like a pestering fly. Just as we get the top the kid wimps out and starts pitching an I-don't-wanna fit! The only exit was to step through the car and out onto the other side. This posed an even bigger challenge as the cry-baby refused to step into the car to step across and out the other side. Finally one of the mousetts volunteered to grab the legs as dad grabbed the swinging arms and they carried the little ingrate across the car, crying and screaming in the happiest place on earth, and they still don't sell booze in this place. Amazing!

TR

Visiting old Friends

While we were in Florida we dropped in on some old freinds. DG lived in Florida for years and years, and well we won't talk about how old he is getting, but he knows lots of people who have lived there for years. His middle brother has worked at the "happiest place on earth" for 30 years (as of February 8th.) Now Florida homes can be a bit different and one bird's trash is another rodent's pleasure. Here I am on top of a Florida mailbox; the face opens down opening the front of the this unusual street side post box.

TR

Dreaming of warmer places

I am sitting back today dreaming of warmer places. It is cold, and getting colder by the minute. DG was out and about this morning dropping big Red (his car) off to have the passenger side fender and door fixed from where some idiot pulled out of a parking lot into the side of the car last Thursday. It does not look bad, but the passenger side door won't open. Picking up a rental car this morning took over and hour, most of it standing around watching the rain turn to snow as the temperature droppd about 10 degrees in an hour. Ah, dreaming of warmer places and simpler days. It does not help that DG spent the weekend home in bed with a cold. Dreaming of warm days in warm sunny places.

TR

Uncle Donald

I stopped in to visit Uncle Donald last week Florida. He is distantly related on my father's side, they really don't talk about it much, after-all he is a fligthed waterfowl and we are a flightless family.

TR

Waiting for our ship to come in

Here I am waiting for my ship to come in, some days I think that my ship was the Titanic, but I keep the faith. The sea is in my blood as they say!

TR

Drive On

Well it was not what DG had reserved, but the car rental place asked if it might be ok if they stuck us with a convertable last week, in Florida, where it was about 80 degrees with the sun shining. The lady was really nice so DG decided that he would give her a break and go zoom-zoom with the top down for a few days, that is when he could grab the keys and get me off the wheel. Can a penguin have an evil grin?

TR

Visit to aging parents

DG feels so guilty about not going to see his 80+ year old parents that he just can't wait another week. We are leaving in the morning for a one week visit with mom and dad. The fact that they live in Florida where the weather forecast for next week is highs in the low 80's and lows in the upper 60's has nothing to do with the timing of this visit.

See you in a week or so,

TR

Uncle Red

DG has his dear uncle Richard, who has led a colorful life including being dragged backwards down a hill on a hay-baler and ending up in the bottom of a pond. I have uncle Red, who I ran into in Louisville the other day. He is working at a local restaurant for a couple of months. (WC: I have found a couple of new options for next fall's Louisville convention.) Red has led a colorful life, you never know what kind of work you will find him doing next or where he will be doing it. It was nice to talk to him for a few minutes, maybe I will see him again next fall.

TR

I am leaving the obvious for your comments; dear uncle Red, I never know what he will do next.

Ah!

Here I am on the beach in San Diego, ah! DG had email yesterday from a friend who is spending two weeks on a warm sunny Island, she told him to think tropical thought. It sound like a way to cope with a long nasty winter. So here I am, thinking warm tropical thoughts. TR

Cold, snowing, nasty

The weather was cold and snowing today. At times like this I remember the warm summer days in Yorkshire. The good old days!

TR

One of those days

Everyone seemed to make about as much sense as this sign outside a supermarket in Portsmouth England did.

TR

Walk up, slide down

I found this stirway to play on someplace in DC last fall. It is a long walk up those steps, but a fun slide down the hand rail. Find something fun to do this weekend!

TR

Dirty Birds

Boy am I glad that the flock around here is cleaner than the nasty flighted birds on the rocky Pacific coast were. It must be that they can't swim underwater like a real bird. TR