Silver Lake Sand Dunes. . . a pile of sand
and a pile of memories...

I spent a good part of my vacation a couple of weeks ago at Silver Lake Sand Dunes. The dunes cover approximately 2500 acres. They are divided into three sections: the ORV section; the "dead" dunes area, where vegetation has caught the shifting sands; and the living dunes, moving approximately two feet a year.

By the time everyone jumped on the "family camp" plan, there were fifteen of us hanging out together. Fitting, as Silver Lake was the place we loved to come as children. I have pictures of my brother J.R., my father, and me on one of Mac Woods Dune Scooters dated 1956.

I had thought that I would just take the Dune Scooter rides, leaving the climbing of the dunes to the younger set. Well, you know how that goes. The State Park has added stairs to get you halfway up the first dune wall. How could I resist? So while I couldn't keep pace, I did make it out onto the gigantic sandpile, for the first time in more than twenty years.

And oh, the memories. As I stood atop the highest ridge, I could see Lake Michigan a mile and a half to the west. I could see the dune buggies to the north, coming down a sand face. Silver Lake lay below me. And I could see that family of yore, seven then eight strong. Too many memories to enumerate.

And new memories were being made, as the younger kids played ball, dune dove, and took the trek over to Lake Michigan.

The circle keeps on turning.

It's amazing. It's the last day of July. Where the heck did this month go? Do you know?

The Winds of Change . . .
Rune is packing up for a move to California.
Kat is back from Greece.
Bryn is counting down the days.
Mandarin meg's Mandarin Rob is having a birthday.

Victory at Last!!! One Less Rat on the Ship!

Ack!

I'm late! T.G.I.F. . . and I'll catch y'all later!

Yes. It's true. I've become obsessed. As have all my office-mates. Say something funny so I'll be able to sleep well, please?

it's time to bring out the big guns now...
this critter must be destroyed... Don't you have a
catapult in your office?

It's time to get tough. The office "critter" slipped two traps yesterday and dined in the bookeeper's drawer.

Here's the plan. Over the weekend, the critter got onto my "toy" shelf. (Oh quit snickering, you over there, you knew I'd have toys somewhere *smile*.) I have had this crocodile head with two yellow balls for the eyes. You blow in the neck of the croc and the eyes rise and float on the stream of air. (Bernouli's effect, or something like that.) Well, the critter played with one of the balls this weekend. Yes. There were teethmarks. So, I loaded my trusty catapult with the remaining eye, setting it at the edge of the credenza. I'm betting the critter will attempt to play with the ball, be flung along the wall, hit the door handle and fall on the trap.

Alternate outcome: The ball will be removed and the trap shoved into the waste basket. This is one smart animal.

So Happy It's Thursday.
(Susan, you should trademark that.)
If you have a moment and like movies, go play Scott's game in the comments here.

Will there be a Rat in the Trap - Day 4?

Still waiting to catch the varmint at work. More traps were set yesterday. It appears that s/he may be going in and out of the building at a certain spot, so that area is being plugged. Hopefully there will either be a capture or lack of sign of the animal this morning. Hopefully.

Visiting Tasha Tudor. At 89.

Freudian Inventory Results

Genital (56%) you appear to be stuck between a progressive and regressive outlook on life. Latency (56%) you appear to have a good balance of knowledge seeking and practicality. Phallic (50%) you appear to have a good balance of sexual awareness and sexual composure. Anal (43%) you appear to have a good balance of self control and spontaneity. Oral (30%) you appear to be stubbornly and irrationally against receiving help even when it might be the more intelligent option.

Take Free Freudian Inventory Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Swiped from LDH.

it's Wednesday now and meg gives us a perfectly good challenge...
let's break out of the box and play with code...

Okay, here we go, playing with great stuff from MandarinDesign and seeing if we can make it run or not. Oh, meg, do you know how much we love the pull quotes and opacity? Do go visit her and see how this effect is supposed to look. Michelle is the daughter of a teacher (I hope I haven't mixed that up??) and it shows . . . she conveys information so well!

This is the coast of Lake Michigan, from the view atop Big Sable Lighthouse. That's 110 steps up a circular staircase. I didn't think I'd be able to do it . . . but I did!

What are you waiting for?

Newsweek tells us how to announce breaking up: Go to Break Up News and see for yourself!

Empty Trap Yesterday

The critter traps were empty yesterday morning. However, there was more evidence of the varmint. Our bookkeeper had left a foil-wrapped chocolate rose on her desk. (It had been there for probably a year.) It was shredded around her phone yesterday morning. There was also a freshly dug hole in the soil of one of our planters. (Do you suppose this is a lady critter? It keeps going after the chocolate. ) We all pounded our file cabinets yesterday before settling down. (Don't know if the pounding would scare a creature, but it made us feel better.)

Anyhoo, the Orkin man is coming at 7:00 a.m. this morning. Wonder what he'll find?

And a happy hump day to you too!

Will there be a Rat in the Trap?

Argh. As if Mondays aren't bad enough, we started Monday at work finding evidence that a critter had invaded our offices over the weekend. A big critter! Rat traps have beens set. *shudder*

I'm so very glad I'm not the first one in in the mornings.

Going Through the August Issue of HOW:

Smith Design.
Friends of Animals.
Colorcom.
ColorMatters.
Color Marketing Group.
Pantone Color Institute.
Molly.com.

Which Extremity of the World Are You?
From the towering colossi at Rum and Monkey.

Link via LDH

In the interest of honesty and fairplay, I need to make this statement:

Politically, I am an independent. All opinions are welcomed here, but none (at least I don't think any) will be expressed here.

I grew up with a mixed bag of political ancestors. I'm used to listening to all sides, then finding my own way. The process of politics fascinates me; however, I take a rather jaded view of both political parties at this time. Personal politics is not a deal breaker for me.

Just thought I ought to say this here.

Carry on!

Will she or won't she post this? Hmmmm.