The Trek East

The four most common ways of getting into an accident:

1.) Not making wide enough turns
2.) Backing up without someone guiding you
3.) Going through the McDonald's drive-thru
4.) Following too closely

Well, here are your keys. Good luck!


Total Mileage: 1801.42



Oklahoma Wild Flowers



Gateway to the West



Refueling



Pennsylvania -- Mountains, Construction, and Big Rigs.

It takes talent to be this clumsy

Jay and I walked to the Connecticut River today. It's a little over two miles round trip. You have to go across the road, through the cemetery, up the hill, down the hill, and over the railroad tracks.

After the railroad tracks there is a steep descent down the riverbank. We used some exposed tree roots as a sort of stairway/ladder system in order to make it down to the water. Once on leveler ground we found a sturdy rock from which to watch the river traffic.

As the wake of a passing cabin cruiser lapped against our rock, I noticed the waves getting higher and higher. Sadly, I decided to move only as one finally crested over my shoes, making my sturdy perch slippery and perilous. Perhaps if I had realized the outcome, I would have simply let my shoes get wet.

Instead I shifted my weight to stand, launching my feet down the slippery surface as I haphazardly tumbled toward the water. Luckily, I was able to flail around enough to get a foot down and grab the top of the rock before getting completely dunked.

"But what of your walk companion?" you might ask. "Didn't he heroically try to pluck you from the river?"

No, he was too busy laughing.


And by tumbled I mean slipped clumsily into the drink.

Sea Gulls, Wendy, and Randy

Sea Gulls, Wendy, and Randy
Originally uploaded by fragglejill.

I visited Wendy and Randy in Lakemoor, IL on my great trek East. Wendy and I played 7 games of Trivial Pursuit (3-3-1) and had wonderful hours long chats.

We also went on several jaunts around the area, including Lake Michigan and Chain o' Lakes State Park.

These are some of the pictures I took.

Bird Feeder Frustrations

So far there are only two bird feeders -- a small hummingbird feeder suction-cupped to the window and a nylon sock full of thistle seed dangling from a nearby branch. So far there have been no birds. A goldfinch dropped by a neighboring tree but despite all my encouragment, decided to ignore the bulging white sack of bird feed only one tree over. I think he did so out of pure malevolence.

In the building across the way, an older gentleman has constructed his own bird nirvana. Blue jays, cardinals, goldfinches . . . the man has them all. He also has a ground floor apartment that sits next to the wooded area. We, however, are trying to lure birds to our second floor windows, apparently, a much less frequented bird destination. Tomorrow, I'll be sprinkling some bird seed on the ground and maybe even playing some bird calls out the window. If that doesn't work I might just stick a fake bird on the feeder and pretend.