A Surreal Experience

Perhaps I should have sensed Tuesday's flight to Hot Springs would be unlike others when the pilot came into the cabin before takeoff to effusively say, "I love you all!"

He then went into the cockpit, I went back to my reading, the plane took off and things proceeded normally until my seatmate asked me, "Are you going home?" I said, "No. I'm visiting my parents. How about you?"

He said, "I'm returning home after having reconstructive surgery on my scrotum sac. They only do that in California."

"Oh!" I said.

"Actually," he said, "I had to have three surgeries before it took."

"Oh!" I said.

"First, they used skin from my left thigh and then they took skin from my right thigh."

I didn't want to know where the skin came from for the third attempt. "Are you looking forward to getting home?" I asked.

"I sure am!" he replied.

Last Night's Dinner

Well, this wasn't the tastiest dish I've ever made, but it used up a lot of stuff in the frig and it was quick and pretty: brown rice, chicken, broccoli, carrots, cherry tomatoes, black olives and slivered almonds for crunch, with some balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing. Probably just a small tweak in some way would give it more oomph. Suggestions?

Here, There, and Everywhere

Joe and I are back from Arkansas after a good weekend with my parents. There, it was gorgeous fall weather, cool and breezy. Here, it is a sweltering 95 degrees today. There, the hotly contested "wet vs. dry" issue was on the ballot to determine whether alcohol could be sold in Clark County (it passed). Here, it was whether marijuana should be legal in California (it didn't pass). Here, republican Meg Whitman's personal contribution of $140 million wasn't enough to win her the governorship; there, democratic incumbant senator Blanche Lincoln lost heartily to a tea party candidate. 

Today, I'm organizing the upcoming photo etching demo for my intaglio class and trying to catch up for my screenprinting class. 

The juvenile possum still lives in our house. He successfully evades the newly purchased trap, strategically placed where Sophie's food dish once was.

Tonight's another night... tomorrow is another day.

I Spoke Too Soon.

(Photograph thanks to Kevin Fleming.)

I thought those furry little creatures had said goodbye a few days ago but we were awakened again last night by crunching noises coming from Sophie's food dish. And, again, Sophie was snoozing happily beside me.

Yet another young possum!

My Hansel and Gretel trail didn't fool this baby, so I'll try tastier treats tonight. Meanwhile, maybe I'd better pull the guest book out, turned to a fresh page. I'm told possum siblings can come in packs of thirteen!

This Morning's Beautiful Sunrise Over Long Beach

 These pictures were taken at the same time, from east to west.

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Possum Update: Success! No more possums inside, thanks to Hansel and Gretel.

Uninvited Guests

So, last night, noises awakened me from a sound sleep. They were emanating from under the bed. At first, I thought the cat was scurrying around until I realized that Sophie was snoring at my side.

I raced out of the room seeking safety, of course. (I'm not brave.) But Joe got the flashlight. Soon, he yelled, "It's a baby possum!" Who knows how it got there. (Or, maybe Sophie knows.)

Joe said, "In the morning, we'll call in an expert." But, another idea came to mind: I set a trail of Sophie's dry food from the bed to the back door and left the door open. Soon, the little creature ate his way outside and I shut the door!

But, back in bed and almost morning, there were more noises. Sheesh! ANOTHER possum! Did Joe start a branch of the Humane Society while I was away?

The "Hansel and Gretel" technique didn't work this time, perhaps because of the dawn light. Possums are nocturnal and our second little friend might have settled in for the day. But, he's going to be especially hungry tonight and I'm going to be ready...