Interesting License Plates

It is funny how you can be following a vehicle for a number of miles before you notice their unusual license plate.

The first thing I noticed on this vehicle was the bedraggled big bird on the grill - it was parked on a side road I traveled daily - now he/she has attached it to the back. And what a sad sight it is.

I am now paying more attention to license plates as well.

Saturday March 27th, 1999

This is a photo taken within minutes of Dick and I meeting.

Our clever match-making friend (OCMMF) took this photograph secretly from across the Exposition's room. The centerpiece landscaping had been installed by Dick and his landscaping crew.

A number of months before, OCMMF had told Dick she had met "the woman you are going to marry". However, OCMMF told me she had found an employer willing to sponsor me. When she mentioned he was a landscaper my heart sank as I knew I had to keep to my previous experience in TV or film as a production manager -- in order to secure work sponsorship. I told OCMMF that "Dick" was a very kind man to offer sponsorship and employment to someone he had never met.

A few weeks later (and a few days before this photo) I secured sponsorship with a video producer selling QuickTime panoramas (before they could be supported by the web). The Exposition ran Friday evening through Sunday so I attended it on Saturday.

As soon as I entered the main room I saw OCMMF taking photographs of the centerpiece. When she saw me she said very loudly "Oh the lovely Sarah!". I blushed not knowing her announcement was for Dick's benefit. She quickly brought me over to his booth and introduced us and walked away (I should have known that was unusual because she loves being into everything - In the nicest possible way :-).

We chatted for a while and then I moved on. My networking the room was over within 15 minutes so I left. In the meantime Dick cut his hand and left via the emergency exit to get a bandaid from his truck. Just as he came out the back of the building we met again. He was interested in having a panorama of a pruned shrub on his website so we made an appointment for the following week.

OCMMF = ʞɹoʍ ǝɯɐɹɟ - sıɹɹoɯ lǝɐɥɔɐɹ

Joke

My husband, being unhappy with my mood swings, bought me a mood ring the other day so he would be able to monitor my moods.

We've discovered that when I'm in a good mood, it turns green. When I'm in a bad mood, it leaves a big red mark on his forehead.

Dinner At Jamie's & Joan's

I did not get a photograph of the main dish.

This was breakfast for all of us. Doug, Mum & John didn't stay over. This was delicious!

Friday Evening Fun At Monument

It is not a coincidence ...

that this definition appears on Patrick's birthday. What do you think?

Happy Birthday Patrick!

It is 7:19 pm here but it is 12:19 am in London so it is officially Monday and Patrick's birthday. Happy Birthday my wonderful brother.

Our Hike Today

Spire Falls Road Hike

This one is for Mike -- the deer were all over the trail. Sure beats traveling through 8" of snow off the trail.

John is much better these days - as you can see.

They Think I Am Mad In Liking (So Many) Fish In Our Home

This was the largest (29g) aquarium last year.

Thankfully my husband loves my passion for our four (blushing) aquariums.

The power compact light (130 watts) gave out a number of weeks ago and we cannot determine why. We know there is one bad ballast and the second (independent) ballast is good. So in the meantime we have had to resort to the default light which is only 20 watts. The poor plants need more light. But the silver lining is that the fish seem to appreciate the lower lighting -- we hardly ever got to see any catfish. Now they are out and about all the time.

The environment is not so busy and the inhabitants love the space.

Photo taken today

There are four of these catfish. They sift through the substrate and tumble around each other as if they are at play. On the left of the tank there is a beach of sand specifically for them. The catfish in the foreground was added one month ago and his barbels (whiskers) are still good. The catfish behind him is about 18 months older and his barbels were blunted from sifting not though his sand but the red/organge stones. He does not appear to be in any discomfort and I have read that their barbels will grow back.



Our Blue Paradise Gourami loves attention.

Our cat keeps away from the aquarium. But one day she was sitting unusually near it. I stopped what I was doing and went over to her. She was right beside one of the fish on the floor. It was no longer breathing. I picked it up, it burped so I dropped it back into the aquarium where it slowly sank to the bottom. It remained there motionless for a few seconds and then it's gills started moving again. I kept an eye on it for a while until it weakly moved out of sight. Fish are easily stressed and fragile. I was sure this fish would not survive the trauma. But it did and the Blue Paradise Gourami is fearless of humans as a result.

We Went For A Hike

We went for a hike in the snow. It was 8" deep. John took the lead and Dick and I walked in his footsteps. And this is the trail way before his martini time!