Lessons Learned

I love this photo.  Obviously it is older--I mean, who wears these kind of outfits anymore?  And I suspect it might be foreign...but that is a guess.

The idea this photo expresses is what I love.  This woman in red is self-secure and very confident.  She holds her head high and walks with purpose.  All the other little ladies on the sidewalk are looking at her, and I can imagine the envy and self-doubt they are experiencing.  Their expressions are pretty great.  And rather telling.

Or it might just be the inner rage they feel when you see the lady in red's eighteen inch waist in that dress.  If I were out walking with these other ladies, I might want to grab her by the shoulders and force her to eat a Twinkie, or ten.

And Finally...

This is the middle of nowhere.  Actually, I guess, this is really Downtown Nowhere.  It is where we ended up last Thursday afternoon, out of gas.

Nine miles outside of Mesquite, over the Arizona line, and just before we headed into the Virgin River Gorge, Genius Golfer's Baby Camaro ran out of gas.

This problem for me was compounded with the need I had to pee.  Having to seemingly always need to pee, I was making good on my promise to only pee when we stopped for gas--which, sadly, wasn't soon enough.

Cell phone coverage? You may ask. None.  Downtown Nowhere has no coverage for our cells.

So the choices were, nine miles with a full bladder and flip flops on my feet, or flag someone down and hope they will be kind and merciful.

Genius Golfer opted for the later.  He flagged a guy down--possibly the Mayor of Nowhere--not exactly merciful, but helpful in the end.  And for the king's ransom of $20 cash, he brought us 2 gallons of gas.  Enough to get back to Mesquite, where we should have stopped in the first place.

The sad thing is I had felt like I should ask GG to stop at the Las Vegas Speedway off ramp to pee there, and get gas, as we use that spot for a pit stop often when we take the Durango.  But I tried to tough it out and held my tongue and my bladder.

I mentioned having to pee again as we came close to Mesquite and  GG assured me we'd stop in St. George.  "Could you hold it until then?" he asked.  At the risk of breaking my word to only pee at regular stops, I agreed.  I guess I should have been more adamant.

After the world's most condescending and expensive roadside assistance by the Questionably-Honorable Mayor of Nowhere, the car started and GG asked if we should try to make it to St George or go back to Mesquite.  "Oh." I told him, "We are headed back to Mesquite.  There will be no debate on that point."

Luckily, I think, he was pulling my leg.  But, really, you should never try to pull the leg of a woman with a full bladder and head full of "I told you so's" that she is momentarily holding in.

I'm still not sure what the problem was with the math, as far as the mileage he thought we should make with his Camaro.  But we were listening to Harry Potter on tape, and perhaps (wishfully, for me) the story had transported him and he just didn't think about it as he was enthralled with the magical story of the boy who lived.  Nah.  Probably not.

But, this was the end of our anniversary adventures.  Until another 20 years, or so, I guess.

Well, It's Certainly Not the Tulip Festival

Due to  the crazy weather this spring (which went from winter cool to summer heat in less than a week) and a wildly unusual schedule, I still haven't made it out to see and photograph the Tulip festival.  Usually this is one of my favorite things to do with my camera. I have gone every year, but this one.  I take hundreds of pictures and make almost a couple hundred note cards with the photos.  It is a relaxing way to spend the day, and I love the outcome.

Instead I have odd little photos like these:

Maybe this year's spring note cards will all have a Disney theme. You never know.

Poised For Fun

Genius Golfer couldn't remember which character this was.  I had to tell him, Goofy is the dog that is really a guy. and Pluto is Mickey's dog.  GG still seemed confused.  But here he is, alongside Pluto.

Pulling the sword form the stone?  Yeah.  Right.  He didn't even take his other hand out of his pocket.

On our last day in the park we rode the Indiana Jones adventure ride three times in a row--without waiting in line (there wasn't one)!  I think it is my favorite one of the park.

Since it was our anniversary trip, this is more than appropriate.  Thanks to Taffy for giving me a great photo-op hint!

A Devastating Discovery

Sometimes you just can't help but have empathy, and sympathy, for that matter.  We are just pre-wired to feel bad when we sit down on a just emptied Disney parking lot shuttle, at midnight, and find this on your seat:

Yes.  That is right.  "Baby's First Teddy" is embroidered on the foot, the ribbon around his neck is knotted several times, and that fur shows evidence of much love and attention.  My first thought was OH NO!!  Some little person will not be able to get to sleep tonight,no matter how tired they are, because their lovey isn't there.

You see, I know this, because I have been there.  Twice.

That is Sleepy Rag and Yellow Baby, the two extras in our family once upon a time.  I remember how difficult it was to keep track of two children, and their two loveys.  Especially when, as toddlers, the children themselves were "in charge" of the loveys...they went with us everywhere.  Still, sometimes the kids would momentarily set their lovey down when distracted and then, if I wasn't watching for them, we could have left it on the Disney bus on our way back to the car at midnight too.

I did think to have a couple of spare Yellow Babies, and Sleep Rag was part of a litter--cut up from a single thermal baby blanket--one of about 8.  (I still have one of each in our family 72 hour kit.  Hey, you never know what comfort that might give.  Maybe just to me.) But still.  The thought of leaving, or worse, losing the precious lovey--especially at night--was a horrifying thought.

I waited until the final guests were off the Disney parking lot but and took this little Teddy Bear to the driver and asked if there was a parking lot bus lost and found.  I told her that I am sure someone will have a hard time sleeping tonight without it.  The driver, who must have been a mom too, said she was sure they'd need it and would be happy to take it to the lost and found.

I still worried about that poor baby (and his mom) until I feel asleep that night.

Video Sunday