Silly me...

Ok, so I just went through way more e-mail that any human being should have to even consider going through in a day--3887 plus. My brain and eyes were hurting, so I decided to take a break. The break consisted of doing a search on the history of Montpellier, which somehow led to a list of restaurants recommended by someone unknown. At the head of the list were a few dishes that this person considered to be among the specialties of the region, two of which I will most likely not be trying--a pie stuffed with octopus and tomato sauce (nothing against the tentacled creature, but I am not overly fond of tomato sauce), and snail and ham pie. Though it's probably very good, something about the snails just took all the yum out of the ham.

Garden and Trail

Trail:

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Garden:


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Once again...

We went hiking on the Upper Arroyo Seco trail again yesterday. Or we attempted to anyway. To put it lightly, after the recent floods, cold snap and storms the trail has become a bit more challenging. It is overgrown in several places, making it difficult to push past the plants (some are very sharp--I have the cuts to prove it) and keep our feet solidly on the trail. The trail has also crumbled in places. And that was just on the ridge. In the valleys, the rocks and logs for crossing the stream have all shifted, so forging was challenging, but at least the water level was down.

Remembering the water levels the last time we attempted this trail, and thinking ahead to the possibility of a friend (who claims not to be a confindent boulder hopper--who is) hiking with us in the near future, I picked up a couple of hiking poles earlier in the week. Although I have never used them I have seen how much easier they can make stream fording. Hey, the poles are light and if they can make the difference between deciding which direction to fall, into neck deep water or knee deep, or not falling at all--well, I won't use them often, but staying dry is usually more comfortable than hiking while soaked.

Anyway, the trail condition was such that we had to stop a mile or two short of Oakwilde campground. We simply ran out of time. So we turned around early and didn't complete the hike. This 5 hour trail seems to have become a 6 to 7 hour trail at the moment. In a couple of weeks that could completely change, and it could be a 5 hour trail again. Someone goes through and does trail clearing from time to time, though I am considering bringing some light weight garden clippers along next time. Of course, getting my hiking partners to take a few less photos would help speed things up too.

No sore muscles or anything this morning, but I really do need to get in some more incline work. I would prefer that the first day on the trail in France be easier than expected, rather than a real killer. :-)


Yes, I have photos to share, when don't I. But I am at home today, with access to dial-up only, so the photos will have to wait until I am at a faster link.

Photos to arrive soon

Movies scene

Yes, I know that should be "seen" and not "scene". :-)

I've seen a lot of movies lately, so many that I am not certain that I can remember all of them. But I thought it was time that I admit that, like so many others last weekend, I braved the picket lines to view the DaVinci Code. And yes, even though I purposely had not yet read the book (don't ask, sometimes I can be stubbornly and unreasonably nonconformist), had made certain that I really didn't even know what it was about, and I was able to predict fairly accurately what was going to happen and who would end up being who by the time all the characters had been introduced, I actually enjoyed the movie. I didn't even notice that I was lacking water and a snack, and I can go through a good liter of water in an average length movie.

Now, I will read the book. :-) Well, as soon as I get time.

The colors of summer...

A Scottish summer, that is.


Wild flowers outside Stirling Castle:

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From the gardens of Dirleton Castle:

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A thought

Silly as it may seem, I've always believed that it is a courtesy to try to learn a little of the language of a country before you visit. Granted, if you only have a few weeks or a couple of months to prepare, you may not be able to learn to speak even a few words but you can at least learn to visually recognize a couple handfuls.

That being said, I think I can honestly say that I will never be able to master French. Not that that realization will ever stop me from trying, or from continueing to verbally assault the language. I have decided, though, that there is really only one phrase that I need to know. And it's a very important one.

Où est...? (Where is...?).

Or more precisely--Où est le Starbucks? What phrase could be more important at 5am, or any time of day for that matter? ;-)

I've got a problem

Ok, it's really minor, nothing dire or life threatening, but still I am at a loss for a solution. My mind is drawing a blank.

In case you didn't know, I've been looking for the perfect, light weight journal to take on the trip to France. I might be able to manage without my laptop, but I simply cannot go anywhere without my favourite fountain pen and paper. :-) I finally found the blank book that I was looking for. It's a Moleskine, my favourite brand. If it's possible to be in love with a journal, then I am in love with this brand. Thin, soft but durable cover, stitched pages (the same paper as in their hard backs) that take ink well. It even has the traditional storage pocket inside the back cover. Perfect for what I need. And it comes in three sizes. What more could I ask.

Now, though, I have a problem. I like to start my journals, especially those with special intent, with a poem, song lyrics, or quote(s) that set a tone, follow a theme, or give meaning and inspiration to the words yet to come. At the very least, the inscription should be somehow related to the intent of the journal. In this case to record my impressions or other information having to do with the trip. I am drawing a blank.

Anyone have any suggestions?? Really, I need help here. It may seem like a silly little thing, but to me this is very important.

Yes, I admit it...

I've been coming across as just a wee bit bitchy today--all right, make that a lot. There really is not excuse for it. Honestly, it's not that I actually feel that way, because I don't. I'm in a very good mood considering the work load and personal problems I'm dealing with at the moment--we won't go into any of that. Those will, hopefully, all be resolved soon.

Meanwhile, to everyone I have thwacked today already, I offer a very large, sincere and teary eyed apology. And to those who may yet get thwacked, I offer the same apology in advance.

Sorry, everyone.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Remember your Mother's, all of them.

There is a great deal more to being a mother than giving birth to a child. For most of us, our birth mother is the woman that we honour on this day, she is the woman who raised you and has given unselfishly of herself for as long as you can remember. But, for some of us, the woman that we think of when we look for a mother image is not the one who bore us. She may not even be a blood relative, but she is the one who, when we needed her most, offered us her wisdom and opened her heart and her arms to us, without question and without asking for anything in return.

Today, it is my Stepmother and the other women in my life who gave me love and guidance when I needed it most that I will remember. For all that they give me every day of the year, I honour them on this one special day.

HAPPY MOTHER's DAY!!

Is it bad luck

to wear a ring after the stone has fallen out?

A friend told me it was, but I have never heard so before. Normally, I don't believe in silly little superstions. For the most part, I think we all have the ability to effect our luck for better or worse by the decisions we make in life. And yet, in my jacket pocket right now, I am carrying a hand of Miriam to ward off the evil eye. A friend gave that to me recently. Do I believe in its power as a ward? No, but still there it sits in my pocket.

Where to go, What to do--further along this time

It's amazing how much there is to consider before taking a trip overseas, or an extended vacation anywhere for that matter. First you need to determine your approximate departure and return dates, then keeping those in mind (and, hopefully, you have some flexibility), you have to choose your flights and possibly trains. Next you need to decide whether you will base out of one or more cities--this depends on the sites you have selected as definite "must sees"-- and whether you can manage with public transit, will need to let a car, or use a combination of the two. And, of course, you have to choose your hotel(s), and any tours you'd like to take (some have to be reserved well in advance).

Ok, this time around I probably won't be needing any side tours, but I will still look to see what is available. And, if on my own, I will probably base totally out of Montpellier. There is plenty to see there, and there are several sites and cities within easy day trip distance by train.

This time last year I was rapidly throwing together an excursion to Scotland. This year it's the South of France, well south west. And already in the little dark cavern in the back of my head where I refuse to listen to reason, someone is starting to calculate how long it will be before I have enough vacation accrued to maky my next journey--originally Greece, but such plans can change. My roommate is considering Japan, and I am his usual travelling companion, though that too could change.

So, where will I go when I get to France? Well, last time I posted, my preliminary list of possibilities was Rocamadour, Toulouse, Albi, Nimes, Avignon, and, of course, Montpellier. All, except for Rocamadour, were easy day trips that I could make by myself if I had to. Though I much prefer to have a travelling companion--it's just more fun to have someone along to share discoveries with--I also know that I can't assume that will always be the case. Rocamadour (and Sarlat as well) were inconvenient by train and so I had already decided they would have to come off my list if I was flying solo.

The list has changed a bit since then. Friends have made better suggestions, and after some research, I agree with them.

Arles and Carcassone have been suggested. Even though we will be spending time in Carcassone as part of our trek, I had already considered the possibility of spending more time there. It just didn't seem like the Explore group that will be leading our trek had allotted enough time to fully explore the city. Nice to know that at least one of my friends had the same thought. Arles is a good substitute for Nimes and Avignon, and a place that I had not yet considered.

Other suggestions were Paris (of course) and Mont St. Michael--for my writings, my friend said. I had already decided that I would, if there was time and I happened to be flying in or out of Paris, take in one or two sites or museums. However, it wasn't all that important and could wait for another trip. But Mont St. Michael--there is a place I have always wanted to see. Yes, I know, most girls dream of Paris. Well, I never said I was normal. Still, Mont St. Michael is on the exact opposite side of France from Montpellier, so I have to be reasonable and realize that I will have to save that treat for a future trip. It does have an interesting history though.

So, my new preliminary list, and it's probably close to being finalized, is Sarlat and Rocamadour (if I can hitch a ride with a friend who can drive), Carcassone, Montpellier (we'll be there after all), and possibly Toulouse and/or Arles.

Another possibility, though whether there will time this trip is Aix-en-Provence, the home of Cezanne. And possibly a hike up Mont Sainte-Victoire (which definitely requires a car). I doubt there will be time for a hike, well, that and we will have just spent 5 days hiking through the foothills of the Pyranees. Somehow, I have a feeling that we might not all be in the mood for another climb.

So much too see, so much to think about and so little time.

And now I also need to decide if I want to fly straight into Montpellier or if I want to fly into London or Paris (and right now London is the better deal) and take a relaxing train ride to Montpellier. I actually don't mind the idea of taking the train, but I would prefer to be accompanied by one of my travelling companions. We haven't all finalized our travel dates yet, so we have yet to see what will coordinate and what will not.

More later.

Hmmm....

My nephew turned 8 yesterday. His desired gifts--Target and Toys R Us gift certificates (so he can get what he wants for a change), and a Dungeon and Dragons starter set, complete with figures. Nobody could pry that last one out of his determined little grip. He insisted on taken the still unopened box to bed with him. I have to wonder about his choice.

Most kids, I suppose, take teddy bears or other stuffed animals or dolls to bed with them. Maybe even a blankee. But not my nephew, and certainly not me. When I was his age I took a full size microscope to bed--yes, I admit it, I was a weird kid, and nothing has changed. Aside from my books, it was my most prized possession. Nobody, absolutely nobody was going to get the chance to take it away from me, and I certainly wasn't going to give my baby brothers and sisters a chance to break it. I still remembered the incidents with the Skipper dolls (Barbie's little sister) when I was five. One was disected, one was disected and flushed, one was boiled, another was knawed to death, and I don't remember what happened to the fifth. Consequently, my parents never bought me another doll. But I've wandered off topic.

So, I took a microscope to bed and I grew up to be a scientist of sorts. I can't help but wonder if taking a Dungeons and Dragons starter set to bed means that my nephew is doomed to a life of scifi fandom gaming. Maybe there's still time to convert him into a life of computer programming? Or worse, scifi authordom.