Fun in the Sun

After my trip to the beach I can't help but sympathize with this comic! After a wonderful night of dancing on Saturday Frank and I got up way too early on Sunday, picked up some folks and headed to the beach to meet some friends.

This trip was the brain child of collaboration. One person suggested getting together to hoop on Sunday, another suggested going to the beach and yet another suggested the clothing optional beach in Sandy Hook. So put them all together and you get Naked Hooping Sunday at the Beach!

I have to say it was a great experience. I chose to keep my clothes on for the most part-let's face it a bathing suit doesn't cover much at the best of times! It was a lot of fun and a beautiful day. And unlike clothed beaches I didn't notice the strutting and displaying of bodies. People were out there to enjoy the day, not check out bikinis or show off pecs. There may have been some of that, but I missed it. Just lots of people, all ages, shapes and sizes, playing in the sun and surf.

It was yet another moment when I thought to myself, young people really should experience this. They'd be less body conscious and have a better idea of what the human body looks like, and that nudity doesn't have to be sexual. The American media doesn't really let us make that distinction because as we've all learned, naked bodies are shameful! What a load of bull. One of the girls with us was from England, so it was neat to get her take on things. Europe in general seems to be less worried about showing flesh, but since she's been here she's gotten self conscious about her body, which is a shame.

The hoops attracted a lot of people: middle aged folks asking to try out a toy they hadn't played with in decades, little kids wanting to learn how to do it. It was really fantastic.

The day was hot, the ride home long so after a cool shower and dinner I collapsed into bed. Slept like a stone and am now clinging to my coffee cup at the start of another week. Happy Monday all!

Peep!

Well, my office is a very peep-y place this afternoon. A little water and a warm water bottle and the little sparrow is chirping up a storm. It looks like he'll make it to the rehabbers tonight. Yay!

You know, this makes it look like I have HUGE hands!

All Creatures Great and Small

So just yesterday I was a little bummed because 3 friends of mine are having some ungoodness in life. All because of women, but all with different scenarios and one I'm pretty certain brought it on himself, but it isn't mine to judge.

Then this morning I find a little brown lump on the sidewalk. It's a baby sparrow. Tiny guy, alone on the pavement on a street full of stray cats and squirrels (and I feel squirrels can no longer be trusted). So, as today just happened to be laundry day, I scooped him up in a shirt and brought him to the office. He is currently nestled into a worn out puppet tongue on top of a water bottle. If he makes it through the day we will venture to the wildlife rehabber.

But it sort of puts things in perspective for me. No matter what happens my friends are safe, they are healthy, they have shelter and food and the love of family and friends. They will be fine with time, just sad, angry and frustrated for the moment. And if I can provide a shoulder, an ear or a tissue then I am honored to do so. I just hope I don't have to chew their food for them...I mean there are limits...I guess I'd use a blender...

hee hee

A Year in a Life

It sort of snuck up on me...between Harry Potter at the Roxy and the Libertine Ball last Saturday a year has passed.

A wonderful year filled with laughter, conversation, dancing and adventure.

A year when I remembered just how to smile from the heart again.

A year when my weary heart was coaxed to venture into the light...and it fell in love like it was the first heart ever to do so.

There just aren't words...

So if I seem a little sillier than normal, just know that I am deliriously happy and plan on staying that way for a long, long time.

July

Propaganda

What lire behind us and lies before us are small matters compared to what lies right to our faces.

OMG

I'm going to be freaked out by this for a while I fear.

Sunday was a nice day so Frank and I decided to go for a walk in Ft Washington State Park. We started at the hawk viewing platform to get a lay of the land. At the base of the platform is a bird garden: Flowers, bird feeder, bird bath...the norm. And of course there were lots of birds, a squirrel and even 2 chipmunks! As we watched nature frolic among the seed we noticed the squirrel watching a sparrow who was picking at seeds on the ground. Suddenly the squirrel ran at the bird. I assumed it was trying to run it off...boy was I wrong!

As we watched the squirrel pounced on the bird, killed it and sat there eating it from head to tail like it was a pumpkin seed! Freaky!!!!

Research, Jill and a naturalist from the park all agree that while squirrels will eat bird eggs and even dead flesh if there is nothing else available they are not hunters. I fear this is a new stage in squirrel evolution. Perhaps it was a wersquirrel. All I know is I'm no longer quite so comfortable with the ones living in my attic...