Comet, Dark Sky...Utter Frustration!

Friday night I was having trouble sleeping so I started wandering the house and while passing through the dining room I looked out our back slider. Lo and behold....Stars in November!

Imagine my excitement. Not only stars in November, but also a comet I've wanted to see which is visible to the naked eye. This comet had recently 'exploded' and was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Lights were extinguished quickly, clothes hurriedly thrown on, vest and scarf found, pockets crammed with batteries, lense cloth, kleenex, mittens, etc. The dog, who is totally confused by my behaviour, is now beside herself because we're going outside at NIGHT! whoo-whoo

So I drag and maneuver my telescope outside from the sunroom. Locate the comet with my eyes and then with binoculars. Wow, this is going to be GREAT!

Start to adjust my telescope when I hear a 'tunk' sound. In the dark, this is not a good. I slowly look down (using my red gel flashlight) and can't see any objects. Slowly scan the telescope and my heart sank.

The spotter scope had lost one of it's nut and the other is loose.....it has tilted out of place. To non-telescope users...this means I'm going to fly blind tonight. The spotter scope must be aligned with the telescope in order to find anything in the sky. The only way to align the scope and telescope is during the day. groan.

Saturday morning, I aligned my scope and am ready for the next clear night..........in Michigan, that could in two days or two months!

This is a picture of the comet (17P / Holmes) which I hope to one day see clearly in my telescope.

Dogs, Cats and Rabbits = Trouble

Friday, I was off work and in the late afternoon decided to take Cassie to the park where she chased squirrels, ran with the Big Girls (aka deer) and swam in the creek.

Everything was hunky-dorry until the ride home when she decided to launch her 90+ lb body from the back seat toward the windshield (squirrel sighting) and almost caused me to have an accident. I decided it was time for a doggie restraint system.

So off we go to Pet Supplies Plus. Since she had never been in the store, she was pulling me left and right between rawhide bones, beef coated pig ears and numerous other tasty treats for canines. It took all of my strength to keep her from inhaling these and I breathed a sigh of relief when we finally got to the toy/supply aisle!

Now here's the problem. Instead of walking back the way we came in, I decided to pick up a few cat treats for Toad on my way out. Guess what was in THAT aisle.....CATS in CAGES! Oh, that poor dog thought she had hit the jackpot!

So I drag her down and around the next aisle hoping to get her out of the store withour incident. No such luck, because the next aisle has.....

BUNNIES! Lots of caged BUNNIES! (Everyone knows bunnies are much more impressive to pooches!)

Picture this: 50+ woman, both hands on the collar, dragging and pulling said 90+ pound beast who is frantically doing her best imitation of the roadrunner, digging her claws into the linoleum and desperatingly whining and barking as she tries to make her way to her own personal heaven!

Why didn't I leave her in the car?? That's exactly what I asked myself as I runned Aspercreme into my sore shoulders!

Marni: 0

Cassie: 1

If You Live With a Cat, You Will Understand...

Reflection

Yesterday, I celebrated another birthday. It was an unusual birthday because all of my family had serious commitments which didn't allow them to spend significant time with me yesterday. But somehow each took the time via cards, text messages, early morning singing, v:mails, and quick drop-ins to make me feel special.

I am blessed.

Weekend at The FEN

Our trip up north started out with overcast skies, windy conditions, bouts of torrential rain (ok, mild rain) and four party animals. Oh, and me...their chauffer/banker. :-)

Melinda: our "navigator". I told her not to quit her day job!

Someone in the car hollered out "Look at the trout"

so, of course, I had to turn around and get a group picture!

(L to R) Jessica Hook (Mel's friend), Melinda,

Michael and Rachel (Michael's gf).

No, Jess and Melinda are not saluting...they are trying to keep the rain off their faces.

No one shouted out after this picture! DARN!

We were a few hours ahead of the rest of the group going north,

so we stopped at a fun stop and they played miniature golf while I played pinball.

I won't mention what Michael tried to do to the bear....it was just plain WRONG!

Hmmm....thanksgiving dinner???

The two track down to the ponds at the FEN

where the illusive trout taunted Marni!

Mike is officially a pyro!

(I'm so PROUD!)

A picture of our motley young adults at Little Traverse Bay...

We stopped to walk along the beach, search for fossils and ofc, another photo opp!

Melinda and Jess could not resist posing with the

ABSOLUTELY No trespassing sign.

I believe Jess even stepped on the grass to see if alarms would go off.

Ah, to be rich and haughty!

Rachel and Michael clowning around at Dead Man's Hill.

Dead Man's Hill - beautiful October colors

BLACKMAIL PICTURE

After an entire weekend of abusing Rachel's stuffed dog, which he had given her,

Michael is captured even in sleep refusing to give up custody!

Toad, The Pampered Princess

Since Libby passed away, I have done my best to ingratiate my way into Toad's affection. (i.e. canned cat food, catnip mice, etc.)

Now I have sunken to an all time low...a nice, blue, plush, cat bed. But to no avail....The little beast loves the cat bed but continues to avoid me. *sigh*

Poem

My Younger days

by Maya Angelou

When I was in my younger days,

I weighed a few pounds less,

I needn't hold my tummy in

to wear a belted dress.

But now that I am older,

I've set my body free;

There's the comfort of elastic

Where once my waist would be.

Inventor of those high-heeled shoes

My feet have not forgiven;

I have to wear a nine now,

But used to wear a seven.

And how about those pantyhose-

They're sized by weight, you see,

So how come when I put them on

The crotch is at my knee?

I need to wear these glasses

As the print's been getting smaller;

And it wasn't very long ago

I know that I was taller.

Though my hair has turned to gray

and my skin no longer fits,

On the inside, I'm the same old me,

It's the outside's changed a bit.