Save the Crab..

I PEEENCH!!!

Pimping my ride...

Ok.. so that's not mine (grin). None of the other pictures are mine, but I'm pimping my ride just the same.

I'm getting ready to travel. I had the rear brakes done today, and oil changed and all the little bells and whistles checked at Art's Auto today. Victor assured me that I was 'good to go', so keep that in mind. I always like to hold someone else responsible!



Now THAT'S some Astro power... wonder how long it would last on the open road?

I'm making what little plans I have, since I don't like planning. One of the best trips I had was a meandering one that took me all over this country at a leisurely pace. Stop when I stop, start when I ... well, you get the idea...



Now THERE'S a pimped ride...

Tummy Ache...

Don't I make it sound cute???

IT'S NOT!

arrghhhh... I'm in the middle of a diverticular attack and it hurts.

So I'm just going to go back to bed and not talk to anyone...

One lap left!!! One lap left!!! ONE LAP LEFT!!!

yawn... (smack... smack... scratch)... WTF is that noise!?

See.. the difference between that first race (for me) and the one that started early this morning is the level of importance. In 1985 there were bunches of bicycles and a little grandstand and some friends and an announcer.

This morning there were helicopters. More than one helicopter. I suppose that was so they could move between the Volley Ball and the Bike Race. What joy! I also found out that there is one more tournament happening about a mile up the road that has the bike race on it.l Today is a tennis tournament, women's, at the "country Club (OFY)". Just to add to the fun. I estimate that the closest you can get to Manhattan Beach today is probably Santa Monica...

Local joke.

Along with the helicopters, we now have two announcers (so that they may keep up a running patter that is mostly undecipherable... but loud. And music, don't forget the music. And booths, to sell cycling clothes and heaven knows what else. I will wander over later and check (sometimes they give away free things!!!)). During the big races (there are dozens of different races during the day) people run from one side of the green belt to the other to watch the leaders. Like they couldn't tell from the BATTERBATTERBATTER patter of the announcers. At least that's what it sounds like they're saying, though I can't imagine why.

The first year I took a picture with my old camera as the pack passed perilously beneath my deck. The speed of my camera was so slow that I got a picture of the street... with tiny flashes of color. No bikes could be seen... I looked for that picture, but can't find it so I tried to take another...

Damned high speed photography!

Of course, there's always a chance they may all collide!!! (evil grin)

On a Bicycle Built for... speed

The first year I lived in this house, I awakened one morning to the sound of... of... well, what can best be described as a flock of birds. Taking off. A large flock of birds. I opened one eye and thought. A minute or two later it happened again. A large flock of birds... taking off.

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. When what to my wondering eyes should appear but...

Bicycles.

A bodacious bunch of bicycles. Right in front of my house, doing about.. oh... 50 MPH... or so.

Seems the annual Bike Race (now a Grand Prix) is held every year in front of my house. Seems also that someone neglected to inform me of the event, or of the fact that I would be imprisoned in my house for the remainder of the day.

It wasn't bad for the first few years... a bunch of bikes and some funny looking riders and a couple of friends.

It's a major event now, and they've been setting up since this morning (the race is tomorrow). There's only one problem. This weekend my little Beach city also hosts the BIGGEST Volleyball tournament ever. Both events are within a half mile of each other, if that. One is at the end of Manhattan Beach Blvd (approximately 12th street) and the other starts at 15th, a block or so up from the ocean. Each event on it's own merit could fill this city with more people than it can possibly handle, and they are both happening tomorrow...

One of them right in front of my house...

So, if you catch a glimpse of the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix (and it may have another name), that's me, waving from my porch...

This Hat Walked into a Bar....

Blogging! I'm blogging again!! (Yeah, like anyone cares... sigh).

Just a funny fun blog. I think I'm channeling Turtlegirl!. I took my trademark knit hats (which most of you possess) and added just a bit of 'fun' yarn (a fake fur/whatever kind of yarn). I saw the yarn at JoAnn's and got some for Turtle, cuz it seemed so cool.. I saved some and made a hat for me.


A heavy hat. These suckers have HEFT! Not a summer or even a fall hat, these babies are for winter...

in Russia...

But they're silly and I love them.

When I was up in Big Sur at the campground last time, all the little worker bees there saw my hat. (The nicest bunch of people; something about working in a place as pretty and (usually) quiet and cool that makes for happy people). Everyone wanted one, so I took color orders and proceeded to start knitting...

I mailed them out on Tuesday and they arrived yesterday. Since I don't charge for them, the reaction was pretty positive (I'm not stupid, you know).

At the worst, I figure kittens and squirrels will love to nest in them!

so... here they are!

and yes... I AM working on my tan....

A Warm Sunset....

It looks as if the hottest July on record for this area FOREVER is finally over. Well, July is over, so maybe that means something... Oh yes... it means AUGUST, the usual hottest month is here...

damn..

I know I haven't posted enough lately. I need to get back to the letters, but this weather absolutely wipes me out.. that and Mom and all the rest of my stuff. It seems I'm an attention deficit hyperactive child... I can't imagine why anyone would say..
OH LOOK! a chicken.

I will post more, I will. This reminds me, however, of why I always hate the first part of the trip back easts so much. It's like this across the country in September. Heat and humidity. Since I'm a 'hang my head out the window when I drive' kind of kid, it makes it very difficult to be comfortable. I have no 'lightweight' clothing. Jeans. Shirts. Sweatshirts. That's it..

So, I may have to head further north than I planned. I most certainly am NOT going the way I went in 2002... through Arizona and New Mexico and..

However, as much as I dislike this kind of weather..

It does make for some really pretty sunsets...