Moose on the Loose

Tttttttiiiiiiiimmmeeeee is not on my side. No it isn't.

It just seems that we haven't had any time to breathe lately. No stopping and smelling the roses, rather pushing forward to fulfill our many responsibilities and obligations. Between work and family and household chores we have been kept busy.

Over the past month we have driven to Ohio (and I have yet to explain that one to you, dear reader). Spent countless hours working on the bikes; installing flashing lights, waterproof power buttons, miles of wire, antennas for radios (amateur radios, also called HAM), everything for attention and communication for the annual Cox Multiple Sclerosis 150 ride in Callaway Gardens. Flown to CA. All while twisting the requirements of work between those spokes of our real lives.

The Multiple Sclerosis event occurred last weekend, Sept 15-16. We rode down on Friday, the better to prepare for that 6 AM duty start time. And we rode the last bicyclist across the finish line at 6:20 PM on Saturday. Same start time the next morning had us packing for home around 2. It was a long, wonderfully rewarding weekend, where the weather was fairly complimentary this year.

We returned to work sore and early Monday, looking at a three day work week since we were flying to CA for an important birthday party. That meant three days of prepping my notes and computers for someone else to try and pick up the fragments of my shattered thoughts and attempt to do my work for three days. Ordinarily not a problem, but since the layoffs and subsequent attrition, fewer people to do all the work doesn't make it easy for any of us. And all of the "emergency" hot fixes to the production environment have to go through me, someone has some mighty difficulty shoes to fill with their own workload thrown in. Good thing this CA trip was approved months ago.

My photography itch has left me for awhile. I just haven't had the oomph to get the cameras out and do anything creative. So the little point and shot was the only one traveling with me this weekend. Another passenger to carry along is Moose.

Moose is a shy, quiet little guy that hitched a ride with us from Bar Harbor, Maine. He was intended to be adopted by someone else, but preferred our company instead. So he has begun traveling with us. I handed Moose the camera this weekend. I still wasn't in the mood to be creative. So here are some of Moose's pictures from his first trip to California.

Moose is a Nerd, packs light, but all electronics

The size and commotion of the airport has Moose a little shy.

Moose's first look at airplanes.

Moose safely belted in.

Excitedly watching the ground movement, packing luggage and fueling planes.

Uh oh!! LIFTOFF!!

Is that what Atlanta looks like from the AIR?!?!?

We're going how far??

OK. Time to get some sleep for such a long trip.

Wow! Sure are a lot of people living in L.A.

Wait!! This landmark looks so familiar! I know! That's the building on that Dragnet show that Oilburner watches.

Ooohhhhh....traffic...

Such a long and busy day...some relaxation is necessary. Not posting pictures of the bubble bath for discretionary reasons... (a drunk Moose in a bubble bath is quite a sight)

Early morning stroll along Big Bear Lake.

Aww...cute little duck is afraid of Moose!

Breakfast!! Donuts from a great little local bakery.

Hitting the road back to L.A. Difficult driving directly into the sun.

Need a little roughage to soak up the liquor and sugar.

A little more exercise hiking in the mountains.

The pine cones grow big out here. Not like the puny ones at home.

The pretty mountains. Breathing in some fresh air.

San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant

So that is what smog looks like...

Moose was even able to glimpse the last flight of the shuttle Endeavour...

Shutter hoof wasn't fast enough and kept catching the shuttle in trees and buildings and wires.

Unfortunately, something happened and the camera couldn't focus anymore. No more shots from the weekend... Moose did enjoy the parties and visiting with family. Got a little more sugar high from birthday cake. But was very glad to return home to his own bed and cooler autumn weather that is rolling into North Georgia.