Amy’s Gripping Commentary

I wanted a mouse to take to meetings at work, but I didn’t want a black one that could be confused with everyone else’s mouse. So I bought a pink one.

Not long after I started using this mouse I looked closely at the design. It looks like a pole dancer! It’s definitely some dancing woman with quite the body and long designer arms that remind me of Barrel of Monkeys monkey arms. Soon other people came to know my mouse as the Naked Lady Mouse.

It was obscure enought that I continued to use it, but I just didn’t understand the design the manufacturer chose. Then last week I rode my bike to work and when I arrived, the Naked Lady Mouse didn’t work. The little receiver had cracked during my travels. Fortunately my laptop always does well on this trip! I put it in a foam sleeve but I guess that wasn’t enough for the mouse receiver.

To round out the story, when I came out to my bike that afternoon, I found a friend had decorated it with a joke magnet that had previously gone undetected on her car for weeks. But everyone at work saw it on my bike right when they went in the door!

I bought a new mouse. It’s the same model, but it’s BLUE. No design.

ongoing account of May trip to Spain

Just a neat shot of the palms along the streets

In Constitution Square

Another vegetarian restaurant! More good food

I asked the tour leader what she recommended for an evening activity and made arrangements with the Polish couple to ride with them the next day to another city. Next up: the “white village” of Mijas

ongoing account of May trip to Spain

1-3. Every bike tour should stop at the beach for a drink! We sat in the sun and had a sweet wine, Málaga Dulce. In that first picture they’re cooking seafood in the small yellow and white boat.
4. Hans Christian Andersen statue, with a duck in his bag (patito feo). He enjoyed his time spent in the city and now spends every day in the sun facing the sea.

ongoing account of May trip to Spain

Picasso sits on a bench in Plaza de la Merced where he was born in 1881. (Antonio Banderas was born in this city too.)

Mosques become churches with a little paint

At the bullring. I was glad to hear they only have fights a couple times per year here… but many cities have bullrings. Meanwhile Catalonia has banned bullfighting just this year, though it may be less a statement of cruelty to animals than it is their wish to be separate from the rest of Spain.

An alley not far from Calle Larios

ongoing account of May trip to Spain

On the second day I decided to go on a bike tour, which was led by a native English speaker who moved to Málaga a few years back, and I was joined by a young couple from Poland who now live in Glasgow (plus the husband is half Algerian, I think, and his English had a lot of Scottish brogue to it!). We saw several of the same places I had toured the previous day, but this time I got a lot of back story and also found new sights to explore.

1. Calle Larios, where my hostel was located
2. statue near the hostel
3. on the bikes
4. The Alcazaba from the top of the building across the street
5. The Roman theater from across the street. It was only rediscovered in the 1950s
6-7. Holy Week (Semana Santa) celebrations in many cities in Andalusia (and other Hispanic-influenced parts of the world) are elaborate. The description of the marching people carrying these massive thrones down the streets made me want to visit during the religious holidays someday. I had seen huge doors the previous day, which turned out to house a couple thrones decorated with gold, silver, lace, and elaborate embroidered fabrics. The party we saw the night before was a fundraiser for these huge floats which are stored all around the city by the various groups who have cared for them for centuries (plus they are too big to keep in the churches). The woman who ran the bike tour knew the people who managed this building and they let us in to see the thrones up close.

An idea of the street processions:

This short PSA is cool in more than one way! And I should know.

Two weekends ago, David and I did an all day sea kayaking course. Our group picnicked on Sandycove island which got smaller and smaller as the tide came in, saw a seal poking its head out in the harbor because boats mean fishermen feeding them, and explored caves in the cliff walls from Kinsale Harbo(u)r down to the Old Head Pier. Neither of us fell in! Can’t say the same for some other guy who was adjusting his shirt one moment and slipping into the sea the next. I was INCREDIBLY exhausted the next day; not sure what was up with that but it made work a challenge.

Wildlife was mostly cormorants, jellyfish, and mussels, plus all the seagulls. Anyway the kayaking was fun but I opted out of course day 2, while David and our friend Kathleen did that this past Monday. They had to practice getting back in after intentionally falling out of the boat, and it doesn’t sound like the water was particularly comfortable even with a wet suit!

Flashback: I found a disposable 35mm camera at a petrol station (€12!) and used it during kayaking, then found a place in town that actually develops fillum. (That’s film but we can’t get over the way it’s pronounced here.) Fortunately the processing was cheaper than the camera itself. The pictures aren’t the quality I’m used to with my digital, but the risk of drowning a good camera was too high to try for snazzy photos. Also, I didn’t think paying a fortune for a special case to take my camera underwater was worth it.

And now, time to reminisce about working nights at Qualex… are they even still in business? [nope!] On busy summer nights we’d develop, print, cut, and package 40,000 rolls of film. The slowest night still had 15,000, the amount of film used by northern Indiana, southern Michigan, and a few remote MI towns that flew in their orders! The couriers would drive to every pharmacy, grocery, and photo shop within a couple hours and that’s how all your next-day and two-day processing happened. Didn’t matter if you took it to Target or Kroger: same place made it into prints.

At the time I couldn’t predict there wouldn’t be a market for any of it just a few years later. Those nights in factories make me appreciate where I am now! I did enjoy that kind of work, though.

Here you go, scanned fillum photos!

It’s been a weird week, a combo of sad and reflective and sick of work and then doing ok until someone asks How are your dogs? I had been managing Casper’s terminal illness for months, but the last few weeks became more urgent and sad. She went from playing with Walter to having to be syringe fed in a matter of days. There was actually some relief when I made the appointment and spent the day with her last Monday, but counting down the hours and then being unable to explain to Walter where she went was gutting. Then when I finally got myself under control a few days later, I felt guilty for not being a wreck 24/7 and wondered how her life had been shortened by moving her to Ireland and changing her diet and even stuff I did five years ago. Despite knowing it was coming for months, it all seemed to happen so fast. Even cuddling with Walter just doesn’t measure up. Casper was my heart dog and he is not and as much as I love him, we don’t have that connection.

In the end David and I were with her, and I tried to make that decision when her days were more bad than good, and I know it was the right thing. Still sucks though. We are already remembering her quirks in a happy way, though. I wonder when I will see another doggy love nibble or nosing of the radiator or the fun police again.

I do want to thank everyone who sent kind words here, on Facebook, and through email… I appreciate them very much. Even if I’m a little more animal-focused than most people, I’m comforted that others recognize how important the bond can be (and so many of you are dog people that I know the feeling is understood).

Tried to keep ourselves busy the last few days… we went to a surprisingly well-attended concert in the pouring rain last week, Chicago brothers Hypnotic Brass Ensemble who were opened by a Nigerian group. They played at Charles Fort just up from our house. I think most of the people there had bought their expensive tickets ahead of time or they wouldn’t have braved the ridiculous weather. We were given free tickets so it was more of an adventure to us! David gave up before I did; we had all our fancy technical rain gear on, but mine’s all new and his seems to have lost some of its waterproofness over the years. Rain pants FTW! I love them.

Kinsale in better weather this week

Yesterday the weather was better than at the concert (though not exactly good), and we reattempted a hike in Co. Tipperary in the Galtees to Lake Muskry. We took Walter there a few weeks back and discovered it was mostly through sheep country and dogs aren’t allowed. Would have been nice for my fancy Hiking in Ireland book to have mentioned this fact… at least now I know to expect dogs not being allowed just about anywhere we want to trek. He’s a good dog but I can see why farmers wouldn’t want a dog among their livestock, plus they might shoot him or leave out poison, and that’s just not fair to chance.

Anyway, the wind howling through the valley hurt our ears but we trudged through the sheep paths and made our way up a ridge where there was a corrie (lake) suspended in the hills. It was a neat hike and we’re glad we went, but we didn’t do the whole mountain loop because it was just rather crummy out. The sheep were skittish when we got near and some of them can really run fast! David got to play with his backpacking GPS for the first time. The maps are too expensive but at least it can keep a trail of breadcrumbs running so you know how to get back.

Just a quick note to report we are still alive and the dogs are finally pooping in a recognizable manner. Casper’s age is starting to catch up to her. She’s having a hard time getting up from the floor so we help lift her rear, and David re-suggested the Collie Trolley (mostly because it sounds funny, but it started when she was falling down the basement stairs at the Indy house). She still likes to wrestle with Walter and seems happy, but it’s hard to see her get old and not be able to take her on walks into town, let alone up the cliffs Walter gets to see. I guess she never has been much of an explorer so she’s probably happy being at home anyway.

I’m working on finding a pet sitter so we can plan our adventures. The wish list (outside Ireland and Northern Ireland) includes:
-Iceland (we always intended to go there even before there was a job in Europe or a volcanic eruption)
-Glasgow (David has friends there)
-Prague (everyone says this is fabulous)
-Amsterdam
-Sweden
-Belgium
-Switzerland
-Germany somewhere
-Krakow
-Paris because I figure I should
-Croatia
-Turkey
-Tenerife

That ought to keep us busy. I figure we’ll go to as many as we can afford and make time for, plus we’ll have to see how much we hate each other after the first few trips! I feel like I’ve gotten Italy, Spain, and the UK mostly out of the way for this round.

I rode my bike to work today for the first time here. It’s less than five miles but dang the hills are hard. I’m a little worried about the way home! I need to tighten my rear brake and get in better shape as the first orders of business. I wonder how many car trips I have to replace with my bike to offset all the air travel we have planned…

Some random thoughts to prove I’m still alive.

I did indeed have cadaver bone put in during my osteomyelitis treatment! It was irradiated, powdered, and mixed with what is basically plaster of Paris, but it still sounds exotic. Unfortunately I’ve had some additional dental pain recently. You’d think I traumatized my teeth or something.

Arliss had her fourth surgery a week ago (vet and I agreed she didn’t need a CT scan after all) and she’s doing great! She even gained weight in the last two weeks.

Loving the Indy Winter Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. The place is PACKED and I love seeing cyclists with panniers riding in the snow! Note: the local chickens went on strike when it got super cold the last couple of weeks, so eggs were harder to come by. I like being able to get a half dozen a month since we don’t use more than that, and then I can take the carton back to the farmer to use again.

I discovered recently-reopened El Sol de Tala. This town has more Mexican (I use that as a geographic/ethnic term loosely) restaurants than you can imagine, but this one place stands out. They even have a veggie menu. It’s not the same old enchiladas anymore, people!

Following a craving, I had French toast at Denny’s, and even if they hadn’t ruined it with cinnamon and powdered sugar, it still was nowhere as good as Dad’s. He also blows away every pancake on earth.

I’ve finally heard from some of the relocation folks and the target start date in Ireland is March 1. There’s so much to do that it’s hard not just to plop on the couch with 81 SVU reruns on Tivo and ignore the obvious (that’s how many were scheduled in this two week period). One of my current focuses (okay, foci) is pantry raid: use up all the groceries that line our cupboards and freezer. In the past week we had breakfasty stuff to use up biscuits and fake sausages and last night I made chik’n and rice casserole. My freezer has several fake meat products that I’ve always kept as backup, but usually have been creative enough not to need for most cooking. I see a lot of chili in our future for the ground ‘beef’ crumbles…

Some good things: apparently a check to replace my bike is on the way from the insurance company. Let’s hope it’s for the full amount.

Tink the little bun was adopted! It’s strange to be down to one foster and my two bunnies.

Bunny binkies in honor of the House Rabbit Society’s 20th anniversary!

David and I drove 200 miles on Monday to hike about six. The Hoosier National Forest in October is beautiful, and no one shot us! We wore bright colors and decided not to bring the pup for his safety. We did see a couple antlered bucks crossing the road.

You may be able to see a little orange-jacketed David leaning out just below the top. I didn’t have any problems climbing the tower, though I’ve been on more rickety ones in the past that triggered a temporary fear of heights. (I also recycled the beer cans I found at the bottom.)

We found the sticker funny (and ewww… you know what’s been going on in that tower)

Sycamore Trail at Charles C. Deam Wilderness

Because David does everything with flair, as I often say, I give you: the rain barrel.

I don’t think the neighbors knew what they were agreeing to when he asked if he could install the barrel between our homes. Their large bush obscures it well enough from the street, and the goal was to share the water with them (they garden much more than we do and have many beautiful flowers). They’ve taken to calling it the Water Tower and singing of Petticoat Junction girls. We did finally have rain today and it works! There is room for a second barrel beneath the first one and the stand would survive a tornado.

After a lesson wearing the harness in the house, and a lesson going on a walk with the harness, today Walter tried the harness attached to the WalkyDog on the bike.

I walked the bike several blocks with him in a fine drizzle, and we’ll have to practice more because he wants to pull. At least he’s no longer afraid of the bike! We had the most success while going quickly and as far from the curb as practical, because then he’s focusing on trotting and not sniffing the gutter. I guess that’s good once we get going but I haven’t tried riding with him yet!

Just caught Casper snoozing, my fluffy nut who can’t be brought inside from the yard these days without a cookie bribe because she’s too busy eating tomatoes.

Now the dogs are wrestling and nibbling each other on that bed. Their best performances this weekend were Casper barking at an email inbox chime she thought was the doorbell (Walter is bright enough to know better) and Walter being scared of David, who came home from a wedding last night in a tux. He had to strip to underwear before Walter stopped hiding behind me and ran to meet him!

Let’s just say I’m a bit frustrated with the insurance experience (or lack thereof) to date. I am trying to be compensated for my bike, which was smushed by a car over three weeks ago. The frame is bent and cannot be repaired, and other components have been damaged as well. My last actual contact with the adjuster was over two weeks ago, and she hasn’t returned/acknowledged the four voice mails, two faxes, nor one email I’ve sent since then to check on the progress and to supply the necessary estimate/receipts. Last week I asked to speak to ANY adjuster at the insurance company and she was able to see that my adjuster had spoken with the driver, but other than that there was no activity since I talked to her (and no indication of receipt of the paperwork or messages I’ve left).

I just want to know the progress; the season for enjoying my bike will end soon and I would like to know how this process is going to work. Will I get a check? I want to just buy another damn bike, but I don’t know if payment must be made to a bike shop (and therefore I have to arrange for a refund of my money once that arrives, if the shop will do it) or if it even has to be purchased from the shop that did the estimate (I sure hope not; I don’t care for that shop but they did service my last brand of bike so I had to see them for the replacement cost info), and because of the uncertainty of this payment I can’t go to a distant shop nor order online or buy from Craigslist. Meanwhile I don’t know if the insurance company will salvage my bike, and if so, I need to remove several accessories that are not part of the original build/damage report to be transferred to a new bike.

Meanwhile I’ve searched locally, and come up almost empty. Cross bikes don’t sell well here, so the couple that are left are not my size and are last year’s model (can’t be ordered in other sizes), and new models aren’t expected to come in since they are hard to sell and old models must be cleared first. Even if the shop chooses to order more it could be several weeks. I rode two bikes (old model, wrong size) and have to decide what I can from that. Half the cross bikes don’t even come with rack mount options so that reduces choices from many major manufacturers (the ones most likely to be stocked in a local store). I’ve considered a custom build but that takes awhile, too, and gives me fewer options in frame appearance as well as that not-ridden-yet uncertainty.

I think I’ve decided on one of these:

2010 Specialized Tricross Comp

2010 Raleigh RX 1.0

The first one is quite a bit more expensive, apparently because the manufacturer bankrolls racing teams and has other marketing expenses. The second one is much more of a value, but has less ‘street cred,’ yet great components for the most part. I like the paint job on the second one better but there’s a rumor it’s sold out and I sure haven’t ridden it nor even anything else from that manufacturer. I did ride a modified version of the first bike at one shop (only because one of the employees had his own!) and liked it a lot, plus it’s the step up from the other model I really liked last year when I chose the Bianchi instead. If both bikes were side by side and rode the same, I’d get the Raleigh. But without riding one… wow, that’s a gamble.

Meanwhile I ordered a WalkyDog to take Walter with me on a bike ride. I pulled out the old mountain bike (lots of bunny fur in the chain since I stored it in the bunny room!) and now that I’ve gotten him used to his new harness, it’s time to try attaching him to the bike. He has picked up on ‘left’ (not ‘right’ yet so much) just while walking and with my stable old bike and a slow speed, I think we can give it a try. I think he’d love to go for a run and I just can’t walk long enough to tire him, so hopefully we won’t crash and regret the dog+bike attempt! Nicole and I (with Ainsley and Walter) checked out the new open portion of the Pennsy Trail last week and since it’s so straight, level, and sparsely used, it may be a good spot to try a dog with a bike.

Coming in as my second favorite typo so far, I give you: The I-70 ramp to RURAL Street. Ironically named since this street is in a gritty urban area, now I have a reason to pull off the road to take a picture and risk carjacking.

(Favorite typo: Village Panty)

Meanwhile David’s prototype coffee table bit the dust when he sat on it. All the items on the floor used to be on the table. Watching him land was hilarious. I should note that it was a prototype for size and shape, not construction quality.

A few of the smart asses from IASMH class of 1993 at their 16th reunion (because we were too lame to plan a 15th)

And I’ve been bonding Harrison and Vegas (seen here in before-and-after haircut pics)

Who wants to do the Tour de Cookie?? I need to get my bike replaced! COOKIES!

Riding home today, lovely weather, laughed when guys at the sketchy basketball court in the sketchy park hollered, “Hey biker lady, wanna hoop?”

But a couple miles later, blam. Dude in a Cherokee turned left and hit me.

Fortunately I’m apparently fine; he hit the rear of the bike (back wheel area) so missed my leg and the rest of me. Alas part of the bike frame is bent (plus a brifter is wack, chain’s off, rear rack is bent, and my awesome PlanetBike superflash light bit the dust in the middle of Sherman Drive). Bike and I hit the street but I walked away, and that’s what counts.

Some other guy saw it and called 911. Gotta admit, the firetrucks are fast to arrive! Ambulance came right after. I’m not sure why five different cop cars came but maybe it was a slow day.

I hope the guy’s insurance covers the bike. It was a little funny how when he looked at it he was like, Man, that’s an expensive bike, huh? And then two cops later said the same thing. It’s not THAT expensive, but a lot more than a department store type. Meanwhile I hope I can get anything for it since I was coming off a bike path and we were both stopped for cross traffic. I believe I had the right of way (obviously) since I was going straight, but the cop didn’t know the statutes.

Note the color lines added (click on pic) to show what should be straight. The red is where the chain is off and the sad face is where my light used to live. He didn’t hit the derailleur side so that’s an expensive part not necessarily broken (though I fell on that side, so who knows), but unless the seat stay can be unbent, the frame is hosed. I wonder if the rugged cross frame paired with the structure of the rack saved the wheel and/or me. It sure bent a lot and all I did was fall over.

Amazingly I have maybe two minor scratches from scraping against my bike and a teeny blood spot on my knuckle. I’m glad I was wearing gloves. I must’ve jumped/flown off gracefully not to be road rashed. We’ll see what other aches develop in the next couple of days.

If only I’d been running my video camera today! (Not for excitement, but evidence)