Friday Fish Wrap: July 16 2010

The week is ending on a hot note. I hate …. yes, hate weather this hot. Anything beyond, say 90 degrees, saps the life right out of me, turning me into a lethargic slug. Yet, things have to be done.

Sigh.

I got my flat bike tire of the season this week. Let’s hope it’s the only one, since I only have one spare tube in the garage. But, I don’t much resent flats. They’re a part of bike riding, and it afforded me the chance to make the acquaintance of several Angus calves, who seemed to think I was more entertaining that I probably was in fact.

Once back at Rancho Maven, I  turned the bike upside down in the backyard, under the giant sycamore tree, and went to work. I love getting my hands utterly filthy with grease and road dirt. I hum with joy at breaking out the tire wrenches. I delight in attempting to figure out “pinch flat, valve stem flat or puncture?” Hmmmm. I don’t try to hurry this process. I savor it.

Otherwise the cycling has been very enjoyable. Fairly early in the a.m.,  I’ve been riding up to Truckee Bar & Grill for a couple poached eggs and toast. It’s only 7.36 miles, which I do in 35 minutes, up the back roads (Holcomb, Lakeside and over Windy Hill). The trip back can take several different routes, all fairly scenic.

Why is it that the Tea Party Nation goobers can’t bring themselves to believe that Obama has a birth certificate, isn’t Muslim, and wasn’t born in Kenya - but they can believe in the invisible jesus spaceman that hasn’t done jack for them - healthcare or otherwise?

I want to post a note of appreciation about the folks out at the Patagonia Outlet in northwest Reno. They’re really very, very nice.

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Coping with summertime heat at Rancho Ryan

The animals all have their ways of dealing with the days as they get hotter.

My ancient Jack Russell Terrier, Asta likes the cool flagstones of the patio toward evening.

 Ladybird, on the other hand, prefers laying in the living room to take advantage of the ceiling fan.

While Wiki just floats around the pond, letting the koi push her around. She doesn’t take it all too seriously. Bob, on the other hand, dives for cover at the slightest movement. I’m finally getting Wiki to come to my whistle.

Name that turtle: It's done

Well, I can’t say that the contest was a roaring success. Between Terrapin ( that rolls right off the tongue, Earl) to ‘stretch’ and ‘rapunzel’ I was at a loss, until I gazed over at the stack of books that I’ve got to scan through for work.

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Reader suggestions invited for 'Name that Turtle' contest

Okay, the poor departed ‘Tommy’ has been replaced in our koi pond with two painted turtles. I’ve already promised Natacha that she may name the larger, but I reserve the right to name the smaller one - since he’s ( I don’t really know the sex, and am guessing ) the one with spunk, personality and an ability to climb up the rocks on the waterfall like Sir Edmund Hillary. In fact, Edmund briefly occurred to me - Ed for short, but then I thought, ‘No, open it up to my readers!”

This guy likes to climb way up high and then bask in the sun with his little front legs stuck out to the front, unlike any turtle I’ve had before.

Entries will be accepted until midnight Sunday, May 31st. Winners will be thanked profusely, and if they give me a mailing address I’ll even send them a nice gift card to Peet’s Coffee and Tea or if you’re under the coffee and tea drinking age - something more appropriate.