Angel Snakes

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 These photos were taken in Central Park in Ashland, Kentucky, in March. 

Petting Pepper, the Pampered Pelican

 

Although we have not heard from them in a while, Nuncio and Mickey have not forgotten us and checked in with this report:

Delores and Lynn traveled to Galveston; as hot as it is there, it is cooler than Arlington, Texas. Lynn was visiting the Coast Guard base, and Delores and Mickey wandered down to the pier.

Pelicans are not generally all that friendly to humans, but Mickey struck up a conversation with Pepper and soon Delores and Pepper also became friends, enough that Delores could pet his lovely brow. 

Wings Up!!!
Madilla

PS: We miss our friends in Galveston.  

Packing for Trip to the Moon

 

Traveling is fun, once you hit the road; but the time before that when you are thinking of every possible detail, racing over town for every item that may be needed on the way, those times are nerve wracking.

Of course, our main concerns are twofold: Will we have enough to eat? Will we be able to look our best at all times? Not necessarily in that order.

You see us here in Gay's studio, either getting new or freshening up our old body paint. Flash is making sure that the laptop is in good working order so that he can continue his writing on the trip. (More about that later.

Zenia had broken her wing on the way back from Memphis. We had applied a splint and kept her off her wings to help the healing. The local Angel Snakes recommended a little Bourbon before bed, so we even added a little of  that to her regimen. We took off the splint this evening and all seems to be well. She will take it easy for a few days, but she is free to travel.

The "What If's" had begun several days ago. You know--

• What if all the stores in Russellville are suddenly closed and Joy runs out of everything and none of Joy's friends are willing to share with us?
• What if we look rumpled from travel and everyone looks down on us and refuses to offer us any Snake Snacks?
• What if we are snowed in at the airport with a million other beings and all the food and water runs out?
• What if we are suddenly invited to a formal dinner and we don't have any formal wear?

Gay told us to just remember why we are going and not sweat the small stuff.

We are going to visit family and friends and attend Jake's (Gay's nephew) confirmation.

Wings Up!!!
Madilla

PS: You may remember that two years ago we had the Angel Snake Rally in Russellville back in July of 2009. That is almost two years ago. Time flies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of Carrots and Lizards

Pike Place Market in Seattle is a great place for people watching. Dottie, our favorite Lizard friend, had her own opportunities for creature watching. This handsome iguana filled Dottie in on all the details of life in the Pacific Northwest.

As friendly and harmless as Dottie looks in paper pose, she frightened several humans who saw her amidst the produce. Poor humans. What must life be like if what is apparently only a piece of colored paper freaks them out?

Wings Up!!!
Madilla

PS: Sorry it has taken me so long to get these photos on the blog. Moving is a pain.

Phun in Philly

On a recent trip to Philidelphia, Hiram, Mickey, and some students went to National Constitution Center to learn some history. Jim and Sara had offered to take them to some of the major attractions in the city; they could not pass up the offer. The students tried to act bored, but Hiram reported that later he heard them telling their friends all about the day. They sounded excited.

Wings Up!!!
Madilla

PS: It just goes to show that parents and teachers should take young ones to important places whether the kids want to go or not.

Gnome at the Airport

        We knew it was going to be an exciting vacation when right off we met a friendly Gnome in the waiting area to tell us all about what was going on. We will give you updates when we can.

Wings Definitely Up!!!
Madilla

PS: We still have not resolved the passport issue, but Gay says not to worry.

Dottie Strikes Fear in Our Hearts

        Dottie, the gaily spotted fear-monger, slipped into our midst. She quietly listened for a while to our moaning and groaning about the small white bag. She loves to hear complaining.

        Finally, however, she could hold back no longer and blurted out, "Passports. Passports. We are going to CANADA, a foreign country. We do not have passports. What are we going to do? I do not want to be left behind. It may be all right with you but I do not want to be left out of anything. I have never met Ronny. I have never been anywhere but Lawrence, Kansas. I want to see the world too. I want something to brag about. What if Rosie eats me while Gay and Ron are gone? What if Suzi and Nolen don't feed us? What will we do?" Then she took a breath.

        A stunned silence filled the room. Nuncio and Mickey's eyes opened wider than usual. "Oh my gosh! You are absolutely right, Dottie. Of course, Mickey and I have our passports, but what about the rest of you? Oh my gosh! Has Gay thought of that? Passports?"

Wings Up¡¡¡
Madilla

PS:  And here we are so close to leaving? What can we do? it is next to impossible to get passports so quickly and costs a fortune if you can. And there are sixteen of us.

Carry-on Luggage

        We had begun, emphasis on begun, to gather what we intended to take on the road trip. 

        You may recall our road trip last summer and what great adventures we had. We love road trips: pile everything in the car; pile in some more; then stick in a few more things. Fill every nook and cranny of the car. Take anything you might even remotely have a need for. Buy whatever else you want along the way and wedge them in between the other things.

        We had a big suit case just for our things--body paint, bling, dishes, hats, special pillows, and so on. We rode comfortably in the back window of Ron's car.

        When Nuncio and Mickey went to Rome, Delores and Lynn gave them a whole duffel bag just for their things.

        Gay came into the room, set a little white bag on the floor, and said, "My dears, everything has to fit into that bag and it cannot weigh more that one pound."

        We laughed. The little students rolled on the floor. "Great joke, Gay. Great joke."

        "No joke. We are flying. On Delta, not Southwest. Ron and I are on a budget and do not want to pay the fees for checking bags. We even went out and bought new bags that definitely meet the size requirements. We will be using Delta more often after we move, so get used to the idea. Anyway, that is all you can take."

        Silence like cotton filled the room. I could scarcely breathe.

        Suddenly, everyone spoke at once, "What if our body paint needs touching up? What if there is a party? What if our hair falls off? What if we need to make some recordings? What if people want some of our cards?"

        "What if you just fit what you absolutely need into the bag and trust that we can pick up what you may otherwise absolutely need when we get there? We will be in major cities. Suzi has glue. Ronny has markers. You will be okay. Trust me. Now get packing." Gay was not smiling. She meant it.

Wings (definitely not) Up¡¡¡
Madilla

PS: What are we going to do?

Vacation: Seattle & Vancouver

        Last night, Gay called Nuncio, Mickie, Lucinda, and me together to tell us about our up-coming vacation. She said she expected us to tell the others and get everything organized. She and Ron don't have time make their preparations and do ours as well. We completely understand. The students and Dottie were a special concern.

        We will be going to Seattle and Vancouver, so very far away. She told us we would be visiting Rosie and her protectors and then move across the border into Canada to see Ronny, Gay's older son. We had tons of questions, but then Gay and Ron had to leave to take care of some business.

        Road trips are so much fun. 

Wings Up especially high!!!
Madilla

PS: We will spend the day visiting and getting all our things together so that when Gay gets down our suitcase, we can be ready to go. That is the least we can do to show our gratitude.

Dottie in a Dither

        Oh dear Friends, things are falling apart. We had made such progress with Dottie. She had calmed down enough that Lucinda convinced us to reward her with a lovely pink ribbon to wear around the apartment. We were even discussing gluing on a few rhinestones if she could continue to display a non-anxious face, talk slowly and deliberately, say things only once, and then wait for others to give their thoughtful comments. 

        Alas, it was too much too soon. Dottie was hiding in the faux bamboo, when she overheard Gay and Ron discussing a possible move to another state. She freaked out, lost her footing and fell onto the hard tile floor. As soon as she recovered her balance, she dashed over to sit on the sofa behind Gay and began to squawk, "Oh you can't move! You will never find a place as nice as this. No one over there will like you. You won't be able to find a good apartment. It will be too cold. You could hurt yourself packing boxes. You simply cannot agree to move again so soon. It will stress you out too much. You will break some of your dishes. You will probably get cancer. You won't have enough money. It would be too far to visit your family." On and on she went. In fact, she almost succeeded in upsetting Gay.

        Fortunately, Nela and Ace saved the day. Ace took Dottie upstairs and put her in the care of Stripes. Yes, Stripes is a Beanie Baby. We hired Stripes to be a role model for Dottie. It was working. They just need more time.

        Nela took Gay aside and pointed out all the advantages that a move could bring and said she would be happy to accompany Gay on visits back to Lawrence to see old friends. Angel Snakes are better than tranquilizers.

Wings Up!!!
Madilla      

PS: Angel Snakes, the eternal optimists, do believe that a Lizard can change its spots.

PPS: We think Gay needs a new camera.