The LazyAssGeek’s

OK, this is just ridiculous.

http://www.lazyassgeek.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=128

I’ll attempt to avoid becoming too maudlin in this post, but it will likely be difficult. On Saturday September 12, 2009 we lost our Congo Girl.  She had a seizure of some sort on Friday evening just before I got home from work and never recovered.  We made her as comfortable as we could, putting her in our bathroom in a towel-lined box – a  quiet, dark place so she could rest comfortably, which is what experience, the internet and Val’s vet all recommended doing(forget about finding an Avian Vet on the weekend).  She looked like she maybe was rebounding a bit but very early Saturday morning, around 5:30am, we heard her squawk and ran into the bathroom and she faded away just after we got there.

It was a very difficult morning in the house, having to take care of her and relive it a bit each time one of the kids woke up and we had to tell them. Our Boogie Chicken was with me for over 21 years (she was 22) and even though they only lived with her for a few months and knew her for only a few months longer than that, I know she had become as much family to Val and the kids as she was to me. Losing her hurt us all.  It’s always those little things that get to you the most – catching yourself thinking you should save some crust from your pizza for her, saving newspapers for her cage, hearing the kids next door whistling to her(they loved hearing her out the window next to her cage and didn’t know she had died) or the reflex to go put the cover on the cage when you’re heading for bed. So much for avoiding maudlin, but I’ll consider writing this therapy of some sort.

Congo

She was a very much loved Chicken and I think a very happy one herself. We will all miss you very much Congo Girl.

Andy & Biggi, in a display of suspect sanity, generously invited us to return to their home this summer, so we invaded last weekend.  Andy wasn’t able to join us until late on Thursday after a business trip but we drove up late Wednesday, arriving at 1:30am Thursday. We finally got to meet the new additions to the family – Scarlet & Filou! It being the middle of the night they were wound up and ready to go after Biggi set them free from the bedroom where she’d kept them while we were unloading.  They never really showed any fear of Sport and ensconced on the cat tree (where they generally sleep away the daylight hours) they obviously felt quite safe. By the next morning they didn’t even need that and ran around on the floor with Sport there the way they normally would.

After a short night’s sleep we took it fairly easy on Thursday, stocking up on groceries for the weekend, enjoying the gorgeous day on the newly-improved deck (great job on the underside of the roof Peter & Crystal!). The kids even ventured out onto the pond in the canoe, dragging Val along for the first trip. Sport quickly got over any fear he had of the water once he saw the kids out on the canoe and practically dove in, then trying to swim out to them.  He had a ball running in & out of the water. We finished up with a pizza party and some Rock Band and managed to be awake when Andy got home, though we weren’t awake long after that!

On Friday we headed into Kittery to take in the outlets and make the inevitable run out to Nubble Light so Val and the kids could see what it feels like when it’s not 20 below zero.  Biggi did a great job not falling asleep on her 30th visit of 2009 to that lighthouse.

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aka the Corvette Forum “Ridley Park Crew” annual BBQ

Saturday 5/30/2009 we packed up the convertible and the Mazda and headed to Ridley Creek State Park with Melissa, Robert and Sport (Michael was on a school trip) for the annual BBQ organized by a couple of guys via the Corvette Forum.  There’s a regular group of Vette owners that meets nearly every Sunday for breakfast and hanging out at the park and often a cruise afterwards.  I’ve attended quite  a few times but hadn’t made it to one this year, though Val & I did cruise with some of the guys to the Simeone Museum a few weeks back.

There was a very nice group of folks and cars there on Saturday, with quite a few hot-rodded old Fords, a couple of Mustangs, a Viper GTS and a Ford Model A in addition to the usual collection of Vettes.  All but the first generation (C1) of Corvette was represented, though with only 1 each of the 2nd & 3rd generations (C2 & C3).  Melissa & Robert seemed to both enjoy checking out all the cars and Val & I spent some time pointing out the differences in the generations and they’re both fairly proficient in not only spotting Vettes now but in identifying the generation.

The Ford Model A is owned by a guy I know through LMC.  He is a technician for Lance Co, the Haas Machine Tool sales & service arm in this part of the country.  Kevin has been in our shop more than a few times over the years servicing the many Haas machine we have in service.  He has a C4 as well, an 86 or 87 I think, but this was the first time I’d had a chance to see his Model A.  Apparently it was his dad’s car and they did a lot of work on it together, very cool that he still has it and continues to keep it running.  Aside from 30 year old paint showing the inevitable signs of age it’s in great shape.  Melissa had to be coaxed a bit, but she finally got up into the rumble seat and Kevin snapped this picture.

Melissa's Ready to Rumble

Kevin had to snap that pic for us because we had of course managed to yet again forget the camera!  So thanks Kevin, for the pic and for showing us your very cool old car.

The BBQ was quite good too, with a whole pig having been cooked up as well as burgers & dogs. I won’t post a bunch of pictures from somebody else’s gallery, so if you want to check out some pics of the folks & cars, click here.

Added:  Pics from James of County Corvette (just page 1)

Michael is 17 today. Blackjack burger is on me!