If you're like me, you can't get enough pictures of miniature colts. If you're not like me, well, tough noogies. So, here's another photo from Secession Day. There might be more. It could turn into a theme, or something. I took plenty of pics.One sure sign of summer, in these parts, or, should I say, in our house, is the annual scorpion dance. I don't know as I quite understand it, yet, but tiny scorpions can be found on our bedroom carpet, from time to time. Hence the dance, part (yow! I almost stepped on a scorpion!). Mostly, when we find them, they have died, already. Wool carpet fibers are the kiss of death to these teensy predators, apparently--our natural defense against the baby assassins-in-training. I thought this one (in the photo) was dead, and I slipped a piece of paper under it to return it to it's own environment, in a respectful way, of course. Turns out, it was very much alive and didn't particularly want to go outside. But, with a sudden burst of energy, I was able to get it out the door (yikes! It's mad at me!).
I'm sure it's happier. I am. The question remains as to why we're finding them so regularly indoors. I did get stung, last fall. A medium-sized scorpion was lurking under one of the mountains of cardboard we had lying around outside and and took issue with my trying to move the stack elsewhere. It hurt big time for about 5 minutes. Then, it suddenly stopped and there was no more pain, and no mark, as if it had never happened. Curious. One of these days, the mystery of the miniature scorpions will be solved. Until then, we're glad for the wool carpet. 
Yesterday, sputtering in the smoke at home, I drove up to Truckee to meet Rachel and go for a hike. It was refreshing and clear up there, at the time, though, a few hours later, it became just as smoky as our house. The breezes are equal-opportunity bringers and takers-away of smoke all over northern California, these days. And there are now around 1200 fires still burning. But for the duration of our walk along the shore of Donner Lake, it was clear and bright and wonderful. I loved it. We chugged along, chatting all the way.
Then, we got the munchies and picked up some bagel sandwiches to eat at her house. She and Megan have left, as of this morning, for a music festival called "Rothbury", near Muskegon, MI (here's the website http://www.rothburyfestival.com/ ). It looks like a very cool event. She has a knack for getting herself to the cool events. The music ranges from Dave Matthews to Snoop Dogg and everything in between ("Trampled by Turtles" and "Kraak and Smaak", for example).Meanwhile, she starts her new job in about 10 days. She and Megan will be working for the same company from home (or whereever). Should be a nice arrangement, for awhile.
Also, meanwhile, Tom is actually taking four whole days in a row off from work. Starting today. But it's kinda quiet. I need to wrap this up to to make sure he's not secretly checking in. Gotta leave the house (smoke has cleared, nicely, for the moment). Can't decide whether to go see Wall-E, Incredible Hulk, Wanted, Hancock...Review soon.
