Not a jack o lantern, but, a lovely candle

A gardenia Bob planted for me finally bloomed the first time on my birthday. It has been a wonderful one.

Yes, here I am again on terra firma after having a SUPERB day!! I got to take that special ride that I had listed on my "bucket list". It was a great day to do anything, and especially this. The pictures are a little more in sequence if you start at the bottom ( haven't mastered that problem yet) with the glider behind the tow plane. Then just a close up of the glider without and with me. The pilot is a great guy who was very informative. He gave me a crash course in the controls then told me not to touch them. The towing part was the least fun, noisier and a little rough. Reason being that the tow plane goes faster so there is kind of a dragging feeling, if that makes sense. Once we were free it was the most liberating feeling I have ever had, only the sound of the air passing and going slow enough to really take in the views. When catching thermals it feels like someone is lifting the seat and the opposite is true when it goes away. This is toward the end of the season so the "lifts" were few and far between. The pilot was impressed at how calm I was, asked if I had spent much time in small planes, told him only ones with motors. He did some tight curls in the thermals he said he wouldn't do if I had been uptight. Didn't tell him I wasn't smart enough to be afraid. The only thing that I gave a thought to was the landing and only because, as you can see, I was right in the nose. It was a smooth landing and I would jump at the chance to do it again anytime.

This is a story of how I learned to keep my eyes open when walking in the early morning. Yesterday I started out with a smile on my face and a song in my ear, when as I crossed the street in front of the house I nearly stepped on a SNAKE coiled on the warm pavement. Little did I now I could learn the "levitated side step" dance so quickly. It is a sure way to wake you up to your surroundings. After completing my walk, I came back by to see the critter had been run over and that there were no rattles on the snake.

As in the way of Mother Nature, later in the day the turkey vultures were cleaning up the mess. Not often one can get up close and personal with these great birds.

Just another day in the desert. Open invitation, come on down.

Okay, once again it has been a while, but, do I have some exciting news. "Honey Bob" surprised me with a "STUPENDIS" birthday gift. Go ahead try and guess. Think flight jacket, goggles, silk scarf around neck. Give up? How about a flight in a glider!!! It has been one of the things on my to do list along with going up in hot air balloon, going on sail boat, both of which i have done. I'm soooo excited!!! Will have full report when I get back.