Snail Sex

Looking at my lovely, unknown garden volunteers-perhaps melons, perhaps gourds, perhaps squash, I saw two snails sitting atop a large specimen. I grabbed one with the intention of pitching them both over the fence into my neighbors backyard. I know, they will come back but I don't have the heart to drown them or dessicate them with salt. Plus, my neighbor doesn't tend his yard and I don't much care for him anyway.

The two were attached via some strange, white protrusions and I pulled them and pulled them and the slimy bits got longer and longer. A shudder and nausia went thru me when I realized what they were doing. I knew that snails were hermaphrodites but didn't know how the whole thing worked, I had to look it up. It turns out that their sex organs are near their heads and they have both innies and outies.

Yuck! They could have at least waited for the cover of darkness instead of making a big show of it!

Flamenco Friday

The Family

My brother, his wife and two lovely girls are in town. We had stuffed bell peppers (mine vegan) and salad at our Ma's house.

It's hard to see the girls growing up but they are doing it nicely. Their parents are wonderful role-models and so supportive of their endeavors.

Sometimes, I think they think me to be strange as their life is so much different than mine, but I feel nothing but love and acceptance from them.

It's nice to have "children" in the family. My sister and I have only furry ones and there is something comforting about the continuation of family.

Many Years Ago and Far Far Away

Nearly 20 years ago I set upon a journey around the world. About 2 weeks before take-off, my traveling companion backed out leaving me on my own. I had traveled by myself many times before but never to so many places and for so long.

After spending a couple of months in Europe I flew to Pakistan where I stayed with friends in Lahore. Then, via death-deifying planes and buses, made my way up the Karakorum mountains to the border of China. Saw some amazing places, stayed in remote villages and was welcomed by such open-hearted, warm, and giving people. I also nearly died in Swat. If it weren't for an ancient man making me tea from some mountain flowers he picked, I would have never made it.

I met some great folks in Islamabad where I was staying at a tourist camp. Most of the travelers were overlanders who had come from Europe via motorcycles, Land Rovers, buses, and even bicycles. I was the only one traveling solo and without my own mode of transportation. I stayed in one of the simple, concrete building filled with graffiti. I had a sleeping bag and shared the room with Evert-Jan from Amsterdam who was cycling around the world.

It was really nice being around others as I had traveled alone for so long.

We were all in Islamabad trying to get visas for India but there was serious political shit going on and we were stuck there for weeks. Embassy's and consulates were shut down, bridges were blown up and Marshall law was enacted.

Despite being in a potentially dangerous and difficult situation, I was incredibly happy there. The people in the camp were such interesting characters and I became very close to many of them. We would take a cab most nights to the various foreign clubs and drink and talk and play pool. Then we would go back to our new home and make a large fire and stay up late talking more. During daylight, the locals would stand at the fence and stare at us for hours as if we were some strange and rare animals held captive in our little oasis.

Eventually things calmed down and we all went our separate ways and some of us made plans to meet up in India, and we did.

Things got bad back in Lahore. I drank too much home-made wine, offered to marry my host's son Humayun to get him a green card, he got possessive and difficult, I had to leave and clear my head.

I had been invited to join an English guy I had met at camp to travel with him on his motorbike in India. I had traveled on Indian trains before, I wasn't looking forward to it. Hell, yeah, I was on board!

That is how Andrew and I met and have been in each others lives since. I was mad at my friend for flaking on me in the beginning but soon realized that traveling solo has it's benefits! After many months in India I headed back to Pakistan to break someones' heart. Really, many someones' hearts as I had become very close to the family in Lahore over the years. I don't think that they have ever really forgiven me but they will always be in my heart.

I am grateful that I was able to really experience Pakistan before things got bad. I hope to go back someday and find that that beautiful country has managed to vanquish the hate and fear that it is suffering with.

Andrew and Gabriel's Wedding

It was the best wedding I have ever been a part of. It was a group endeavor, and not a lazy weekend get-away and that is part of what made it so wonderful.

Most of us got to the sight the day before the wedding (some of us later than others!). We slept in the big bunk-house, while others camped. A group of people made garlands of marigolds to decorate the gazebo where the ceremony would happen.

Down hill from the bunk-house and "honey-moon" suite were the camping area, the reception house and the gazebo. It was a gorgeous place with a dry creek, green meadows and plants and flowers everywhere.

Everyone helped with something whether it was placing the pots of flowers that Jacob had grown for the wedding, or making flower arrangements, cooking or decorating. It was a great bunch of people who were really down to earth and funny.

I made flower arrangements, did the bride's hair, played "official" wedding photographer, decorated the honey-moon suite and crashed-out early, exhausted.

Andrew and Gabriel were easy-breezy the whole time. Considering what it took to pull such an event together they were gracious, fun, and fully engaged. They had made the food themselves and even served us!

We chilled and hung out with our old and new friends, drinking beer and eating for the next day and a half before we hit the road.

It was a truly, beautiful experience.

Flamenco Friday

Random Backyard Photos