Sunday, March 30, 2008
Time with the Price family
Last weekend was a time of "getting together" and a little celebration with the Price family. It was Ricky's birthday. We had a nice turn out.
Ricky got here on Friday after a little accident in Montgomery, Alabama. Hit by a semi truck. He survived, and drove to Macon in style in a new Nissan Titan truck. Kelly and Leah got here earlier on Friday. No accident. They just showed up with big smiles. Always a joy to see them "home"! On Saturday, a car load of "Prices" made it: Mama, James and Melba, and Connie. Later in the day, Don and Levin finally found their way to Macon.
We were 11 people all together. Folks were sitting on the deck, chatting. Some were drinking beer, others were enjoying some snacks. Everyone was having a pleasant time. Everyone? Not so sure. It seems like the birthday boy did not quit worrying about his car after the accident. At least he did not stop drinking his beer. (I had beer too.) He brought a whole case! Debbie grilled hamburger and hot dogs. After a few round of horseshoe games, we sat down and ate. Hum, hum, good meal, very good meal.
After the meal, we cleaned up, then we played a couple of Rook games! I won't tell you who won. Then recess, and dessert (Leah and Debbie made the dessert), and more time together. It's nice to get together, isn't it?
We played Balderdash in the evening . Fun game. You get an unusual word and trick people by making up meanings for the words (real words) that you've never heard of before, unless you've heard the word before. Who was the biggest liar of word meanings? I'm not sure. I think it was Levin, the winner.
After a couple more Rook games for the Rook fanatics, everyone went to bed.
Next day. We all had a good breakfast. We then sat down in the main living room and told stories of old times. James certainly got some good stories. Listening to him, you would think the younger Price kids were crazy people risking their live for fun. Actually, it seems like they still do that sometimes. I forgot, how did I end up with this family again? Well, they're all fun loving people and I'm staying. They taught me Rook! Didn't they? And may be we'll go hunting someday. We've already done some fishing at Georgia's on the lake.
Before you knew it, it was time for everyone to go back home. Just like that, the house got empty again. Not quite. We talked Don and Levin to stay one more day. They are the only retired couple in the bunch with flexibility. How did they agree to stay one more day? I knew you would ask. Well, Debbie offered to play ... (you guessed right) a Rook game if they spend one more night. And they fell for it. She honored her part of the bargain. We played two games, on the back deck!
What a nice weekend! Nice folks, pleasant time, good food, beer, and Rook. When are we getting together again? Just let me know.
Andre
Ricky got here on Friday after a little accident in Montgomery, Alabama. Hit by a semi truck. He survived, and drove to Macon in style in a new Nissan Titan truck. Kelly and Leah got here earlier on Friday. No accident. They just showed up with big smiles. Always a joy to see them "home"! On Saturday, a car load of "Prices" made it: Mama, James and Melba, and Connie. Later in the day, Don and Levin finally found their way to Macon.
We were 11 people all together. Folks were sitting on the deck, chatting. Some were drinking beer, others were enjoying some snacks. Everyone was having a pleasant time. Everyone? Not so sure. It seems like the birthday boy did not quit worrying about his car after the accident. At least he did not stop drinking his beer. (I had beer too.) He brought a whole case! Debbie grilled hamburger and hot dogs. After a few round of horseshoe games, we sat down and ate. Hum, hum, good meal, very good meal.
After the meal, we cleaned up, then we played a couple of Rook games! I won't tell you who won. Then recess, and dessert (Leah and Debbie made the dessert), and more time together. It's nice to get together, isn't it?
We played Balderdash in the evening . Fun game. You get an unusual word and trick people by making up meanings for the words (real words) that you've never heard of before, unless you've heard the word before. Who was the biggest liar of word meanings? I'm not sure. I think it was Levin, the winner.
After a couple more Rook games for the Rook fanatics, everyone went to bed.
Next day. We all had a good breakfast. We then sat down in the main living room and told stories of old times. James certainly got some good stories. Listening to him, you would think the younger Price kids were crazy people risking their live for fun. Actually, it seems like they still do that sometimes. I forgot, how did I end up with this family again? Well, they're all fun loving people and I'm staying. They taught me Rook! Didn't they? And may be we'll go hunting someday. We've already done some fishing at Georgia's on the lake.
Before you knew it, it was time for everyone to go back home. Just like that, the house got empty again. Not quite. We talked Don and Levin to stay one more day. They are the only retired couple in the bunch with flexibility. How did they agree to stay one more day? I knew you would ask. Well, Debbie offered to play ... (you guessed right) a Rook game if they spend one more night. And they fell for it. She honored her part of the bargain. We played two games, on the back deck!
What a nice weekend! Nice folks, pleasant time, good food, beer, and Rook. When are we getting together again? Just let me know.
Andre
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
The perfect recess.
Today, March 5Th, 2008.
Debbie and I went out in the middle of a regular working day for a walk in the Ocmulgee National Park. A perfect place to go for a walk.
We've done this many times before, but today seems different. We were not walking for the exercise. We strolled, taking in our surroundings. Just being in the moment. The turtles were out basking in the sun. The great heron we are so familiar with, looked even bigger today. The egrets were there, beautiful as ever, fishing, or trying to. They look so graceful when they fly. Why they look so white and clean, I don't know.
By taking the time to just observing, we did notice something quite unusual today. The park has some strange big birds. We've been seeing them for the last few months. We think they are Aegis. Well, we saw how they get their food today. They dive in the water and swim in the water. Yes, the bird swims in the water, disappearing totally, then comes back with a fish in his beck. I've never seen something like that before. We observed that scene for a while, marvelled, then went on.
We've seen a large water moccassin this past Sunday and I was hoping to see it again. No luck this time. May be he was watching us, smiling and thinking "Gee, these humans are back again".
I then realized that I'm going back to work after having lunch with Debbie. That's a perfect recess. Leave work for 45 minutes for a stroll in a National Park full of a unique wildlife, then go right back to work. Macon is good.
Debbie and I went out in the middle of a regular working day for a walk in the Ocmulgee National Park. A perfect place to go for a walk.
We've done this many times before, but today seems different. We were not walking for the exercise. We strolled, taking in our surroundings. Just being in the moment. The turtles were out basking in the sun. The great heron we are so familiar with, looked even bigger today. The egrets were there, beautiful as ever, fishing, or trying to. They look so graceful when they fly. Why they look so white and clean, I don't know.
By taking the time to just observing, we did notice something quite unusual today. The park has some strange big birds. We've been seeing them for the last few months. We think they are Aegis. Well, we saw how they get their food today. They dive in the water and swim in the water. Yes, the bird swims in the water, disappearing totally, then comes back with a fish in his beck. I've never seen something like that before. We observed that scene for a while, marvelled, then went on.
We've seen a large water moccassin this past Sunday and I was hoping to see it again. No luck this time. May be he was watching us, smiling and thinking "Gee, these humans are back again".
I then realized that I'm going back to work after having lunch with Debbie. That's a perfect recess. Leave work for 45 minutes for a stroll in a National Park full of a unique wildlife, then go right back to work. Macon is good.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Our trip to Togo in December 2007
Togo. Ah Togo.
Visiting Togo was quite an experience. The beautiful city of Lome has changed into something else, unrecognizable. A different sort of hustling, bustling sort of beast. Wow.
The people? Just as nice as always.
Maman. Widowed now. Just sad to be there without Papa with Maman, or Maman with Papa. And to think that they were just about to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Maman is strong and has always been. As far as I could remember my parents have always lived separate lives together. You have to see it to understand. Living together and never arguing or fighting, but different lives, beside each other.
Getting outside of Lome was simply a treat. The african countryside is like no other place. The Baobab trees in their majesty will just remind you of where you are. They are like the king of trees, like the lion is the king of the jungle, so is the Baobab. The Flamboyant trees that you will see in the Carribeans and Hawaii, looking so imposing and royal, just seem like little princes in the countryside of Africa.
Nassogne.
Gosh, I wish I could go back there tomorrow with Debbie and the kids. Kelly and Leah will love that place. Was that paradise, or what? We were the ONLY guests and they treated us as such. They treated like we WERE the only guests and they were afraid to loose us. They needed some company in paradise, I guess. But we had to leave, and we hated to leave too. Can I just go back? The calm of the place was serene. The people were like "what else can I do to worship you better" kind of people. You know what I mean. At your service, Sir. And they didn't even checked us in. Nothing like, what's your name, address, credit card number, driving license, "the name of your first born son", kind of BS you see in America before you get a stupid hotel room. It was more like, "look at all the rooms we have and take the room you like". Of course, we took the room with the balcony and dining/living room, bathtub. They call it the apartment. For us, it was the nicest room. The praying mantis even came with it at night. You have to ask Debbie about that part. The ugly-beautiful bug trying to "chop" me when I was removing him nicely and gently.
Good food. For breakfast, our hosts at this bed and breakfast place asked what we wanted to order. We simply told them the sort of breakfast we typically eat: eggs, fruits... so why don't you just cook something for us. They surprised us with one of the best breakfast we ever had. (Have I already asked if I can go back again?) Greeneries with beautiful tropical plants and flowers complete the picture. Birds were singing like crazy. Everywhere.
At night, you stepped out on your "private balcony" and you see the most stars you've ever seen in your life. You feel like Jacob. And the shooting stars are pretending to be having a contest. Everywhere! You've got to see it to believe it. And my wife was right there beside me. We contempleted the starry night together. I don't have to tell her all about it. Actually, she was the one who got me out of bed to see all the stars. You go back to sleep and sleep like a baby after that sight. Then the rooster wakes you up like in the country. You get up with a smile thinking "I can just kill that rooster" "I didn't hire you as an alarm clock, african rooster!" but you smile anyhow.
Atsintsin.
Have you ever been in the middle of nowhere? If not, you can go to Atsintsin. May be I can charge the people of Atlanta some money to take them to the "middle of nowhere". That will be an experience for the city people. But it's a beautiful jungle. If you die there, no one will notice. You will just be buried right then and there and rot, peacefully.
Let's be more serious. Atsintsin is far and isolated. I've invented a new word after my last visit: an "inland". It's like an island but surrounded by land, if you can imagine that. If you have plenty of money, you can build an airstrip in the middle of the 200+ acres my Dad bought and land there with your own airplane. You will really have your own "inland" for sure. Guess what? I just checked the dictionary and the word "inland" already exists. I was shoked, actually! I wouldn't think some other English speaking people could have been there before Debbie and I. Well, you just never know.
Atsintsin has the potential of been a beautiful ranch one day; if someone is optimistic like me, and has a vivid imagination like Andre (oh that's me again, sorry). With our own airstrip to boot. I forgot about the money part.
Going to Togo and coming back from Togo was it itself a pretty pleasant experience. We flew business class and were treated like royalty. You just have to experience the five course meals with wine, the leather recliner seats... to understand what I'm writing about. You feel bad for the people in economy class. All this, thanks to a friend of a friend of a brother-in-law. I think we even pay less than people in economy so don't let the "business class" throw you off. We were still in first class and were treated like first class VIPs. No one said the world is fair. I'm ready to go back to Togo, first class again.
Visiting Togo was quite an experience. The beautiful city of Lome has changed into something else, unrecognizable. A different sort of hustling, bustling sort of beast. Wow.
The people? Just as nice as always.
Maman. Widowed now. Just sad to be there without Papa with Maman, or Maman with Papa. And to think that they were just about to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Maman is strong and has always been. As far as I could remember my parents have always lived separate lives together. You have to see it to understand. Living together and never arguing or fighting, but different lives, beside each other.
Getting outside of Lome was simply a treat. The african countryside is like no other place. The Baobab trees in their majesty will just remind you of where you are. They are like the king of trees, like the lion is the king of the jungle, so is the Baobab. The Flamboyant trees that you will see in the Carribeans and Hawaii, looking so imposing and royal, just seem like little princes in the countryside of Africa.
Nassogne.
Gosh, I wish I could go back there tomorrow with Debbie and the kids. Kelly and Leah will love that place. Was that paradise, or what? We were the ONLY guests and they treated us as such. They treated like we WERE the only guests and they were afraid to loose us. They needed some company in paradise, I guess. But we had to leave, and we hated to leave too. Can I just go back? The calm of the place was serene. The people were like "what else can I do to worship you better" kind of people. You know what I mean. At your service, Sir. And they didn't even checked us in. Nothing like, what's your name, address, credit card number, driving license, "the name of your first born son", kind of BS you see in America before you get a stupid hotel room. It was more like, "look at all the rooms we have and take the room you like". Of course, we took the room with the balcony and dining/living room, bathtub. They call it the apartment. For us, it was the nicest room. The praying mantis even came with it at night. You have to ask Debbie about that part. The ugly-beautiful bug trying to "chop" me when I was removing him nicely and gently.
Good food. For breakfast, our hosts at this bed and breakfast place asked what we wanted to order. We simply told them the sort of breakfast we typically eat: eggs, fruits... so why don't you just cook something for us. They surprised us with one of the best breakfast we ever had. (Have I already asked if I can go back again?) Greeneries with beautiful tropical plants and flowers complete the picture. Birds were singing like crazy. Everywhere.
At night, you stepped out on your "private balcony" and you see the most stars you've ever seen in your life. You feel like Jacob. And the shooting stars are pretending to be having a contest. Everywhere! You've got to see it to believe it. And my wife was right there beside me. We contempleted the starry night together. I don't have to tell her all about it. Actually, she was the one who got me out of bed to see all the stars. You go back to sleep and sleep like a baby after that sight. Then the rooster wakes you up like in the country. You get up with a smile thinking "I can just kill that rooster" "I didn't hire you as an alarm clock, african rooster!" but you smile anyhow.
Atsintsin.
Have you ever been in the middle of nowhere? If not, you can go to Atsintsin. May be I can charge the people of Atlanta some money to take them to the "middle of nowhere". That will be an experience for the city people. But it's a beautiful jungle. If you die there, no one will notice. You will just be buried right then and there and rot, peacefully.
Let's be more serious. Atsintsin is far and isolated. I've invented a new word after my last visit: an "inland". It's like an island but surrounded by land, if you can imagine that. If you have plenty of money, you can build an airstrip in the middle of the 200+ acres my Dad bought and land there with your own airplane. You will really have your own "inland" for sure. Guess what? I just checked the dictionary and the word "inland" already exists. I was shoked, actually! I wouldn't think some other English speaking people could have been there before Debbie and I. Well, you just never know.
Atsintsin has the potential of been a beautiful ranch one day; if someone is optimistic like me, and has a vivid imagination like Andre (oh that's me again, sorry). With our own airstrip to boot. I forgot about the money part.
Going to Togo and coming back from Togo was it itself a pretty pleasant experience. We flew business class and were treated like royalty. You just have to experience the five course meals with wine, the leather recliner seats... to understand what I'm writing about. You feel bad for the people in economy class. All this, thanks to a friend of a friend of a brother-in-law. I think we even pay less than people in economy so don't let the "business class" throw you off. We were still in first class and were treated like first class VIPs. No one said the world is fair. I'm ready to go back to Togo, first class again.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Welcome to Andre's corner.
Sunday afternoon, March 2nd, 2008.
Debbie, Kelly and I took and 3 hour walk in the Ocmulgee National Park today. It was a beautiful day.
As usual, we saw the great herons, the white egrets, hundreds of turtles basking in the sun, and a lot of birds. We played on the railroad tracks trying to find our balance. Kelly and I climbed trees for fun. Real fun.
Today was special. As long as we have been going to this park in Macon, we have never seen any big snakes. Just small grass snakes. Today was different. We were just talking about the fact that we see all kinds of animals here but no snakes. We were just watching birds with our binoculars when we heard, then saw a big water moccassin going in the marsh. Wow!!! That was a biggie! What a beauty! It will make the hair stand on your skin. As we were still watching this non-aggressive snake, a man came by and we pointed the snake out to him. He goes "that's nothing, that's nothing, man. Do you see that log over there, I've seen a snake that big around here. And the alligator usually just goes from there to there." The log he pointed to was big. We've never seen the alligator either.
If you come around, you need to check this park out. It's free and full of life.
Well, we had a little fun today.
Sunday afternoon, March 2nd, 2008.
Debbie, Kelly and I took and 3 hour walk in the Ocmulgee National Park today. It was a beautiful day.
As usual, we saw the great herons, the white egrets, hundreds of turtles basking in the sun, and a lot of birds. We played on the railroad tracks trying to find our balance. Kelly and I climbed trees for fun. Real fun.
Today was special. As long as we have been going to this park in Macon, we have never seen any big snakes. Just small grass snakes. Today was different. We were just talking about the fact that we see all kinds of animals here but no snakes. We were just watching birds with our binoculars when we heard, then saw a big water moccassin going in the marsh. Wow!!! That was a biggie! What a beauty! It will make the hair stand on your skin. As we were still watching this non-aggressive snake, a man came by and we pointed the snake out to him. He goes "that's nothing, that's nothing, man. Do you see that log over there, I've seen a snake that big around here. And the alligator usually just goes from there to there." The log he pointed to was big. We've never seen the alligator either.
If you come around, you need to check this park out. It's free and full of life.
Well, we had a little fun today.
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