Take me out to the ballgame...

The Houston Astros game today started very well, despite its tragic end. The first pitch was thrown by the esteemed Rev.Dr. Steve Wende, and the church choir sang the National Anthem. Michelle got to walk up to home plate and watch her dad throw a perfect strike, then meet some tall important people. It was the highlight of the game, as things kinda went downhill from there.

Where's Michefish?

Michelle and Heather pose in San Antonio while thinking about their old roommate Micheleen.





Here we are doing reconnaissance to find Micheleen's whereabouts.

Futon

A big step in the life of Rob occured today: He acquired a futon. The comfy piece of multi-purpose furniture is sitting in his bedroom, fully assembled, as this post is being written. It was given to him by one of the many Michelles in his life (in this case newspaper reporter Michelle). Thank you, Michelle.

To fully appreciate what a milestone the acquisition of the futon is for Rob, here's a quick rundown of the sleeping situations he's endured since his senior year of college:
1. Senior year at Pitt: Bed (high point of life).
2. Rocky Mountain Youth Corps: Sleeping bag and tent (once I found some hay to put under the tent. That was a really great week.)
3. Reporting in Colorado: Three stages: a) Thermarest on the floor b) air matress c) bed from druggie roommate who got it in turn from an old hotel (ewwwwwwww)
4. Guatemala: Sleeping bag near volcano (but I never slept because I was afraid the lava would kill me in my sleep)
5. Reporting in Somerset, PA: Multiple stages: a) Army cot b) hand me down bed from younger brother c) fold-out couch bed d) Halleluja!! Futon!!

Tonight I expect to rest in complete comfort for the first time in almost four years. This is happiness.

Hey you guys, make comments!

It's been great to hear from so many of you--my inbox is full of all your stories. But don't be afraid to make comments so everyone can see them! For example, Heather thinks that it's "sickeningly cute" that Rob and I are the same person. Which gives me the opportunity to explain that it's just a fact, for several purely objective reasons. We were both liberal arts majors who tacked on journalism as a nod to the real world. And we both ran track in high school. We've read a lot of the same books and we both like climbing up mountains. In fact, there are too many reasons to list.

Actually as we get to know each other better, I realize that in fact perhaps I am the good side and he is the dark side and together we make a well-rounded person.

A short aside to plug THE BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED MEREDITH (my sister) who is performing in King Lear and Two Gentlemen of Verona, before heading to England to make her big debut. Fare ye well, little sis, one day we can say we knew you....
















The shows' website: http://www.shakespeare-winedale.org/

And I want to say hello to our most distant readers, Mathieu, and maybe Craig, in far-away China!

I'm stuck in Houston today with no car and no other self so probably I'll be blogging some more later on...

Security clearance at the airport

I just dropped Michelle off at the airport. Her flight to Houston was delayed because of some big old Texas style t-storms roaring in the Lone Star State, but the gal at check-in was nice enough to give me a security pass so I could wait at the gate with her. Never had a security clearance before, everyone has always believed I was too suspicious to give me one. The flight was only delayed for an hour, during that time we saw my uncle at the Air Mall and had a drink with him. Then Michelle drug me to a girly soap store called Bed Bath Body and Beyond (torture) and to Gap Women (pure pain). She got off on her flight just fine, though, and her family I;m sure is glad to see her. Now it's time for me to go to work.

Canoeing the Hike/Bike Trail

Disaster at the Cassellman River. We attempted to float from Garrett to Rockwood, thinking three days and nights of heavy rain would carry us over the river's many rocks. We were wrong. Sharp rocks gouged at poor Leaky's fiberglass hull and nearly destroyed our ancient and honorable water vessel. We had no choice but to pull our tail between our legs and give up, only one-quarter mile downstream from where we started. After dragging Leaky up the steep river banks, we started portaging the canoe down this Rails To Trails bike path. It was not even noon yet, but, deeply depressed and feeling like a failure and a jerk, Rob cracked a can of Yuengling lager and attempted to drown his sorrows. Carrying the canoe hurt Michelle's soft and delicate hands. It was a trial for both of them.

Near the end of the path, we encountered an old man biking the trail; his bright yellow shirt identified him as a trail ambassador. He asked us to sit in the canoe and he took this photo, which he said he would send to a Laurel Highlands photography contest. A week later he dropped it off at the newspaper. Will this photo win the contest? Might it launch Rob and Michelle to superstardom? Only time will tell . . .

Wild Things in Pennsylvania

Some animals I've seen in Pennsylvania: a bald eagle, nesting osprey, a red salamander, a red-tailed hawk, a beaver, and an otter eating a baby duck. All these animals were spotted from Leaky, our trusty canoe. Rob saw some wildlife today when he approached a house to do an interview and the owner released her crazy dogs on him, then videotaped the attack. We are trying to get ahold of that video to post a link for y'all.

Gravity Hill

Today we visited Gravity Hill, in a very remote part of Bedford County, where we put the car in neutral and rolled up this hill. Is it an illusion? That's what we thought beforehand, but now my faith in gravity is shaken and Rob has become a nihilist. Here is the cult-like website: http://www.gravityhill.com/

Mountaintops

Ixtazihuatl, Mexico City, Dec. 2005

Volcan Agua, Antigua, Guatemala, July 2005

On the cloudy Agua summit...