POD: Hummingbird Moth

POD: Crisp Point Lighthouse, Michigan

The Emergency Exit

Several times while in Chicago on work assignments I have stayed at one of those old, big-city "usta-bee elegant" hotels -- the kind where the lobby has a chandelier, the carpet and chairs are plush, and the main desk discretely holds your key while you are out (and knows who you are when you return).

Built in 1893 for the Columbian Exposition, this hotel was the Americana Congress, just off the Loop in Chicago. The best rooms overlooked the fountain in Grant Park, and it prided itself on the early 20th century politicians, bootleggers, and mobsters who were its patrons. Grover Cleveland, Teddy Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Al Capone, and Benny Goodman, just to name a few, have all been guests at the Americana.

I marveled at the rooms whose windows opened onto the black telescoping fire escape ladders (think of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere at the end of Pretty Woman). The hallway door into these rooms had a large, flimsy wooden plywood panel in the middle and big sign over it stating that those fleeing a raging hotel fire could quickly kick in the door in an emergency and scamper through the room to the safety of the fire escape. And, no, I never did, and never would stay in one of those rooms -- I always had visions of either really bad people easily breaking in, or hoards of panicked people racing through the room while the luckless, embarrassed and probably naked patrons were screaming in confusion and fright.

That was the emergency exit of yesteryear. I guess in some ways today's emergency exit can actually be thought of as a "simpler time":

POD: Annapolis, MD

POD: Lizards' Lunches

I have to wonder -- just what is the best wine to serve with Moth?

POD: Death Valley Sand Dunes

The Desert Museum in Tucson

We got to pretend we were bats!

In one section of the Desert Museum is a “cave” – not a real one, but a very well done one – where visitors can see what it is like to have huge bat-ears, among other cavy things. The ears are functional – they amplify the sound and deliver it right to the human’s ears.

Plus, you get to take some photos that might even be useful for future blackmail!

John is definitely the “Alpha-Bat,” don’t you think?

POD: Old Farm Machinery, New Morning

POD: Damselfly Leafsitter

POD: Curiosity

POD: Mt Temple, Canadian Rockies

POD: I've Fallen (from the nest) and I Can't Get Up

POD: Horses

Bye to Some Kartchner Friends

John and I will still be at Kartchner for a while, but some of our Kartchner friends finished their volunteer stint at the the end of May. We had a "good-bye" dinner at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant:


From left, Sandy and Jim, Iris and Carl, John and ZoAnn. Missing: Ed and Grace.

Safe travels to you all, and we'll see you "down the road."