MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

I had a reaction similar to that when I finally saw The Scream in person. I had always kind of dismissed it until I saw it in person. Pictures do it no justice. It had such an effect on me. I could not move for some time.

For me, it's been important to see artworks for myself. The more renowned ones have had so much discussion over the years I would expect most people who can read or listen would have at least a little awareness of them in advance, and that's me to a T, so it's a chance to see something I've heard of with my own eyes and then I can puzzle over the reasons for its renown.

Like bajillions of other people, I once had a good look at the Mona Lisa and I immediately appreciated the delicacy of the brushwork, but I wasn't taken by her enigmatic expression like all the discussion suggests. I thought she looked like she had observed something about da Vinci that she wouldn't speak - as if he was attracted to her but she didn't reciprocate. It was a knowing but kind smile.

 

[MaryJanet]

For those that are interested a quick update on Lady Featherington's molt.

Post in thread 'Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock' https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27340554

Thanks Bob! I have read that speckled chickens get more white spots as they age and go through their moults. So if you ever see a mostly white speckled chook, it's probably quite old!

 

[MaryJanet]

Finding out in a milkshake parlour in Boston that you get the contents of the stainless steel mixing jug and not just a cup of it.

Standing on the edge of Etna with plumes of gas bursting around me and lava trickling out of various fissures wondering if my boots would catch fire.

Riding part of one the the Geat Train Jouneys featured in the series they made from Bombay to Puna.

Getting arrested at the Pakistan border.

Hitching a lift from Thailand to Cambodia on a motorized raft smuggling consumer goods.

You and RC should be holidaying together!

I bet the pair of you are secretly planning a sojourn to Iceland where that volcanic activity was kicking off the other day

 

[MaryJanet]

They only kept us for a couple of days and then threw us out with no real explanation.

They must've needed the cells for genuine criminals. Were you adequately provided for while locked up? In my imagination, the answer is a resounding No.

 

[MaryJanet]

I’m afraid all the time I personally felt or was in danger while travelling were due to my being so stupid I can't recall those memories publicly, even though some are rather funny.

I wish you would pick one of the least embarrassing ones to share

 

[RoyalChick]

You and RC should be holidaying together!

I bet the pair of you are secretly planning a sojourn to Iceland where that volcanic activity was kicking off the other day

Oh no. Since retiring I have become a real homebody.
I suspect @Shadrach and I may have trodden some of the same paths a long time ago however. I was quite immersed in Central Asia, Silk Road, Great Game parts of the world for quite a while. And as a child I spent a lot of time in East Africa. Then I fell in love with SE Asia. Really, it is Australia and NZ I have neglected, as well as much of Europe.

 

[MaryJanet]

So, in case it's not clear, I'm back home and exhaling.

These trips where people who are academics work with people who are industry leaders are always somewhat surreal. The industry leaders do things in such haphazard ways and completely zone out when the academics are attentive to the finer details of decision-making. Then, they wake up and raise a question the academics raised, discussed and resolved 15 minutes ago, oblivious to their own inattentiveness. Most of the academics are sincere and generous, so they look around the table until one decides to speak to the point and painstakingly go over the old ground again, once that person gets going there's a palpable sense of relief as the all the others think, "oh good, Caroline's taken it up, I don't have to repeat myself for the umpteenth time today."

 

[MaryJanet]

Oh no. Since retiring I have become a real homebody.
I suspect @Shadrach and I may have trodden some of the same paths a long time ago however. I was quite immersed in Central Asia, Silk Road, Great Game parts of the world for quite a while. And as a child I spent a lot of time in East Africa. Then I fell in love with SE Asia. Really, it is Australia and NZ I have neglected, as well as much of Europe.

I have a feeling that even with all our drop bears, Australia wouldn't have satisfied your inner need for adventure when you were younger. We're way too safe.

 

[MaryJanet]

It's so good to be home with the cat and chooks.

Blossom gave me a very warm welcome with much zooming for joy and 3 hours of purring. The chooks have been clingy this morning, so I think perhaps they missed me too

I'm going to do only a few chores today, then I'm going to walk on the beach to get some fresh, salty air on my face and in my hair before going out for a birthday dinner this evening.

 

[Shadrach]

I am fascinated by volcanos. I don't know that I could be that brave myself. Amazing

It is actually safer then it sounds.