Cardigan in Winter

Furry visitors to Merry Meeting woods.

Bob? Is that you?

Could this be a mink? And did it eat some of our chickens?

Bob from game camera

Bob the cat

 This is Own. He is Asa's second best friend (second to Johnny).

Ain't no trip to Cleveland

The oldest buses in our Transit Fleet are being retired - a process that's been under way for a year or so.  Today the last two will make their "final" journey (to their next home).

These buses were built in 1999 and have outlived their federally mandated 12-year life spans.  When I first started working here in early 2001, these were the nice, new buses.  Now they are the aged, despised, older ones.  I still have a soft spot for them.  I learned to drive on the 99's.

So, even though I haven't driven a bus on the road for over a year, I took one of these babies out for a spin for nostalgia's sake.  It felt like old times.  My muscle memory had everything down in just a few seconds - I knew instinctively where to find the four-way switch when I crossed the railroad tracks.  There was a time when I spent six to eight hours a day sitting in these seats, after all.  The familiar bounce as I drove over bumps; the slight jolt when the gears shifted; it felt like home, really. 

I'm reminded of the words of that great philosopher, Dignan from Bottle Rocket:  

"Best job I ever had...
working my way up, meeting people...
listening to stories."

Fare thee well, mighty warrior.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day. Yes, this is the only picture I took.

Breakfast, the day after Thanksgiving.

The Azze Christmas tree, a hemlock cut on our property.