Lenox Ave. Wildlife

I've finally had the opportunity to get some photos of the "wildlife" in our "backyard."

First, here is the neighbor's chicken. It's blurry 'cause you know how fast chickens can run!

Finally caught a gecko. This one is very small.

And this is these weird snails that come out after it rains a lot. And sometimes when it is not raining.



And finally, here is Samifus Wondritis Dogmus at sunrise at the beach (picture by Steve).

Pyrophorus beetle

It's been many days. It's been crazy! I've been getting settled in here in Miami Beach. The last few days Steve and I have been struggling to put together our new bed. "A bed?!?" You might say. Yes, a bed. We purchased this bed that has drawers underneath it. We purchased the king size. We are basically building the bed - yes, the company did all of the cutting and such. Be we are doing all of the screwing together of the parts. I'll update on our progress later. The trouble is that we work on it for a while, then get frustrated/tired, and go back to it later.

Today we went mountain biking at Oleta Park. A great park. Lots of riders with REALLY sweat bikes! The official get-together was to honor a man named Leon "Lee" Szczepanski. He was a very active member of the mountain biking community down here and was a Miami Police Officer as well. He died on the trail - on a trip to North Carolina. A heart attack right on the trail! So sad! He was young, no heart problems, he apparently had a reaction to some antibiotics he was given recently.

At any rate, we met some wonderful people and took down some phone numbers. I am excited to meet some new people and hope that these develop into friendships.

The apartment is coming together and as soon as we can get the bed together, we can decide what clothes, if any, still need to be gotten rid of.

I've also purchased a single speed for "riding around town." I had originally thought I could simply buy a simple bike for around $100. Little did I realize that the "single speed craze" is well underway. Individuals and companies alike want a lot of money for a single speed bike. I ended up getting a Redline Monocog.

I hope to have pictures up here soon. Especially those of the lizards, geckos, bugs with glowing dots, and chickens I've seen around the neighborhood - and even in my own "backyard."

HOT HOT HOT

And they say it's hot in Miami! Well, it is, but of course, it's just as hot if not hotter here in Maryland.
Current temperature in Baltimore -> 92 (33 C).
Current temperature in Miami Beach -> 81 (27 C)

You decide which you like better. Oh, and Baltimore has a code orange air quality out today as well.

Stuff I'll miss?

Steve and I both have been trying to think of what we would miss from Maryland. We've been having trouble finding things.

Yesterday I thought of one: Patapsco. I think I'll not just miss Patapsco mountain biking, but more I'll miss the friends. This is especially true for the formally Mondays, now on Wednesdays, weekly "Girlie Rides." I'm hoping the "Feminine Flow Rides" of the Miami area will be just as fun.

Also, our former house on Keller Ave.: Tree frogs and Barred Owls. These are cools sounds to hear just outside your door.

Last few days in Maryland

Tonight is my last Sunday as a Maryland resident. It is weird that by this time next week I will be living in Miami Beach, FL. The change is scary and exciting.

Tomorrow is the first of the two last days of school. Why they have two half days - a Monday and a Tuesday - I don't know. Half the kids don't even show up and no actual teaching happens.

I was at the Barnes and Noble in Towson earlier this evening. I was perusing the cool "journals." Then I thought, "I could just go over to Walgreens and pick up a small notebook for a lot less money." Then I thought, "Hey, my friend Rick has a blog. I wonder how he does this?" Then I found this place. Free is pretty cheap. Also, I can do this from anywhere I have Internet access. Pretty cool.