An eye patch, a skink, and Ira Glass go to the Ren Fair.

This weekend we (Kris, Kevin, Rob, and I) went to the Maryland Renaissance Fair. A lot of it was the same as last year, but this booth was so cool I had to try on an eye patch. In addition to all of the cool things in the background, he also sold barettes with eyes. I'd love to have eyes in the back of my head, especially at work.

While we were walking around, I finally got a chance to photograph one of the lizards who live here. This one is a five-lined skink, also called a blue-tailed skink. Only the juveniles have blue tails though -- the stripes eventually fade and the males develop red heads. In't she cuuuute? They are supposed to be present in lower Michigan as well, but I never saw any.

I also saw IRA GLASS, the host of This American Life!!! He was right in front of us when we were in line for tickets. He's from Baltimore originally. I controlled myself and didn't ask him for a picture, especially since I already have one from when I saw him in Ann Arbor.

Seema's Engagement

Last weekend I went back to Michigan one more time for Seema's engagement party. It was a tiring drive but I was really glad I went. I haven't seen Seema in months and the party was fabulous. I wore the Indian suit that Seema got me but I had my pants on backwards. That got a laugh out of a few people, but they got me straightened out.

Seema's Nani feeds Saurabh's family as part of the engagement ceremony.

Seema and Saurabh -- I think the ceremony was almost over.

Seema and me, after the party had started breaking up.

Now I don't have any plans to go back to Michigan again until Thanksgiving, but that trip will be a doozy! I'd love to go back and walk the bridge for Labor Day ... sigh.

Barbie Beetle and a Bentley

Sometimes celebrities come to visit us and spend some time in the showroom. For the last couple of weeks, the Barbie Beetle has been hanging out. She has pink parts a-plenty (from wiper fluid cap to brakes), and a riot of rhinestones.

This handsome guy has been lurking in the lobby. Please don't sniff the leather!

Amazed by my cat, yet again.

Why Giselle loves to sunbathe in the window on days that are over 90 degrees outside, I'll never understand. She probably doesn't get it why I insist on keeping the apartment at a chilly 78 either.

Looking back on the Michigan trip

A few more pictures from my trip back to Michigan last week, starting with the reason for the trip: the wedding of my friends, Kris and Kevin.

A panorama of the Straits of Mackinac...

... and a few random shots that I like. From left to right and top to bottom:
1, 1: My mom and I went to the farmer's market in Gaylord on Saturday morning, and came back to the car to find an almost identical one parked behind us. In a town of 3,600 people, we were pretty surprised.

1, 2: This was on the van of someone attending the wedding. I've seen this sticker a few times and it always makes me laugh despite not being a big meat-eater.

2, 1: Pat & Bud's grocery store in Elmira was a way-point on my commute to Petoskey that told me I either was almost home or still had a long way to go.

2, 2: This sign was in the Mackinac Bridge History Museum in Mackinac City. You might have to click and see a larger version to get the message of the sign. I'm not sure if it was a joke or not -- I don't know if they had porta-johns when the bridge was being built.

3, 1: This is the site of the house that my family lived in until I was about 12. It burned down a couple of years ago and now the lot looks much, much smaller than I remember. We have a lot of old pictures taken in front of that birch tree.

3, 3: This is the pond at Michaywe' where Kris and Kevin got married.

Another perfect day

I didn't have any plans for my last day here, so I wandered over to Petoskey and then up to visit the Bridge. It was a perfect day, just a tad breezy and in the low 70s. Picknickers were by the shore and boaters were sailing on the straits.

They're not just "pretty good" lakes.

Here it is! Some better pictures, in better light and without redness. I kind of wish I had got it where it was more visible, but it's fairly easy to cover up here when I need to and I can still wear short sleeves.

Now Michigan will always be with me.

I'm not sure if it hurt more or less than I expected, but there it is. I could sometimes tell what part he was drawing -- "Oooh, that feels like Lake Superior ... Was that Saginaw Bay?"

Better pics later.