Little Bear's Back Surgery

Some of you remember my office monkeys.  They enjoyed the trip to New Zealand and are mostly behaving at their new office locale.  They made a new friend: Little Bear, aka "LB".

A couple of weeks ago, during a strenuous wrestling match with the monkeys, LB hurt his back.  Some of his threads came loose.  He was in need of back surgery.  He was quite concerned about the whole thing.  The monkeys tried to reassure him that I would do a good job.

Here are the monkeys showing LB the work I did on one monkey's ankle.

When LB got a closer look at my handiwork,

he saw the PINK stitches and his eyes got really big....

and then....

he fainted...

Of course, that was the perfect time to go into action.  I stitched him right up (with brown thread, not pink).  When LB came to, he was surrounded by his friends.

They kept him relaxed and comfortable until he was ready to play again.  Then they took him up on the jungle gym for some fun.

When it was time to go back to work, Moosie was sad to see them all go...

Completed Round Mountain

Here's the conclusion of the "Round the Mountain" story - pictures from my first walk around the base track of Mount Maunganui.

I sat at the aforementioned picnic table.
looked right:

looked left:

see the seagulls on the rock?  (oooo, I almost called them pigeons ;-))

looked down... that's my shoe, I WAS there!

I moved on to the next bench, getting closer to the beach/the end.  Looking right, we can see the main beach in the distance with the ocean waves rolling in.

Looking behind me...

what is that???? 
Some hole dug in the side of the mountain by tourists on the track I imagine.  About large enough for kids to sit in ....   It's Moosie's DugOut !!!

 

Moving on, we see more of the beach as we near the end of the walk.

And behind the group of people under the trees on the right side of this photo is the end of the track (or the beginning if you were with that group of folks).  The track ends on the main beach.

Down at beach level, here is a shot looking back up at the mountain.  See the white-ish specks in the clearing above the small round tree in the middle?   Sheep!

One last look over the shoulder at what we walked around.   See the vehicles on the left?   That's the campground at the base of Mt Maunganui.

It was a very nice walk.  I have walked it twice since that first time.  I have not decided whether I like walking around it starting from Pacific Ocean, ending at Pilot Bay, or starting from Pilot Bay, ending at Pacific Ocean.  Either way round is gorgeous.

Same as MFLD

Good Morning, (or afternoon in Wisconsin).

Today the gadgets on my desktop showed similar temperatures here and back home, albeit different days and times.

Almost 'Round the Mountain

Not only did I make it around the mountain a weekend ago, I went around it twice this past weekend.
I haven't decided if I prefer going from bay side around to ocean or the other way (ocean around to bay).

To continue where I left off, rounding the next bend was a gate (there are sheep on the mountain).  Here is a shot looking back at the gate.

...and looking forward around the next bend at the Pacific.  Two people walking toward me...

The fuzziness at the bottom of the picture is my finger getting in the picture :-)
Around the corner past those two the ocean comes into full view and a picnic table can be seen.  Nice place for a picnic.

and just to prove it was me taking the walk...

This track is still a long way from the top...

See the fence up yonder?   That's for the sheep.  I'm not sure if the fence is to protect the sheep from humans or the other way 'round (protect the humans from the sheep).  Or perhaps it's just to keep the sheep from falling off?

She'll be Coming Round the Mountain

I did it.
I did it, albeit at a lollygagging pace.

I walked the base track around Mount Maunganui in about 45 minutes, stopping to take 34 pictures.  I did it yesterday, September 15 (or as they say here, 15 September) on my parents 50th wedding anniversary.

I called them today (my Sunday Sept 16, their Saturday Sept 15). It's not always been easy for them, but I am so glad to have 2 parents in the same household after all these years.  I really can't imagine it any other way, but people make that work too.

Anyway, back to the Mount.  The weather was great and my other chore (scrubbing mold in the shower) was not nearly as appealing (you think!!)...


Heading to the Mount

I walked the base track, here's the PDF  http://econtent.tauranga.govt.nz/data/facilities/files/mauao_october2011.pdf

I started out from Pilot Quay (shown south on the map)

In the far distance of that photo is the Port of Tauranga where I work.  Nice view, eh?
Heading into the foliage ...

Around the first bend was a beach area.  Too cold for swimming, but a couple people were fishing.

A nice shot looking ahead along the track.

Around the next bend, looking back along the path at the bay.

And looking ahead along the track toward the upcoming ocean views.

Around the next bend, things definitely look more "ocean"y

I can't give it all away on first posting.... more to come.

End of the Crest

Whoa is me, I have squeezed every drop out of the last tube of Crest...

You'd find it hard to disagree...

 
Luckily a guy at work suggested I try Colgate (aaaaaaaack!) with no fancy stuff in it.  I tried it (Colgate Total).  It's workable....

cue Gloria Gaynor...  "I will survive"....   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Will_Survive

Chevy Cavalier

Interesting find on the way to work one morning.   A Chevy Cavalier.

It's a Chevy, right?

NOPE....

Toyota!

It didn't look like someone redid the branding on their own - the toyota emblem on front and tag on back looked legit...  and it was according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Cavalier

Walking to Work

Who wouldn't enjoy walking to work when you have a view like this.  (Friday, approx 6:30 AM)

Arriving at the office.

Walking in a bit later on a Sunday to call mom & dad (approx 9:15 AM).

Rough-housing

The office monkeys made a new friend, little bear (LB).  When they have free time, they enjoy rough-housing.  LB attempted a surprise attack, but the monkeys saw him coming.

LB slipped out and put a move on them.

As long as they are having fun, it's all good.

Like Father, Like Daughter

Dad worked with wood his entire career.  He'd like my view from the office although he might like to be out in it rather than looking at it.

Moosie Makes a Friend

I bought a vacuum and a toaster.  Moosie was fascinated by the vacuum.  The noise scared him at first, but then curiosity got the better of him.

After the noise subsided, Moosie had a heart-to-heart with his noisy new friend.

Fast Food is Everywhere

Fast Food is a worldwide phenomenon (or perhaps a curse).

McDonalds is here.  I have not yet stepped foot in one although one is located just down my street.  Of course McD's entices the locals by offering food for local tastes - a "lamb burger" (made with 100% NZ lamb).   Might have to try that.

What's that down the street?

Yes, indeed, even Burger King is here.

I did walk into that one and found the french fries were quite expensive.  I don't think they call them french, they are just fries.

Subway is here too.  So much American influence in a faraway land.  Still looks out of place to me.  I guess in a way it is comforting knowing you are never too far away from something you can get in the states.  On the other hand the adventure might seem a little less adventurous by the presence of such familiar places.
This being my first time out of the states, so far it seems a bit of a comfort although  I have no interest in becoming a regular patron.

If I could find a Taco Bell, I'd give that a try!