Pony Swim at Chincoteague

We had a great time this week in Chincoteague. We got up at 4:45am to get out to Memorial park on the Assateague sound to watch the ponies swim. It was pea soup foggy when they swam at about 8:30, so we only saw a few bobbing heads, not a whole lot less than we saw last year. But we did get a great spot for the pony parade down Main St. The Salt Water Cowboys herd the ponies down Main St from their landing point on Chincoteague to the fair grounds where the auction takes place the next day. That's where the pics are from. The carnival was lots of fun, too - rides and games and of course lots of ponies. The big event is the drawing for King/Queen Neptune when one lucky ticket holder wins the pony that first makes it across the channel. This year it was 'King Neptune' and a teenage girl from Massachussetts won him - Hope was heart-broken (again this year). We also spent one morning at the Assateague beach where the ponies run wild (every other week of the year except this one). This is a beautiful, unspoiled beach.

That's all for now...

Michael

YY FEEDING A GIRAFFE

Yuan Yuan Feeds a Giraffe - We have the pictures to prove it.

This past week, despite the record breaking heat, Yuan Yuan and I drove most of the way to Charlotte to visit a sort of private zoo called the Lazy 5 Ranch. This place is like a petting zoo but there aren't just sheep and goats (though there were some of those as well). They had Water Buffaloe, Long Horn Cattle, Llamas, pot bellied pigs, Emus, Ostrich's, Zebras, a Rhino, and, my favorite, Giraffes. As you can see from the pictures we were able to touch and feed all of these animals. You can't do that at the zoo. We are big supporters of the zoo. We buy a family membership every year and go down to Asheboro often but this place was better in a lot of ways. All the animals were "prey" animals so there weren't any lions or bears. All the animals were tame and looking for a handout. So, there are a few animals that the zoo has that this place didn't but here you can feed the Giraffes! How cool is that. They are like living dinosaurs. Look at the faces on them. Anyway, enjoy the pictures. I'm going to start sending out bills to you guys if you don't start posting.

Steven

Trial Postponed Until September 15th

That's right, folks, the trial of the century has been put off until September 15th. Our side thinks that they were caught off guard by the subpoenas that we sent to every member of the School Board. They said they needed more time and, quite honestly, we need some more time to prepare also. We have videotape of the entire night's events that we are still reviewing.

But enough about me. How is everything going for the wedding? Hello? Anybody out there? We are really looking forward to it. Yuan Yuan is so proud to be a flower girl.

Well, since there's no response from you clowns about the wedding I guess I'll just brag on our daughter. Yuan Yuan will be five on September 13th (write it down!). We have been having a blast riding bikes together. Unfortunately, about a week ago someone stole my bike off our front porch. No, it wasn't locked but thanks for asking! So, I bought a new one and this is really an improvement. There is a woman who rides her bike by our house nearly every day. She sits upright and has a basket on the front. When ever I see her I sing the tune to the Wicked Witch of the West in my mind. Anyway, that is the kind of bike I got. Yes, it's a girl's bike but it is a nice Carolina Blue color with a wide bouncy seat and shock absorbers on the front tire. I'm still getting a callous on my ass but it doesn't hurt as much as the other bike did. Anyway, I bought YY a little bike that attaches to the back of my bike using a clamp that goes on the neck of the seat. That clamp was on the other bike when it was stolen so now I am scouring the internet to try to replace that piece. She just loves riding back there. She chatters away the whole time like we're at a tea party or something. My favorite is when she gets upset that I didn't see the kitty cat or the squirrel that she saw even though I'm trying to keep us upright and out of traffic. Since we don't have that piece now we took seperate bikes and went riding yesterday. She has a "princess" bike with training wheels but she's a real daredevil and tends to take off at full speed if I don't watch her closely. She took a couple of spills but got up without tears.

Later

Steven