This man makes underwater sculptures that act as a hurricane barrier to protect coral reefs and also have started turning into coral reefs themselves. It's amazing and a little eerie to see the coral covering up the faces of the statues.
The second astonishing thing is the email I just got from my mum. I'd asked her why all her wedding china arrived on our front step in a large box on Saturday. She said: "Because you've got some sort of a family now and someone may as well get some good out of it."
The third astonishing thing you probably saw in the comments of yesterday's post... L offering to buy me that BMW bike, which, yes, I'm going to post its picture again so you can all admire it:
I feel sort of...overwhelmed about it. I wasn't seriously considering buying it, and it's more money than I've ever spent on anything in my life (those two things are probably related). And anyway, we haven't been on the test ride yet and it might not feel right.
But despite all my normal hedging and pessimism, I keep having to restrain myself from hugging L to death at random moments just for making the offer. He's amazing.
90 comments:
Oh stop it, you'll make me blush.
And you do have a sort of family now. :)
I've seen shipwrecks claimed by the sea over a period of time, by diving them often, but seeing it happen to faces is a bit weird!
Has your mum met Greg yet? Just wondering if it's her way of hinting, you know what mothers are like ;-)
Try to hold off hugging L to death until he's paid for the bike ;-)
I'm going to have to wait until I get to my computer to watch the statues-to-barrier-reef video. (It loads too slowly on my iPod.) I knew they used some old New York subway cars for that purpose, but I didn't know anyone created sculpture for that purpose--that is pretty amazing.
I don't know your mother, so I can't say for sure--but it sure looks to me as though your mother is signaling not just curiosity (although I think, like Anony, that may be a part of it!) but also a sort of pre-approval--she's held onto that china a good while after all, so it must mean something to her. :) (Although I'd say that, however non-traditional, you have not a "some sort of a family" but a family, period! She'll see.)
Hugs are a good way to go... :)
L - won't stop it. May even be forced to kiss you in public after the test ride, fair warning.
Anonybob - no one in my family but Harry has met him. I suppose she might be a bit curious.
RR - it's certainly more than I expected from either of them.
I'll keep my helmet on :)
AnonyBob - I've always assumed if we ever meet they'll run away screaming. Or I will. Or John will. So he's keeping us well apart.
There's this bloke in the world that makes her son smile and laugh,someone he loves to bits and who loves him back just the same. What mother wouldn't be curious John?
I know you're joking really Greg but I can't believe anyone would run screaming from you (unless they were bad people and you were trying to arrest them of course) She'll love you for loving John I'm sure :-)
What mother wouldn't be curious John?
Mine, I would've thought.
Not joking that much. John's got reasons for not introducing us, and I trust his judgement.
it's certainly more than I expected
My automatic response would be "expect more, then!"--but it's good to get happy surprises, so maybe not. :) (But all things considered, I think you should start to get a bit used to getting nice surprises out of life... :))
L, I think John can work around a helmet if he has a mind to... :D
Oh, RR, the things that man can do when he wants to work round a helmet are...well, unsuitable for a family blog.
Maybe she just thought you would get more use from the wedding china than her then John, you know your mother better than anyone :-)
I know John has his reasons Greg sorry if I said something wrong I didn't mean to.
I hope you both have something fun planned for this afternoon :-)
Mmm hmmm. Which is why I'm thinking you might not want to actually leave on the helmet after all, seeing as you'll be in public... ;D
I rather think you and I are referring to different types of helmet, RR. If he tries it on with the one I'm talking about in public we'll both get arrested.
L - ignoring your helmet for the moment...do you want to go to Scotland?
*admires bike*
Yeah, I really hope that bike fits you, John. It's pretty fantastic.
I sort of get where your mom is coming from, I think, though I know nothing of her. It sort of reminds me of something my mom might do. (If I tell you I've been with my husband 16 years and she's never once sent him a birthday card yet bought him a $500 wool overcoat for christmas you might see what I mean.)
Okay, off to work now, after obtaining poo sample from hamster to drop at vet (things are not Looking Good), frantically emailing teacher to be sure the little finger laser pointer toy the boy brought to school for sharing day will NOT be construed as a weapon, and deciding whether or not to dress down (gently) a green as the grass rookie whose one simple email for information (despite the fact I told her I'd do it for her) made it up the chain to my boss' boss' boss. Awesome. I have now devoured and an entire cheese croissant and am now on coffee 2. I wonder if I can put whiskey in that and have no one notice...
so many uses for each word in the english language RR
Getting arrested for playing around with your DI boyfriends helmet in public is never going to be a good look! ;)
Mm, you can ignore it temporarily.
I only want to go if you want me to go! I'm not trying to imply you're doing anything wrong, it's your family and your choice.
I didnt' think I was being all that rude but spam thought differently. ah well!
(Yes, okay, you're right. L, that's not what I was thinking. I believe I've pointed out my relative innocence once or twice... :P)
*snerk*
Maz - you're having a day, aren't you? Sorry, that sounds pretty bad.
If I tell you I've been with my husband 16 years and she's never once sent him a birthday card yet bought him a $500 wool overcoat for christmas you might see what I mean.
If you didn't live in another country, I'd wonder if it were possible that your mum and mine are related.
L - only temporarily.
I only want to go if you want me to go
I know. I do.
I hope your day smooths out considerably, Maz.
Then yeah, I'd like to go.
And the boys?
The bike was a beauty in red
Go buy it the internet said
But danger’s a sensible man
And he said I’m not sure if I can
No matter how many comments I’ve read
John is a really great bloke
He works awful hard for his folk
He spoils them all rotten
Makes sure no one’s forgotten
And I’m sure he can tell a mean joke.
Sometimes a man needs a push
T’ tell his sensible side just to hush
Before too much thought can be given
That bike simply needs to be ridden
Experiencing the speed and the rush
Lestallion wants his card to pay
I love you; you’re amazing he’ll say
Let me treat you my wonderful man
You should let me, just cos I can
You would really be making my day.
A bike you can buy me my dear
But that jacket is not getting near
My new shiny thing I may share
With the man who shows me such care
But sparkles just fill me with fear
As we ride down the road side by side
Our desire just to race we will hide
A leather clad doc and DI
Hanging out simply under the sky
Both wearing a smile a mile wide.
EBSanon
That is amazing, ebsanon, thank you!
L - yeah, definitely the boys too.
EBSAnon, that's brilliant! Although I was thinking his Danger Sparkles jacket would go brilliantly with the red bike. I'll get it armoured for him.
Danger - then Scotland sounds great. Just... don't do it just because you think we'll all pressure you, okay? Do it because you want to.
I think you summed it up impressively EBSanon.
LESTRADE CHEATS
Cheats at what, Sherlock?
Ha, EBSAnon!
Monkey bar races he can do two at a time because he's bigger than me and it's not fair he always wins
I feel I should point out that my reward for winning was to buy the ice creams. So if Shortstuff (junior) had won, he'd have had to put his hand in his pocket and buy me ice cream!
Anyway, can't help being taller.
How does he go in the crawling through tunnel races Sherlock? I'd have thought his size would work against him there :-)
Nice job EBSanon :-)
Well--that's not really cheating, since there are no rules against going two at a time. Maybe next time you could agree beforehand to only do one bar at a time so you'll have a more even chance to win? (That would mean you can only go one at a time, too, of course.)
He can only reach one at a time.
If you win though, kiddo, you buy the ice cream ;)
(just got told off by the Nanny for hanging upside down off the climbing frame after eating an ice cream.)
He's amazing
John, does this mean we get to say "told you so" to Lestrade?
Sherlock, I wouldn't complain too much if it gets you free ice cream :-)
If you win though, kiddo, you buy the ice cream ;)
That sounds fair.
:)
You have absolutely no idea how badly I wish I could go to the playground with you lot RIGHT NOW!
He can only reach one at a time.
(That won't last forever, L! :D)
Finally had a chance to watch the video, John--amazing is right. (I can't help wondering what some future marine archaeologist is going to make of it all, though! :))
I assume that if Sherlock wins you have to give him the money to buy the ice creams, L.
I further assume that the nanny said that if you were sick after hanging upside down not to come crying to him for sympathy.
you can't go around setting a bad example Greg the nanny is right ;-)
SH - he started tickling me! That's the only reason I was going to be sick! Couldn't get down and defend myself!
SH - I further assume that the nanny said that if you were sick after hanging upside down not to come crying to him for sympathy.
Yes, although I should say that if people are going to be sick, I do prefer them to do it outside!
Nameless - John, does this mean we get to say "told you so" to Lestrade?
Absolutely. :)
L - Do it because you want to.
I think I do actually. Thanks.
I can assure you that being sick whilst upside-down is possibly one of the most horrible things I've done, and am in no rush to repeat.
And I was fine until tickled!
I did tell him to stop as well!
It is indeed horribly unpleasant.
Oh, dear. Are you okay now, L?
(But think what an excellent object lesson for Sherlock!)
Im fine. And I don't think being tickled whilst upside down was a lesson for Sherlock - he's not often ticklish, and found it hilarious.
(Only when he wants to be--I remember. :))
Actually, I meant the hanging-upside-down-after-eating-ice-cream-makes-you-sick part.
But I shouldn't have teased. :(
I really love the fact that Sherlock can decide when he's ticklish that's a skill we all should have ;-) it would make life easier, wouldn't it? maybe less fun though ;-)
I wasn't sick today! That would have been mortifying. But I have been in the past. And it wasn't after ice cream.
So now I have to ask. Under what circumstances did you manage to be sick upside down?
Right, right, got it wrong again. Just felt like you might be sick. Sorry. (Still not a bad lesson, really...)
But all okay now?
Danger - it involved too much alcohol and me trying to be kind and gentlemanly.... that part didn't work too well.
Thanks guys re the poem. It's nice to have somewhere that creativity is appreciated rather than laughed at!!
Upside down sick Greg!! really trying not to think about that!
EBSanon
What's kind and gentlemanly that you do upside down?
being sick upside down must be painful I would have thought! I saw someone do it once after an upside down 'funnel' incident and I don't think they stopped crying for the rest of the night!
I'm struggling with the kind and gentlemanly while upside down question as well John but I think it must be lack of imagination on my part ;-)
I was reaching to get her handbag back for her from between a house and a wall where someone had thrown it... got a bit stuck, was very drunk, threw up.... she didn't want her bag back then...
And yes, horribly painful. Horrible generally.
that is so sweet :-) until the bag got full of sick anyway ;-)
Sorry for making you think about it it sounds like the kind of pain that returns on thinking about!!
It seems cruel to laugh, and yet...
It seems cruel to laugh, and yet...
Quoted for truth...
AnonyBob - I don't have words for how horrible it was.
As for you, Danger, don't expect me ever to rescue your handba, mean man.
Just as well. If I had one, I'm sure I wouldn't want sick in it...
I seem to recall my friend saying much the same Greg but I think his really was neat lager, still fizzy and everything!!
It's on a par with throwing up in a crash helmet, maybe. More painful, less hideously unpleasant, probably.
I'm getting the feeling you know that from experience as well :-(
What a delightful topic of conversation really ;-)
Hope you've all had a nice relaxing evening :-)
I'm not sure I can interpret that in a meaningful way, L. Which from the sound of it is just as well.
I'm just glad he qualified that helmet with "crash"
As long as you're not throwing up in your commander's helmet, you're okay.
Just sayin'.
Hypothetically.
That sounds like a story worth hearing back there, DW...
John, that video is AMAZING. Thanks for posting that, it's so cool! What a brilliant idea.
Also amazing is the bike, EBSAnon's poem, and the mental picture of Sherlock tickling an upside-down Lestrade. :D
John - I clicked on this article and the picture up top made me think of you.
Hooray for the Scotland trip!
Ro - glad you liked it. I thought it was pretty amazing too.
Innie - that is beautiful. Thanks for showing me.
DW - you are going to expand on that, right?
Any point when sick has a chance to get up in your sinuses is not good. Really not good.
The video is awesome
and the bike is gorgeous.
When I was training to be an EMT my instructors had some wonderful tales about doing CPR and how it usually leads to vomit. One instructor told me he had a corn kernel lodged in his nose with one patient.
The lesson? Always, always use a shield whenever possible.
Yuck!
Piplover - yeah, we carry shields, although I've never had to do cpr since we started doing so.
AnonyBob - yeah, got knocked off, fairly comprehensively run over... threw up. It was incredibly unpleasant.
That does sound pretty awful all in Greg :-( certainly an experience never to be repeated :-)
Have fun with all the bikes today :-) I know there is no other bike than the BMW but more pictures of beautiful bikes would always be appreciated ;-)
DW - we do need more hypothetical information. By the way I blame you for the chaos at Brownies last week (clearly it wasn't my fault). I used the origami badger link to find some simple origami boats - simple, ha! How could one square of paper cause so many problems?
And J & L have a good time on the bikes - I'm with anonybob with requesting more pictures.
SH, I take no responsibility for improper use of squares of paper. :P Did the Brownies eventually make one?
I was training in Iceland with rescue squadron guys and they were practicing ingress/egress/extraction techniques which involved dropping me off in the middle of a lunar-type landscape with a radio and a bottle of water to play the part of a downed pilot and them practicing the different ways to pull me up into the helicopter under various simulated scenarios, most of which required them to do a bit of flying while I was in the hoist/basket/whatever. I don't have flight equipment, not being a flyer, so I was borrowing the commander's since he wasn't flying and was approximately my size.
After about 35 extractions, they moved on to another exercise, which was good since I was already queasy. Unfortunately, the next exercise involved figure-8s at a high speed and with the helicopter at a 45-degree angle. I lasted for about six and then tried to lean out the helicopter to prevent...contaminating the interior. Being not well-versed in helicopter physics at the time (I was 19), I didn't realize that the blades created a pressure...thing that meant things didn't go out as far as I expected, to the casualty of the inside of the commander's helmet. Mortification ensued.
Oy. That sounds very uncomfortable, DW--didn't it occur to anyone it might be a good idea to rotate "victims"? (Especially the commander--so karma was served! :))
And as with L yesterday, it seems cruel to laugh, and yet... Sorry! Feel free to hit me with cushions if we ever meet in person. That's what L did.
You did try not to though, that's got to count for something. I was picturing some scenario in which your and your commander were sitting side by side, helmet in his lap, and you just leaned over and... So you see, it could've been much worse.
RR, seeing as how you need both pilots to, you know, pilot and the two rescuers to rescue, switching out wasn't possible. Pilots can't rescue and rescuers aren't pilots and I had zero training in either. Thus, I was the dummy in more ways than one.
Since I doubt we'll meet in person, Doc, that seems a bit unfair. I wonder if I could enlist some help in the form of cushions by proxy from Sherlock or Lestrade...
Heh, DW! Well, it still doesn't sound like you did anything to bring that on yourself.)
(And being untrained doesn't make you a dummy!)
I'll do it!!!¡¡ Look upside down ones
How did you make the upside down exclamation points, Sherlock? They are pretty cool. :)
On johns phone if you press the symbol button and then an arrow one you get lots more °~¿«»
I love it!
I also love that you are using John's phone to tell DW you'll hit John with cushions for her. :)
Thanks, Sherlock. Inexchange, I'll send a link to a couple of bugs I saw yesterday that might interest you. It"ll be some time tonight my time, though, as I'm traveling right now.
This is really late, but I just had to say re parents:
I can understand where John and Lestrade are coming from. Has anybody seen the American show Smallville? Clark Kent (Superman) as a young teen makes friends with a young Lex Luthor. Clark's parents are amazing, supportive, help him though every challenge he faces. Lex's father Lionel has most of the characteristics that are ascribed to the villan Lex in the comics; and along with the "villian" qualities of being evil, cruel, manipulative and ruthless, Lionel is also extremely controlling and emotionally abusive. .
Anyway, I remember trying to explain to a friend of mine once that my own family were more Luthor than Kent. We'd been discussing it a little, and I guess he figured that since he liked me and my qualities my parents must be similar. And I remember how much I feared my parents, having any contact with them. And he would often say "Maybe it'll be better this time."
As he learned more, got to "know" them, and heard about how they treated me, he stopped feeling positive like that and just tried to help me through when I did have to be around them. He enjoys a very good relationship with his own family and sometimes I will ask him for a "reality check" in the sense of "what would other families do in this situation? What would be normal? Or sane or supportive?
So I really do understand Greg and John and the issues they've shared regarding parents. And I understand the fact that change is really rare in people like that- John's parents will likely be just as difficult as he expects. He's had forty (forty one?) years now to learn how they behave. And if they're anything like my family, they are absolutely right, and the best family, and they couldn't possibly be doing anything wrong, or need to change anything. It's tough to "set boundaries" when the other party just plows right over them and just doesn't care. For any kind of negotiation, or improvement to take place, all parties have to care, have to be willing to change, to admit that there are things they CAN change. And we aren't all blessed with family like that.
So fellow badgers, trust John!! Trust what he says about his family and why he might have ony introduced L to Harry. He has told us a little bit and it all made sense to me! It's very kind to hope for the best, and try to find positives in situations J&L share and say "Oh, maybe it'll be better now". John can correct me, of course as can L. but it might be more helpful if we just say
"I know it was tough.(or is tough) I'm so sorry you went through that. (Or have to go through that). I'm so sorry they're like that." The important thing is to believe.
Believe that families may be as bad, or as painful, as our bloggers say. Because being believed, when you are going through something like that (and often it is a kind of abuse) goes a long way.
Being believed is very important, yeah.
And don't worry about being late. At the least, John and I will see the comments. :)
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