Whoosh/thud

I need to rethink this "Saturday gym" idea, having skipped it two weeks in a row, this time by just futzing around much of the morning. Not sure what to replace it with, since (a) Sunday gym doesn't work well with the weekday schedule, and (b) in this case, I did just enough walking around and such yesterday that I think I need to take today easy.

We did, however, get some good stuff at the Greenmarket--though less than if we'd gone earlier; I settled for plain apple cider because they were sold out of the apple/raspberry--and tried a pleasant new neighborhood restaurant. It's a vaguely Moroccan-tinged place (evidenced mostly by decor and the mint tea that the waitress asked us to let her try serving us, when I was unimpressed by the selection of Lipton teas), with a short but, from what we tried, tasty menu. "Park Terrace Bistro", on Broadway between Isham and 207th; nice staff, decent food, and I give it 3-6 months, because it seems a bit too upscale for the neighborhood.

Whoosh/thud

I need to rethink this "Saturday gym" idea, having skipped it two weeks in a row, this time by just futzing around much of the morning. Not sure what to replace it with, since (a) Sunday gym doesn't work well with the weekday schedule, and (b) in this case, I did just enough walking around and such yesterday that I think I need to take today easy.

We did, however, get some good stuff at the Greenmarket--though less than if we'd gone earlier; I settled for plain apple cider because they were sold out of the apple/raspberry--and tried a pleasant new neighborhood restaurant. It's a vaguely Moroccan-tinged place (evidenced mostly by decor and the mint tea that the waitress asked us to let her try serving us, when I was unimpressed by the selection of Lipton teas), with a short but, from what we tried, tasty menu. "Park Terrace Bistro", on Broadway between Isham and 207th; nice staff, decent food, and I give it 3-6 months, because it seems a bit too upscale for the neighborhood.

We need to get outside more

I headed out earlier, with gym stuff in my backpack in case I was so inclined, and a set of possible plans, ranging from "just look at the ducks" to "gym and Chinatown," and cattitude planning to accompany me a little way in the park. We ran into three people with binoculars, and asked them what they saw. It turned out to be a Greater Yellow-legs (Tringa melanoleuca), a kind of sandpiper we'd never seen before. Enter Plan 6: go back inside for our field glasses, Cattitude's digital camera, and the Peterson's guide.

The Yellow-legs was still around (and stayed quite a while): I watched it through the binoculars as it ran back and forth, fishing in the shallow water as the tide came in. Cattitude took pictures, and eventually asked for the binoculars.

We also saw the local bald eagles, for the first time this summer: I like it that the bald eagle was not the highlight of our bird-watching, though a pleasure to see circling overhead. We sat a while, talking a bit and looking at the river, the boats going by, a red-winged blackbird on the path, the blue-and-clouded sky. A pleasant way to spend some time together, and I was startled to see, when we came back in, that it was only 3 o'clock. I got out the other bird book, the Audubon guide we got first, to add the Greater Yellow-legs to our joint life-list in the back, and was again startled, by seeing that this was the first new bird in over a year. (But that's partly because I haven't put down osprey yet, despite being sure by now of the identity of the birds on that nesting platform. I still want a closer, longer look than from a moving train.)

We need to get outside more

I headed out earlier, with gym stuff in my backpack in case I was so inclined, and a set of possible plans, ranging from "just look at the ducks" to "gym and Chinatown," and cattitude planning to accompany me a little way in the park. We ran into three people with binoculars, and asked them what they saw. It turned out to be a Greater Yellow-legs (Tringa melanoleuca), a kind of sandpiper we'd never seen before. Enter Plan 6: go back inside for our field glasses, Cattitude's digital camera, and the Peterson's guide.

The Yellow-legs was still around (and stayed quite a while): I watched it through the binoculars as it ran back and forth, fishing in the shallow water as the tide came in. Cattitude took pictures, and eventually asked for the binoculars.

We also saw the local bald eagles, for the first time this summer: I like it that the bald eagle was not the highlight of our bird-watching, though a pleasure to see circling overhead. We sat a while, talking a bit and looking at the river, the boats going by, a red-winged blackbird on the path, the blue-and-clouded sky. A pleasant way to spend some time together, and I was startled to see, when we came back in, that it was only 3 o'clock. I got out the other bird book, the Audubon guide we got first, to add the Greater Yellow-legs to our joint life-list in the back, and was again startled, by seeing that this was the first new bird in over a year. (But that's partly because I haven't put down osprey yet, despite being sure by now of the identity of the birds on that nesting platform. I still want a closer, longer look than from a moving train.)

Software: *feh*

Does anyone know why Travelocity won't let me see fare rules even with Javascript on? It opened up blank windows when I clicked on "rules" for a trip/fare, and just came back with "Completed" on the same page when I tried selecting a fare. Netscape 6.2, Win98.

Alternatively, would anyone like to suggest other Websites through which I can purchase airline tickets from New York to Montreal at a decent price? (Tickets only: I don't need a hotel, tickets to a Expos game, or anything of that sort.) Preferably in English, though I'm happy to deal with a non-US company if it's willing/able to deal with US-based customers.

Software: *feh*

Does anyone know why Travelocity won't let me see fare rules even with Javascript on? It opened up blank windows when I clicked on "rules" for a trip/fare, and just came back with "Completed" on the same page when I tried selecting a fare. Netscape 6.2, Win98.

Alternatively, would anyone like to suggest other Websites through which I can purchase airline tickets from New York to Montreal at a decent price? (Tickets only: I don't need a hotel, tickets to a Expos game, or anything of that sort.) Preferably in English, though I'm happy to deal with a non-US company if it's willing/able to deal with US-based customers.

A bit better

After deciding I wasn't up for doing anything productive, I have baked chocolate chip/orange/cinnamon cakelings, which will be cool enough to eat in a few minutes.

Also answered some random Support questions, made one edit to a Wikipedia article (removed an inaccurate link), played with Julian, and even put a few dishes in the dishwasher. Not too shabby.

Edited to add: 8:18: cattitude somehow convinced me to cook dinner: pasta and our default tomato-onion-bacon sauce, which will be ready in about another seven minutes. I am sweaty.

A bit better

After deciding I wasn't up for doing anything productive, I have baked chocolate chip/orange/cinnamon cakelings, which will be cool enough to eat in a few minutes.

Also answered some random Support questions, made one edit to a Wikipedia article (removed an inaccurate link), played with Julian, and even put a few dishes in the dishwasher. Not too shabby.

Edited to add: 8:18: cattitude somehow convinced me to cook dinner: pasta and our default tomato-onion-bacon sauce, which will be ready in about another seven minutes. I am sweaty.