Wanna imagine something extradordinary. Think of Beka sitting at a desk shuffling flat processed wood products. Then imagine her using this ....well...stuff! called " tacky-finger" for people with dry finger syndrome and a high tech letter sealer that could be made out of a cattle vaccination syringe and an overused sponge!!! Amazing what the world has come to!!

Girls Night Out

Girl walks in. Has engagement ring.
Other single girl grabs hand, says "THEY DO EXIST!"
Another single girl asks when the wedding is. Engaged girl says "Next June". Single girl says, "When I get one of those things, there isn't gonna be no year long engagement. He isn't gonna get to claim ownership and 'try' me out for a year!!"

Hey Jen- this is for you - "some people make a career in finding out things we do wrong because we are the 'big dog' " -IP legal advisor

Congaree Swamps

Today, around 2 oclock, after going crazy in the psuedoworld, I decided to hit the Congaree Swamp National Park via kayak. Thinking I could relax a bit while getting out in the real world, I set out on Cedar Creek to make my way through the muck. Well this real world proved to be just as stressful as the psuedoworld of the city. I had to keep my eyes open for those slick critters without legs and the fuzzy critters with too many legs. I tried to tell them they should try exchanging..slickeness for legs... they both might get around better in that mess. They refused to listen. So instead I took some pictures(posted whenever my computer decides it will work again.....It doesnt listen to me either.... I am starting to see a pattern here). So continuing on my way, I relaxed and worried less about what those critters were thinking of me. The creek soon became boring...all swamps look the same. Luckily when I turned around to head back downstream the water was swift enough to call fun.

Shantyville

'Nother day of slackin on the water. Went out to Congaree Swamp National Park but it was flooded so high I decided it wasnt safe for a lone, blonde kayaker....might get lost. For you in Virginia this means the swamp wasnt just a swamp anymore it was a lake with tops of trees sticking out.
So instead of the swamp, me wents to the Congaree River. Found a boat landing and was about to get in the water. Stopped by a local me was. He told me of the good fishing spots on the lake. Also informed me I was in Shantyville due to all the shackboats on the lake.
Finally got on the water. Paddled as far away from the fishing boats as I could. On my way, I saw a beaver. I quietly paddled towards it but noticed it did not panic. As I approached I realized, this is no beaver!! It was an aligator! I was slightly nervous for a bit after that. Soon I was over it though and had a good ramble about the bald cypress. Oh, and just in case you ever need to know, tap an alligator on the snout or ears to make it back away. If attacked, go for the eyes and nose first. If it has your foot, tap it on the nose.

Rapids, Smokes, and Striped Bass

This fine evening as the rain clouds opened up for a few hours, I went on a mission to find the notorious rapids of the Saluda River. As I had heard from a park security guard, one must park at the zoo and walk down to the river. So to the zoo, I went. I had no plan on how to find these rapids other than this. But these crazy kayakers make it pretty darn easy. All I had to do was park near all the SUV's that had kayaks strapped to the top. A group of 10 or so crazies stood around drinking. I was a snob and didnt talk to them. Wasnt really intersted in drunkards. From here I followed the sounds sound of rapids. Well, so I walked past a bunch more drunkards along the edge of the river and finally seemed to get away from them in some thickets and trashy woods. Here I found a nice big rock to sit on and listen to the sound of water and trains. The rapids were enormous..me would die if I set out in those. But they were fun to watch. Suddenly, interupting my deep thoughts, I thought I heard a voice..turned around i did..and the guy standing there didnt say "do you have a light" but instead "want a smoke?" Well of course I accepted....... just kidding. After abandoning this pothead, I came out into a little more open spot and sat down on another rock..as I sat there watching two black guys fish I saw they had a huge striped bass. So... of course, I had to go over and check it out and talk fishing with them. Robert and Tony were their names. They informed me that they come there every evening and, in fact, would be out there at 4 AM tomorrow morning. I dont think Ill make that somehow. But I did tell them I would try to make it out sometime to get some pointers from them. The fish was offered to me but cleaning it I did not feel like.