Segway

I still find this name a bit of an irritation, since as far as I know, it doesn't stand for anything in particular, so I always think it's misspelled (segue).

I thought it clear, though, that it's a vehicle: wheels, handlebars, motor, speeds comparable to a bike, all that stuff that says "vehicle" to me. Which would mean that it would need to be ridden on streets, or in bike lanes. But apparently I'm wrong: many states have already allowed them on sidewalks, because they're "Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices". Which is a category of one, the Segway.

There's information about this in the Globe this morning, describing all sorts of interesting dodgy sorts of things being done by the Segway people (in this article), in their attempts to get it approved for sidewalk use. I was particularly impressed with the spokesman who pointed out that in a collision between a pedestrian and a Segway-rider, the pedestrian wasn't going to be injured by the impact with the Segway, but the (subsequent) impact with the ground. I am amazed someone could say this with a straight face. And they want to have their pie and eat it too for a bunch of other things as well (helmets suggested, not required; insurance and training, similarly).

And on the more bizarre side, the Segway's creator is an interesting individual as well, having bought an island in Long Island Sound, North Dumpling. He then decided to call himself Lord Dumpling, and print his own currency, all with denomination pi. And he later seceded from the U.S., too.

Weekend highlights

a good walk on Shabbat
the parade!
wild costumes, loud music, and more amazing high heels than I've seen in one place in a long time
running into friends expected and unexpected
Happy Birthday, Butrachel! I hope it's an excellent year.
Carcassone H&G *and* Boggle
an almost full moon first seen reflected in an office building, glowing in the night
having time to talk
and the good conversations had
some extremely lovely compliments
Grasshopper and Flyrabbit
scored: another copy of DWJ's The Ogre Downstairs and Kevin's Grandmother (no peanut-butter soup recipe included)
Happy Anniversary, ZZBottom and MissDimple!
watching the mighty sportsmen and women play badminton and croquet
the thought and caring in some double-wrapped garden burgers
balloon sillinesses and sticker smiley faces (with dimples!)
barefoot on some lovely long green grass
feeding friends

Justin' thyme

At work today, an orker gave me a pot, soil, and creeping thyme seeds to try to sprout. She'd been given them ages ago and never got around to it. I unbagged the dirt, put in the seeds, added a bit more dirt from the end of the huge bag of potting soil I have in the corner of my office, and added water. Hopefully, if I keep them sufficiently moist, the seeds will germinate in the next three weeks. Herbal foster mom!

On the way home, I stopped at Mahoney's again; Hrafn had brought me some pots, and I wanted plants to put in them (I think the morning glories, when I finally get around to them, will go in a huge box in one corner of the porch). I meandered, checking out the selection; there are some lovely things that I just can't fit on a porch. And in the end, I bought two kinds of thyme, plus a lantana (I love how they flower, and they make me think of Israel, since it was there that I first noticed them.).

And when I got home, it turned into a productive evening (with plenty of thyme? :-). I transplanted the herbs and flower onto the porch, and watered the rest of them out there (the oregano was drooping, a cry for liquid refreshment). The nasturtium is going nuts, with flowers all over, in a bunch of different colors, ranging from yellow to orange to red, and variegated.

I puttered productively. I still have a lot to do, but... I did some light rearranging of the kid books, which was extremely satisfying, even if most of the bookcases are still double-shelved (I so desperately need another bookshelf in that room!). I got all the milchig and pareve dishes done. I glued a ring back together (though with glass glue, so I don't know how well it will hold).

And for dinner I made two kinds of pizza. One has the roasted tomatoes and red peppers I'd made for Shabbat and never got around to eating along with some mozzarella, while the other has fresh basil and grape tomatoes with feta. Both have the same herbed crust: garlic, basil, and... thyme.