"To The Moon Alice: July 2010 [Houston We Have A Problem]

Houston: We Have A Problem[/s]

Houston this is Apollo Ruby preparing for lunar orbit

The skies are reporting imminent 'Internet Failure'

I repeat imminent 'Internet Failure'

That would be ... a big 'I' ... for internet

and ... a big 'F' ... for failure

Internet Failure!!!

It would seem the universe and the fickle festering hand of fate

have paired up to enjoy a cosmic chuckle at my expense.. .

Dark Side Of The Moon

Yes folks, as some of you know, my internet connection hasn't handled the relocation as well as expected and is performing lethargically, if at all.. hence the absence of Le Tour posts [not to mention I still have no green on my tv but more about that later]. Yes I've been marooned in space ... cut off from earth... languishing on the dark side of the moon.. In fact I have been so cut off, I almost forgot about Monday's Full Moon. That is until I was the checking the night sky hoping and praying the storm clouds were receding and we would have a dry night..

You see.. it was a stormy Sunday here in Sydney..

As the rain set in.. I looked up to the heavens and noticed the sky ... darkening quickly... bulging storm clouds rapidly expanding ... threatening to explode.. And when they could no longer contain their angry burden.. the heavens split and Sydney was awash with thrashing rain that seemed to have no end ...

Safe inside my new abode.. I snuggled up on the couch for a quiet night .. when I happened to glance up and noticed a dark patch.. rapidly spreading it's evil tendrils across my ceiling.. Accompanied by an annoying tap tap tap ... I quickly deduced I had a leaky roof... What to do but wait for morning... call the real estate and wait for the cavalry to arrive...

It was a restless night as I listened to the rain fall harder by the minute... not willing to give up it's relentless attack upon my wounded roof tiles.. At some point I finally fell into a heavy sleep only to awake to find a waterfall gracing my living room wall... [well not quite.. but I feared the trickle may soon become a gusher if the rain set in again]

Now water features can be lovely when installed properly.. but when provided by nature, indoor water features just don't elicit the calm produced by their man made counterparts. The murky brown water stains and peeling paint detract from the appeal.. By the time I made my call to the real estate.. the trickle had spread and was working it's evil way towards the bedroom... leaving a trail of water stains in it's wake...

Well you would think that this sort of problem would illicit an instant response.. you know ... the cavalry??? but nope... as the day grew old.. and nightfall came.. there I was still no call from the roof repairer, so I was hoping and praying there would be no more heavy rains that evening... And that is how I came to be out searching the sky on Monday night.. when I looked up.. the clouds parted.. and there she was .. the full moon!!.. HUH!! mocking me... shining brightly... even the man in the moon had a smirk on his face.....

Of course I ran back inside and immediately checked the lunar calendar! Full Moon... Monday 26 July!! oops.. nearly missed her.. out in the back yard clicking away.. nothing would stop me.. not the impending storm threatening to bring down the ceiling... nor the frenzied bats disturbed from their own waterlogged home ... As I clicked away.. I swear the clouds were forming letters... but what were they telling me??? A message from the universe???

Luckily it didn't rain as heavy that night. and the roof repairer turned up the next day... 'MAC in the box' could be retrieved from his hiding place under the dining room table... however, Mr Internet went on strike.. and refused to let me publish a moon post on time.. So .. here I am a few days late... still trying.. but ... never let it be said i didn't get a moon post up! Eventually!!

Meanwhile..

I never did end up watching much of Le Tour.. with the move and all it entailed.. I recorded the last 2 stages and will watch those when I have purchased a new set, resplendent with the full colour spectrum!!! Purchase was postponed of course until I was sure the ceiling had no intention of snuggling up to the floor!!

Fast forward to today.. about to resume the shopping expedition ... further postponed for another disaster.. The remote controlled garage next door decided to open all by itself and proceeded to burn it's motor out... so... today... the repairman turned up... fell off the ladder and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance.... Poor guy.. 30min wait for the ambulance to turn up.. all the while standing as still as possible.. wincing in pain from any small movement... Hopefully he will be OK...

So.. this is how I met all the neighbours.. leaky roofs, naughty garage doors and repairmen in pain!!..

Might try to go tv shopping again tomorrow!!  Or maybe not!!

Perhaps Internet Shopping Instead! If the Gods allow!

Moon Notes

And what is the full moon name for July?

'Thunder Moon' ... what a surprise!!!

Okey Dokey... got to run.. got a wet butt from sitting on a rain soaked cushion!!!

OH.. and took 6 hours to publish this post!!!

arrrggghhhh

In space no one can hear you scream

OH...

And a big big thanks for all the lovely comments and emails in my absence

IMAGE SOURCE:

Images: text, photography and editing  [Being Ruby©]

Le Tour 2010: So It Begins

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And So It Begins

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[Began - July 3rd]

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Yes I am late.. Late for the start of Le Tour de France.. Late for my annual late night vigil, curled up on the sofa, dreaming of far away places.. Warm sunny places.. Quaint french villages, chateaux and miles and miles of sunflowers, green fields, rolling hills and majestic alps.

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Late for the hypnotic flickering tv screen blurring my eyes, wheels spinning in tandem ... darting ahead.. dropping back and keeping rhythm with the pelaton... Late for my yearly ritual.. my nightcap into slumber... my non medicating sedative and happy pill .. my annual escape for a few hours each evening. Le tour takes me away from the cold wintry days of Sydney. Takes me on an adventure where life's worries fall by the roadside and sleep becomes a journey into rural france.

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Le Tour - A metaphor for life

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Sometimes a grueling marathon, sometimes a sprint. Sometimes a stop watch ticking frantically as we race towards our deadlines. We have mishaps, spills and delays, and some days we just spin our wheels... but we get back on our bikes and continue our journey, ours eyes ever fixed on the finish line

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There are moment of bliss, sun shiny days, open roads and endless fields. The joy of reaching the crest of a hill.. the top of the mountain, then adrenalin filled free falls as we let go of the brakes and return to the valleys.

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BUT I AM LATE

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I'm on my own marathon at present. The moving house marathon. Open fields are replaced by box laden floors, mountain climbs - the stairs of my apartment, all the while waiting for the free fall when I can flop on the sofa and watch Le Tour.

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Those of you with me last year will remember my Le Tour series. Well I had every intention of repeating the same this year... However, I need to postpone.. I need to complete this move, climb the mountain.. and reach the top before I can spend time blogging.. so ..

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Sorry for postponing Le Tour

Sorry for lack of blog visits and posts

And sorry for the re-run I am about to give you..

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Of course.. in typical Julie fashion other issues got into the mix..

I only managed my Le Tour Banner before photoshop went belly up..

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So to keep you amused, here are some postcards from last year's 'Le Grand Depart' post

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2009: Stage 1: Monaco

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THANK YOU EVERYONE

for your patience

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Hopefully I will see in you on the flip side.. posting Le Tour 2010 from Villa Ruby

Last year's Le Tour Series can be viewed [here]

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Happy Belated 4th July to all my friends in the USA

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IMAGE SOURCE:

Images: Le Tour Banner created by me - [Being Ruby©]

Other Images: Google image search and LIFE Magazine Archives

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Project Genesis: Protecting Our Waterways

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Winter in Sydney...

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In fact these fabulous views are just down the road from my home and it is not lost on me how lucky I am to be able to enjoy all that nature provides... When summer returns, I will once again be swimming in the blue seas and waterways that surround Sydney. But for now.. I still get to take in these visual delights. In fact walks around the bay are one of my favourite pastimes. Even just a pit-stop between running errands is enough to lift my spirits and recharge my proverbial batteries. Needless to say it's worth protecting.

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So to ensure that this beauty is still here tomorrow ..

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I am joining in on Project Genesis, hosted by dear Suzan of Old Grey Mare blogspot. The purpose is to highlight the small changes we can make in our everyday life that will serve to protect our environment.

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I know the devastating consequences of the BP oil spill are obvious to all.. What may not be so obvious is the constant stream of polluting we unknowingly cause ourselves, each and every day using petrochemical detergents.. ironically.. made from crude oil .. One change I've implemented myself is to go green with household cleaners and detergents. I will admit I first crossed over for selfish reasons.. Environment friendly products are just as gentle on me as they are on the environment.. and the upside is.. some products are cheaper than their toxic counterparts. Now I know this idea is not ground breaking, but I think worth considering..

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Small Changes for Big Impact

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.. your health will thank you.. ..the aquatic life will thank you..

..even your purse will thank you..

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If you need a little encouragement.. check out this new commercial..

And think of the aquatic life being impacted by petrochemical products

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[link to you tube]

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Thanks for taking the time to read my post..

I will put my thinking cap on to bring you something more original next month.

Meanwhile.. head over to Suzan's blog [here] where you can find other ideas and links for creating change and being kind to mother earth.

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Thanks Suzan for prompting us to remember what is important

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IMAGE SOURCE:

Images: 1-3 Photography, text and altered images by me - [Being Ruby] Sydney - 2010

Images: 4 - Earth's Choice Advertisement

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