Monarch Butterflies etc in Dallas Fort Worth

Wonderful butterflies, especially Monarchs on their way to winter in Mexico, in the Dallas area.

Spectacular Lightning Storm over Dallas from the Air

Lightning storm over Dallas, taken on our flight home on AA 1662, November 5th at about 9:30 pm.

This spectacular display was worth the 2 1/2 hour flight delay.

Admiring the View

Raritan River Towpath Near Johnson Park

It's been a long time since we were on the towpath. The jungle of poison ivy it had turned into kept us away.

But after we scrapped our Palisades hike this morning because wet slippery leaves and sheer drop-offs don't go well together, and after about seven washes and lots of house cleaning got done, the weather cleared up a little and we wanted to do at least something outdoors. So we went to check out the towpath. We figured if it was still really bad we could just walk in Johnson Park.

We were very happy to see that a lot of work has been done on the towpath. The path has been resurfaced and tons of vegetation cut back. I had to look hard to see poison ivy.

How Would You Interpret This Sign?

Vanity Plate, Vanity Car

Iceland #6 Davening in Iceland

So we land in Iceland at 6:30 am, pick up our rental car, and stop at the first picnic area we see, which happens to be in the middle of a lava field, so that Bob and Larry can daven shacharit.

While they were davening, some guy comes off a hiking trail, takes a long look at them, and we start getting a little nervous.  Then the guy says, "And my mother told me I wouldn't see another Jew in Iceland!"

Iceland #5 Why Iceland?

When we told anyone we were going to Iceland it went one of three ways:

 1. Why Iceland?

 2. -On a cruise?
     -No
     -So how are you getting there?
     -We’re flying
     -And then you’re taking a cruise?

3. Iceland! Everyone I know is going to Iceland!

FYI - To answer #1, here are just a few reasons

Happy Birthday To Me!

The office passes a folder of birthday cards around each month with a card for every one whose birthday is that month. You sign all the cards and cross your name off the list. It's a nice thought but sometimes it feels like you have been given a penmanship punishment.

Anyway, the card for your own birthday is supposed to be pulled from the folder before you are given the cards to sign.

But I got my card this month.

Iceland #4 Place Names

Is it any wonder we generally had no idea where we were in Iceland? 

Iceland #3 Handicapped Parking

The Icelanders are much bigger than we are. I think it's the Viking heritage.

Iceland #2 How Much Does This Tomato Cost?

Figuring out how much stuff cost in Iceland is like a 7th grade math problem.

First - Convert Icelandic Kroner to dollars : 1000 Icelandic Kroner = $7.50
Note: They use a comma to indicate separation between whole numbers and the decimal value. In other words, the price of tomatoes in the photo of 453,29 we would write as  $453.29.

Second - Convert Kilograms to Pounds : 1 kg = 2.2 lbs

Third - Convert Meters to Centigrade : Whatever ...

Fourth - Say "Forget about all this, we're on vacation, just buy it"