Try a lullaby; send pix here

(Andree here.) No photos yet from the weekend - but if you have one, try thepetmuseum@gmail.com, and I'll see if I can get them off that account.

Erik's doing okay, but could sure stand a little good sleep. I ask you all for cosmic nap vibes so that E can take advantage of that great natural healer - you know the quote:

"Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care. . . sore labor's bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, Chief nourisher in life's feast" (Macbeth, of course)

The fate of photos

Andree here. Hey gang, I have to find another email address for photo sending - Hotmail has decided to wipe out all of mine (in all my accounts), and won't accept any more. Apparently this is something it does occasionally. Lucky me. Stay tuned.

I wasn't around this past weekend as I had a wedding out of town to attend, but it was Jaeger's birthday and Erik was in good spirit and shape to enjoy it most of the day - oh come on! Like you can get all the way through a little kid party unscathed yourself!

Pix to come. Somehow. I hope.

Sheri at Swiss Army Vehicles sends pix of what life's all about

(Andree here) Like watching young people discover the opposite sex, even if they climb a tree to get away from you.

Like boating on Beaver Lake on a gorgeous day.

Like the logistics of getting your monster boat to said lake.

Like Handsome and Snoopy being all fluffy and that.

Ahhh! Little things are the best.

Check this love!

(Andree here) Letters, we get letters. And photos. Like George Conrad's hot tip that even Batman can't afford fuel these days (above). . .

. . . and buddy Les and his son, rocking the iamnotdeadyet wear as well as some healthful exercise.

And from Dad, a mighty moue from Easter Island:

Hey Sheri, you and Handsome are going to be posted tomorrow or Wednesday. So everybody check back for more good stuff.

Da boys.

(Andree here, pic sent by brother Sean. It's been one of his faves for a while.)

New post tomorrow

(Andree here) Hey howdy, extended fam of those who be lovin' them some Erik. I have been slammed and/or on the road, but you need posts and I need to get them to ya. I can surely tell you that I spent time with him and the gang yesterday, and truly he looked quite improved this weekend. He is really enjoying that sauna and salty pool (oh yes, it's a super saline pooly float situation), and also took good comfort from a visit by Dr. and Mrs. Zeff.

So many of you sent great stuff! Now if only I could retrieve some of those pix, since Hotmail is getting squirrely on me. Hang tight.

Eggers seems to have started a transatlantic Erik fanclub

(Andree here) Eggers sent this along and writes,
"At the Prince Bonaparte Pub in Notting Hill. Some blokes just take it way too far."
Seriously, that isn't Erik.

Folks - I am way behind on my blogging and will play catchup as I can. George C - some great stuff. Patrick B., loved your message and will point it E's way. Hi Tim and Debbie!

This past weekend we were overjoyed to get a visit from Adam Baker and a driveby from Andy and Amy. E was looking a bit better and in decent spirits, I'm happy to say, and enjoying his nifty new pool.

Rapa Nui

(Andree here) Also known as Easter Island: another pic from Dad. E and Mom.

Erik's doing a bit better these days, though still much in need of rest. I'm off here to head south and scope the situation a little closer. Thank you all for the emails and thoughts that come daily! And forgive me for not being able this week to get back to you as promptly as I would like. Every email is read and reported on.

Weekend pix, courtesy of Heather O.

(Andree here) Oh yeah - here's the sauna and the pool.

Bat fortune

(Andree here) Hi everybody, forgive my lack of post for the past few, for I was down in Battle Ground and Washougal seeing how Erik was after his Native Indian retreat. He -- and Nancy, don't forget! -- continue to fight, and found deep sustenance and consolation in the powerful medicine of the retreat. Erik seems to have been particularly moved by the dancers who fasted for 4 days. I have always found the power of the ascetic way compelling regardless of its originating culture; there are some things we cannot know until we have driven ourselves to the very brink.

Oh and there's been a number of personalized flythroughs by bats in and around E's house, lately.

When my parents told me that I about leaped from my chair. You see, in the Chinese tradition, bats are good fortune indeed, and a harbinger of longevity as well. (What could be better? Maybe a dragon with an Aladdin's lamp and a three-olive martini, but I don't think we'll get one of those.) One bat visited while I was there. I saw it. We were trying to persuade it back outside where it could eat bugs and bring more luck, and after about three rounds of the kitchen (we were on the floor) it fluttered out the kitchen window. We told Erik.

Something up there wants Erik to take heart and it's making no bones about it.

Puppy news: The puppy's name is Cub!

Lyric interprets the landscape

(Andree here) Lyric's Auntie Heather took these photos of Lyric interacting with the outdoors in a very Andy Goldsworthy way....

(Top) Getting eaten by a bush. Not that Andy Goldsworthy (British sculptor) does that, but it's cool.
This is more like it.

Erik's puppy

Andree here, looking forward to when he comes home and names this little niblet.

Big guy in a big world: More Chile pix

(Andree here) - Above: E and the 'rents in the Beagle Channel.

Above: Up the Beagle Channel.

Torres del Paine, Chile.

MV bahia Azul-Beagle Channel

Erik and Mom (Donna), Punta Arena, Chile.

Oh look, it's the chocolate aisle. How did that happen.

Erik and family-Torres del Paine Patagonia

Hey everybody,

As we speak E and Nancy are enjoying some very special attention at a Native American spiritual retreat. We'll see them in a couple days; meanwhile they are getting a break from some of the many cares that naturally come with this kind of situation. Send them good wishes.