He touched so many people whether you knew him in person or not... I went to see his last movie, Night at the Museum (3 I think?) and at the end when his character turns back to wax, I cried. It just seemed so... final.
Relaxin' and Rallyin' - A Great Start to the New Year!
- Thread starter Tyler
- Start date
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Redfish Hunter
Gone Fishing
Tyler, avoid him at all costs! It is ME you need to meet.Not creepy at all as you're on the meet list over here too... you going to SW-FOG or EOM this year?? I ain't getting any younger, ya know...Tyler - as creepy as it sounds, "meeting Tyler" is now officially on my bucket list.
Don't wierd out. I'm harmless, I promise. If you don't believe me, just ask Redfish Hunter....
.
I just need to figure out how to break the news to Mrs. Redfish. She is not going to understand this infatuation at all...
Uncle Hud
Just another blob of protoplasm using up your oxyg
Hit Bronze yesterday -- far better than I'd hoped when this event began - mostly because this "touring rally" is just plain fun. How else do you describe a trip that includes ...
The Peachoid, familiar to those that watch "House of Cards". It's getting a fresh coat of paint, and the chemical smell was ... pretty strong.
Or the legendary Durham Bulls? As I snapped this (parked illegally on a game day, in front of a cop directing traffic) the PA system announced that first pitch was delayed due to rain. When I was finished and saddled up, the aforementioned cop stopped traffic both ways, and waved me out!
And riding (it rained all day long) to a small town where a nice lady, picking up her mail, said, "It's pronounce 'ba-HAY-ma'"
The world's largest chest of drawers has some large socks hanging out of a middle drawer (High Point, NC, furniture capital of North America.)
And a spectacular ride through National Forest to a "town" of a dozen houses. As I parked, several firemen, and their 5-year-old kids, came out to check on the stranger loitering in their parking lot -- in the rain. Turned out we were all nice guys and had a pleasant, but short, chat. (Daughter-in-law was waiting on me for dinner. Don't want to be late!)
For those of you that like to ride -- no matter the destination -- consider next year's Big Money Rally. Punch locations into your GPS, crank up the engine, and watch the countryside go by.
The Peachoid, familiar to those that watch "House of Cards". It's getting a fresh coat of paint, and the chemical smell was ... pretty strong.
Or the legendary Durham Bulls? As I snapped this (parked illegally on a game day, in front of a cop directing traffic) the PA system announced that first pitch was delayed due to rain. When I was finished and saddled up, the aforementioned cop stopped traffic both ways, and waved me out!
And riding (it rained all day long) to a small town where a nice lady, picking up her mail, said, "It's pronounce 'ba-HAY-ma'"
The world's largest chest of drawers has some large socks hanging out of a middle drawer (High Point, NC, furniture capital of North America.)
And a spectacular ride through National Forest to a "town" of a dozen houses. As I parked, several firemen, and their 5-year-old kids, came out to check on the stranger loitering in their parking lot -- in the rain. Turned out we were all nice guys and had a pleasant, but short, chat. (Daughter-in-law was waiting on me for dinner. Don't want to be late!)
For those of you that like to ride -- no matter the destination -- consider next year's Big Money Rally. Punch locations into your GPS, crank up the engine, and watch the countryside go by.
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Uncle Hud
Just another blob of protoplasm using up your oxyg
Addendum, Monday morning.
Successful weekend. 1,191 miles and 55.38 points. Don't ask me about point values to two decimal places; I just ride and take photos.
Two stories of interest.
It was so foggy near Glendale Springs, NC, that I couldn't see 200 feet. Slowed to 35 mph on a nice four-lane divided highway, but didn't see a traffic signal until I was underneath the display! HOLY SHIT! Thank goodness it was green! Then I started thinking about "the other guy" who would have had the same experience, but run a red light and clobbered me! Slowed to 30 mph until I got below the fog altitude.
My turncoat GPS routed me onto North Fulton Reeves Road: five miles of muddy gravel rutted road in the middle of mountain emptiness. Crossed the New River on a wooden plank bridge with no guardrail (36.455062, -81.352922). Turns out NCDOT is rebuilding the road, which is normally paved, but figured it was OK to first destroy it since nobody but the three local farmers drive through there.
The bike and I survived, and I was singing along with the iPhone loudly all the way to Boone and App State. Once there, the bike did her usual: ride up the handicap ramp, park on the sidewalk directly in front of the bonus, look beautiful while I snap the all-important photo, then get us back on the road to the next location.
She's a gorgeous, dependable workhouse that can fly when asked. Man, did I get lucky when I rode her out of the showroom! (Bike porn below.)
Fun? It's why my placard says, "Yippee!" Am I doing it next year? HELL YEAH.
Successful weekend. 1,191 miles and 55.38 points. Don't ask me about point values to two decimal places; I just ride and take photos.
Two stories of interest.
It was so foggy near Glendale Springs, NC, that I couldn't see 200 feet. Slowed to 35 mph on a nice four-lane divided highway, but didn't see a traffic signal until I was underneath the display! HOLY SHIT! Thank goodness it was green! Then I started thinking about "the other guy" who would have had the same experience, but run a red light and clobbered me! Slowed to 30 mph until I got below the fog altitude.
My turncoat GPS routed me onto North Fulton Reeves Road: five miles of muddy gravel rutted road in the middle of mountain emptiness. Crossed the New River on a wooden plank bridge with no guardrail (36.455062, -81.352922). Turns out NCDOT is rebuilding the road, which is normally paved, but figured it was OK to first destroy it since nobody but the three local farmers drive through there.
The bike and I survived, and I was singing along with the iPhone loudly all the way to Boone and App State. Once there, the bike did her usual: ride up the handicap ramp, park on the sidewalk directly in front of the bonus, look beautiful while I snap the all-important photo, then get us back on the road to the next location.
She's a gorgeous, dependable workhouse that can fly when asked. Man, did I get lucky when I rode her out of the showroom! (Bike porn below.)
Fun? It's why my placard says, "Yippee!" Am I doing it next year? HELL YEAH.
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Wow... Bronze. I bagged 33 bonus points yesterday, but still need 45 points just to finish. You southern guys got a couple month head start on me. It's getting hard to find anymore 3 point locations within a day's ride...
Yesterday was spent mostly in VT, but I started out by finding a "London Bridge", just down the road from me in Windham
Then a couple of word match tags in nearby Nashua before grabbing the Gazebo in Keene from the movie "Jumaji". I had tried to get that one about a week ago, but the traffic on the rotary was too much. Much easier to get close on a Sunday morning.
A stop at the (closed) Northfield Drive-In from the movie "Cider House Rules"
And then the best tag of the day, because it required a couple miles of Vermont dirt road riding to get there, was the Scott Farm, also from The Cider House.
Was getting near noon, and needed the "BAR-B-Q" spelling...
I had been meaning to give 'em a try, but never seemed to be going through Putney. I must say, Curtis' Pulled Pork is as tasty as it looks! Plus the place is a trip. He cooks everything outdoors and serves the food out of an old school bus painted blue.
(And, Yes, Fud Pr0n is encouraged in the BMR)
After lunch, I buzzed across Rte 9 (one of my favorite routes in VT for fast sweepers) and went to school in Bennington VT.
And later up at Middlebury College, known to be one of the highest tuition private schools in the US. You can just smell the money being spent there...
Also stopped to grab a couple of old county courthouses along the way, first in Rutland
... and another in Newport, NH. They just don't make Court Houses like that any more. Luckily I didn't get any "invitations" to return and make a deposit.
All told, rode ~ 500 miles in ~10 hours, mostly on two lanes. It was cool all day, mostly around 50 degrees and cloudy, but the sun poked out on and off and I only found a few light sprinkles. If nothing else, the BMR is a great excuse to get out and ride!
Yesterday was spent mostly in VT, but I started out by finding a "London Bridge", just down the road from me in Windham
Then a couple of word match tags in nearby Nashua before grabbing the Gazebo in Keene from the movie "Jumaji". I had tried to get that one about a week ago, but the traffic on the rotary was too much. Much easier to get close on a Sunday morning.
A stop at the (closed) Northfield Drive-In from the movie "Cider House Rules"
And then the best tag of the day, because it required a couple miles of Vermont dirt road riding to get there, was the Scott Farm, also from The Cider House.
Was getting near noon, and needed the "BAR-B-Q" spelling...
I had been meaning to give 'em a try, but never seemed to be going through Putney. I must say, Curtis' Pulled Pork is as tasty as it looks! Plus the place is a trip. He cooks everything outdoors and serves the food out of an old school bus painted blue.
(And, Yes, Fud Pr0n is encouraged in the BMR)
After lunch, I buzzed across Rte 9 (one of my favorite routes in VT for fast sweepers) and went to school in Bennington VT.
And later up at Middlebury College, known to be one of the highest tuition private schools in the US. You can just smell the money being spent there...
Also stopped to grab a couple of old county courthouses along the way, first in Rutland
... and another in Newport, NH. They just don't make Court Houses like that any more. Luckily I didn't get any "invitations" to return and make a deposit.
All told, rode ~ 500 miles in ~10 hours, mostly on two lanes. It was cool all day, mostly around 50 degrees and cloudy, but the sun poked out on and off and I only found a few light sprinkles. If nothing else, the BMR is a great excuse to get out and ride!
Uncle Hud
Just another blob of protoplasm using up your oxyg
Sorry, FredW, my food p0rn is SlimJims with coffee from the REI thermos. (Although lunch in an IHOP with 85 sorority sisters was interesting.)
Top_Speed1
Panama Canal Crosser
I just saw this post... hey, I'm always the last to the party!
I gotta say Tyler, you not only shoot beautiful images, but your subjects and creativity of the shots are just stunning. I know my POS phone slash camera is no contest for what you are using, but more importantly, you have a unique eye for this with perfect angles and lighting, and that is a talent all in itself!
Grade: A+ ...I'm a big fan and I bow to your talent!
Happy NY New Years! ...am I late again to this party?
I gotta say Tyler, you not only shoot beautiful images, but your subjects and creativity of the shots are just stunning. I know my POS phone slash camera is no contest for what you are using, but more importantly, you have a unique eye for this with perfect angles and lighting, and that is a talent all in itself!
Grade: A+ ...I'm a big fan and I bow to your talent!
Happy NY New Years! ...am I late again to this party?
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Yeah, I don't know how she does it. You're out riding around all day taking the required rally bonus pictures, yet she still has a knack of seeing stuff along the side of the road and stopping to take the "beauty shots".
My bestest beauty shots just involved fud.
My bestest beauty shots just involved fud.
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Not that there's anything wrong with that...My bestest beauty shots just involved fud.
Uncle Hud
Just another blob of protoplasm using up your oxyg
Only have two free weekends left (graduation, wedding -- neither mine) and 38 points needed to make silver.
Should be possible. Aiming for big points, like Tyler's movie locations, Frickin' Places 1 and 2, and courthouses. Might snap a photo of SlimJims and coffee for FredW.
Should be possible. Aiming for big points, like Tyler's movie locations, Frickin' Places 1 and 2, and courthouses. Might snap a photo of SlimJims and coffee for FredW.
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Took a 12 hour, 350 mile ride yesterday, through the traffic filled southern tier states of New England (Mass, Connecicut and Rhode Island) yesterday. Reminded me why I like to ride the northern states so much.
Here are a few of cooler places visited along the way:
In Amherst, MA, Bubs wasn't open yet...
Mt Holyoke is an exclusive ($$$). all women's college in South Hadley, MA.
I rode down through Connecticut and east into Rhode Island picking up (less interesting) bonuses along the way. Then hit the jackpot with up a bunch of points in the Newport, Rhode Island area
Rosecliff manor, used in multiple different movies.
Ochre Court, just another "summer home" for the wealthy New Yorkers back in the day. Now it's a part of Salve Regina University , where our daughter #2 drank beer attended undergrad for 4 year$.
The Old Colony House in "downtown" Newport, also a movie set location, was the colonial state house of Rhode Island. The Declaration of Independence was first read to the Rhode Island natives from that very balcony.
The old Bristol County courthouse. Would have been cool to see it before they put stucco over all the brick.
And just up the road into Easton Mass, is the Ames Mansion. now located in Borderland State Park. I was denied points on that photo because I was too far away, but I'm appealing the ruling because that is as close as you can get a motorcycle to the mansion without getting arrested.
And for some stark contrast, I visited the old, now abandoned Wittington Mill in lovely Taunton, MA, also a movie set location.
All told it was 40 points (before the appeal) so I have only 10 to go to hit my finisher goal. After that I'll quit and let all the Rally Rats score the really big points and collect the big bucks!
Here are a few of cooler places visited along the way:
In Amherst, MA, Bubs wasn't open yet...
Mt Holyoke is an exclusive ($$$). all women's college in South Hadley, MA.
I rode down through Connecticut and east into Rhode Island picking up (less interesting) bonuses along the way. Then hit the jackpot with up a bunch of points in the Newport, Rhode Island area
Rosecliff manor, used in multiple different movies.
Ochre Court, just another "summer home" for the wealthy New Yorkers back in the day. Now it's a part of Salve Regina University , where our daughter #2 drank beer attended undergrad for 4 year$.
The Old Colony House in "downtown" Newport, also a movie set location, was the colonial state house of Rhode Island. The Declaration of Independence was first read to the Rhode Island natives from that very balcony.
The old Bristol County courthouse. Would have been cool to see it before they put stucco over all the brick.
And just up the road into Easton Mass, is the Ames Mansion. now located in Borderland State Park. I was denied points on that photo because I was too far away, but I'm appealing the ruling because that is as close as you can get a motorcycle to the mansion without getting arrested.
And for some stark contrast, I visited the old, now abandoned Wittington Mill in lovely Taunton, MA, also a movie set location.
All told it was 40 points (before the appeal) so I have only 10 to go to hit my finisher goal. After that I'll quit and let all the Rally Rats score the really big points and collect the big bucks!
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Great to see you out and about, Fred! You're gonna make finisher no problem... and you may think that you'll stop there but then you'll think, hmmmm... maybe I could make silver... it's only a few more points and I need to get out and ride some more anyway...
And the image below is probably one of the best photo matches I've seen so far... well, at least in the movie theme... well done! B)
And the image below is probably one of the best photo matches I've seen so far... well, at least in the movie theme... well done! B)
And for some stark contrast, I visited the old, now abandoned Wittington Mill in lovely Taunton, MA, also a movie set location.
All told it was 40 points (before the appeal) so I have only 10 to go to hit my finisher goal. After that I'll quit and let all the Rally Rats score the really big points and collect the big bucks!
I was set to lead a ride up to the wine country last weekend. Sunday's route would take us near a couple of new bonus spots so I decided to drag my group around some great roads and experience the BMR rally first hand. My big camera needs some repair and the Canon PowerShot is broken so had to resort to cell phone photos this time around!
Before meeting everyone for coffee on Saturday morning, I swung by the SJ Flea Market for the day's word bonus. I also got to chat with the officer who was directing traffic when he told me I wasn't supposed to ride on the sidewalk... I told him what I was doing and just needed a picture and he just kind of shook his head but let me do my thang...
After coffee in Milpitas, we hightailed it to Fairfield to meet up with a few more folks... there was a pleasant surprise there when I found two of my FJR friends, Hans and Sam, awaiting our arrival... guess leaving those electronic breadcrumbs so they could find us worked!
My ducklings for the day...
And a nice array of bikes represented...
We headed off up Wooden Valley Rd to 121 and then 128 around Berryessa which has lots of roadwork going on leaving torn up, dirt/gravel sections for about 8 miles... everyone made it through unscathed and we stopped at Pope Valley Rd. for a lunch/snack break..
The lake is pretty low... water is usually up to the concrete middle bar down there...
The nest on top of this power line has been there for years...
We arrived at our home-away-from-home, Mountain Home Ranch, which has become one of our favorite destinations... rustic cabins in the middle of the woods only about 5 minutes away from downtown Calistoga but far enough away to feel the peace and quiet of the area...
They have an onsite chef that will make dinner for your group with a little advanced notice and we always take advantage of that perk so we can just relax and enjoy our surroundings...
Happy spirits...
A little Googling going on...
And we tried out a new taste treat... strawberries soaked in tequila...
Before meeting everyone for coffee on Saturday morning, I swung by the SJ Flea Market for the day's word bonus. I also got to chat with the officer who was directing traffic when he told me I wasn't supposed to ride on the sidewalk... I told him what I was doing and just needed a picture and he just kind of shook his head but let me do my thang...
After coffee in Milpitas, we hightailed it to Fairfield to meet up with a few more folks... there was a pleasant surprise there when I found two of my FJR friends, Hans and Sam, awaiting our arrival... guess leaving those electronic breadcrumbs so they could find us worked!
My ducklings for the day...
And a nice array of bikes represented...
We headed off up Wooden Valley Rd to 121 and then 128 around Berryessa which has lots of roadwork going on leaving torn up, dirt/gravel sections for about 8 miles... everyone made it through unscathed and we stopped at Pope Valley Rd. for a lunch/snack break..
The lake is pretty low... water is usually up to the concrete middle bar down there...
The nest on top of this power line has been there for years...
We arrived at our home-away-from-home, Mountain Home Ranch, which has become one of our favorite destinations... rustic cabins in the middle of the woods only about 5 minutes away from downtown Calistoga but far enough away to feel the peace and quiet of the area...
They have an onsite chef that will make dinner for your group with a little advanced notice and we always take advantage of that perk so we can just relax and enjoy our surroundings...
Happy spirits...
A little Googling going on...
And we tried out a new taste treat... strawberries soaked in tequila...
Off to count sheep and after a good night's rest, we had breakfast (again provided by our hosts) and then headed north on one of my very favorite sections of 29... not only was it a beautiful morning but all the cars were behaving well and pulled over almost right away... score!
First stop was in Clearlake Oaks for a photo of the Red & White Food Store... another rally participant, Steve and his wife Deb, had joined us for the day so I photobombed his pic just for fun...
From there, we headed up 20 and 101 into Willitts for another bonus pic at Al's Redwood Room... I had pulled up on the sidewalk and was taking my photo when a police cruiser pulled up and told me I couldn't park on the sidewalk... Steve managed to get a shot of the incident...
I told the officers what I was doing and they started smiling and were very cool about it... I told them I promised I'd move and park with the other bikes like a good girl and that made them laugh...
We had lunch at a great place in Willitts called Ardella's Kitchen... if you're up in the area and hungry, give them a try... we would have eaten at Al's but it is actually a Thai food restaurant and I had two people who had peanut allergies so we opted for Ardella's... it was a good choice!
We doubled back and headed into Lakeport to get a photo of the courthouse there...
And I got a group shot of the menagerie that led to much chatter and summations as to what they were all doing there...
And found the word bonus for the day where I didn't have any issues parking at!
Then it was off to 175, aka Hopland Grade, which is another of my favorites in the NorCal area... there are some who don't like the middle section which is a bit rough and you have to keep an eye out for gravel/dirt in the turns but I love it... just has some great twisty sections and once you get on the west side of it, the pavement is smooth as silk...
Back at the ranch we had another killer dinner, conversation, and puppy lovin'... John and Suzanne had recently adopted a dog, Cassie (aka Mama Cass) from some acquaintances (they won't call them friends anymore) who were getting a divorce and neither one of them wanted to keep her so they were going to put her down... I said the owners should be put down! But thankfully, Cassie has gotten a much better deal out of it thanks to them...
I mean look at that face... I can't even fathom someone who would not want to keep her... total lovebug!
The next morning, we gathered for breakfast while folks made plans for their journey home... some had to work (like me) while others had the entire day to adventure forth... my company is having an offsite in Sonoma this year so I took the opportunity to swing by and do a site survey and meet my event manager... then Steve met me at the venue and accompanied me on my way back to the office... well, sort of... the long way... out to Stinson Beach for another bonus pic...
Steve headed back for Santa Rosa and I headed for the office... it was either Hwy 1 or Panoramic Hwy... the split second decision was made when the slow car in front of me kept going on Hwy 1 so I turned left onto Panoramic and was SO glad I did... had the entire road to myself the whole way... SCORE!!!
A stellar weekend on all fronts... roads, bonii, friends, food, and smiles... what more could one ask for?
FIN
First stop was in Clearlake Oaks for a photo of the Red & White Food Store... another rally participant, Steve and his wife Deb, had joined us for the day so I photobombed his pic just for fun...
From there, we headed up 20 and 101 into Willitts for another bonus pic at Al's Redwood Room... I had pulled up on the sidewalk and was taking my photo when a police cruiser pulled up and told me I couldn't park on the sidewalk... Steve managed to get a shot of the incident...
I told the officers what I was doing and they started smiling and were very cool about it... I told them I promised I'd move and park with the other bikes like a good girl and that made them laugh...
We had lunch at a great place in Willitts called Ardella's Kitchen... if you're up in the area and hungry, give them a try... we would have eaten at Al's but it is actually a Thai food restaurant and I had two people who had peanut allergies so we opted for Ardella's... it was a good choice!
We doubled back and headed into Lakeport to get a photo of the courthouse there...
And I got a group shot of the menagerie that led to much chatter and summations as to what they were all doing there...
And found the word bonus for the day where I didn't have any issues parking at!
Then it was off to 175, aka Hopland Grade, which is another of my favorites in the NorCal area... there are some who don't like the middle section which is a bit rough and you have to keep an eye out for gravel/dirt in the turns but I love it... just has some great twisty sections and once you get on the west side of it, the pavement is smooth as silk...
Back at the ranch we had another killer dinner, conversation, and puppy lovin'... John and Suzanne had recently adopted a dog, Cassie (aka Mama Cass) from some acquaintances (they won't call them friends anymore) who were getting a divorce and neither one of them wanted to keep her so they were going to put her down... I said the owners should be put down! But thankfully, Cassie has gotten a much better deal out of it thanks to them...
I mean look at that face... I can't even fathom someone who would not want to keep her... total lovebug!
The next morning, we gathered for breakfast while folks made plans for their journey home... some had to work (like me) while others had the entire day to adventure forth... my company is having an offsite in Sonoma this year so I took the opportunity to swing by and do a site survey and meet my event manager... then Steve met me at the venue and accompanied me on my way back to the office... well, sort of... the long way... out to Stinson Beach for another bonus pic...
Steve headed back for Santa Rosa and I headed for the office... it was either Hwy 1 or Panoramic Hwy... the split second decision was made when the slow car in front of me kept going on Hwy 1 so I turned left onto Panoramic and was SO glad I did... had the entire road to myself the whole way... SCORE!!!
A stellar weekend on all fronts... roads, bonii, friends, food, and smiles... what more could one ask for?
FIN
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Yeah you're late to the party but always welcome, KJ... you could probably join in the fun if you really wanted to... only about a month left but one guy made finisher (144 points) in one day!I just saw this post... hey, I'm always the last to the party!
I gotta say Tyler, you not only shoot beautiful images, but your subjects and creativity of the shots are just stunning. I know my POS phone slash camera is no contest for what you are using, but more importantly, you have a unique eye for this with perfect angles and lighting, and that is a talent all in itself!
Grade: A+ ...I'm a big fan and I bow to your talent!
Happy NY New Years! ...am I late again to this party?
And thank you for the nice comments on my photos... it's something I love to do and it's become even more of a passion since the accident... just like to share the world around me and remind people to stop now and again to see the "little" things even if you don't take a photo... B) 
Tyler, you missed out on some of the best Thai food I have ever had, this side of the world. Granted, that was 6-7 years ago when I last ate there, hmmm, maybe another trip to Willits for Thai food is called for.
Bugnatr
Well-known member
About time you got out and collected some points.
Nice pics Tyler. We love Ardella's kitchen in Willits, it's the crack of lunch food.
Nice pics Tyler. We love Ardella's kitchen in Willits, it's the crack of lunch food.
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I may be back in Willitts weekend after next doing some bonus hunting... perhaps I'll have to give it a try if timing is right!
Bugger, if I could I'd be out there every damn day... but that four-letter word (work) keeps getting in the way!About time you got out and collected some points.
Nice pics Tyler. We love Ardella's kitchen in Willits, it's the crack of lunch food.
Niehart
Pie Smuggler
Made me smile.
