Hey all you pithecanthropes!   It sure has been a long time since The IP blogged at ya.  Ever since he had to move, go to London, establish utilities at his new pad, document weird structures in the backcountry of the Great Smoky Mountains, do some home improvement projects, and generally adapt to his new neighborhood, he just hasn’t had time to post. 

Rather than jump right in to the London trip (he’s already written some text and formatted pictures of that) The IP will share some “events” from his most recent weekend here on Skyland Drive.

RETURN OF THE BOWLING BALLS

Some of you pithecanthropes may recall The IP’s bowling ball collection from way back when he lived in that little apartment in Brookline, MA.  He made a pretty cool bowling ball sculpture garden just outside the place; some neighborhood bastards stole the balls eventually.  Ever since that first garden, The IP has longed for another opportunity to do some bowling ball landscaping.  That time arrived!!

First, The IP had to prepare the area adjacent to his duplex apt.  With no gutter system, rain at The IP’s new pad just drips off the roof and creates a “drip line” on the ground.  

Borrowing an approach from Japanese and FLW rain-control designs, The IP first enhanced the drip line by filling it with egg stone so the rain would drip onto the latter and not gouge out a little muddy trench in the dirt.  Then to make the new drip line stand out visually, The IP put in some black mulch behind it along the length of the wall.

Then, choosing from his collection of swirly-colored bowling balls (never can pass up a good one at the thrifts) he placed them symmetrically along the base of the wall. 

The overall effect, in The IP’s mind, is both serious and insouciant.  Don’t you agree?

SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE WITH WHITE PEOPLE AND A B-17 AT PDK

Atlanta’s Peachtree Dekalb Airport (PDK) is adjacent to The IP’s new pad.  In fact, this was a major factor in his choosing this location to live.  The air-traffic around here is a constant entertainment for The IP, as he has always loved airplanes (and heliocopters [sic]!!!).  

Yesterday, while driving to the Krogers [sic], The IP was dumbfounded by the sight of a huge B-17 bomber taking off from PDK.  WTF!  So, figuring that it would be there thru the weekend, The IP took his Sunday coffee to go over to the surprisingly accommodating viewing area at PDK. 

Sure enough, the big B-17 was running rides ($500 a pop!) all morning long.

The scene at PDK on the weekends is a lovefest of very White parents and kids.  Hey, The IP has no problems with that, but he thinks he will never wear another golf shirt again. 

OK you pithecanthropes, be patient and you’ll be rewarded with a London series of posts with pics and commentary and, as always, a few surprises, like this pic from Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO THE INJURED PARENTALS AND A WISH FOR A QUICK REPAIR!!!