The Blinker! And Aquarium!

Not in order of importance, but in order of what I think I can write in ten minutes, before I get back to graded writing.

Yesterday, I got on the interstate, heading for home. No unusual occurence there. I just gradually move to the lefthand two lanes (it's about a 10 mile drive) and try to stay in the furthermost right one if someone isn't going slow there. Anyway, there was a white SUV that comes into the left lane, properly signalling and everything.

They proceeded to signal for the next 6.5 miles.

During the first minute, I'm casually watching, expecting that soon the embarrassing realization will come and they will switch the flashing light off, quietly because I can only hear engine noises and The Splendid Table.

Then I start actively counting. I wonder if accidents ever have records, when a single flip of a switch can make it as if it never happened, except in memory by imprecise witnessing. There's some talk in the background noise of a very tasty-sounding cooked pork shoulder. I listen above the rising salivation, and watch above the listening.

I start pondering going on with them, maybe heading as far as East Town mall another six or seven miles ahead, when the light abruptly changes. It doesn't stop. The SUV merges into the righthand lane, again signalling correctly. They end up getting off an exit before me, and I peripherally catch a last glance of it, right signal not clearly visible (what I was looking for, if the same thing would happen in reverse) before I fly off the exit ramp and ram myself into a passing airplane, killing seven and injuring 35 in what can only be termed an unfortunate crash landing gone awry.

There's a lie in there somewhere. ;)

And Saturday Leslie and I went to the Chattanooga aquarium. I guess it's the Tennessee Aquarium... in Chattanooga. But I won't get picky over the name. We had loads of fun... there was a whole other building that we didn't get to see last time because it didn't exist. It had an amazon exhibit, penguins, and a couple of other things I'm blanking out on. There was one room with butterflies in it, all different colors, all fluttering about. People went back and forth with their cameras and rapt gazes, chasing the colorful ones, the ones with the false eye spots, the ones sleeping, the ones awake. At one point, this palm-sized butterfly with light blue wings lighted on Leslie's head. The contrast of the colors, this light blue with the deep reddish hue of Leslie's hair... it was nice. I tried to signal for the camera, but too late. It fluttered away.

And the penguins. We got to see them swimming around and everything. Oh! And they had, in one of the tanks, a giant sea turtle that would go soaring past through the water. And the sea horses and sea dragons... and the tree frogs and.. and...!

Yes. As far as comparing it to the North Carolina Aquarium... it's on par. I would say that the Tennessee Aquarium edges the other out on its extensive freshwater exhibits, while the North Carolina Aquarium rules the ocean ones... but it's tough to say.

Leslie and I also ate at Genghis Grill. Fully customizable you-pick-it-they-cook-it stir fry. Lots of customization. Delectable sauces. The way we differed was quite interesting. I can't remember the precise ones right now, but I think she said she tended more toward thai, while I went Korean.

Loads of fun. I like going places. :D