More Woods, On-Trail & The Rest of Sunday

We went out in the woods again but stayed on-trail this time.

So I did not get anyone, or myself, in trouble.

I am completely peopled-out and kept back a ways from Mark and Jane to try and get some solitude in nature.

I found a weird mushroom.

Everyone who was left from yesterday (7 of us) went to brunch.

Jane and I drove back with Mark and he showed us some submarine stuff.

I think it's the USS Nautilus? Mark is a submarine expert but I can't remember everything he says.

In the afternoon I was SO READY to be home.

Honestly I was past my limit.

Jane and I took the train back together which was nice but I needed to just zone out.

We navigated disgusting Penn Station again and got home safely.

I was SO SO happy to be home!

(Even though my visit to CT was really nice.)

Here is the painting I bought from Drusilla.

It looks great next to Pizza Rat.

You can see all her beautiful ratfest paintings here:

(Dru if there is another link to use pls tell me and I'll update)

Pebbles doesn't want me to leave again.

Ratfest 2022

Cathy and I hosted another Ratfest, the first in 10 years.

It was really nice to see everyone.

A few people I haven't seen in 10 years.

I can't believe we did this for the first time 20 years ago.

Where the hell did time go.

Our major accomplishment was getting Jane to join, and I'm so glad she did.

All seven cats were sequestered in the cat room, and they were miserable and pissed off and wanted everyone to know it.

I embellished the sign mark printed out, for emphasis:

The Magic Ratfest Box got an update to account for 20 years.

Group photo:

I did the cake again.

By Saturday evening I was completely peopled-out.

I knew I would be.

My preference was to leave Sunday morning but due to train schedules and then Jane, it is a late-afternoon trip.

But I am at my people limit.

That doesn't mean I don't like them, but I have been away from home since Thursday and i have lost a lot of energy.

I can get through tomorrow though.

Ratfest 2015

Yes, "Ratfest" is exactly as nutty as it sounds.

My amazing friend Branwen hosted Ratfest this year in New Jersey.  She really did an amazing job and it was quite the party.

It was SO NICE to see everyone...some people again, some for the first time.  Some I hadn't seen in several years.

Branwen rented slushy machines, and had enough food to feed 5 parties.

Slushy machines

I made the Magic Ratfest Box with Cathy back in 2002!

Cathy and I stopped co-hosting Ratfest after a 10 year run.

Isn't this WONDERFUL?

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My friend Jane attended.  We traveled together to NJ from NYC.  we went from Penn Station (NYC) to Penn Station (Newark).

We do NOT like Penn Station (Newark).
Since we had to switch trains, the conductor told us to go to track 5.  Penn Station (Newark) has no rational layout of tracks, and to get one track over you have to basically walk through the entire station.  It is dreadful with no rhyme or reason.

So, Track 5.  We went there.  It was blockaded and had caution tape across the doors.

We removed these obstacles and went onto the platform, only to be notified that there was a track switch to 2, but our train had just left.

So we went to track 2 to await the next train.  as a courtesy to our fellow travelers, we left the doorway unblocked by the barricade and caution tape.

When we got to track 2 and found the next train, we were instructed to go BACK TO TRACK 5.

Eventually the next train did arrive, on track 5.

It is a good thing we un-barricaded it.

PENN STATION (NEWARK) IS STUPID.

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Here are some of Branwen's rats.

Ratfest Portraits 2011

For those of you interested in Ratfest portraits this year, please email me with your questions (my email is in my Blogger profile).  While I greatly appreciate your comments on my blog, sometimes there is no way to email you back directly if you do not have an email listed in your profile.

Please bring printouts of your photos.  Work space is very small, very sorry but I cannot work from your computer monitor.

Portraits are 9x12 on archival vellum.

Special Prices Only for Ratfest!
$10 for color
$7 for black and white

*Prices are for 1 rat only.  Additional rats in the same photo are $2 extra each.

Portraits from previous years can be viewed here.

Thanks for your interest!

Portraits from Ratfest

I use oil pastels exactly once a year- at Ratfest to do commissioned portraits. This year I did 5 portraits. It makes me so happy to make other people happy with my artwork.

All are 9x12 on archival vellum.