Tuesday June 10. Uterine Liberation Day for Delightful Stevie D....boy #3 turned 4 on the second day of our trip...we decided to mark his big day by taking a train ride on the Sugar Pine Railroad. A real steam engine used in the logging industry during the great forest rape of the late 1800 early 1900's.

Because Steven was a birthday boy he got to ride in the engine with the engineer, the brakeman and Daddy! Although it was an exciting experience I was told it was very HOT and noisy....

So for the return trip Steven and Daddy joined Sean, Bella and myself to enjoy the scenery and the informative narrative by the conductor.

Ryan took Steven's place in the engine (as the train was full). As soon as we returned to the cabin he had these words to say about the experience:

"The cab of a steam engine is a very musical place, organized quick in 
sync the beat always going, chug chug chug chug chug. A whistle 
blowing the other conductor startled pulls the rope to ring the bell 
hand always on one lever i guess it was to control the speed nobs and 
levers ropes and tools all seemed to be unorganized and strewn about 
truly inspiring to write about. Neither conductor looking at the 
other truly the best place on the train what a treat to be up with 
them. This was the best experience so far. This was written from my 
new iPod touch from Ryan. :)"

That evening we celebrated Steven's birthday at the cabin in full Peterson fanfare...complete with guitar accompaniment, presents and chocolate cupcakes

Here they are......the long awaited PIG PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Meet Charlie and Roxie!!!!!!!!

As I was wending the family truckster down the street, taking Sean to school (because he refused to get on the bus :( We passed an opossum playing "possum" in the middle of the street. Or maybe not, there was a small amount of spatter, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Anywho, I told Stevie "Betcha when we come back that sucker is either gone, or has changed positions" and gave a brief explanation of opossum behaviors.

Come home, lo and behold: Street empty. I tell Stevie (and Bella busily sucking her nuk) 'See bud? He's off to his family!" all the while I see the creature on the causeway, probably the recipient of a friendly neighborhood shovelin'.

From Steven's bedroom window there is a fantastic view of aforementioned causeway. Steven shouts...."Hey Mom! Todd is by his driveway looking at...............I see the possum, I see the possum! You were right mommy he WAS playing!"

I join Steven at his window and see Todd, (across the street neighborhood) contemplating the gray beast, his head cocked to one side. Poor Todd, I think. Poor, poor Todd. Glad its you and not me. Dead? Not dead? Dead? Not dead? Do I whack it with a shovel? Back over it with the car? Hmmmmmm loud neighborhood kid watchin', best just go to work. And with a wave Todd hops into his truck and is off.

Crap. Thinks I. He left the thing there. For Stevie to ponder from his bedroom window. But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO dootododooooooooo The Department of Sanitation to the Rescue!! Todd came through, apparently having made the all important phone call for "dead animal removal" prior to his departure.

Mr. Sanitation Man walks over to the...carcass? And tilts his head to one side much like neighbor Todd. Quite a conundrum this opossum proves to be. Dead? Not Dead? Dead? Not Dead? Mr. Sanitation Man gets on his radio and calls someone. Some magical determiner of Dead or Not Dead Opossums.

Soon he is joined by the Dept of Animals...or whatever. A lady.  Get ready for this........wait for it, wait for it............as Stevie and I are watching, by this time placing bets over the fate of the....thing....Ms. Dept of Animals TAKES OUT A GUN and SHOOTS it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TWICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"It's dead now" says she. Jumps in her van and drives off. Mr. Sanitation Man picks up the now fer shur dead possum by the tail and flings him into the back of his truck.

Steven is horrified. And I don't know what to say to him.