just back...

kinda busy day.

went to the chiropractor around noon. things are looking good. instead of four or five cracks when he adjusts my lower back, each side only clicked once. the big right toe is almost normal again. this time last year, it was swollen and resembled a goutish digit...ewww. the neck? well, it's moving better and freer. the doc said that i may only need to come as the need arises after next saturday.

there's nothing like an occasional chiropractic adjustment. i feel a couple inches taller every time i leave the office. now, i need to see my massage therapist a couple times and you'll be able to trade me in for higher than book value ;)

after our treatments (lois has had pelvic problems), we had lunch at a sub shop just down the street from the chiro office. mmmm...

this shop is called New York Subs (i think their official name is New York NY Fresh Deli). and although i know nothing about a REAL NY sub, i do know that these were the best sammiches we've had in a LONG time. we ordered a Soho (turkey, salami, and provolone) and a Bronx Bomber (corned beef, pastrami, and provolone).

drool.

when it comes to sandwiches, i am a fiend for salami, pastrami, and/or roast beef. and there's nothing like high quality meat (even on white bread). who cares if you have specialty breads or artisan cheese - it's the meat, dummy.

sigh

eh-knee-weigh...

we came back home and filtered through a couple hundred slides, looking for a few that we're going to submit w/ a 250 word story for a travel contest sponsored by budgettravel magazine. ya see, every month, there's a trip giveaway to the best reader submitted (true) story. some of the trips that have been given away over the last couple years are:

week in Rome
African safari
rainforest expedition in Costa Rica

this month, though, the top prize is a week in Tahiti. think we ain't goin' for it?

i'll keep you posted on what we're going to submit. although lois and i have dozens of stories over the past 15 years, we feel that there are only a couple that are worth repeating ad nauseam. well, mebbe six...but three would hopefully make prize winning entries.

i think you all have read the most wacko story (my Kobe earthquake story via Guatemala). unfortunately, it's so bizarre that i think most reviewers at budgettravel wouldn't believe it. however, the two others are somewhat touching and pull at the heartstrings.

up for your consideration are:

Let's Save Her [an account of five adventure travelers in the Bolivian pampas who foolishly dislodge a female brahma from the all encompassing muck, while a curious (but probably hungry) alligator watched from afar].

don't worry, that's not the title we're submitting...but that's exactly what happened

AND

Seeking peace between Chiapanecos and national best interest: Hunger brought on by military strife is killing us (the witnessing of a peace rally in the main plaza of Comitán, México...from the front row).

we've got to submit one by the end of the month...so look for a draft within the next week or two!