Wasp in, Vespa out

Today’s warm weather seems to have confused the local flora and fauna more than somewhat. Herself swore she saw a tree trying to bud out during her run this afternoon, and a large, befuddled black wasp found its way indoors, looking for I don’t know what. What it got was a quick introduction to the Shop-Vac and a one-way ticket back to the great outdoors. That sucker was the size of a serrano chile and I’ll bet it packed more of a bite.

Che, my Vespa LX50, is quite the conversation-starter.

Broke the Jamis out for a 90-minute Four Parks ‘cross ride (Monument Valley, Goose Gossage, Pulpit Rock and Palmer Park), then ran a few errands on my tomato-red Vespa, which I think just got named Che for no particular reason. A couple on bicycles met me at an intersection and the male half stopped to grill me about scooters. I said mine was too expensive but I sprung for it anyway because I have mental-health issues and that he could get one considerably cheaper if he weren’t in dire need of electroshock therapy. He said he was 60-something and had never owned a scooter but had been coveting one, and I replied, “Hell, I’m 54 and this is my first scoot’ and I’m lovin’ it.”

I expect the folks down at Sportique on Tejon will be seeing him shortly. He circled me once or twice like a bumblebee inspecting a flower.