wow

Just had a comment from some random loony that looks like an extra from Seinfeld. Has it been 2 years already since I posted? Had to reset my password!

I am not really dead!

Haven't been inspired to write anything for months. Blame job-related problems. First, I had very little to do at work but had to look busy. Now, I have so much to do that I cannot get it done in the time alloted. Both scenarios lead to mental malfunction.
Will try to do better this week. We are now on DST, so will not be able to go to sleep for an hour later than usual, anyway.

Indiana State Fair

Childhood memory: At about age 8, I thought I wanted pet chickens. My parents said "no". I still like looking at the fancy birds that probably won't end up as dinner.

Busted for making bad TV ads?

What you feel like after eating State Fair food.

This was a hot air balloon participating in a race. They lifted off at 7 am Saturday morning. Imagine waking up after having a few beverages the night before and seeing this. It would be enough to make you take the sobriety pledge. Or get another drink.

Michigan

Now I am going to randonly upload photos (by selecting them only by number) from our recent mini-vacation to Michigan. All the excitement of the casino (which we did not go to despite its proximity to our lodging) without that annoying loss of cash.

Cool and foggy morning at Harbor Springs, on Little Traverse Bay. It doesn't warm up there until about 2 pm. This village has its own yacht store.

Sea gull, or more correctly, ring-billed gull.

These are everywhere, even the Meijer parking lot.

Lighthouse at Whitefish Point on Lake Superior. This is near where the Edmund Fitzgerald wrecked in November 1975.

Whitefish Point also is known for birding. I think this is some kind of grosbeak. I forgot to bring the bird book, of course.

What to do when you have forgotten your bird book? Take pictures of all the signs along the nature trail. Note: this didn't help very much.

Tahquamenon River in the state park Tahquamenon Falls. The water is clean, and the scenery is beautiful. It would be a great kayak trip except for the 50 ft waterfall.

And here it is. Yellow coloration of the water is from tannins (plant compounds).

Well, enough photo gambling for today.

Can you hear me now?

News item: you can now download an app that lets you text message God. Who found out that cell number? Does that mean he also gets those annoying text messages saying you can upgrade your phone? I could not make up stuff this weird even if I tried. This is even better than "take you gun to church day".

fireworks

Keeping with my habit of procrastination, here is my July 4 post. Actually, our local fireworks were delayed until July 5 because of all-day rain on the 4th. So I'm only 3 days late. Plus, I was sick then but now I'm not. So....let's celelbrate!

Where's everybody at?

I coulda been a contender

I've been demoted from fish electrofishing surveys because I'm too slow and uncoordinated to net the fish. Being short does not help, either because the person carrying the fish shockng equipment is typically tall. When you are short, you get a reflective glare from the water that the taller person is not subject to. Maybe I should have thought of that years ago when I was doing my career planning. I was short, slow and uncoordinated then, too.

Probably not the way to do your career planning.....

Maybe I shoulda been a wetland biologist. The plants don't move very fast, and there seems to be a demand for this type of service.

My birthday is comiing up and I'm over 50, so I have reasons to be in a contemplative mood.