Common Goldeneye

Went to the lake today looking for a Snowy Owl that's been sighted around the dam. No luck (didn't really have high hopes). Did get a nice couple of pictures of the common goldeneye.

Fireball at the Vet

Took Fireball to the vet this morning. He howled in his crate the entire drive. Then when we got there, he tried to shove his way back into the crate, and finally hid himself in my coat. It was cute. He was really good though. He got 2 shots today and a checkup and all is well. He is in tip top shape for a 10 year old kitty.

On the way home? He did not make a peep!!! I guess he knew that wherever we were headed, it couldn't be any worse than the vet!

Steller's Jay

I started birding in 2007. Unfortunately I missed a HUGE birding opportunity on our road trip of 2006. However, today when I was browsing my pictures I discovered a new lifer I didn't know I had!! I mean, I took the picture of the bird, because it was pretty. But here is my terrible picture of this cool jay!!

syymphony and sickness...

My friend Darleen and I, and a few other friends, went to the symphony Saturday night for the Christmas concert. It was pretty good. A couple of parts made me sleepy. At the end they had a fun sing-a-long. That was awesome! They did some of Handel's Messiah too which was very cool. Here's a picture.

In other news, the kids went to a tournament this weekend and Steve came home sick. So, I'm staying home today as he gets better. He had some toast for breakfast, so hopefully he'll be able to go back to school tomorrow. He already missed Thursday and Friday because of the tourney, so one more day away is NOT good at this point.

Thanksgiving Day

I am thankful for my husband and children. I am thankful to live in this country where I have so much freedom. I can move around town or the entire country as I wish. I can earn money and save it and spend it. I can attend any church I want to. I can kneel down and pray on a street corner if I choose and won't get arrested. I can argue for, and against, politicians and presidents. I can trash talk. I can praise. I can learn. I can vote for representation in the government. I can listen to music of any kind should I choose to do so. I can speak up, or keep quiet. I can talk to strangers. I am thankful that our nation allows diversity of values, thought and lifestyle. Only by allowing freedom to all can we preserve our own.

Squaw Creek - and a lifer

I enjoyed a few hours driving around Squaw Creek yesterday. I took load of pictures. Here are five. I chalked up one lifer for the day. (that means the first time I ever saw a particular bird). That bird was the Sandhill Crane. Click the pictures to enlarge if you like.

This is the sky. See all the dots? Those are snow geese flying into the refuge. They just kept coming, and coming, and coming. It was a constant flow for the over an hour.

This is a Short-billed Dowitcher.

This is a Sandhill Crane.

This is a Northern Shoveler.

This is a Bald Eagle. The estimate is there are around 60 on the refuge right now. I saw at least 30 myself.

Hallway talks

Seems like about once a week when me and the kids head to bed around the same time, we end up standing in the hall talking, laughing, joking, singing and otherwise spending quality mom-teen time. These hallway moments are so fleeting, 10 minutes maybe. But they are precious to me.

Not your typical Linkin Park/Green Day fan

Does our taste in music say anything about us? Is it incongruous that I am wearing a nice corporate suit today and have my Ipod tuned to Linkin Park? I don’t know. I guess we are all unique and this is one of the crazy little things about me, one of the better things about me.

Here are some of my favorite lines from LP songs

“every step that I take is another mistake to you”

“you live what you’ve learned”

“sick of the dark ways we march to the drumming”

“amen”

“your time is borrowed, your time has come to be replaced”

“let me apologize for what I’m about to say”

“the only thing that’s worse than one is none”

“if you’re asking me I want you to know, when my time comes, forget the wrong that I’ve done, help me leave behind some reasons to be missed”

I grew up learning to love music from a young age, but more than just hymns and classical. I learned to love and appreciate almost all music. To my parents, my music was just too loud and too objectionable I guess. I feel like this was a wedge between us. A part of my life they were not interested in, although it meant a lot to me. I guess it’s made me much more sensitive to how my own teens feel, and not just regarding music, but what they think about many things. I want to be able to relate, talk, share, and appreciate our differences. I think over the past years I’ve been able to do that for the most part.

The Lake

I worked overtime all weekend, but left at noon Sunday and Jordan and I headed up to the lake to enjoy the sun. We stood on the shore listening to the waves coming in. We closed our eyes and imagined ourselves in Florida on a sunny beach, instead of in the Midwest on a chilly day in autumn. Lovely. *sigh*.

A New Day for Hope

I read the transcript of Obama's speech today at lunch. Here's a small exerpt that brought tears to my eyes.

"This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon
Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America -- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.

And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.

Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves -- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.

This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America. "

Playing catch-up and I now have one Schrute Buck

It's been a busy couple of months around here with school starting. Dad got broad-sided and was pretty shook up, hurt a little bit. The minivan was totalled, so they replaced it with something that will pull the camper a little better. I'm just glad everyone was okay.

Amelia turned one last week and it was fun to see her eat her spaghetti dinner. She's a smart little girl and has some good parents.

I've been getting out and birding a lot this fall with migration going on. It's been fun. Since I'm a pretty new bird enthusiast, I get a lot of LIFERS. This fall my lifers have been Swamp Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Palm Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler to name a few. (if you aren't a birder, a lifer means the first time you ever saw a particular bird). I've been taking loads of pictures. Here are just a couple.

This is the Black-throated Green Warbler.

This is the Fox Sparrow.

Johnny took me to watch the sunset this week. We also got to try the irish pub menu which was yummy. I had fish and chips and john had bangers and mash. All delicious. (we shared of course).

My new toy: A negative scanner/converter. It's built for 35mm film, but I've been sliding 110 negatives through it anyway and getting 'okay' results. Here are some oldies pictures.

1978 approximately. ME! Check out that outfit and those bangs! Wow!

1972 approx. I'm on the far right. Bea is right next to me in the back, taking a sip . Someone donated a bunch of 50's style party dresses to the thrift store and mom let us girls dress up before they took them in. It was so fun.
My mountain pic. 1979. Not the first time we went to Rocky Mountain National Park, but the first time I, as a teen, did my own hiking. In this one, I took the Fern Lake trail, about a six hour hike which I didn't realize when I left that morning on the Bear Lake shuttle bus. This picture was taken right before the trail takes a horseshoe turn and starts heading downhill. Mom takes painting classes, and she copied this picture for me. It's hanging in my craft room. Anyway, a moment I'll never forget and I'm glad it's digital now!
This one's from 1980. I'm on the right, mom in the middle, Bea on your left. Don'tcha just love my hat????Again at Rocky Mtn Natl Park.

Okay, that's all for now.

Oh, wait....I've been watching a ton of "The Office" lately. Thanks to Jordan we own season 4 now. The best show ever. I have One Schrute Buck too. See below:

nothing much

It's been a week since Labor Day and I keep thinking of things I want to blog about but my computer is far, far away. Well here are some random Netski doings.

The Friday before Labor Day, Aug 30th, took the day off. John was returning from 2 weeks in Austin (ugh, again...). I actually enjoyed a wonderful day of cleaning. Yes, sometimes I enjoy cleaning. WEIRD. Picked John up at the airport around 4:30 with the kids and we were very, very happy to have him home again. The weekend of Labor Day was nothing special, just a nice relaxing 3 day weekend. I had aspirations of bird watching but decided I'd rather just spend time with the family. Sunday before L.D. we had a nice party to go to at some friends. Monday we just relaxed.

Back to work on Tuesday, I continued with my 5-day review that would determine whether I got released from the training section. Wednesday was the final day of that review and yes, I did pass this review and got released. Thursday was moving day and Friday was my first full day in the new module. I have a window seat and I absolutely adore that.

Today, Saturday, has been fun. I am still on a high from finishing completely with training. I brought in all the bird feeder equipment and cleaned it, getting ready for the winter bird season. I think I need to get a heater for the bird bath. This afternoon some of us girls met up at a quaint little wine shop and participated in the tasting. That was quite nice.

In other news, dad got in a wreck Thursday evening and the minivan is totalled. He's okay, just sore and a bit banged up, but nothing broken thank goodness. I plan on visiting tomorrow.

I guess that's about it. Oh, yesterday while waiting for the bus, a guy drove by with his windows down, and he had "What I've Done" by Linkin Park blaring out his windows. I almost ran over to his car to give him a thumbs up sign, but then I rightly second guessed that impulse. He drove around the block again trying to get into the parking garage and the song was still going. That was nice.

He's Sixteen Now

Some STAYcation pictures

NELSON SCULPTURE GARDEN

NELSON SCULPTURE GARDEN
NELSON SCULPTURE GARDEN
NELSON SCULPTURE GARDEN
NELSON SCULPTURE GARDEN
NELSON ART MUSEUM
NELSON ART MUSEUM
NELSON ART MUSEUM

WWI MUSEUM

WWI MUSEUM
WWI MUSEUM
WWI MUSEUM
WWI MUSEUM


AT THE ZOO - my best shot. She was obviously posing for me.

AT THE ZOO - can you tell we got soaking wet? It rained the entire time, but it was still a lot of fun.

One is the Loneliest

Last night, our first night without John for another two weeks. At least we have each other. Poor Johnny just has Frank.

Being back at work after a week off stinks. Is there some way I can have a permanent vacation AND get paid at the same time? (something legal...)

We cleaned out the refrigerator, since Tuesday is trash day. Ate leftover and threw out some things that were spoiled. I had some blackberries in the fridge for a couple of weeks and I think they had begun the fermentation process, a distinct alcoholic odor came from that bowl!

Well, with the fridge cleaned out, the dishes done and the bathrooms clean, we sat down to watch a movie, "Tootsie" from the 80s. I still can't believe Dustin Hoffman didn't get best actor for that. He was just amazing. It was funny, just what I needed.

Today was the first day of school and I took the annual picture. I also took a few as the car drove away with my two teens in it. Weird. Jordan's last year of high school, Steve's first at the high school building. But their last year together.

I hope this coming year is as happy as the last one
I hope Jordan gets straight A's
I hope Steve brings the house down with his improv
I hope that life is good to them.

Linkin Park

Linkin Park was the highlight of our stay at home vacation last week. Wednesday night we headed out to Sandstone. Okay let me rephrase that..."Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone", previously called "Verizon Wireless Amphitheater" previously called

SANDSTONE. (way back to the olden days kids) Thank God it's gotten it's real name back.

We had seats out of the mosh pit ruckus which was good. Body surfing has become too dangerous. Jordan on the other hand ventured out into the pit following a couple of friends. Let's just say the mosh pit made an impression on her.

What is my favorite LP song? Papercut. But I love every single song. The set list was just perfect.

what i did last summer (last week)....

It's Sunday evening and summer at our house is drawing to a close. School starts next week and it will be strange having both the kids in high school. We did have a nice staycation though. Here's a recap of our week. I'll try to get in some pictures later on.

Monday: Plaza, Barnes and Noble, Winstead's for lunch. Just relaxing.
Tuesday: Nelson in the daytime, Fiddler on the Roof in the nighttime.
Wednesday: WW1 museum in the daytime, LINKIN PARK at night!!!
Thursday: Zoo in the rain. It was fun, but wet.
Friday: Truman Library.
Saturday: Computer shopping, wiping hard drives on old computer, reinstalling software, setting up new programs. UGH. A stressful day.
Sunday: Back to the routine, laundry, etc...

P.S. I am really getting tired of hearing about STAYCATIONs. It has been all the rage in the media with the high price of gasoline, so you hear it all the time. But hey, that's what it was.

Senior Picture taking

There are about 35 photos in all. Jordan got her senior yearbook picture and her cap and gown picture taken at school. Then we drove around town taking more pictures for the official picture.

My favorites?
9, 19, 25, 35, and 02. What's your favorite?

summertime lemonade

take a can of frozen lemonade, add a beer or two, and vodka to taste.

and, as this was being discussed, the comment was made "if you have nowhere to go, it's okay to drink this..."

Do I have anywhere to go? Am I going nowhere? Hmmmm. I guess we all wonder if we're going nowhere, approaching dead-ends, or contributing to anything or anybody. I guess it's a sign of our self-absorption that we even have the time to consider this question.

I plan to keep looking outward, keep my focus as much on others as possible, and keep sipping my lemonade.

July so far

We had an enjoyable July 4th, visited lots of family. We closed out July 4th watching the fireworks at the local amusement park. July 5th John saved Jordan and her boyfriend from getting a citation for shooting off leftovers. Just in the nick of time! Jordan and I made the first college visit last week. It was quite the adventure. In other news, we've had a stray child at our home for much of the summer. Good news is that his parents have gotten into a transitional housing program. It is a very strict program, but hopefully they can complete the 90 days .

Mean Girls

Dedicated to the Bible reader on the bus who "hmmph"'d at me Monday.

The bus is crowded. The bus is noisy. The bus stops suddenly, starts chokingly, and sways to boot. What little pleasure I have on the bus is usually attributed to nice folks who smile when we are in "standing room only" mode, the men who offer up seats to the ladies, the ability to play Tetris on my cell phone.

And once in awhile, perhaps one day out of five, I strike up conversation with a stranger or new acquaintance.

On the day in question I squeezed myself into a spot between two large ladies. "Donna" was on this four-seater bench too, but we were separated by above-mentioned Bible reader. Ms. Bible Reader was reading around Psalms 31. I was thinking of saying something to her, since my very favorite Psalm happens to be #33. But, before the words could get out she had flipped over to Proverbs. About three minutes later she flipped over to Song of Solomon. Moments later, Isaiah.

Curious. I guess it wasn't what you call in-depth reading. More like browsing, or perhaps window shopping. (Verse shopping?).

Anyway, Donna caught my attention and I asked how she enjoyed her Friday off. She replied in kind. (We were talking behind Ms. Bible Reader's head which was leaned forward to read).

We hadn't gotten more than two pleasantries exchanged, when Ms. Bible Reader let out a loud, annoyed-sounding, HARUMPH. She also used her body language to convey how much our conversation annoyed her. I guess we were disturbing her "verse shopping".

So, Donna and I, being the nice people we are (you know.... Golden Rule followers) did not return tit for tat, but sat patiently through the remaining few minutes of the ride. As we walked to our building together we had the chance to vent.

Usually when I spend time Bible reading, I am inspired, thoughtful, calm. I can't remember a single time in my entire life when Bible reading actually made me grumpy!

Some Birds and Flowers of June

Just wanted to share some nice nature with you.

This guy is a little Chipping Sparrow. I built a brush pile in the backyard, and I think he is living in there. He actually came to our finch feeder last night, nibbled a bit. But I've seen him in the brush pile before too.

This picture turned out so pretty with the finch reflected in the birdbath water.
Indigo Bunting, taken at the nature sanctuary.
The hummingbirds have been coming to the feeder. This little one ate from the feeder for a minute, rested here, then went back to the feeder for seconds, rested again, then flew off!
Okay, can you say Finch Fight? I think it was a lover's quarrel. They were sitting on the fench just squabbling.
A pretty pose for this robin.


Now some flowers!


Just a mixed planter on the patio, mostly marigolds.

Balloon-flowers.

Geranium.
Shasta Daisy (the big tall ones)
I forgot what these are called, sorry.
Purple coneflower.
I think the red ones are impatiens, but I forgot what the little purple ones are called, we got them about 8 years ago.

Our biggest hydrangea bloom so far, not quite done. As of this week its a beautiful blue color!