I watched a little AM news this morning and the weather report proclaimed today's temperature as pleasant. And yea, indeed, it is quite pleasant. A bit chilly still - with my fleece's collar up, my breath still clouds my cold glasses - but pleasant enough to hightail it from work early and attempt to work from home on my front stoop. Only there ( Read more... )

I came across this in my new and awesome moth book and felt a great kinship for the author. I recognize this trait in so many of my naturalist mentors as well as myself; I don't know whether all naturalists are born that way, or whether we pick it up from each other, or whether it's a symptom of today's multi-tasking society. Anyway, this is ( Read more... )

Just had one of those heart-dropping moments where I noticed a mysterious $400 charge on my debit card. Not in the regular habit of making $400 purchases, I panicked and desperately racked my brain as to what it could be. Then remembered - with a bit of extra Christmas money, I put a lot extra on my car payment. Hooray, not frauded yet. It's ( Read more... )

I found a Christmas moth on my front door on Christmas Eve-Eve.


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I hereby hold that repeatedly playing I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas, and I Saw Mommy Kissing by Santa Claus, and Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, is an exceedingly cruel form of punishment, and those subjected to such a treatment in a public space like a nature center, must be compensated per minute of exposure ( Read more... )

Only dog people will understand this, but I love it when Sadie does a little fart and then stares at her butt as if to say - where the heck did that come from ( Read more... )

Today I went to the animal shelter to make donations as Christmas gifts for my neighbors/roommates/fellow commune members/whatever, and their pets. There are 5 of us humans (3 in their 60s, one in her 30s, one graying old girl in her mid-20s) and 10 cats, 2 dogs, and a turtle. Oh, and a little cold lizard that sauntered through the front door ( Read more... )

I went to go get my hair cut today and had a very grounding experience of my own mortality ( Read more... )

I've been treating my poor body badly lately - way more caffeine, sweets, bread, and such that it ought to have. I've even been drinking coffee. I think I've even gained a few pounds for the first time since my huge loss. I have a pair of jeans that were too tight for me when I was over 210; at my lowest point I was able to slip them on and off ( Read more... )

Around Christmas I can't help but think back on the Garfield Christmas Special. I've never been much of a Garfield fan, much preferring Snoopy, but we watched the Garfield one a fair bit. Anyway, there's a scene where Garfield says something along the lines of "Whoever invented Christmas tree lights should be dragged out on the streets and shot ( Read more... )