DATELINE: The Side Deck
A new eating establishment has opened in a leafy side yard and it's getting rave reviews from the avian community.
The squirrel-proof feeder hangs some ten feet from a tree limb and is suspended about 12 feet off the ground. Human access for refilling is gained by a rope tied to the side deck of the home that runs up over the limb and down to the top of the feeder.
"Pretty damn smart," said Mrs. Homeowner of the system her husband devised to keep the feeder out of reach of four-legged scavengers.
Guests dine on Rainbow Valley Gourmet Mix, a tasty blend of white proso millets, sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, wheat, milo, along with vitamin supplements and vegetable oil.
Among the recent guests were Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, several members of the Red-Winged Blackbird family, a host of sparrows and wrens, and a pair of noise crows. A chipmunk stood ground-side and scoops spoils from dropped seeds from above.
Reservations are not required but guests are reminded that it is nice to be polite and share. Refills will be made available each time Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner notice the feeder is empty.
But Mrs. Homeowner offers a caution.
"Squawking before 7 a.m. will not get the feeder filled any faster," she says. "I'm pretty ugly when I don't get enough sleep, and your respect and cooperation are appreciated. Remember, you're getting a free meal."
-30-
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Saturday, July 11, 2009
Five-Star Rating
DIxie and the Other Dog
Just back from a great three-loop walk around Ipswich River Park with The Pretty Girl and a lovely dog named Dixie, a Rottie mix. At one point, TPG opted to go back to her car and strap on her roller blades, leaving me and Dixie to make our way on our own.
All well and good, to be sure. But along came a guy walking a black lab-style dog. Dixie isn't my dog and I don't know how she will behave around other dogs, so I stepped off the path and placed myself between her and the oncoming pair. As they got closer I could hear the guy talking to his dog, saying things like, "Look, another dog for you to meet..."
I called out to him, "She's not my dog, I don't know how she will be, let's not..." and he replied, "Oh there's nothing wrong with them saying 'Hello' to each other," and came up to us.
As it happened, nothing happened. The dogs did the sniffing thing and the pair moved on.
But what the hell? Was that rude? If I'd been walking a dog and saw someone ahead of me STEP OFF THE PATH and then heard them ask me NOT to stop... I would have kept walking! What an idiot.
(I did notice that Mr. Rude Owner and dog crapped out after one loop of the park. Dixie and I made it for three... kudos. TPG scored four on her blades.)
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Saturday, July 4, 2009
Foggy Fourth?
The sun was out for a while this morning. I'm getting so used to the fog and drizzle that I am careful not to get too excited about seeing the sun.
I wonder how long it will be before we're under drought conditions and are under water restrictions. I bet it won't take long.
I wonder how long it will be before I'll be bitching about the heat and humidity. I bet that wont' take long either!
So, it's the Fourth of July. The American Flag in the photo is the one that flies at the farm in Nobleboro.
It's nice to have a three-day weekend (particularly following a short two-day work week, thanks to my trip to Bar Harbor last weekend).
Work is... well, it's work. The CEO and two other coworkers walked through the front door for the last time this past week, and change continues. It gets more difficult every day to be enthusiastic and engaged. I wish I had other options. I don't.
The hardest part is having to deal with people who are as concerned about the future as I am. Some days I'm the one with the poorest outlook... other days it's someone else. There is never a day when everyone is upbeat and excited. It becomes a matter of using your radar to gauge how badly the other guy is doing and deciding how much to engage in the inevitable conversations about the gloomy future.
I'm good at what I do and I manage, every day, to reach inside and pull myself into the moment and give it my best. Some days my best is better than it is on other days. The hardest days are the ones when the best I can muster isn't really good enough.
So, happy Fourth. We're off to Chuck and GailOne's for a BBQ and a date with the famous Salem fireworks. I volunteered to make cole slaw... I've never done it before. I'll let you know if anyone needs to see medical attention.
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Note the date... June 30
Drove home from Maine today with the heat on in the car. Came home from dinner this evening with friends and turned on the heated seat in Dave's truck.
I assume the hot and humid weather is coming, it always does. I'll dream back to this night when I'm fussing about it being too hot.
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My weekend in Maine
Quick recap of my trip. Nice time with my mother in the fog, rain, mist, fog, drizzle, overcast skies, fog, rain, downpours, drizzle, fog, fog, rain.
More, plus photos, later, I need to unpack!
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Friday, June 26, 2009
Beginning and ending of a good work day
My work day began when my colleague Susan came to my office carrying her daughter and my friend, Percy.
Percy and I share a birthday, which makes her almost nine months old and me old enough to be left alone with her while her mother took care of a little business.
We talked about how, had I known she was coming in, I'd have brought nail polish to work so I could paint her toenails. We agreed to do that "next time." Then we took turns shouting into paper cups.
It was the perfect way to start the work day.
The work day ended with my posting an "away" message. I'm off to Maine tomorrow on what I hope will be an amazing adventure. I'll tell you all about it after Tuesday, when I get back.
If I come back.
Happy weekend!
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Sunday, June 21, 2009
Shampoo and hair cuts
Dave and I took a ride to Lawrence today to drop of my periodic donation of toiletries to Lazarus House.
I say "my" donation but it's possible as a result of the kindness of some of my coworkers. The word is out around the office that I collect unopened bottles of the personal care items you get in hotels. These make perfect donations to a shelter, and the Lazarus House has been on the receiving end of the collection effort for almost nine years. I've taught my coworkers that if the squirrel away the little bottles, the housekeeping staff will leave more.
The donations are slowly drying up... the downturn in the economy means less business travel, and I am no longer allowed to send out a periodic reminder to my coworkers about the collection program. "Someone" decided it wasn't the appropriate use of email and that I need to channel my request through the company social committee. That's just bullshit.
My program was further stifled by the recent layoff of the person who did all of the logistical organizing for our offsite seminars. She was able to slide a note into her company-attendee packages reminding them of the project, and always came to my office with a box overflowing with products. Shampoo, conditioner, lotions, shower caps, sewing kits, shower gels, bars of soap... on and on and on.
The shelter has been grateful for every carton of product I've delivered. The small sizes make it easy for them to offer their shelter guests their own products. I can't image how hard it would be to not even have my own bar of soap.
So, I'm sad thinking this program is going to evaporate. I'm so pleased to have been able to do this over the years and what keeps me hopeful is the kindness of my coworkers. Maybe we'll be able to keep it going.
One thing Dave and I noticed as we drove up Route 28 into Lawrence was the number of barber shops... six on one block alone and every one of them was doing a brisk business on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Kind of interesting. A rainy, dreary day, Father's Day at that, and it was SRO in the barber shops.
A special "Dad" message
Please take a moment and go to PeaceBang's site and read her wonderful Father's Day tribute to her Dad.
If your is here, I hope told him how much he means to you.
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Two Years... Fifteen Years
It was two years ago today that I got my breast cancer diagnosis. My, time goes so quickly when you are busy living it.
If I had to go back, I wouldn't do anything differently and that's a really good feeling—believing I did everything I could have done and did it right. Only the passing of more time will tell for sure.
And today is Father's Day! It was 15 years ago today my Dad had his last Father's Day. I hope he knew I offered heartfelt wishes and all my love on that day. And every day.
Share some Father's Day love today with someone special.
