Strange Events

It's been a strange couple of days here at the Room. It all started on Thurdsay night, when the Old Hounds refused to settle down and go to sleep. If you know anything about old dogs, you know that they sleep about 99% of the time. This was an odd night.

After restlessly roaming the house for about an hour, starting at midnight, the young hound (age 14) started to growl in a low tone. The old hound (age 15) soon joined the chorus, which quickly evolved into a theatrical production of the most gosh-awful howling you can imagine. I'm always amazed by the ability of these small creatures to bellow out such big, deep sounds.

We realized that this would be an entirely sleepless night if we did not take action. Were the neighbor's cats creeping around the foundation of our home again in their endless search for voles and moles? Was a possum climbing the gutters? Was a skunk family trying to take up residence under the deck ? (I shudder at the thought of skunks under the deck.)

We armed ourselves with the most powerful flashlight we have. A candle might have given off more light, but at least the flashlight would stay lit in the breeze. We left by the front door, locking it behind us so that nobody could gain entry to our home while we were creeping around the property.

We slowly and quietly made our way around the house. As we rounded the corner by the family room, we heard a rustling noise in the woods. Could it be a deer? We haven't seen any since hunting season last fall, but they could be making a comeback. But a deer in the woods should not be enough to disturb the dogs to this extent. Was the Jersey Devil taking up residence? We trained the flashlight beam on the woods, but it was not strong enough to penetrate past brushy the outer edge. The rustling sound picked up in pace, and the creature could be heard moving off toward our neighbor's home.

We finished the circuit of the property, and, finding nothing else amiss, we went back inside. The dogs were unsettled for another half hour or so, but they finally went to sleep. We gladly followed suit.

Fast forward to last night (Friday). The same cycle of events began. This time, we were prepared with a much more powerful flashlight - something much more like a search light. Once again, we crept around the house, and we heard noise in the woods directly behind our home. As we shone the light into the murky woodland, the noise once again intensified. We were shocked and speechless (well, nearly speechless; I won't repeat our actual comments here) to see the back of a retreating black bear!

Black bear have been sighted in a state park not far from here, and one was seen (and captured) in a neighborhood one county over. I don't know that any have actually been seen here before last night, but I guess it was inevitable.

So here we are, stunned in bearland, making plans to secure our trash and add extra lighting to the exterior of our home, in hopes of discouraging bears from foraging too close to the house. Our neighbors seem to have had a similar experience. For the account of their bear sighting, complete with some amazing photos, check out their site.

Room With A View, Fast Forward

The lead story at cnn.com earlier today was about the acceleration of climate change. It seems that we may be approaching, or may have passed, a tipping point. A tipping point is something like the straw that broke the camel's back. Once you hit it, a cascade of rapid changes begins, and the trend is difficult to reverse.

If our climate continues to warm at the current rate, then many of the world's coastlines as we know them today will be under water by the year 2100. Sea levels could rise by 2-3 feet. The map below (taken from cnn.com) shows the projected impact on the region where I live. My house is situated firmly in the red zone.

In fact, my home is situated far enough into the red zone to make me wonder if it will take a full century for me to feel the effects of global climate change. After all, it cannot be expected that the seas will suddenly rise by 24" exactly 100 years from today. A gradual rise is the more likely scenario, and it has already begun. The polar ice caps and mountain glaciers of the world are disappearing at an alarming rate. As the icefields (which reflect sunlight out of the atmosphere) dissipate, we absorb even more solar energy, increasing the rate of warming. The oceans absorb heat. As the oceans grow in size due to the melting icefields, we absorb more heat. Quite a cascade.

So I wonder, what will I see in my lifetime? If I stay in New Jersey, in my present home, what will I see through my back window? Whenever we have heavy rain, or a coastal storm threatens, those of us who live on the southern New Jersey mainland (the oceanside beaches of South Jersey are located on barrier islands, not on the mainland) joke about having beachfront property when "the big one" hits. Is there more truth in that old joke than we want to acknowledge? Will the woodland that is my back yard die off as salt water seeps upward, killing first the easternmost trees, and gradually creeping up on my home?

I've heard two different versions of the ultimate impact of global warming on climate in the future. Both seem to agree that the temperatures we experience will be extreme. It will either be brutally hot or the Gulf Stream will shift, ushering in an ice age. Robert Frost offers the best summary of my feelings about the possibilities:

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

This 'n' That

I've had to be out of the office unexpectedly several times this week. When someone who might fall under our agency's services is being referred for nursing care, I have to go out to see whether or not our services might offer a better alternative. There is a very limited window of time given by the regulations to accomplish this, and it was just an oddity that so many had to be completed in one single week. Either that, or the vernal equinox is at fault.

In any event, I now have a nice backlog of work waiting for me tomorrow, and several phone calls to return. Thankfully, the Mommanator went with me on these forays into the American healthcare system. Thank you, Nursie! There was one nice bonus today: I ended the day at a visit about 7 miles from home. I had a nice short drive at the end of the day, and I got home much earlier than usual.

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I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday. I desperately need my weekend break, and I'm taking Monday off. I have an early appointment on Monday, then the rest of the day is mine, all mine! Maybe I'll spend the afternoon in Cape May (I can hear the Pax Family Singers breaking out in song as I type (On the way to Cape May, I fell in love with you... )

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I'm mulling an idea for a post suggested by Pax. The idea has a sci-fi/Frankenstein element to it. Maybe early next week. We'll see if I'm up to developing it...

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When you have your health, you have everything...
That was one of my Mother-In-Law's favorite sayings. She was absolutely right. If you're poor, but healthy, you can work hard and improve your lot. If you're rich, but sickly, the money alone won't make you feel better. All of the money in the world can't cure some ailments. If you're poor and sick, you're in trouble!

If you feel well, you can get over most of the things life throws at you.

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I finished a book this week called The Queen of the Big Time, by Adriana Trigiani. It's a coming of age story about an Italian-American girl. The story begins when she is age 14, in 1924, and it follows the rest of her life. I enjoyed the book, though the end felt a bit rushed and a few of the elements introduced later in the story were a bit hackneyed.

I especially appreciated the descriptions of the hard-working immigrants and the life they built in a small Pennsylvania town. It was refreshing that the book never once mentioned the Mafia or organized crime.

Signs of Spring

A cluster of daffodils sprouted boldly in my garden a few weeks ago during a warm spell. They've paused, but not retreated, with the return of the cold weather. The tightly rounded ends of the flower stalks are in the first stages of pregnancy, preparing to bloom when the warmth returns.

One of my tulip bulbs has sent up a single broad leaf, only half emerged from the ground. It looks for all the world like a green rabbit's ear, cocked and listening for the robins and spring peepers to say it's OK to come out and play.

Last week I heard a woodpecker pounding on a dead tree in the woods behind my house, defining his turf and warning all of the other woodpeckers to stay away. The robins (who don't really leave in the winter, they just flock up and retreat quietly into the woods) are stirring and they're starting to pair off. Soon we'll see the first nests being built, and we'll hear them fending off the jays as they tend their eggs.

The spring peepers were calling one balmy evening last week, possibly the very first sound of spring each year. I heard them again on the way to work the next day. They're quiet tonight, the first official night of spring per the calendar - did I hear someone mention snow? Can't last long though, can it? Not with the days getting longer and longer. They'll be back soon (the peepers). Can't keep a good tree frog down.

As much as I like winter (I'm strange that way), I look forward to spring, to the greening up of the world. I love the luscious, wet verdure of the mosses and the spring grasses, so thick and rich and soft to the touch. I feel like I wake up with the flowerbeds and stretch my limbs with the trees. I'm Snow White awakening from a long foggy trance, or Proserpina emerging from the dark realm.

One spring several years ago, there was a woodpecker who took it upon himself to pound out a tattoo like a gatling gun on the metal gutter by our bedroom each morning - bright and early, of course. Nature's little alarm clock. He really was just a few feet from my bed, with nothing but a flimsy tract-home wall between us. He'd take off as soon as I opened the window, but he always came back the next day. Can't wait to see who sets up shop in my yard this spring. I think they're already hanging out their signs.

Cover Story

It's been more than a week since my last post. Here are some possible explanations for my absence. Choose your favorite, or come up with a new one for me!

• My husband and I flew off to Ireland to for St. Pat's. We stayed at one of our favorite haunts, Ashford Castle, which is the spot where we spent our 10th anniversary.

• We've been too busy preparing the hounds for an upcoming AKC show to spend much time on the net.
• We won the lottery and had to take time off to handle all of the legalities involved.
• We had an unexpected offer to buy the house (which was not on the market), and it was too good to refuse. We've been tied up with the details, and have had to start looking for a new home.
• My hard drive crashed.
• I've been working late on projects at work.
• Our cable service (including broadband) has been down for 5 days. I'm not happy with my ISP.
• Hangovers from too many green drinks.
• My sister got engaged and we've been planning her wedding.
• My husband has had the flu and I've had a sinus infection.
• Heavy winds along the coast felled one of the tall pine trees in our yard, and it landed on the house. Fortunately, no humans or hounds were harmed. There is a big blue tarp over the new family room as I speak, but the repairs should be completed this week.
• We've been helping Mom to prepare to move into our home.
• I've been working on the final draft of my first novel, due to be released this summer.

5 Weird Things

I was tagged by Virginia Gal to do the 5 Weird Things Meme. So here goes, 5 weird things about me:

ONE: I lived in the same house for the first 28 years of my life (excluding college dorms and an on-campus apartment). Since the age of 28 (no, I won’t say how long ago that was), I’ve moved 6 times.

TWO: I used to stay up late on weeknights to watch 2 Stupid Dogs.

THREE: My first car was a Plymouth Cricket. Hey, it was free. It also broke down the first time I tried to drive it more than 5 miles. I didn’t keep it very long. The Cricket was manufactured in the UK, where it was sold as the Hillman Avenger. For those of you who like Britcoms, the car rusting in Onslow’s driveway (his dog lives in it) in Keeping Up Appearances is a Hillman Avenger.

FOUR: I once jumped 25 feet from a rock into the Susquehanna River. I was the coward in the group; everyone else jumped (or dove) from, “Old 50 Foot.” This was a significant event for me because I am TERRIFIED of heights. It was also a near death experience because the current was strong and I had a very hard time climbing back onto the slippery rocks of the island. A friend helped, saving my life. OK, I exaggerated. But not by much.

FIVE: I hate the feel of most synthetic fabrics, and I especially hate nylon jackets (the fabric used for years in windbreakers and in those “parachute fabric” warm up suits). The noise they make is like nails on a blackboard to me, and the way they feel makes my skin crawl. I couldn’t stand to wear them for many years. I can tolerate them now, but I still don’t like them.

So that's it, 5 Weird Things. I won't tag anyone, do it if you wanna.

I <3 Saturday

Saturday, the perfect day. A day off, insulated by yet another day off to come. For these wonderful weekend hours, they can't get me. No, I'm not paranoid, just beleaguered and besieged.

I spent my Saturday engaged in one of my favorite activities. Actually, two of my favorite activities. Shopping and dining out. We went to Target and to Borders. We managed to spend a small fortune at my beloved Target, but the purchases at Borders were made with a gift card. I still have two dollars and change left on the card to spend. Excellent!

I bought a book (nothing special, just chick lit), and we picked up a Chopin CD. Our interest in Chopin was piqued by watching a movie about him last week. The film was a woefully inaccurate depiction of Chopin's life, but we didn't know that until we Googled him later (though I had my suspicions).

We had a late lunch at The Olive Garden. Yes, I like the place. It beats the food court at the mall, and you can actually have a libation with your meal. I had a nice berry sangria, just perfect for mid-afternoon: tasty but not strong. From the look of things, we're not alone in our opinion. The place is always busy, and we had to wait (just briefly) for a table.

Today's theme turned out to be liquid refreshment. We bought a replacement for our one-cup coffee maker. This time, we got the Senseo. I picked one up for my mom a year or so ago, and I really like it. The blue model now sits proudly on my counter, its first few cups having already been produced and consumed. It brews one or two cups of coffee right into the mug, with a nice crema on top. Wish the red model had been available, but, oh well.

We made one last stop to pick up some beer for the house. Sangria, coffee and beer: a perfect Saturday.

Odds 'n' Ends

Saw this over at Maidink's blog and had to check it out:

Your Linguistic Profile:

50% General American English

35% Yankee

10% Dixie

5% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

Of course, this doesn't ask about a few definitive words, like water (pronounced "wooder" in the Philly/South Jersey area), or sub vs. hoagie (I grew up saying hoagie, and sub really sounded alien to me. Sadly, sub is the word I use now - blame the move to the shore area and the influence of the husband). I know there are many more words that are important to this region, but it's late, and I can't think of them right now. Help me out here, folks, please! Pax, this is one of your specialties, so gimme a list, OK?

Just thought of another regionalism: down the shore. South Jerseyans and Southeastern Pennsylvanians go down the shore for their vacations. Contrary to common belief, however, people already at the shore do sometimes say that they are going to the beach. Example: "Last week we went down the shore for our vacation. We rented a place on Asbury in OC. It rained on Tuesday, so we didn't go to the beach or boards. We slept in, then went to Charlie's in Somers Point for lunch."

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If you haven't already visited Virginia Gal's blog, Gypsy Thoughts, check it out. Her series of posts called, "View from the 23rd Row," is an excellent resource for travelers. It's worth searching her blog for back issues of the series.

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Pax's Homemade Meme is circling the world at warp speed. Congrats, Pax, on achieving international renown!

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This might just possibly be the longest week at work ever on record. It feels like it, anyway. Will the weekend ever get here? Stay tuned for updates.

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I'm convinced that I have a barometer in my brain. I feel all of the high and low pressure systems that move through the area. And oh, those lows! Yesterday was pretty good, as was today, til a few hours ago. I can confirm the change in the weather that is expected to bring precipitation our way today.

'Night all!

Domesticity

Just taking a quick break between grocery shopping and making dinner. Tonight's menu:

Salad Course

Salad of Baby Red and Green Romaine

Main Course

German-Style Chicken

Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage

Organic Edamame

Hot Dinner Rolls

Dessert

Fruited Yogurt Brulee

Choice of Beverage

The recipes for the above menu were taken from my Better Homes and Gardens New Dieter's Cookbook. They are tasty and healthy, a real bonus. And the red cabbage is a cheat: straight out of a jar.

Preparation for tomorrow's dining experience will begin this evening, as well. Crockpot pot roast will be the house special. Side dishes to be determined; probably butternut squash and Brussels sprouts.

This evening will be all about laundry, since I was lazy during the day today, and didn't get it started. Perhaps Mr. M. will take care of most of the dinner clean-up.

With all of this domestic bliss going on around here, I think it's time to plan something to look forward to in the near future. We have a vacation coming up in April, but we aren't planning to go away. We're thinking about a bigger trip in the fall, but we're just not sure how we feel about traveling right now. Our oldest dog will be 16 in June. She didn't do so well when we went to Alaska in September of 2004, and I'm afraid to leave her for very long. Perhaps we'll plan a couple of short trips as bookends around a few days at home. Or even just one short, luxurious trip. Oh, the possibilities!

A Few Thoughts Before Now I Lay Me...

I'm getting a little tired of the nighttime snowfall theme here a the Room, but I'm too pooped tonight to do anyhthing about it. I'll spruce up a bit over the weekend. Hopefully I'll feel a bit more rested then, even thought we have to have my husband's car to the mechanic by 9:00 am. Heavy groan. All I want to do is stay home and rest. Oh well. Might have to make him take me out for breakfast.

I've been very tired lately. Maybe it's a winter thing, although I kind of like winter. Or maybe it's work. Whatever it is, it's keeping me from doing much in the way of posting. I come up with ideas throughout the day, but I can't seem to remember them at night, and I don't seem to be able to develop them. I have to do a lot of composing and typing at work these days. It's pretty intense stuff, so that might help to explain things. Maybe I should start to keep a notebook with me to jot down ideas as they occur to me, sort of like a dream journal. Dream journal, hmmm, that reminds me...

Goodnight, sleep tight, and pleasant dreams to you!

Room With a View

Updated the background on my header and on the body of my blog to reflect my mood today. Ironically, it has begun to snow for real here at the Room.

It's colder here today than it has been for most of the winter. Great day to be a polar bear.

Pax's Homemade Meme

Pax Romano created a meme and tagged everyone who stops by his blog, so here goes:

1: Black and White or Color; how do you prefer your movies?
I like 'em all, but I always return to the classic B&W's.
2: What is the one single subject that bores you to near-death?
Sports statistics and replays.
3: MP3’s, CD’s, Tapes or Records: what is your favorite medium for prerecorded music?
CD's; I never thought it would happen, but I've finally reached an age where I don't care to mess much with new technology, so no iPod for me. Yet.
4: You are handed one first class trip plane ticket to anywhere in the world and ten million dollars cash. All of this is yours provided that you leave and not tell anyone where you are going … ever. This includes family, friends, everyone. Would you take the money and ticket and run?
Not without my husband and my dogs.
5: Seriously, what do you consider the world’s most pressing issue now?
Religious and political fundamentalism.
6: How would you rectify the world’s most pressing issue?
Eliminate weapons of every kind. OK, you didn't say it had to be possible.
7: You are given the chance to go back and change one thing in your life; what would that be?
College major/career choice.
8: You are given the chance to go back and change one event in world history, what would that be?
The Holocaust.
9: A night at the opera, or a night at the Grand Ole’ Opry – Which do you choose?
A night at the opera. I love classical music. Country is OK, but I need small doses.
10: What is the one great unsolved crime of all time you’d like to solve?
Who stiffed us on the bill at lunch yesterday?
11: One famous author can come to dinner with you. Who would that be, and what would you serve for the meal?
If dead authors may be chosen: Jane Austen, and I'd serve a smorgasbord of tasty modern food. For a living author, I'd choose Geraldine Brooks, and we'd eat out, at the restaurant of her choice. I wouldn't want to be distracted by serving food and clearing dishes.
12: You discover that John Lennon was right, that there is no hell below us, and above us there is only sky: what’s the first immoral thing you might do to celebrate this fact?
Is morality only a function of religious belief?

Old Fellow

Here's the snowman my husband created yesterday. He's a bit wizened after his day in the sunshine. He might have been born yesterday, but he's an old fellow now.

Delivery

Went to bed late last night to heavy rain and wind. Overnight, mother nature gave birth to a winter wonderland.

Hounds in the snow (not the real thing: too cold and windy to keep them out there just to take pics):

It's 10:00 am. We're still getting steady snow and a bit of wind. My husband searched for the snowman kit (all the fixins but the snow) for about 1/2 hour. It took me about a minute to find it. It was right where I told him it would be...

Expecting

Woke up this morning, got yourself a gun

Oops, not writing the lyrics to the Sopranos theme song here, let's start over.

I woke up this morning to a pregnant sky, heavy with impending precipitation, waiting for its water to break. Will it be snow or rain? Could go either way here, down the shore. The predictions for our area have been all over the place, and include rain, sleet and snow.

The consensus seems to be that we will get significant accumulation, but they've been wrong before. They being the forecasters of doom. In March of 2001, John Bolaris (then of Philly channel 10/WCAU) predicted the Storm of the Century for the Philly and South Jersey area. And he did it in a big, dramatic way. Schools were closed, as was the anonymous government office, in anticipation of the event. And we got nada. A whole lot of nothing. It was a lovely, serendipitous day off.

Not much chance of a day off from this storm, falling as it does on a three day weekend. Most of my coworkers appeared to accept the threat of a blizzard with equanimity. Seems we all secretly welcome a reason to stay home and rest for a change.

We made the short trip to the grocery store last night. It was not crowded (we went on the late side). While we did pick up water and PopTarts (standard fare around here when the electric service goes out), we really went to get a Valentine to mail to Mom, since the chances are pretty good that we won't get out to see her before Tuesday. The card is on its way as we speak, along with a heart-shaped box of chocolates. Why do I always hear Forrest Gump whenever I say those words?

Unfortunately, Mr. Merci took the chocolates to the post office to mail them, and he mailed the card separately. Maybe mom will think she has a secret admirer when she gets that anonymous box of chocolates (there goes that Forrest Gump line again). Maybe that's not a bad thing. She has a good sense of humor.

I've looked everywhere for those wonderful Hershey's Cordial Kisses, but they are nowhere to be found. I had one at work last week. My hubby loves cherry cordials, and I had hoped to pick some up for him. I found some cherry KitKats, but they are just too sweet. We're not exchanging gifts this year; no real need to do that. I just thought the cordial kisses, along with a card, would be a nice touch.

But I digress: back to the topic of the (alleged) Nor'easter. We don't often lose our electric service, but it's best to prepare for the possibility. We have a well - no city water (or sewer) available here. The pump can't run without electricity, so we can't get water when the power is out. I will fill the tub before the worst of the wind hits. This will enable us to continue to flush the toilet if we cannot get water from the well.

So here I am, waiting for the heavens to deliver a big bundle of joy. We're all safely at home (2 humans and 2 canines), we are well stocked with comfort food, and the nutritious kind, as well. We'll light the pilot light on the gas fireplace, which will ensure that we have heat if the power goes out (the heater needs an electric spark to start), and, oh yeah, gotta go fill the tub with water...

5 Excuses for Not Blogging

1. Fatigue and a disrupted sleep cycle
2. Headaches
3. Medical appointments (mostly routine)
4. The Stephen King book (my first) I borrowed from Pax
5. The dogs ate my post

I set out to come up with 10 reasons, but I'm just too lazy. The weekend (3 days off, hooray) should bring better things.

OC

Since I don't have much to say today, here are a few pics to keep the blahg from becoming too blah.

This is the beach in Ocean City this afternoon. The surf was really rough, almost Nor'easter rough. There will be some erosion today. The wind was not unusually strong. One of the worst Nor'easters I remember happened on a perfectly beautiful, sunny day. I headed into Ocean City late in the afternoon for a field visit. I was puzzled by flooding on Ocean Heights Avenue in Somers Point. When I crossed the 9th Street Bridge into Ocean City, I had to turn back because of the flooding on the island. All on a beautiful day. I believe that was the Perfect Storm of Halloween 1991.

This is the Boardwalk looking north from 11th Street this afternoon. You can't tell from the photo, but there were quite a few shoppers on the boards today, and some of the mainstay shops were open (Atlantic Books, Mack and Manco Pizza, The Fudge Kitchen and others).

Here's another beach shot, taken a bit later in the day. Still quite rough out there.

The Fishing Pier
This pier is privately owned by a fishing club and is off-limits to mere mortals.

The Music Pier.
Most of the entertainment on the Boardwalk takes place here. I remember attending services here when I was a teen. My youth group came to OC for a convention every year.

And here it is, the place I refer to as, "The Scene of the Crime." This is the Flanders Hotel, where my hubby and I said, "I Do," oh, so many years ago! She was a grand old dame, and beautiful inside. She's been through a lot - closed, reopened, partially converted to condos, and much more. Perhaps I'll tell my bit of that tale another day...

February is for Lovers*

Yes folks, it's here, the most romantic holiday in the calendar year. I'm two weeks early you say? Not at all -- today is (drumroll)

GROUNDHOG DAY!

Now, you might well ask What could possibly be so romantic about Groundhog Day? I submit the following as evidence:

• My parents were married on Groundhog Day (February 2nd).
• My husband and I became engaged on Groundhog Day.
• A good friend (I'll leave it up to that person to choose whether or not to identify him or herself) also celebrates their anniversary on Groundhog Day.

Tomorrow morning, while Punxsutawney Phil is being yanked mercilessly out of his cozy burrow to satisfy the folkloric superstitions of a bunch of fool humans, several of that sorry bunch (fool humans) will be gearing up for a day of romantic remembrance. Perhaps we were inspired by the humble, cuddly (poetic license exercised here) groundhog. Or maybe we just couldn't wait 12 more sunrises for the day of hearts and roses to arrive. Personally, I think it's just because the whole month of February is for lovers, and we should kick it off as early as possible. OK,OK -- full disclosure on my true personal story here; our first opportunity for a romantic dinner out after the purchase of the ring happened to fall on Groundhog Day.

Just for the record, February 2nd is also the holiday of Candlemas, something I know because of enigmatic references to the day in British literature and romance novels. According to the Answers.com article I've referenced, Groundhog Day has it's origins in Candlemas:

"In the British Isles, good weather at Candlemas is taken to indicate severe winter weather later. It is also the date that bears emerge from winter hibernation to inspect the weather as well as wolves, who if they choose to return to their lairs on this day is interpreted as meaning severe weather will continue for another forty days at least. In the United States and Canada, Candlemas evolved into Groundhog Day celebrated on the same date.The earliest American reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Center at Franklin and Marshall College:

February 4, 1841 - from Morgantown, Berks County (Pennsylvania) storekeeper James Morris' diary..."Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate." [1]

So Happy Groundhog Day, Happy Candlemas, and Happy Anniversary to all!

*Just a footnote: I'm posting this late in the day on 2/1 because I won't have a chance to publish again until late on 2/2.

WHO

Just a few random Who questions to post tonight:

1. WHO took my remote control??? I have looked everywhere for it, it is nowhere to be found.

2. WHO is unlikely to be spending any political capital during the State of the Union speech tonight?

3. WHO had the shortest auto repair in history this evening? OK, that's a faux question, it was I! The driver's side windshield wiper was out of order. Turned out they just had to tighten a screw. Wonder if it would have been that simple if the car was not still under warranty...

4. WHO stayed home from work today with a nasty borderline migraine headache/wooziness/etc.? OK, I know the answer to that one, too. 'Twas I, alas. Thank goodness for my generic brand headache formula pain reliever, and lots of sleep in a dark, quiet room!

5. WHO's the king of animals in Africa? OK, really off track now. It's my beloved Kimba, of course!

6. WHO had better find that remote control right now, before the State of the Union speech begins? Gotta be ready to change the channel quickly if the blood boils. Yes, I know we didn't always have remote controls, that we used to get up off our butts and change the channel by hand. But that was a lot easier to do when tv's had dials (so many of you probably don't remember tv's with dials) than it is with an up and down button that changes one channel at a time, in sequence.

OK, now CNN is talking about dedicated survivors, the government officials who will not attend the shindig tonight just-in-case-of-disaster. They will be taken to a secure, remote location, and will ensure that the government can continue to operate if a disaster wipes out congress, the Pres, and the VP in one fell swoop. This just might be the most interesting discussion of the evening.

Kudos to CNN, by the way, for bringing fresh blood to their news team from the UK and Australia, and having field reporters from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Maybe one day they'll be as good at hard news as the BBC.

What a Zoo

We took a quick trip to the zoo on Saturday. Not the Philly zoo, we weren't up for that much travel this weekend. We headed out for Cape May in the afternoon. On the way to Cape May, we had a change of heart and stopped off at the zoo in Cape May Court House instead. For those of you who don't know Cape May County very well, Cape May Court House really is the name of the town. And yes, the county courthouse is right there in the center of town.

Anyway, it was a bit on the late side when we walked into the zoo. We had just under an hour for our visit. That's OK, since we're local and we can go back any time. Admission is free.

I had my digicam with me, so I took some pics. The light wasn't the best, since the sun was starting to set. Most of my shots seemed to be backlit, which is fatal to quality. If I had known we were going to the zoo, I might have taken my 35 mm with me. The digicam has that tiny bit of shutter lag that makes getting good pics of animals a challenge. Not a problem for things that don't move (the beach in Cape May, Victorian mansions), but not great with living creatures who refuse to pose.

So here they are, a few of the creatures great and small at the Cape May County Zoo:

The Snowy Owl


Prairie Dogs


Blooming Things


The Tiger


Some Kind of Hog/Boar/Pig


A Camel


Oh, Deer


Ginger


Ginger with Ruffled Feathers


Fred

A Tiny Goat, I Think!

We didn't make it over to the African Savannah to see my favorites, the giraffes. Maybe next time!