Bird Watching

Okay, I saw some pretty fabulous birds in Florida too. Some photos for your viewing pleasure:

A Common Egret. It wasn't very common to me. And especially beautiful in flight.

An Anhinga, drying it's wings. They don't have the protective coating that ducks and such have, so they dive in the water for fish and then sit and dry their wings. I saw them just like this all over sunbathing to get dry. It was kind of fun to see them.

This is an Ibis. They were often in groups and walked on top of the water lillies and such, kind of fun.

Flamingos are native to Florida. Pretty cool having birds like this native to where you live, huh?

Here is a common Egret "surfing" on an alligator.

Comorants nesting in a tree. They dive in the water to fish too. They are often called snake birds because when they swim all you see are their heads and necks. In China, people train these birds to fish for them. I saw it on Survivor once too. The put a collar around their neck so they can't swallow the fish and pull it out of them. Gross huh? But ingenious.

Here was some kind of stork. Isn't he funny sitting on his "knees" like that?

And a Peacock. they are always just amazingingly beautiful birds.

Gators!

I'm finally getting time to work on my blog. I've been busy... but I've got a couple of entries I want to do. First, Gators! I was just in Florida for a week and I was fascinated by the ecosystem and wildlife. I didn't bother with the amusement parks even though I stayed right next to one.

I went to Gatorland and it was very interesting although sometimes creepy. I was ready about someone who had a gator phobia. I don't but then I don't have to get in water where some might be. If I did, I probably would too.

They are the most prehistoric, evil looking critters. They said at Gator land that they have a brain the size of a peanut. I don't know, but this guys were a little sluggish because it had been cold. Interesting to look at, but I didn't want to get too close.

There were little tiny baby gators. They didn't look any nicer than the big gators. I wouldn't want anything to do with these guys either. In the wild, 60% of Baby gators are killed by other gators or animals before the get very big. So I guess that's why they have so many babies. So "farmed" gators aren't eaten by wild animals and so they get "harvested" for other things. They were selling gator tail and gator ribs. I tried the tail. It was breaded and deep fried. It didn't taste like much but tough meat. I just tried about 3 bites. I thought since it was on the menu that other people would have tried it, but the waitress and my friend from there, both thought it was "gross". So...

There were LOTS of adolescent gators. I saw lots of adolescent gator heads that had been "harvested" and were for sale. I have to admit, while I'm not a fan of this practice, I did buy one for my nephew because my sister asked me to.

So then there was the gator wrestling show. They pick a kid out of the audience to choose a gator out to the pond for the guy to "wrestle". Then he pulls him out of the tank by his tail and shows us his mouth, closed and open, etc. He flips him over and puts him into a "sleep" and then wakes him up by tickling him. Interesting. He said the whole gator wrestling thing was from when the "crackers" were farming cows and gators would hide in the watering holes. He said the rancher would tell the hands to get the gators out of the holes.

A couple of days later, I went on a river tour to see manatees. We also saw "wild" alligators. They were really hard to see and even scarier to me because of that. There were quite a few of them and you would just see some eyes and then farther back, some "tire treads" sticking out of the water. I sure don't want to go swimming in Florida!

Fortuitous

I had noticed for about 6 weeks that my car was running slightly rougher. It just sounded a little deeper throated when it idled. I kept thinking that I probably should take it in and have someone look at it, but put it off as it didn't seem emergent and would probably cost a lot of money.
Then today as I was turning tightly I heard a little bit of "groaning" noise. I thought since the car is now groaning and moaning, I really should do something about it. I had bought an extended warranty with the car, way back when, since I tend to put a lot of miles on a car. My warranty is good for 100,000 miles. I'm at about 97,500.
I just heard from the dealer that the car needs a new power steering rack, to the tune of 2000$. It also needs an injection flush, motor mounts, radiator flush. All to the tune of about 2700$ plus or minus. They think they can get the extended warranty to pay for most of it. How fortuitous that I got myself in before the warranty expired! Or maybe it was inspiration? It's all good which ever one it was.
I had to rent a car while mine is being fixed. They gave me a Mazda 5 with 31 miles on it. New car smell, mmmmm. It makes it oh so tempting to buy a new one. But I know once mine is fixed and I get it a bath, I'll be happy with it again (Especially if I don't have to pay for all the repairs!).
Isn't it nice the way things can sometimes work out?

Kindnesses

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate all the small and large kindnesses that are shown me. Just this week, my friend Carrie needed to have emergent surgery. I called one of the surgeons I work with and he immeadiately took care of her, treating her like a VIP. How nice it was of him to do that for me and for her!
I just started working on my evening stint. My co worker in the evenings this week has been Victoria. She has made me feel so welcome and has helped me in so many ways. She just told me tonight how nice it was to have me here and gave me a big hug. How kind of her!
I had my one on one with my boss today. She was very kind about my trials and tribulations in getting used to my new hours and open to easing my way in any way she can.
The first night of my evenings, my friend Geoff called to see how I was doing with the evenings. How kind that was.
I just recently discovered the dog park and have been taking my dogs there. The people and dogs there have been really kind and nice. One gentleman in particular was going around the area cleaning up in general, not just after his own dog. How kind of him to do that and make it a nicer place for everyone.
I just wanted to acknowledge some of the kindnesses that are around everyday, there seems to be enough of the negative in the environment.

Tour of the Christmas Tree

This is not a complete tour of my tree, but it will give you an idea!

You can hum or sing carols as we go.....

Fa la la la la, la la la

I bought this several years ago. We had the same ornament when I was a kid and so it reminds me of my childhood. I like elves.

Again a memory from childhood.

We wish you a Merry Christmas.....

I bought some glass ornamanents in San Antonio while visiting my friend Robin a few years ago.

Isn't he cute?

A gift from the Hopkin family. Sorry it's blurry..

Hark the Herald Angels Sing!

More Angels

Another gift.. From Kelly Kilday Reimer, Rudolph

Rudolph with a broken leg.

Just for fun. A S'more snowman. And one I made years ago. Let's all sing the First Noel.....

The reason for the season..... And the fun of the season. A gift from my friend Michelle Porter Dahl.

And they saw a star.... And maybe a snowflake

A gift from Robin in Germany.

Candlelight Capers

I went to my first and likely last, big benefit dinner Saturday night. The beneficiary was the rural trauma outreach program and since that is what I do, it was in my best interests to be there. I must say it was interesting and I had an enjoyable time, but I won't seek out going again.

It was interesting seeing all the pretty gowns. You could tell those who had a lot of money had spent a lot of money on what they were wearing. My work group, while perfectly presentable, were more humbly dressed than the beaded and coutre gowns that went by.

If you look at the photo closely you can see the back of the Ogau's heads just behind us. It was fun to see them there. My boss is on the back right hand corner. Victoria and Anita finish the back row. The front row is myself, Sue and Sandy. Tami's husband was also there, but he was taking the photo for us.

It was a beautifully appointed room. The music was too loud. They had a band with several singers and a couple of girls who did temptation sort of things while the other folks sang. They were wearing long white dresses with elbow length gloves. They looked kind of silly to me.

I did bid on a couple of doggie items in the silent auction but didn't get them. My boss bid on and got, Dr. Detlefs to fly her and her husband in his plane to Sedona for a breakfast. Dr. Detlefs is very nice and they will have a good time.

For me, one of the funniest parts was when my boss entered into the live auction. She was bidding on a package that included flying on the Suns team plane with them on a 2 day road trip. She was really nervous as the bidding got up around 5000$. Her husband had mixed feelings. Dr. Ferrera was at the next table and was egging her on. It was pretty hilarious. He kept telling her if she went up another 100$ he would kick it in. What she really ended up doing was jacking up the price of the package for the guy who was bidding against her. Since it was all for a charitable cause, it was ok.

They had 2 Golden Retreiver puppies that went for 7000$ and 5000$ a piece. At the end of the package deals, the auctioneer was soliciting donations. I was amazed at people dropping a 20,000 or 10,000$ donation. I won't ever be running in that crowd.

The funniest story I heard about the evening, Victoria told me the day after. She and Anita had come together and they left at midnight, the end of the evening. They were standing in line at the valet, waiting for Victoria's car. Anita leaned over and told Victoria, that's Dr. Willis up there, the neurosurgeon. They talk to him on the phone all the time, but had never met him in person. Both were shy of going up and introducing them selves, but Victoria stepped up and they both met him, his spouse and another one of the docs from the practice. The valet came up with both their black cars at the same time. Victoria went to the trunk of her car to put something in. When she finished she got in and looked ahead to see Anita sitting in the passenger seat of Dr. Willis's car. Anita said Dr. Willis looked at her and said "Do you need a ride?" Dr. Willis's wife was standing outside the car looking at her. Anita was mortified, apologized and got in the right car. What a hoot!

Fifteen Favorite Things

Cynthia has tagged me and so I'm going to try and come up with a somewhat different list from my "guilty pleasures" list. And before I forget I want to tag Shando's ghost writer. I think it will be hilarious to see what she writes on her behalf. I will also tag Michelle Dahl and Joyce. Michelle you can just write it as a comment if you like. A good way to get initiated into the blogdom.
In no particular order:

15.Having my own office at work and getting to do my own thing. I love not having to deal with some of the daily aggravations of being on top of each other in the main office. I love being self directed and having the freedom to be creative and go in almost any direction I want with my job MOST of the time.

14. My 30 G IPOD. I'm coming late into the digital music era, but am enjoying so much the convenience of being able to cart around my entire music collection with me where ever I go. I like that I was able to get rid of most of my extensive CD collection. I like that I don't have to buy an entire album if I really don't think I want to. I usually do anyway. Habit I guess. I don't listen to it much with the ear piece but I've got little speakers here and there and all kinds of accessories to play it in any kind of car. I love it!

13. TIVO. I hate to use one of Cynthia's, but she got the TIVO fever from me anyway. It is so incredibly convenient. I love that I can always watch whatever I want whenever I want and it doesn't have to affect anything else I have planned. I love not having to watch commercials! I want to speed up through commercials on everything now. I find I want to reverse the radio and listen to something again. It doesn't work on radio though.

12. Dogs. I really like animals in general, but dogs and I have something special. I've got 3 of them and I enjoying visiting with most every dog I see. I love watching dog shows on TV, going to dog shows, dog shelters, looking at them in pet shops. They are always so loving and fun.

11. The seat heaters in my car. There isn't very much time in the year to get any use out of them, but oh are they wonderful when it is chilly. I always want to curl up and go to sleep in the car. I am afraid I may think I always have to have them when I buy a car.

10. My cell phone. Another one Cynthia listed. It's funny, because I'm one of the few people that don't keep it on all the time, but it is so CONVENIENT for me. I love being able to reach for it any time, anywhere when I want to ask something or talk to someone. I just came back from a road trip with a doc who used his cell phone for all of his email, Internet, and GPS. I must say that after seeing the demonstration and convenience I am sorely tempted to upgrade. Especially when my home computer seems to be so retarded half the time.

9. Eating out. I love it. I think it's convenient, fast and easy. I like the novelty of trying new places. I think I sometimes eat more balanced meals because I don't cook full meals at home very often, since it's just me. If I do, at least half of things rot before I get them eaten. And I like the socializing I often do with the different groups I go out to eat with.

8. Book Club! I love the fun of being able to talk to other people who have read the same book. I love the discussions that often develop around the themes of the books. I love the sheer number and variety of the books we've read. I love that we've been able to keep it going for 20 years!

7. Earrings. I know I said I was a dishaholic. Truth is I have several addictions and earrings are another one. I have more earrings than anyone would ever need. I buy them as souvenirs every where I go. The nice thing about them, is they are small and at least I can use them instead of having to dust them. I can't stand to leave the house without them on. I feel naked. I just bought 3 pair when I was in New Mexico for 2 days. I'm always a sucker for earrings.

6. Clean Sheets. I adore the feeling and smell of fresh sheets on the bed. I change them more often than a lot of people because I let those 3 dogs up on the bed to sleep with me at night. I usually change them every week.

5. Calenders. I have one I carry in purse to keep track of my various activities. I also have 2 in my office, one in the kitchen and one in the bedroom. I don't know why I am so fascinated with them, something about the orderliness they give my life and all the beautiful photos on them.

4. Snail Mail. I love getting "real letters" in the mail. I feel sort of cheated when I get a card with nothing but someone's name written on it. I love mail in general, except for the bills.

3. The Newpaper. I enjoy relaxing and reading the news, comics, reviews etc that are in the paper every day. I feel deprived and missing something if I don't get to on a day for some reason. It's also a great source for planning fun things to do!

2. Yankee Candles. I love the way they smell. I have one on my buffet and in my bathroom at all times. I also have one in my office. I have mostly changed to warmers instead of burning them, except in the bathroom. Just because it's easier and cleaner. I'd use a warmer in the bathroom too if it didn't involve draping a cord across the room.

1. My drawing class. I am so excited by what I've been able to learn to do and the progress I've made. I look forward to taking life drawing next semester and continuing to learn and improve my skills.