Easy Come, Easy Go

We haven't received our "economic stimulus" check yet, but yesterday's mail did cough up a lil' sumthin' sumthin' in the way of a Federal tax refund. And, oh harsh coincidence, DH noticed the refund check was for almost exactly the amount of the credit card bill that arrived in the same day's mail. Hmmmm.

Where Have You Been All My Life?

If anyone could tell me, it's you, TomTom.

I'm not in the habit of endorsing commercial products here, and I have no other GPS device to compare this one with. TomTom might not be the best, but it's inexpensive and portable and seems to be simple to set up and use. All I know is, having a GPS in my car might just change my life. Like, for the better. Like, I won't be calling you out of the blue to say "Listen, I was trying to find Bay Park, but now I don't know where I am...I think I'm still in Oceanside...I'm near some railroad tracks..." Yeah. I'm like that. So I have hopes, people. High ones. So far, I've only been in a car while it was on, not actually driving the car. So we'll see. I'll be trying this out. Where should I go? (Polite responses only, please.)

What Now?

I think I have some kind of bark beetle. Well, not me personally, but the pine tree in back. Its foliage has been yellowing for a few years now, though it gets new growth every year. Then last week I noticed these holes. They could be from insects, or just from woodpeckers or sapsuckers (who would be going after...umm...insects. Shoot.) It will be sad if we lose this one, planted as it was from a wee sapling some thirty-odd years ago by either my brother or my sis. (Two were planted, one survived, we're not sure which.) The holes aren't random, they're kind of in a straight line, ringed around the trunk. A couple of hapless ants are immortalized in the sap droplets. Apart from the holes, I don't see any tunneling along the inner layers, under the bark (which has always, to my memory, peeled a lot, so that might be normal. I don't know what kind of tree it is exactly.) So, I'm hoping it's birds, as maybe that would mean the grubs are gone and the tree can recover. It's putting out new growth at the tips as usual, so for now I will fight the invaders with organic weapons like insults and regular watering.

Jamaican Wildlife Tour

Yesterday we found ourselves with an hour to kill before starting our evening shifts at the library, and it was such a beautiful day, the DH and I decided to walk up to Captain Tilly Park, on Highland Avenue, next to Jamaica High School. It's a badly-littered nine acres of water, greenery, and playground equipment that nevertheless serves parents and children, lunchers (like the chap in grey above), and even a few runners seeking a breath of air and a place to stretch their legs. The pond needs an aerator to keep down the algae, and unfortunatly, that piece of equipment is, for some reason, moored by two ugly, broken-down, red plastic barrels with the word "danger" unevenly hand-lettered on them in white paint. Despite its visual flaws, the park has a lot of what wildlife wants: water and fallen, rotting tree trunks offering food and shelter. Of course, we brought cameras. (The photo of the monument was taken by Ken.)

Together, We Can...

...all share this log. Yes! The spirit of reptilian brotherhood allows four to bask on a submerged log that might fit only two less cooperative individuals. Or so goes some such anthropomorphic nonsensical imagining on my part as I snap these red-ear sliders basking in Goose Pond. Great name for the pond, by the way. Took a lot of imagination, that did: "Yeah, we can't get rid of these Canada geese no way, no how. They've completely taken over! Might as well name the durned pond after 'em!"

Take A Gander At THESE Babies!

Midway through spring, and it's time to make way for goslings. Canada geese are year-round residents of our cities now, and these were hatched in the park. Still too young to be far from the gimlet eye of their parents, they're already quite sizable, except for comically short wings.

Procrastination Rewarded

Sometimes, it's good not to be on top of the weeding right from the start; sometimes the uninvited, left unpulled, are the most beautiful of all.