Excuses for being a lazy blogger

Okay, Okay. Enough is enough, already, right? I think I’ve had enough of Great Blue Herons, too. But I felt better today and stopped for another photo shoot. Okay?

If I could get a photo of those magnificent wings in flight, outstretched…wow. When in full zoom, I lose the bird in less than two seconds. This is very frustrating, let me tell you.

Speaking of frustration, for several days I looked for a medicinal fix in the over-the-counter medicine aisles and now I am convinced there is not one drug on the market that can alleviate cold symptoms without making you feel sick. I’ve experienced it all lately – dry mouth, insomnia from a scary decongestant I took one night, loss of appetite, and a few other side effects I won’t dare mention. Have you ever had to leave a scene because of a sneeze and cough attack that wouldn’t quit? Without notice, all faucets are open and the fluids are spewing. Me, facing the parking lot. Ten minutes later, with a pocket full of mucous dampened tissues, I headed back to my office to wipe tear stains from my cheeks and to clean up running mascara. This cold is mine and it returns every four or five years to torment me.

It flew to another tree and I followed slowly and quietly. I got this photo after using a sneak up out of the shadows technique.

What a day it was. I didn’t notice the resident red-shouldered hawk watching me until I was ready to leave.

A few days ago, just before dusk, it was dinnertime.

What really makes life grand is that I’ve been assigned a part-time job in addition to my over-full full time job. Now, ain’t that just perfect timing for a worn out woman? Our criminal justice/law enforcement department picked up Health CCE – Phlebotomy, Nurse Aide, and Pharmacy Tech, and I’m the lucky one to support those programs until help is hired. Until then, no walks on campus. No sneaking ten minute breaks to visit blogs. No lunch unless I eat at my desk. It’s a temporary inconvenience for a few of us and I keep repeating to myself – temporary, temporary, won’t last long. Two weeks? Three months? No one knows. Nothing happens quickly when you work for the State. I waited three months to be hired at the college.

Visiting blogs has been a challenge for me lately for the reasons above. When I feel uninspired and tired, I can’t produce a post, and after a while, it becomes normal and I accept it. This new normalcy is good because it’s one less thing to worry about and it’s getting to be very comfortable and easy. However... I find myself looking at the photos I’ve taken, reading my notepad every evening, and missing some wonderful, special people. YOU. So here I am again.

Let’s talk about the weather.

New Year’s week gave us a real chill with low temps in the teens. A few days later the ice melted and

the fish in our pond were jumping. We’ve had a week around 70 degrees.

A tiny lizard, less than two inches long, was sunning on the driveway. We have several species and this one is new. Moths hover around the night lights and flies and bees are awake and alive. I’d rather have a winter. January and February are our winter months here. Bring it on.

It’s Modo time on the pond every day at 4pm. More on backyard birds is coming soon...while I try to be a better blogger.