Blogger Woes: Error 230

I cannot get my archives to publish. I keep getting this wonderful error:

Archive Error
Error 203:java.lang.NumberFormatException: (server:page)

I've gone back in my entries and replaced any ampersands in my posts with the word "and". Are forward slashes also verboten? I don't know what else to do and I'm frustrated. I know, Joanie...MoveableType. This frustration with Blogger may serve as my best impetus, eh?

Stripping Away The Old...Plus Some Odds And Ends

We finally stripped the carpet from our office Saturday night. It was a bound carpet remnant we put in about a year ago. It was cheap carpet to begin with, plus we'd never gotten around to putting the padding down beneath it, so it was matted and looked really ratty. Plus, due to recurrent bouts of a certain un-named beagle's pissquiggles, it was pretty rank. Actually, it was embarrassingly stinky, truth be told.

It was a late-night team effort, as most of our projects tend to be. Howie crawled around on the floor and cut sections of carpet with his pocket knife and handed them to me to toss in a pile by the garage door. I vacuumed, he mopped with oil soap. About 3am (darned time change!), we dragged our sore and tired bodies to bed and slept a few hours until it was time to get up for church. It was worth it, though; now the office just smells like the cedar shavings in the dogs' bed. *sniff*

We brought up a bookshelf from the basement, too, so I'm working on getting the books off of horizontal surfaces, sorted into "keep" and "Goodwill", and up onto bookshelves where they belong. One thing the Sandra Felton said in her book,
The New Messies Manual, is so true: messies tend not to buy the organizational products they desparately need, thinking they're too expensive. She said the very things that will help us get organized and declutter things -- marvels such as bookshelves and plastic storage containers -- are absent from our homes. Boy, is she right about that!

I went to the chiropractor again today, my second visit. I awoke with a real headbanger of a headache, part sinus, part tension in my neck. The very last thing I felt like doing was going out of the house. The thing I most felt like doing was going back to bed. I went out of the house. I figure, if anything would probably help me feel better, it's getting my adjustment. My neck does feel better, but my head's still aching. It's not as bad, though, so that's a relief. My muscles are rebelling to the bones being moved, but my spine and neck are much loose now and I can turn my head without that grinding sound. mmmmmmmm.

Let's see, what else is new...I sang at a "celebration of life" service for a friend. It was a memorial service for a lady who we knew from our previous church. It was really neat, a combination of photos (many of them displayed on bulletin boards and such up front), favorite songs, and people sharing stories about Betty. I sang a cappella since it was short notice and I didn't have time to really practice with an accompaniest. A lady named Marie sang another hymn, and what a sweet, clear voice she had! They played some of Ralph and Betty's favorite country songs over the PA, too. All in all, it was a really neat tribute to her.

I told Howie, when I die, I'd like something like that rather than calling hours and a funeral service. I'd like it to be at my church, and I want packets of flower seeds given to every visitor. If the people don't garden, they can just scatter those seeds in a field - either way, new life will spring forth and the world will be a better place for them. :)

Combination Products II

A case in point in regard to the previous blog entry. Picture this: You're lying in the dark, reading in bed. The house is quiet and your spouse is snoring softly (or not so softly) next to you. You inhale, and your nose wrinkles. Suddenly, you realize, "Oh, my gosh...We have got to buy cat litter!" You look over at the nightstand, then remember you have no writing implement within easy reach, nor any paper! You would have to actually get out of bed to go jot down this important news bulletin.

What to do?

Oh, wait...That's right! You are the happy owner of a Book Light and A Recorder! No problem! You push the red button and, ever considerate, whisper "get caaaat liiiiiiter".

Recording Book Light goes wherever you need to read! On trains, planes, at the library, in school or in bed, lightweight, clip-on lamp gives you the extra light you want, and has a built-in 10 second recorder for voice memos. Unit adjusts to any angle, and folds to compact 5-1/2" x 1-1/2" size. Uses 2 AAA batteries (not incl.) and 1 included button cell battery.

Was $14.98 Now$8.50
C2204 - Recording Book Light

Now, you see the brilliance in this?

Combination Products

This site must be where Harriett Carter and her ilk get some of their product ideas. You can randomly generate product ideas there, odd ideas such as these:

Design #1462391020
It's a burger carton that spins about its axis!
It makes virtually no noise whatsoever and can emulate a ZX Spectrum.

Design #344517412
It's an MP3 player that's made of solid gold, removes stubborn stains and is monogrammed (up to three letters).

It brought to mind an excerpt from Paul Reiser's book Couplehood. So intent was I to share this tidbit, I searched for a good five minutes and found the book so I could type this for you all:

At some point, my wife and I got ourselves on every mailing list in the free world. All you have to do is buy one distinctly dumb product you don't need, and everyone wtih a catalogue hears about it. "Hi! We understand you don't care what you spend money on anymore. We have just the catalogue for you." I like the Combination Products. Things that you probably already have, but not in this particular combination.

"It's a sweater vest and a bottle opener."
"It's a hot beverage thermos and a snorkeling mask!"

And of course, if you look at the pictures long enough, you start thinking, "Well, you know, we could use that. With a thermos/snorkel mask we wouldn't have to come up for coffee anymore. We could snorkel all day and never come up!"

Then they combine things that not only shouldn't be together, there's no way they could be. "It's a cassette rack and a doberman pinscher!" How could that be?

"It's a rain bonnet, but it's also your parents."

How could that be?! I just saw my parents. They weren't a rain bonnet.

If you're a fan like me, you heard Paul Reiser's voice as you read that. This book makes me giggle. As a matter of fact, when I left it in the bathroom one time, one of our favorite houseguests was heard giggling behind the bathroom door. I know it isn't just me.

Gallery at the Plot

Slowly, but surely, I'm working on the gallery. I made a main page for it today and uploaded a gallery of my favorite pet portraits. I just noticed the thumbnails on the pets page are terrible! Ah well...More coming soon, as the categories indicate! I need to do everything in FrontPage so navigation will be easier for me. Right now I'm putting things together piecemeal and have to remember to link to different pages.

Hide and Go Seek

I just recently figured out that I could view results by subdomains for search hits bringing people to my site. I nosed around and found the search terms that have brought folks to this neck of the woods. Some of it is pretty amusing, and some kinda disturbing! For your indifferent scanning pleasure, I've included them here. Just as in real life, my comments are parenthetical.

April 2003:

coffee table fish tank

March 2003:

basement waterproofing everdry

gardenwife blog

nude wife (certainly not moi!)

photographs of white kitchen cabinets

refurbished dell dimension 4550

wallpaper border with grapes

February 2003:

digital dock o' sullivan l desk

desktop garden pictures

everdry waterproofing

gozing survey problems

selling for everdry

tan babes

January 2003:

envision en-910e driver (and refresh rates)

puns about eyes

December 2002:

senile virus

jacqueline saburido (and every variation on the spelling you can imagine)

joe boxer ads

shock or wring or disjointness or kill or simplistic (Indicative of moi?)

supersedes or shots or fixed or infern or wreck

November 2002:

jacqueline saburido

everdry

lady liberty fireworks

me breastfeeding photos my brother (Again, not moi!)

monkey lamp

anchor or unfold or odd or conversations or electrocutes (kinda weird)

black mold pictures

ceiling fan blade cleaner vacuum

interperative dance

jacqueline saburido accident photos (et. al.)

obliging or partnered or myriad or purse or dismal (what a combination)

olympus c-2100uz sale

reheating the turducken (yummmmm)

riddle at what time do people go to the dentist

swinburne or destined or monopolize or microprograms or stanchi (say WHAT?)

thumbnails at the dentist

October 2002:

wife (that's pretty general)

coffee maker plastic taste

comments for jane austin's emma (hee, hee, and all they got was my dog Emma)

complications of tonsilectomy

easy halloween costume ideals (Note it's not IDEAS they wanted, just ideals)

freezing fresh pasta

gevalia thermal (carafe or pot)

listen to survivor thailand theme song

pigeon roost farm

sister-in-law naked pics (All in the family, I guess. Once again, not moi!)

survivor thialand pictures

turducken song

September 2002:

it ain't all about me

9/11 goldfish pictures world trade <---- Goldfish pictures??

9/11 people jumping photo horrific

breast augmentation

hairy toes pictures (Oh, Joanie....)

images people leaping off the world trade center pictures

jumping hand in hand

kathy glasses bra (ooookay...)

pictures people leaping death 9/11

tonsilectomy complications

August 2002:

apex ad-1100w

blog.gardenwife.com (why didn't they just type it into the address bar?)

images of brooke burns from tv show dog eat dog (Who? Musta been dogs that got it)

The Blogs Of War

Okay, you know I cringe at the thought of conflict, but I'm moving a wee bit beyond my comfort zone and writing this in spite of the discomfort it causes me. Kim Komando linked to several blogs from the war at her site. She's also linked to many ways to support the troops, and she's gotten a lot of flack for it.

One person wrote her, “You shouldn’t tell people to give thanks to the servicemen and women. It’s their job and they are getting paid for it.”

Boy, I bet that writer is one heck of a customer to people, demanding, bitter and bereft of any sense of appreciation for anyone but self. Anyone who works gets paid for what he does, and that doesn't make him any less deserving or appreciative of some thanks.

Thank you, Kim. Thank you, soldiers and support staff in the military. That's all I'm sayin'.

P.S. This is really something. Click the link on the page to listen to the phone call.

Question for You Blog Geeks

Is there a way to do an extended entry thingie like MoveableType offers, just using regular old HTML? If so, please e-mail me. I'm not quite ready to take the MoveableType plunge, and I can't justify paying someone to set it up for me, but I sure would like to tidy up this blog if it isn't too hard to do this sans-MT.

Monday Mission 3.13

These are the weekly questions Promoguy hath wrought. To see his answers, go to his blog.

1. How old will you be on your next birthday?

As the hand ticks past midnight, I shall be thirty six. Wow...Four years away from the big four-oh. I sure don't feel like it (mentally, anyway)!

2. What is your favorite gadget?

One thing I love is my underwater stem cutter. I got it from Jackson and Perkins in one of the warehouse sales when I worked there, but it looks like they discontinued it. Some cut flowers need to have their stems seared with a match, while others need to be cut underwater so no air gets into the stem (the air bubble will keep water from being taken up through the stem). For the latter, this gadget works great. It is a glass jar with a screw-on lid which contains a razor blade sort of assembly. You fill the jar with water, screw on the lid, then insert the stems of your cut flowers into it and press the button on top. It slices the stems under water.

(By the way, I have one of those little George Foreman grills, too, and I love it; I want one of the big ones so I can do more than one big burger at a time!)

3. Tell me about someone that you lost touch with several years ago. Would you like to get back in touch with them again? What caused the separation? Has enough time passed? Would you still get along?

I lost touch with someone who was instrumental in showing me God was not only real, but approacheable and loving. We were good friends while I was in high school, but as I grew and matured as a person, he stayed right where he was. He's got a lot of strange ideas, a lot of things he swears are revelations to him by God. He's in his fifties and still lives at home, an eternal Peter Pan.

He was in his thirties when I met him, and the very fact that he was a youthful-thinking hippy made friendship fun and easy; the thing is, he stayed that way and I just keep wishing he'd grow up. So, no, I don't think we'd still get along, sad as that is.

4. Is there a difference between your online personality and your real-life version? Or are you pretty much the same person either way?

In the most basic sense, no. I strive to be approacheable and helpful. I enjoy helping people with their computer snafus, gabbing about gardening and scores of other subjects. In RL, I am more of a hermit, though. It's funny, the more of a hermit I am in RL, the more active I am online, so I suppose it goes hand-in-hand.

5. Can you think of any ways that the Internet hinders person-to-person communication? What could we do to change things?

I know that in my own life, I am more apt to jot someone an e-mail than I am to call. Sometimes I want to just communicate some tidbit of information, and I know if I call, it will probably end up being a 1/2 hour conversation. Truthfully, I just don't enjoy talking on the phone that much anymore. I think the Internet is a mixed bag. I've met many of my Internet friends in RL and enjoyed their company very much. Many of those online acquaintances have become RL trusted and cherished friends, people with whom we've even stayed with.

However, I also find that, especially when stressed, I tend to pull back from my local RL friends and family and dwell more in my Internet community. It's just easier sometimes, you know? I can read their blogs, threads, and e-mails without feeling put on the spot. I have more of a chance to digest what they're saying and think about my replies before answering.

Personally, to change things, I need to force myself to get outside and be with people. It always charges me up and makes me happy when I get out with folks face-to-face, so why I don't just DO more often that is a mystery!

6. When was the last time you felt truly happy, or had that sense of perfect inner-peace? What does it take to get that feeling back when you need it?

I feel peaceful like that when I awake in the wee hours of the morning and hear the birds chattering. I love that sound. And when I sing, especially worship songs, I feel very peaceful and happy. One of the most wonderful things to me is singing harmony with others.

7. If you could just verbally let loose on someone and be able to say anything you want, without repercussions, who would you say it to and what would you say?

Hmmmmm.....Really can't say. ;)

Oh, and my caption for the photo is "Super-Elastic Kitty Plastic!"

It's April? No Fooling?

"April, Comes like an idiot,
babbling, and strewing flowers."

-- Edna St. Vincent Millay,
American poet

These were taken in April 2002, but we're not too far from looking this way this spring:







We did so much in the basement yesterday. My brother-in-law came by and helped, and between the three of us working, we got all the stuff we're keeping up on some shelves Howie built. We also have the remainder of the stuff sorted into two piles in the front of our garage: Goodwill and Garbage. By the time mid-April comes around, we'll have a clean slate for the contractor to start working.

Since we got everything in the basement done, Howie said he'll help me work in the yard this Satuday. I got a little bit of the winter die-back cleared from the front perennial beds Saturday, but I'm behind in my pruning. It will be so good to get everything cleared away so all the new growth has room to grow. There's so much coming up, and it's so welcome to see after this harsh, bitter winter.

I wish we didn't perpetually run in catch-up mode. The clean-up outside would be easier if we weren't also having to clear last fall's leaves! The Messies Manual book I just finished reading has helped me see things in new ways and has me feeling more empowered to change some of my habits; it's really my hope to have a better handle on routine maintenance of the house and the yard by this fall.

After getting so much done this weekend, I feel pumped. I actually feel like change is possible!

Added: Silly me, I had it in my mind that Monday was April 1. So, April came a day early in my blogworld. Whoops!

Homeless Critters

I added a goodie to the right sidebar last night. It's a link to Petfinder.com, which offers access to a huge network of animal shelters across the country. Our Emma is a pound puppy, and we have big hearts when it comes to homeless critters.

I know some folks really desire a purebred with all the papers, but I just don't know if I could spend hundreds on such a dog when I know there are sooo many great critters living on borrowed time at the shelter. Emma's littermates were put down the day we got to take her home, and if they had temperments anything like hers, they would have made fantastic pets.

I urge you, check out your local dog pound and animal shelter if you're considering a pet; they even have purebreds if that's your thing. I like mutts, myself. I can guar-ON-tee there's no other doggie like our Emma on the planet!

Finally, it's Friday

My hubby had to go back to 5-day work weeks after last week's layoffs at his job. It's weird getting used to, but we're so thankful he still has a job. So, once again, Friday really means something. Of course, Friday's also an excuse to answer someone else's questions.

1. What was your most memorable moment from the last week?

Last Saturday morning, I went to a womens coffee fellowship at our church. The lady next to me, Jeanette, was interpreting the speaker's message in sign language so one of our church's hearing-impaired members could listen. Watching Jeannette's graceful hands and seeing Carol's expressions as she listened, it struck me how much I would like to better communicate with the deaf members at my church. I love people, love talking with them, and it bothers me I am not able to communicate as well with the deaf as I'd like. I know how to do the alphabet in sign language, but that's it. I really should look into this more - there are people at church who teach others, for interpreters are always welcome.

2. What one person touched your life this week?

So many! Someone who I've especially appreciated this week is Naomi, though. She's been a real encouragement to me! Love you, girl. :)






3. How have you helped someone this week?

That same Saturday morning, I provided transportation to an elderly member of my church. Actually, it may have helped me even more than her; surely someone would have given her a ride had I not asked her, but by offering her a ride, I made sure that I would go, too. She is a widow and struggles with depression, so it meant a lot to her to get out and just visit with people and laugh -- and I was blessed, too!

4. What one thing do you need to get done by this time next week?

I need to get the house cleaning done by this time next week. I wanna have people over to visit! (That New Messies Handbook I'm reading is awesome, by the way). I also need to get outside a little each day and clean up the perennial beds. There are leaves from last fall, plus all the perennial foliage that died back over winter. There's new growth coming up everywhere, and I need to get rid of the dead stuff before I end up cutting good shoots and leaves with the dead stuff.

5. What one thing will you do over the next seven days to make your world a better place?

My world? I will pray. I am one person, basically impotent to impact much of what's going on in the world at large, but I know Someone who can. I don't know what all the future holds, but I know Who holds the future. As far as what I can do locally? I can listen. I am making it a point to listen more. We all need someone who will just listen sometimes.

Flutterby

We have a few overwintering butterflies in our area, but most of them will be coming back with the warmer weather. I found a neat site which shows butterflies by county for the whole US. So, if you ever wondered what species are common to your own neck of the woods, check it out at the USGS website.

Death Becomes Her

I couldn't think of another catchy title for this week's Monday Mission entry, so I'm afraid that will have to do.

1. Since we've covered the standard "where do you go when you die" question, let's get a little deeper. When you do die, would you like to be able to watch your funeral?

I think it would be neat to watch my funeral, yes, but only if I couldn't feel sad! I wouldn't want to hover there feeling all guilty at leaving my loved ones behind. ;)

2. Catholics must have the longest funeral services ever. I think there is a lot to be said for the traditions that they keep, but it was just so depressing. I'd like my funeral to be much more upbeat, like those I've seen in New Orleans. What type of funeral would you plan for yourself?

I'd like a joyous one, and one that's closed-casket. I'd also like to have photos showing me and my friends and family having fun, so people can look and laugh as they remember the good times. I'd like my favorite songs played, many of them upbeat praise and worship songs. I'd like packets of flower seeds given to those who attend, so they can scatter them and start a little garden in my memory. I think that's the coolest kind of memorial.

As a child, when I was angry sometimes I would wish that a parent or teacher would die. Thank goodness wishes like those are never granted. I think it probably takes the loss of someone important before you learn the value of life. When did you first realize that life was so fragile?

Gosh, probably when my grandma Georgie died in a car accident. It was the first time someone really close to me, someone I truly loved, was taken from my life.

4. When we said our final respects to Grandma H. today, I though about her impact on the world. No, she didn't cure cancer or make sweeping changes to society. But she did leave a legacy of four sons and a daughter, who in turn have children and grandchildren. And maybe that was her purpose, to launch future generations that will accomplish great things. Some of us are here to make a huge splash in the pond of life, others are here to direct the ripples in the water. Of the people you've known personally who have passed away, what sort of legacy, impact, mark or achievement did they leave behind?

My grandma Georgia left me with a love of reading and nature, and memories of summers weeks spent at her home - just me visiting her. She listened to my endless chatter because she knew that sometimes you had to bear up with the trivial in order to catch a glimpse of the heart.

5. One thing that struck me at the funeral, was that there were so many men were dressed in casual clothes. I was brought up to believe that men should always wear a suit to a funeral, as a show of respect. Maybe these men were never taught that. Maybe they just don't own suits. Maybe that I am just old fashioned and not hip to the times. Do you think there is an "appropriate" way to dress for attending a funeral? Or is it even important?

I guess it depends on the deceased and his/her family. If people come to my funeral in jeans and t-shirts, that's okay with me. I love the fact that our church makes it known that our dress is casual - it's the hearts of people that matter. Some social stigmas need to be let go when it comes to matters of the heart.

6. Grandma H. was far enough along in life to have been able to plan ahead for her funeral, even down to the tiny details such as song selections. It was nice to finally attend a funeral where they didn't play "Amazing Grace!" My choices would be "Ode to Joy" and "I'll Fly Away." What are some of the more memorable songs you've heard played at funerals?

I've not really heard a lot of unusual music played at funerals. Most of the time, the funerals I've attended have been at the same funeral home in town, and there tends to be quiet classical music played softly in the background.

7. I've been craving some home-made pickles for years now. Not just any, but the kind my dear Great Grandmother made. It's been over 20 years since she died, but I can still remember just how her dill pickles taste. No one in the family has even attempted to make them since. Today at the funeral I overheard someone wishing that they had asked Grandma H. for her home-made noodle recipe but now it was too late. Do you have any favorite foods that only one relative made, and the recipe died with them?

And HOW. My grandma made yogurt cookies, and had a recipe for them. Grandpa threw out so many things like that in the year following her death, and her recipe was among the rubbish. These cookies were of a sugar cookie variety, only they were very moist and plumped up thick when baked. They had a vanilla flavor to them. They were just the best things, and no recipe I've tried has come close; I can sure relate to your being able to remember the taste of your grandma's dill pickles. The taste thing is so fleeting, like a flashing memory of a face or tune - sort of like the rush people get when they smell Crayola crayons and are transported back to kindergarden. The senses are such powerful things!

Today's Comment Question: Do you like pickles? If so, what kind?

I love pickles. When I don't care about how rank my breath will end up, I enjoy a sassy, garlic-steeped kosher dill - the kind you pull from a great big jar at the deli counter. Man, those are so good!

More than Meets the Eye

In the Bible, it says "man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart". So does Joanie, and that's one of the reasons I love her. She is a pediatric nurse at a children's hospital and, though some of her blogging might ruffle some feathers, she's so much more than all that. She is one deep lady with insight. Go read.

We're Bi-Technical

We took the plunge tonight and bought us a Mac. Why? Because Howie's employer had another round of layoffs on Tuesday. Out of four people on second shift in his department, he's the only one they kept. It was a big wake-up call that he needs to learn as much as he can.

He uses both Macs and PC's at his job, but mostly the latter. Knowing both PC and Mac platforms will make him a more desireable employee. So, today he sold our Micron P2 300mHz laptop to a coworker and tonight we bought a Powerbook G3 Wallstreet on eBay. We figure it is pretty similar to our laptop as far as processor speed, RAM and hard drive space goes, plus it has a 14" display like the Micron. He's using his downtime at work to learn more about QuarkXpress and Photoshop, too.

This is quite a leap for this girl. I am an old pro when it comes to PC's and Windows, but I am clueless when it comes to Macs. I'm looking forward to learning, though! Our first challenge will be in getting our Windows PC's to talk with the new laptop; we've never networked anything but PC to PC. Woo-hooo!

A Spring Respite

I wrote about this on a thread at Dave's, where we were discussing mourning doves, but thought I'd elaborate a little about it here. It's one of my favorite memories and I hope you find some respite in it, too. I know I have, just in the re-telling.

One of Howie's and my favorite memories is a Saturday night we spent up in Holmes County. We'd taken a drive and had dinner at Der Dutchman restaurant, but it became very foggy by the time evening came. We thought it was as good an excuse as any to find lodging and spend the night. We called around at about 8pm and finally found a bed and breakfast with a room open.

It was in a little farmhouse down the road from the Mennonite owners' home; our room was on the second floor, sparsely, but attractively, furnished and decorated. A low window on each side of the room provided a wonderful cross breeze. We snuggled down in the bed and fell asleep breathing that wonderful spring country air.

Sometime in the pre-dawn hours, we awoke to hear rain pattering on the slate roof outside the windows. There were also mourning doves cooing nearby. We lay there in that magic, just soaking in the whole experience, and finally fell back asleep. What awoke us for the day was the sound of Amish buggies passing as familes made their way to homes for church. After breakfast, we sat outside on a porch swing and enjoyed the quiet before heading back home.

Whenever I hear doves, I think of that wonderful night - especially if it's raining. :)

First Garden Shots of the Year

The first green ones, anyway. I added a bunch of pictures to my journal at Dave's Garden (click on the thumbnails there to see the full-size images). I hope to take pictures of these same plants at weekly intervals, along with others which make their appearances. It will be interesting to see what all survived the trench-digging along the house's foundation. *grumble* *sigh*

Avian Rich Littles

I've been hearing the call of a killdeer lately, both day and night. We live not too far from some open fields, but it's still not a bird I've regularly seen around our yard. This has been puzzling me.

I've long been fascinated and amused by the chatter of European starlings. What a cacophony in the mornings and, especially, evenings! Sure, they're dirty birds. And, yes, they're major pests to farmers and can clean out our own feeders in no time flat when they take a mind to swarm into the yard, but they're still amusing birds. They put me in mind of a bunch of old ladies gossiping over at the beauty shop.

This morning, a couple of starlings flew up and perched on our open casement window, maybe three feet from my head, and one of them began yammering away. Right in the middle of his repertoir came a very familiar sound...A killdeer's cry.

Ah ha! I don't know where I've been, but I never realized it was starlings doing it. I thought maybe it was a grey catbird (since we haven't seen any northern mockingbirds around our neighborhood) but it was the goofy starling all along.

Speaking of mimicks, mockingbirds are just incredible. Last summer, when we went to Tennessee for the first annual Dave's Garden Roundup, we tent-camped beneath a few scrawny trees. A mockingbird serenaded us much of the time we were there, day and night. What a treat it was to hear him go through over a dozen different bird songs, plus throw in his own embellishments. It was amazing. I would not want one camped outside my bedroom window during breeding season, however.

Oh Waiter, Is This Spam Kosher?

I got a fun spam tonight...

SUBJECT: A bigger schlong awaits you efbu mmz.

Yiddish spam I'm now getting? Oy. I don't mean to kvetsh, but this meshugine takes me for a mentsh, eh?