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Author Topic:   rampant curiosity--how do you waste time?
FliesOnly
Member (Idle past 4145 days)
Posts: 797
From: Michigan
Joined: 12-01-2003


Message 136 of 167 (265777)
12-05-2005 12:47 PM
Reply to: Message 131 by Omnivorous
12-02-2005 8:46 PM


Re: Project Feeder Watch
Omnivorous writes:
I, too, am sometimes a summer bachelor, most recently when my scholar wife spent two months researching Renaissance herbals and women's "recipe" books (i.e., remedies) in London. This could work, even if we don't get past the malt and the fish.
And you do not accompany her to London? Are you insane! London would be a bit of a long trip for a weekend rendezvous I guess. Well, I at least get to go visit my wife every once in a while...seeing as how she's only about a 2 1/2 hour drive and then a twenty minute flight.
Omnivorous writes:
We still contribute what we can to conservation, but it doesn't compare with becoming intimately acquainted with unspoiled land you have the power to save--very heady stuff. Our deed covenants are so strong, I would even be comfortable gifting it to an organization that would sell it for funds to protect more important habitat.
We try...but funds are limited and very tight right now.
We use to do whatever we could for The Nature Conservancy but lately we have kind of fallen out of favor with the TNC. I won't get into the details, but we have disagreed with many of their long term goals. Seems they have abandoned their roots and are becoming more similar to the WWF and such (going after large, regional stuff as opposed to locally important habitats).
Omnivorous writes:
Scouting--O the memories...
I think that currently there are a lot of negative connotations regarding Scouting. Personally, I loved my time in the Scouts. We were a great troop and most others that knew of us were somewhat envious. We always took on the more difficult tasks and the Jamborees and were known for our lashing. We friggen made everything out of poles and some rope. Remember Monkey Bridges? Holy crap did we have fun on those things! We'd have "battles", trying to make others fall off into the inevitable mud pit that would form underneath. We camped, or hiked, or road, or canoed almost every weekend...Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. Winter camping can be a blast. Hey, "be prepared" right. Remember klondike derbies?
I recently ran into a number of my former scout leaders (at a 50th wedding anniversary for a neighbor) and we talked for about an hour or so. Many of the stories we of events that I had forgotten. Many others were stories of my father that I had never heard (he passed away a few years back). It was pretty cool.
I have given some thought to checking out the local troop in my town. But I have to admit, having no children makes me a bit leery of what others may think or accusations that could get started. I'm real sorry to admit that...but it's something to consider in this day and age.
Omnivorous writes:
I earned money to attend scout camp by directing cars parking outside the Indy 500, a primitive summer festival where I learned amazing things about men, women, and beer
Christ, the more we "talk", the more and more I become convinced that we are indeed the same person. I lived in Speedway Indiana for a short term (ages 2-5), and as I got older, my brother and I (along with a few friends) would make the pilgrimage back for the time-trials, the race or both. We'd camp right there across the street (in a big field) from the main entrance and the home stretch. Perhaps you parked our car once or twice .
When I was 15, I went for the first time without any parental accompaniment (just my older brother and some of his friends). I remember wandering around with a bottle of whisky in one hand and a beer in the other. The main road in front of the track was closed to vehicle traffic and was lined with dirty old men sitting in lawn chairs holding signs that read "SUYT for a dollar". I imagine a girl could've made a couple hundred dollars just walking up and down that road once or twice. I recall very little about the actual race (hey it was still two days away), but saw more breasts that weekend than any 15 year old (at that time) ever dreamed possible.
All-in-all though. I had a pretty good life growing up. My family liked the outdoors (but I certainly took it further than the others) and my mom once helped us raise some garter snakes we had caught. The amazing thing was that she knew they fed on earth worms. To this day, I have no idea how she knew that.
Omnivorous writes:
Very sorry to hear that, Flies. It's always a sad event, but especially with an old friend. We occasionally lose fledglings to window collisions, but rarely a breeding age bird.
My wife felt terrible (as did I), especially since she was so proud of "reviving" it last year.
She hopes to get a banding permit this year. If so, we might band a few birds to see what our return rates happen to be. Because of our location and relative remoteness an ornithologist colleague of my wife really wants to use our property (and the neighbors) as a study sight. That would be interesting. We did have a herp friend (a turtle guy) use our wetland a few years back. We are fortunate in that we have a large population of Blanding’s Turtles. We even had a nest in our backyard about 4 years ago. When we got home from work one day and watched sixteen hatchlings head off into the woods. They've never come back to visit or say thanks for protecting them from coons and possums with a chicken wire cage we constructed. Ungrateful little bastards!
Omnivorous writes:
A few years ago we gained a breeding pair of cardinals in our yard. The male attacked every window and vehicle mirror for weeks the first two seasons, defeating every attempt to discourage him. We feared for his life, but he seems to have at last figured it out.
We had a similar episode last year. I think it's rather common in some species. A few years back we had a hen turkey pounding her head against our sliding glass door. My wife scared her off but about ten minutes later she was back at it again. My wife then took off after her, chasing her a couple hundred feet back into the woods (she never returned...the turkey that is).
Omnivorous writes:
The only noteworthy event this weekend was that the shyer groundfeeders--juncos and cardinals--reacted to the snowfall by coming to the window seed and suet feeders: we consider that the real start of winter.
If I recall correctly, we had nothing spectacular this weekend. But our Cardinal numbers do seem to be down. Not sure why.
By the way...I can be very competitive (but really don't mind losing) and plan on kicking you butt (and robinrohan's as well) at Feeder Watch!...lol...

This message is a reply to:
 Message 131 by Omnivorous, posted 12-02-2005 8:46 PM Omnivorous has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 139 by Omnivorous, posted 12-06-2005 8:55 AM FliesOnly has replied
 Message 140 by RAZD, posted 12-07-2005 7:19 PM FliesOnly has replied

  
FliesOnly
Member (Idle past 4145 days)
Posts: 797
From: Michigan
Joined: 12-01-2003


Message 137 of 167 (265804)
12-05-2005 3:14 PM
Reply to: Message 132 by RAZD
12-02-2005 9:44 PM


Re: Project Feeder Watch
RAZD writes:
I became a birder taking J for walks when he was 1+ to the local pond to see the "duts" and then going home to look up what we saw. This was in Victoria BC, so there was a lot of variety through the year. At 2 he could identify about 50 birds at a glance, and he has shown me several I would not have seen otherwise. One was a painted redstart.
When we move to a new place the first thing we look for are places to go to get into the woods and "away". Current place is on a bike trail (less than 5 miles to work) and close to an audobon center with some other non-developable land around. It's also on the coast so I can get in the kayak and go.
And of course this means that you already belong to Feeder Watch...correct? If not, then sigh up today. Come on, join me, Omnivorous and Robinrohan to see who has the "best" season.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 132 by RAZD, posted 12-02-2005 9:44 PM RAZD has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 138 by RAZD, posted 12-05-2005 8:54 PM FliesOnly has not replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1405 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 138 of 167 (265877)
12-05-2005 8:54 PM
Reply to: Message 137 by FliesOnly
12-05-2005 3:14 PM


Re: Project Feeder Watch
My problem is that all my feeders are still in Michigan ... with the unsold house, and that I am renting at the moment in a charming old house (how old is it? older than the constitution) with no yard, and I can likely count more birds without a feeder than with one -- does that count in the program?
I did a bio-blitz earlier this year, and while I had a respectable number of birds I didn't add to the total count because there was so much duplication (sigh - ya keep hopin for the rare sighting when it can count the most eh?).
I would hope to see redpols like we had in Maine the year we lived there, but expect I'd have to be in a more country area. I do get a lot of sea birds though. Hoodies and Buffleheads and Brants on the bay this morning.
You join Team EvC and I'll consider it ...
EvC Forum: HIV research - from wester to easter ... ?

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 137 by FliesOnly, posted 12-05-2005 3:14 PM FliesOnly has not replied

  
Omnivorous
Member
Posts: 3978
From: Adirondackia
Joined: 07-21-2005
Member Rating: 7.3


Message 139 of 167 (266018)
12-06-2005 8:55 AM
Reply to: Message 136 by FliesOnly
12-05-2005 12:47 PM


Re: Project Feeder Watch
FliesOnly writes:
And you do not accompany her to London? Are you insane!
Yes.
Her research sabbatical that year was intensely focused, and though she insisted she'd love my company, in fact I would have been at best a distraction, and more likely a hindrance to her obsessive work habits. She concluded her work there with a presentation at Oxford, and it seemed best that she have no spousal baggage this time. Also, my vacation time is limited to 4 weeks per year, and we usually have that all planned out for trips to Cape Cod, upstate NY, family in Wyoming & South Dakota, etc.
OTOH, we have hopes for a research grant to help fund a visit to Scotland, in which case I would take a leave of absence from my employment and join her.
We use to do whatever we could for The Nature Conservancy but lately we have kind of fallen out of favor with the TNC. I won't get into the details, but we have disagreed with many of their long term goals. Seems they have abandoned their roots and are becoming more similar to the WWF and such (going after large, regional stuff as opposed to locally important habitats).
Yeah, I have a conflicting reactions to large green organization's strategies in this regard: tough call, in any case, but I think local involvement and impact are essential.
We were scratching by for years on essentially one income (while she pursued her PhD). I gave up a great job in Boston so that she could accept a tenure-track job here in Connecticut, and then I struggled longer than expected to find decent work; when at last we found ourselves fairly affluent on two full incomes, it came as a shock.
I think that currently there are a lot of negative connotations regarding Scouting.
True in many ways, and a damn shame: from what I can see, the sort of diverse city troop that meant so much to me is a thing of the past, and the organization seems much more conservatively politicized.
We'd camp right there across the street (in a big field) from the main entrance and the home stretch. Perhaps you parked our car once or twice
I think that is the very field we worked. Picture this: Omnivorous standing by the road with a sandwich board--PARK HERE--in full BS shorts and tabbed socks uniform. A small party of drunken young men approach, one says, "Whoa! Man! a f**kin' Boy Scout!"--and emptied a can of beer on my head! His friends dragged him off, apologized--and then one turned back to hand me a six pack of PBR as reparations. "Chug a lug chug a lug...first time for everything...mmmmm my ears still ring."
Was that you, Flies? I think the ages are wrong, though, since I am OTD (Older Than Dirt).
We are fortunate in that we have a large population of Blanding’s Turtles.
Very cool. We enjoy large populations of tree frogs, toads, and salamanders at home--as canaries in the mine, they reassure us of the general good ecologic health of the immediate area. I leave offerings for a beautiful fox (4-legged variety) up on the hill sometimes, and she has graced me with a few glimpses but won't approach while I'm there, which is fine--I'm not generally into taming wild things. Doing banding and hosting an ornithological study would truly rock.
We had a wren at the kitchen window suet feeder this morning, russety, feisty, refusing to give an inch to the hairy and downy woodpeckers despite its size disadvantage. No sign of the redbellies for weeks now, though we did have a breeding pair this year, and the thrushes have been gone even longer, as have the hawks.
By the way...I can be very competitive (but really don't mind losing) and plan on kicking you butt (and robinrohan's as well) at Feeder Watch!...lol...
Won't begrudge you a single bird, Flies: I hope that we see many, and that you see more.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 136 by FliesOnly, posted 12-05-2005 12:47 PM FliesOnly has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 141 by FliesOnly, posted 12-08-2005 8:54 AM Omnivorous has not replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1405 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 140 of 167 (266544)
12-07-2005 7:19 PM
Reply to: Message 136 by FliesOnly
12-05-2005 12:47 PM


Re: Project Boy Scouts
I have given some thought to checking out the local troop in my town. But I have to admit, having no children makes me a bit leery of what others may think or accusations that could get started.
There are several options
Merit Badge councilor is an easy one.
Many districts need Unit Commissioners - who's goal is allowing Troops to succeed, by ensuring that they maximize their resources. You work with the troop committee to ensure good training and that the policies of the BSA are properly followed, you work with the Scoutmaster to ensure that a proper environment is provided for the Scouts to achieve what they want to achieve and that proper adult safeguards are in place (2 deep leadership etc).
Further up the pecking order are District Commissioners and such. Still volunteer positions. These can get involved in things like planning district jamborees and the like.
Also look into Woodbadge training. This is a newly revamped (broadened) program that will teach you a lot and renew a lot of old information, and it will also get you into the Woodbadge Association where you get to sing some silly songs and stuff ("I used to be a bear ...")
Trust me, when they see that Eagle Scout ribbon on your uniform ...
{{steps down from ADC podium .... a position left vacant when I moved btw ... in the GR Ford Council ... which I believe includes your neck of the woods...}}
I think that currently there are a lot of negative connotations regarding Scouting.
Yes. It seems that calling someone a "boyscout" is an insult, a goody two-shoes who will treat you too honestly? Image is everything it seems, especially to the target audience. You gotta wonder who some people would prefer to meet in a back alley on a dark and stormy night with a broken down car.
Enjoy.

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 136 by FliesOnly, posted 12-05-2005 12:47 PM FliesOnly has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 142 by FliesOnly, posted 12-08-2005 8:58 AM RAZD has replied

  
FliesOnly
Member (Idle past 4145 days)
Posts: 797
From: Michigan
Joined: 12-01-2003


Message 141 of 167 (266746)
12-08-2005 8:54 AM
Reply to: Message 139 by Omnivorous
12-06-2005 8:55 AM


Re: Project Feeder Watch
Omnivorous writes:
Was that you, Flies? I think the ages are wrong, though, since I am OTD (Older Than Dirt).
My pilgrimages to the Mecca of automobile racing where made during the late 70s. Of course, I'd never waste a beer by pouring it over someone’s head. But then, you did say it was PBR, which I'm not sure really counts as beer...so...who knows...maybe...nah, wasn't me.
Did you live in Indianapolis at the time...or maybe out in Speedway. Hey, maybe we were neighbors at some point?
Omnivorous writes:
We enjoy large populations of tree frogs, toads, and salamanders at home--as canaries in the mine, they reassure us of the general good ecologic health of the immediate area.
We also have a fairly healthy population of grey tree frogs. Each Spring and Fall we hear them calling and during any given evening, we may have between one and six individuals clinging to our large picture window.
Omnivorous writes:
I leave offerings for a beautiful fox (4-legged variety) up on the hill sometimes, and she has graced me with a few glimpses but won't approach while I'm there, which is fine--I'm not generally into taming wild things.
Now that would be neat. We have yet to see a fox but we have seen bobcat tracks. I also had a bobcat cross in front of my car while on my way to work this past Fall (about 1/2 from the house).
I agree that taming a wild animal is not a good thing but must confess to occasionally feeding an opossum that shows up at out feeders during the winter. The poor thing looks absolutely miserable and cold so my wife will go out and toss him some bread or crackers or some other terrible food. It's actually quite fun to watch. The poor guy will just freeze and look up at her as if to say: " Oh crap...I'm caught...please just kill me quick and get it over with". She’ll toss down the food and come back indoors and I swear that the opossum will be in the same exact position...looking up at where my wife used to be standing, with that same look on his face for about ten minutes. Then he'll grab the food and slowly walk away. He's so damned cute. I love opossums, and they're just a fuzzy tail away from being loved by all.
Omnivorous writes:
Won't begrudge you a single bird, Flies: I hope that we see many, and that you see more.
So can you beat 21 Dark-eyed Juncos and 35 American Goldfinches (just to name a couple)?
Edited to fix at least one typo I noticed.
This message has been edited by FliesOnly, 12-08-2005 04:35 PM

This message is a reply to:
 Message 139 by Omnivorous, posted 12-06-2005 8:55 AM Omnivorous has not replied

  
FliesOnly
Member (Idle past 4145 days)
Posts: 797
From: Michigan
Joined: 12-01-2003


Message 142 of 167 (266748)
12-08-2005 8:58 AM
Reply to: Message 140 by RAZD
12-07-2005 7:19 PM


Re: Project Boy Scouts
Good point(s) RAZD. I think I might just look in to some of those ideas. To be honest, I'm not even sure that my home town has a local Troop. Perhaps I should start there and see where it takes me.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 140 by RAZD, posted 12-07-2005 7:19 PM RAZD has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 143 by RAZD, posted 12-08-2005 8:12 PM FliesOnly has replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1405 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 143 of 167 (266989)
12-08-2005 8:12 PM
Reply to: Message 142 by FliesOnly
12-08-2005 8:58 AM


Re: Project Boy Scouts
btw ...
... there's a new merit badge (2 or 3 yrs old anyway)
http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/136.htm
... lets the line float out over the pool ...
ps -- e-mail me and I will send you some more information on the other stuff.
This message has been edited by RAZD, 12*08*2005 08:18 PM

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 142 by FliesOnly, posted 12-08-2005 8:58 AM FliesOnly has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 144 by FliesOnly, posted 12-09-2005 8:35 AM RAZD has replied

  
FliesOnly
Member (Idle past 4145 days)
Posts: 797
From: Michigan
Joined: 12-01-2003


Message 144 of 167 (267122)
12-09-2005 8:35 AM
Reply to: Message 143 by RAZD
12-08-2005 8:12 PM


Re: Project Boy Scouts
Hi RAZD:
I just read through the requirements for the fly fishing merit badge. Looks pretty cool, and I must say, not all that easy to obtain. Some of those knots can be tough. At least they're not requiring the Scout to attempt to tie them while standing in an ice cold stream during a January snow storm after snapping your leader on the biggest brown trout you have even seen, and your supposed fishing buddy wandering your way with a big-ass grin on his face.
About the only requirement I feel I would not strictly adhere to would be number ten. I'd be happy if they caught and identified two different species. I would not require them to clean and cook one of them. Hell, who knows, we could be fishing on the "Catch and Release Section Only" of the Pere Marquette, in which case we could not keep one, even if we wanted to.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 143 by RAZD, posted 12-08-2005 8:12 PM RAZD has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 145 by RAZD, posted 12-09-2005 5:40 PM FliesOnly has not replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1405 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 145 of 167 (267282)
12-09-2005 5:40 PM
Reply to: Message 144 by FliesOnly
12-09-2005 8:35 AM


Re: Project Boy Scouts
yeah, I thought that was a little extreme. perhaps you can require them to start a fire without a match first ...

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 144 by FliesOnly, posted 12-09-2005 8:35 AM FliesOnly has not replied

  
purpledawn
Member (Idle past 3457 days)
Posts: 4453
From: Indiana
Joined: 04-25-2004


Message 146 of 167 (300370)
04-02-2006 7:27 PM


Gourd Show Results
Well I made a decent showing at the Gourd Show this weekend. I made four entries and all placed.
What is a gourd? Nice link for those who don't know.
My dolphin carving on a canteen gourd won 1st place.
My luminary made from an Apple gourd and decorated with paper filigree won second place after much debate from the judges. They wanted to award two firsts. Oh well!
My Christmas Ornament made from an Egg gourd and also decorated with paper filigree won first place.
My earrings made from pieces of gourd and paper filigree din't fair as well, but did bring in a fourth place.
I also learned how to do closed coiling and make a gretchen rim on a gourd.
Busy weekend, but I'm happy with it. I'm already planning new designs for the coming Indiana State Fair.
Thought I would share since I had mentioned the gourd show a few times.
Enjoy! Purple

Replies to this message:
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 Message 153 by Omnivorous, posted 04-03-2006 9:21 AM purpledawn has replied
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Minnemooseus
Member
Posts: 3941
From: Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. (West end of Lake Superior)
Joined: 11-11-2001
Member Rating: 10.0


Message 147 of 167 (300377)
04-02-2006 8:16 PM
Reply to: Message 146 by purpledawn
04-02-2006 7:27 PM


Re: Gourd Show Results
I'm afraid this makes you into being "El Gourdo".
Moose

This message is a reply to:
 Message 146 by purpledawn, posted 04-02-2006 7:27 PM purpledawn has not replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1405 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 148 of 167 (300378)
04-02-2006 8:16 PM
Reply to: Message 146 by purpledawn
04-02-2006 7:27 PM


Re: Gourd Show Results
so now you're out of your gourd?
remind me who to get hints and tricks from for holloween eh?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 146 by purpledawn, posted 04-02-2006 7:27 PM purpledawn has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 149 of 167 (300379)
04-02-2006 8:19 PM
Reply to: Message 146 by purpledawn
04-02-2006 7:27 PM


Re: Gourd Show Results
Good looking and glad they appreciated your work.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
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ringo
Member (Idle past 412 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 150 of 167 (300398)
04-02-2006 9:49 PM
Reply to: Message 146 by purpledawn
04-02-2006 7:27 PM


Re: Gourd Show Results
Well... I'm more and more impressed.
I think I like the earrings best of all (but then I have a thing about earrings. )

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This message is a reply to:
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