The evolving blogs

For some time, I have had this blog, and another one. The other one was to keep in touch with friends I met while teaching English in China. However, that effort failed, due to the Great Firewall of China, so I let it languish. Now I find myself with a new reason for two blogs: one (this one) for thoughts primarily oriented toward family and friends, and a second (the other one) that will serve me as I embark on a writing career. When I actually have a book published, a hypothetical reader will be able to link directly from the book to Amazon or Barnes & Noble, where they might buy that book. Readers will also be able to interact with blog posts. Someday, I will also learn how to set up a discussion board (like this one, belonging to one of my professors), which will link to the blog, and to my website (which is also in a rudimentary state, as I learn how to build a website, as well). Some material may show up in two locations. This will not all happen over night. In the meantime, this repeat image from my most recent post will serve to represent my activites as I get all these things ready (and still try to work on that first book). You may have noticed that this week, I am learning how to embed links in text. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions from family and friends.

Living on a Wildlife Preserve

I once had to disappoint an exterminator who came to the door and wanted us to put him on a monthly retainer to come and spray for insects and spiders.
"I like insects and spiders." I told him.
"Several of your neighbors have hired me. I guarentee to keep your house and yard free of spiders."
"This is a spider preserve."
"If you see any between treatments, I'm always on call."
"I like spiders."
He never did quite understand.
But because my home and yard are a wildlife preserve, I can claim anything here for Pet Picture Month. This week I was working in the side yard when I spotted this solitary bee. She was making trips back and forth to this little hole in my fig tree. She would arrive and go head first, perhaps depositing something from her mouth. (It looked like read wax.) Then she would pull out, and back in, probably laying an egg. I came back the next day and the hole was full, and covered over with a piece cut from a leaf.
Now I'll have my solitary pet bee for next year.

Shelley

In addition to Piume, the water turtle, I've also acquired Shelley, a land tortoise. A previous owner was killed in an accident, and a sister kept her for a while, and then was happy to give her to me for my classroom. Shelley's tank was also getting too small, so now that I don't have a classroom to keep her in, I've built a turtle-run by the side of the house. I dug her a tunnel, and now (in our 100 degree heat) she's happy to spend most of her time underground.

Piume

Even when I lived by a lake, my dog wouldn't swim with me. She would fight through thick brush along the shore to stay beside me, but she wouldn't come in the water. But here is a true aquatic companion (okay, she's in the water with me, but she won't exactly play fetch). She's outgrown the tank she's lived in ever since she was a wee tortuguita, so I like to occasionally let the chlorine run low in the pool and give Piume the freedom to run loose for a few hours. One of these days, I have to figure out a bigger tank.

Vicki's Pet Rock

Some of you may be too young to remember the Pet Rock fad, but on our recent trip to Cambria, this one was making goo-goo eyes at Vicki and she wanted to know if we could take it home. I looked at the flight of stairs from the beach to the car and decided we would just remember where we found it, and come back and visit it often. Anyway, for Pet Picture Month, here's one for Vicki.

AFTER

I wasn't sure if I could even get both sisters in the same picture. At this age, they don't pose as nicely as they did as kittens, and Spikie was hissing just to have Pogger this near the food dish. In other pictures from the same series, Spike has a pleasanter expression, and this picture doesn't show Pogger for the gorda she is, but hey, they're both looking right at the camera! So now, have I really sunk to this? I'm blogging about my cats! But wait, there's still another cat, a turtle, a crab, and a tarantula!

BEFORE

To celebrate Pet Picture Month, this is a three-year-old picture of Pogger (at left, I think, though my family may correct me if that's her in the center) and Spike (at right), the two we kept from this litter. Mateo entered them in competition, over at Kitten War, and this is their record, after 1,994 battles: Won: 1271 (64%), Lost: 538 (27%), Drawn: 185 (9%). However, the girls are looking a little ragged now. These days, the chances of getting the two in the same picture are slim, but Pogger is not. I will work on it, and try to post the AFTER shot in a day or two.

The Marimba Tour Moves On

As I continue to unpack the bags from my marimba-centric around-the-world tour...

The evening I spent with Reg and his upstairs neighbors went so well that he decided to join me as I hopped a steamer and set off for Africa. In Zimbabwe, we were scouting for new talent and had the best seat in the house until the lady in front stood up. Reg did sign the two dancers. They'll join his show in New York. It does mean he'll have to send the base player back to the minors.