Good Bye 2008; What a Lousy Year

We were all glad to see 2008 sink into the snowdrift of time. Hello 2009. May it be a better year.

A Catch-22 For a Poor Little Traveling Pup

Not a Hobson's choice, but a Catch-22. We hope he ended up on someone's lap.

We All Enjoy a Good Meal

Turkey Vultures and Rotarians alike appreciate a good meal.

Autumn Abstract

In one fiftieth of a second, a Monet is made.

Some Sea Birds are Really Strict

If you want to belong to the group, you must conform.

Airborn Squirrel

No. This is not a flying squirrel, but he comes close to one. The Autumn leaves are a nice touch.

Struck by Lightning?

No, my grand daughter Erin did not get hit with lightning. She was just jumping on a trampoline. She did admit, however, the picture was a bit shocking.

Future Rotary District Governor Forgets His Speech

Did George Camp, District Governor desinate from New York State, came to our luncheon without his speech? No way. He gave a great speech, and is a man whose "giving" has been both national and international in scope. The others are (left to right) Paula Greenberg, Will Houston, George Camp, and our Rotary Club President, Carol Giannico.

Water Spirit

Water Spirits frequent the landscape, and are always there ready to help with refreshing cool water, and and a sense of the serene. When they wave to you, be polite and wave back.

Message from Mother Nature?

At times, the snow formation seem to be telling us something. My take on this snow formation was that Mother Nature was telling us she was not sure what she was going to do next. I think that is a common problem with her.

Die Hard Football Fans

We understand this is a group of Green Bay Packer's football fans following a quickly passing snow storm. They are always there, rain, sleet, snow or whatever. We applaud their grit.

Inactivity of Plants in the Winter

It is doubtful that the active, standing plant is going to roust the other plant out of his winter slumber.

Image of Jesus in Stone

This image is from a rock in a New England rock wall, in Redding, Connecticut. It is seen by some as clothed...others, not so much...take your pick.

Snowboarders are Dimwitted

Here we see a snowboarder trying to open the door of a car made entirely out of Lego blocks. Snowboarders, by and large, are not too swift. This is a prime example.

Butterfly Airport

It's fun watching the planes take off and land. Butterflys need an airport, too. In this case it is our Butterfly Bush.

Wasp Nest on House

When one of these fellas (upper corner) gets his/her buddies to build a paper house on your house, take the bunch of them seriously. They mean business. Don't remove the thing with your bare hand, unless you enjoy pain. If you do, stick your thumb in the entrance, and you will soon find out why it is not recommended to do so.

Crab Shell on Beach

Crab shells are fun to look at on the beach, but did you ever hold one up to the sun? They are really remarkable when back-lit.

Shoes on a Wire

We spied these sneakers on a telephone wire in affluent Redding, Connecticut. We were wondering if they were Guccis, and worth retrieving. We know that some Gucci sneakers are worth more than $400.00 a pair. Now if they were hanging on a telephone line in Bridgeport...that's a different matter.

Peace Flag

We passed by this interesting "American" flag, on a barn in Redding, Connecticut. It was touching the ground, and out in the rain--but this hardly matters. It is not a "true" American flag--or is it? It's all in the eyes (and hearts) of the beholder we suspect. Don't bother counting the stars. There are 50 of them.

Engagement at Sea

We recently took a cruise on the windjammer, the Mystic Whaler, as the previous posting points out. And to our delight, a couple got engaged in the way we all find the best--with the lady totally surprised, and thrilled to tears. Paul Peloquin really surprised Lisa. Best wishes to the both of them. Paul is an "old salt" himself, and works in the front office for the cruise firm. We hope that Paul and Lisa respond to this posting. We'd like to know the "big date" so all of the people who look at this site can attend the wedding (just kidding, but the crew aboard the Mystic Whaler really know how to boil a mean lobster dinner).

A Sea Captain So Good He Can Sail Blind

My wife and I took a delightful cruise on the windjammer Mystic Whaler out of New London, Connecticut last week. The first mate assured us that Capt. John Eginton was so good he could sail blindfolded. Taking his lead, the captain shut his eyes, took one hand off the wheel, and away we went.

A Very Sick Baby Racoon

Our big, not-so-brave, German Shephard Henry found this sick little guy in our yard and was barking his head off when we went out to see what was going on. My first inclination was to put it out of it's misery, but my son, Scott, came up with a more unique solution. Fearing rabies, we put him/her in a box, and took the little fella to the Wildlife in Crisis sanctuary, in Wilton, CT. They have a few acres in the middle of suburbia complete with an animal clinic, and cages of hawks and owls in various stages of recovery. Our little guy has been there a couple of weeks, is chattering up a storm, is eating well, and will be released to the wild, soon (One of the true stories on this blog).

Golden Toad

This guy, the size of a fingernail, was found in the yard. We captured him, and then sprayed him with gold paint (just kidding).

Watch Where You Reach

Rotarians love practical jokes. Here is one of the better ones.

Some People Have Bad Toupes

Growing one's own hair can be an alternative to a bad hair piece.

Catipillar Myopia

When a catipillar's sun glasses are too dark, he has trouble recognizing objects in his surroundings.

Dogs Get Attatched to their Playthings

Here we see a dog gingerly carrying her favorite toy. We hope she didn't end up swallowing it.

The Fly Police

The fly police confer just like police the nation over.

Snowboarders Sit and Stand. Skiers Ski

Whether one goes on the slopes during the day or night, one can find most snowboarders sitting, or standing in the middle of the road. Snowboarders are generally young and out of touch with reality.

Mouse in the House

This little fellow is none too happy to be trapped underneath a bell jar. In a gesture of peace with his extended family (and we trust it is quite extended) he was released to the wild.

Be Careful with Flowers When their Friends are Around

Raising one's hand, even while holding a flower, can be interpreted as aggression.

Dragon Flies Showing Off

Here are two dragonflies modeling the latest in Paris fashions.

Mom With Nine Kids: Is She a Mormon?

I spied this turkey down the street from our place. I've seen turkeys before, but never with nine little ones. As far as I could tell, they were all very well behaved.

Indescriminate Paper Shredders

The puppy stage lasts too long. Get a dog from the pound--not two. Just one. Does anyone have a current issue of Discover Magazine?

A Fly With an Attitude

Dragon flies are sensitive about their names. This one definitely is. Actually, his given name is Horace. He responds to that too. Just don't call him Horace fly, for obvious reasons.

Bees Like Their Own Space

Bees can have an attitude if you enter their space. They are one insect that can take matters into their own hands--I know. I've felt their wrath.

Bee Decorates Flower

Bees like to show off. But they will let you know if you get too close. Just watch; don't touch.

Comparisons Can be Hurtful

Don't compare flowers to cartoon characters. You will hurt their feelings.

Dog Day Afternoon

A dog's feeling are easily hurt. Here is a prime example.

An Awsome Tree Image

This is one of my favorite images of Jesus. I am still looking for one on a potato chip. Potato chips are highly portable. Cutting down a tree and selling one of its logs on Ebay, is not easy to do--especially if that tree is in your neighbor's yard.

Ephemeral Memorial to Di

Due to an odd twist of fate, on August 31, 1997, we were flying into London when the pilot announced that Princess Di had just been killed in an auto accident. That week, in London, was a surreal experience. The flowers piled up outside of Buckingham Palace, and Herrod's department store had flowers stacked 5 feet high entirely around a building which occupies a city block. Grown men were crying in the streets. We came across the above sidewalk artist in Covent Gardens creating a beautiful image, which would only last until the first rainstorm-- a short lived creation, which Di herself was.

Volcanic Elf

Visiting the big island in Hawaii, one has to walk the lava fields. There are so many unique formations for a photographer, and this was one of them. He was really cool; I think I heard him ask for a glass of water.

Sharks in the Water

Scuba diving in Belize, we were introduced to a school of nurse sharks, and were assured they were harmless. The guide threw chum in the water on the right side of the boat, then suggested we enter the left side. I slipped into the water, fine. My wife straddled one of the sharks--a great picture which I unfortunately missed. Jane was not at all amused.