Tonight on my walk around the lake I saw a small black and white woodpecker scaling a tree. This bird was much smaller than the Northern Flicker (another woodpecker) that I've seen before. Checking the Cornell Ornithology webite, I found the little guy is a Downy Woodpecker.
No wonder I frequently hear woodpeckers -- we've got two different kinds in the neighborhood, LOL.
During today's walk around the lake I saw that there is a second set of goslings that have hatched. Ironically both sets of goslings and parents were "hanging out" together. The first set -- the ones I've seen several times before-- are very relaxed parents that don't get agitated when you walk by them. The new set are not so calm. I think it was the male that was hissing at me as I walked past. The new set have four goslings while the other set have five. And I still have not seen any ducklings. I did see four male wood ducks which I'm wondering if they were from the batch of 19 ducklings last year.
The trip back from Hagerstown was a bit more tense than I would have preferred. Coming home, I drove through a line of thunderstorms. As I was driving up into the mountains, the skies erupted in a terrible downpour. There was so much water pounding my car, that my car struggled going up the mountain. I could hear it groaning as the tac hit 3000 rpm. I had to keep easing off the gas and coax it uphill. (I realized later that I did have the AC on low, which probably didn't help.)
However, when I started going downhill, I had more of a fright. As my car picked up speed, I could feel it hydroplaning. I know I need new tires, and this incident proved it. I had to carefully apply a bit of brake to slow the car down withouut hitting it too hard which could have caused me to lose control of the car. There was just so much water covering the road surface as it was intensely pouring from the sky. Luckily it eased up within a couple miles. But I ended up driving in the rain the whole hour home.
It's just not a good feeling when the car is not responding the way it normally would due to hydroplaning. What struck me was how many people still attempted to drive 70 mph in their SUVs. Don't they get how difficult it can be to stop in those conditions especially in a big vehicle??? At about 60 mph going downhill I could feel my car hydroplaning. This wasn't just a little bit of rain! LOL.
Thankfully I made it home safely. However, I made it home in time as the rain pulled into my area. Which meant I had to run to the house as it started to pour, LOL.
Yesterday I helped a local group collect items for CASA in Hagerstown. It's an organization that helps abused women and children. I sat out by a Hagerstown grocery store and asked folks if they'd be willing to donate some items. I distrubuted a handout that listed the types of items that CASA needs. Of course, there were a number of folks who wouldn't even consider donating, as they were too in a hurry or not interested. Many seniors shopped at this store and being on a limited income wouldn't allow for them to donate.
However, most folks that took the handout did return with at least one item. Sugary cereal (Pops, Apple Jacks, Fruit Loops) was the most popular item, as it was on sale for 1$ a box. I think I collected 30-40 boxes of cereal. But folks also brought soap, shampoo, school supplies, juice boxes, etc. I had a few individuals that were very generous and brought bags full of items.
However, the most touching thing was the several women who indicated that CASA had helped them. And there were others that indicated that they were very supportive of what CASA does. It made me feel really good to know that I spent a few hours of my time helping an organization that really makes a difference.
Why did the chicken cross the road? Who knows, but I don't think he/she anticipated getting a ticket for it, LOL.
5-5-5......nothing too special happened today. Just feel tired and PMSy. What a shame....such a cool date and it's been just crappy. uggh.....
Now we get to look forward to 6-6-6 next year. *shiver*
Can it get any stranger? A parent demanded that her kid's middle school marching band not play the song Louie, Louie because it has raunchy lyrics. And the principal agreed. Yet, the songs lyrics are unintelligeable and in fact contain nothing inappropriate! You'd think the principal would have at least checked the songs lyrics online before making her decision????? But, no, she took the parents word for it.
Why don't we put every kid in a buble away from anything potentially bad? *rolls eyes*
The sad part was these poor kids were freaked because they didn't have another song to replace Louie, Louie for an event. Fortunately, the truth was learned before the event, so they were able to go forward with the Louie Louie routine.
Yeah, and last I checked, marching bands don't sing lyrics. Oy.
Ok, now the big story is they may charge her for false reporting of a crime. Which it sounds like they may have reason to do. Fine. Charge her with a misdemeanor. But some folks sre talking felony charges. Huh?
I know it cost the police department time and money looking for her and yeah the families are loaded. But felony charges? And all this media circus? I think it's time for the media to move on to another story. This microscopic look at this case is just unnecessary. There are far more important events going on in the world and in this country today.
For example, another 140 people died in Iraq in the last 5 days. In this article it lists how many Iraqis died and how they died, but there is no mention of US casualities....only the number of wounded on a couple of occasions. But I have a hard time believing that no Americans died. The press is simply avoiding talking about the deaths whenever possible.
All the news stations seem to be focussing on the story of the runaway bride from Georgia. While I understand the concern everyone had about her disappearance, now that she has returned safely, I think the news should butt out of the private affairs of this family. What goes on now and why she felt compelled to run away are none of our business.
Obviously she was under a grest deal of stress to have run away. Focussing on their story is only going to further stress out this woman and her family. And stories about how the town feels betrayed are bullshit. Personally I'm very relieved to know that she is safe and that she left on her own accord. That's a far better ending than the family having to deal with the death/murder of a loved one.
Don't these networks have better things to do like, say, the Michael Jackson Trial/Media Circus? LOL.