A Day in the Life

This is what I woke up to this morning.



I tried to blame some of it on this guy, but he claims that without opposable thumbs, he was totally incapable of making THAT BIG a mess, unlike someone he knows around here. I don't think he was talking about the African Daisy that lives downstairs on the kitchen counter and is pretty well rooted in place.



Not wanting to tackle the above-mentioned mess (I mean, I'd just cleaned it a couple days ago!), I decided to do a chore I've been putting off for two years. Actually, it's out of sight and thus out of mind most of the time. Plus, it's been raining a lot and this is definitely not something I'd do in the rain. Anymore, that is. There was a time, though.... neither rain, nor sleet, nor dark of night...

I have had two (count 'em) two very very very fine days. Two whole days without rain, most of which I frittered away playing Spider Solitaire.

However, I did get a couple things done, so while I figure out how to finish the Yakutat Journals, I'll tell you about my day. I have one story about Yakutat left. That would make it chapter thirteen. No way, no how am I ending that series on the thirteenth chapter. So I'm thinking.

In the meantime, my very very very fine day started last evening when I went up to Mile 54 to complete a gap in my litter-picking, all in an effort to make it continuous from Mile 23.5 to Mile 68.

This is a BUG ALERT. I am now going to show you two photos of a fascinating bug I found in the parking lot at Mile 54. I almost stepped on it, as it was right beside the driver's door of my truck. It's coloration saved it.

(My research tells me this is a Sexton beetle, or burying beetle. http://bugguide.net/node/view/32497)

At first I didn't think it was real, but then I saw it moving. Couldn't tell what it was doing in that little patch of sand. It seemed to be rubbing its face. You know the caricature sketches of bugs? How they always have ping pong balls on the ends of their antennae? Take a close look at this bug.

See the balls on the antennae? And look at all that armor plating! It paid no attention to me as I snapped macro photos from two and three inches away. Then, it sprouted wings from somewhere and flew away. Amazing creature.

Don't ask me what it is. A bug is a bug is a bug, if it isn't a mosquito, fly, bee, or butterfly. Or spider. Seriously, you know "ichtheology?" The study of fishes? Shoulda been for bugs. "ICK-theology." Get it?

This is where I was cleaning up litter. Those are all wild daisies.




Here are daisies and fireweed.




And some more. I had the thought last night that I was enhancing the life experience of wildflowers by cleaning up their neighborhood. I think they like that.
The daisies were especially happy about it.



Then came this morning and this mess:



And this guy's denials of involvement.


I checked the temperature. Fifty-six. Perfect. I have to wear long sleeves for this job and this was a pleasant temp.


I gathered up the tools I'd need.




Rounded up the equipment...


...and went to the job site. It's in there somewhere....




Much sawing and clearing of dead branches later, the windfall tree appeared.




Got cut up into firewood lengths...




...and then I thought of an excuse why I couldn't finish the job.


And, it wasn't this:


Not that he'd be any help:


Actually, I had a writer's group meeting to attend in Seward. So, I watered the flowers. The domesticated ones, I mean.







Then off I went to Seward. As you drive into Seward on the main (only) road, you pass a lagoon with big houses up on the cliff overlooking it. I've always wondered who lived up there.





Well, Margaret of our writer's group lives in one of the places up there and she was hosting this month's meeting. From her balcony I took these photos:


Looking south towards downtown. You can't see the actual downtown in this photo.




And southward overlooking the small boat harbor, cruise ship dock, and coal loading terminal.

After the meeting, I headed home. As I passed by Kenai Lake, the clouds had parted off in the distance and the lighting caught my attention. I stopped, turned around and went back to take pictures.








Then I came home to this.


This guy claims that he would have been more than happy to clean up my desk and the rest of the loft as well (despite the lack of opposable thumbs), except that he'd been locked in his cage the WHOLE time.

The End.