Skunks

Why am I seeing so many skunks lately?  I've seen three of them in the last week: two in the cemetery (maybe the same one on different days?), and one on the Maple to Old Plank trail.  That one had me a little worried.  He kept weaving in and out of the bushes about 20 feet in front of me, and I was never quite sure where he was at.  Eventually, he scurried off into the woods.    Rabbits I can understand -- I see them all the time (also last week, I saw ten on one day), but skunks?  At least they're cute!

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Goodbye Educational Psychology class!  I would like to say I will miss you, but I'd be lying. 

The other day...

The other day, I was waiting for my daughter to finish her Korean class at the local church.  Having an hour to kill, I decided to finish my daily walking time by walking south for half an hour, and then back to the church.  Walking by a pond , I heard a large ka-plunk, like a rock being thrown into the water.  Looking in, I saw something swimming underwater, and a moment later, it surfaced: an otter!

How cool was that ?  I've never seen one in the wild before...  I waited for it to reappear, but alas, such was not to be.

Snow!

First snow of the winter -- One and half inches following yesterday's freezing rain -- had to use hot water to open my wife's car door.

Welcome back, Lady Winter. I realize we have had an adversarial relationship in the past, but let's put that behind us, let bygones be bygones, shall we?! Let's be friends!

Anger

"The one who get angry first loses..."

From: Star Trek: Vanguard: Reap the Whirlwind by David Mack. (A truly great entry in a truly great ST series, btw).

Did that quote piss you off? You lose!

Buddha Dance

Leona showed me her Buddha-Dance today. You need a partner facing you, and it goes like this (moving slowly, of course, like a meditating Buddha!):

Hands stiff at sides
Bowing in familiar namaste fashion with palms in front of chest
Step right, then left.
Left foot on right knee, then reverse.
Namaste bow again.
Hands to side.
Repeat at will.

Not a difficult or long dance by any means!

Goodbye Borders

Went to Borders bookstore .... "Closing, everything must go!" Everything was in disarray, books placed here and there haphazardly... bookshelves $100 each.

Borders was the first big bookstore I ever went to (Ann Arbor (the original location, I believe). For a bibliophile like myself, it was like walking into heaven without being dead... Visiting it today was attending a funeral (only with books!).

Got one of the latest Star Trek books, and "The New Space Opera 2". Lots of other people picking over the remains ... Me too...

Goodbye, Borders. I'll miss you.

The Buddha said everything is impermanent, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.