Schierer Space

So Nate unfortunately learned that wasps are ouchy today. We were out on the back porch and Nate was sitting on the chaise lounge. None of us realized that the yellow-jackets had started a nest underneath.

I was talking with my Dad and suddenly Nate started crying loudly and shrilly. I noticed the insects circling around him.

Ouch.

He was stung on his right forearm and the on his left elbow.

Double Ouch.

Grampa D is allergic, so we are monitoring closely, but so far just some local redness.

I’ve been waiting for the release of the latest John Scalzi novel, The Last Colony since I finished the previous book, The Ghost Brigades, months ago. I’m too cheap to buy it in hardcover though, so I’ve been waiting for the “mass-market paperback”.

Well it’s finally out and I bought it today on the way home from work. I’m already more than half way through. I could probably finish it in another couple of hours but I really must sleep now.

At the Davis’ camp near Unity, ME, I found this beautiful moth. It was quite docile as you can see.

I believe it is a female Polyphemus Moth – Antheraea polyphemus (Hodges # 7757). BugGuide Moth Photographers Group The male has much larger (furrier) antenna.

Nate also played in the ocean, but I’ll want to write more on that later.

Additional vacation pictures are on the gallery.

After Nate and K had gone to bed, I drove up to the Stone Quarry Hill Art Park to watch and photograph the fireworks. The field overlooks the village of Cazenovia and the lake. You can also see Oneida Lake to the north, the Fenner windmills and much of the countryside in between.
I hadn’t thought to go up there for the fireworks before, but obviously others have, as there were probably 2-3 dozen viewers already there by the time that I arrived.
The sun had set and the twilight was fading, so I knew it wouldn’t be long before the fireworks started. There were already several other displays going off in the distance, and a few ‘private’ shows nearer at hand.
It was a beautiful night and after the fireworks ended and the crowd cleared (except for a few intentional stragglers shall we say), the lightning bugs came out and started putting on their own show. So Sis, the last two shots are for you. I think it will definitely warrant another trip up there when it’s darker and later into lightning bug season.
Here are some highlights, but make sure to look at the whole album.

K & I survived our runs. K did great on the 5k with a 32:37 (officially).

Her 1km splits (based on her time across the start line not the gun):
7:01
6:37
6:17
6:32
5:45
—–
32:14 (She started her watch at the start line, but still can’t explain the 23 second difference.)

She said she felt pretty good, and her time was good enough I was able to shadow her on the last km with her before getting ready for my start (about 40 minutes after hers).

As I said in the last post, I had some kind of cramp (or strain sounds more likely from Lisa & Todd’s comments). I lasted about half a mile before the calf started to hurt, but I took it easy and pushed on. I figured if it was really bad it would hurt more and let me know. Since my leg was hurting/stiff I kept the initial pace down, and it only hurt me particularly badly now and then (one pretty bad spike at about 6 miles). By 7 miles I wasn’t really feeling it (or maybe noticing it) anymore and my pace picked up. Here are my splits:

8:46*
8:46* (I missed the split at 1 mile, so this is the 2 mile split divided by 2)
8:43
8:46
8:45
8:20
8:38
8:25
7:54
7:16
—–
84:21 (officially 1:24:11, I can’t explain where the other ten seconds went)

I’m pretty happy with that, but then I’m left wondering how much better I might have done if my leg had been better. Anyhow, a great day for a run, and it felt great to do well.

Of course now I can barely walk, but next week was vacation anyways so I have plenty of time to rest it.

The big 10 mile race is tomorrow. This is exciting. It’s also nerve racking because I’ve been suffering from a ridiculous cramp in my left calf since Tuesday.

K asked me when I got home from work “Are you still going to race?” I said “Well I have to try!”

It’s feeling better today, but there’s not telling if it will hold up. We shall see.

The title is not a British conservative commenting on the recent Nobel prize winner. It’s the literal interpretation. Therefore I must apologize for the juxtaposition of this blog entry with the previous one, but I won’t provide pictures so you have the opportunity to click away now if you are the squeamish type.

So our cats are becoming increasingly competent in catching mice and various other creatures of similar size. Unfortunately, they hadn’t quite learned what to do with said captives, so they usually deliver them to us still fully operational. I am forced to re-catch and dispatch the rodent myself with the cats looking on with only the slightest curiosity.

Not today… (more…)

K hit the local farm for strawberries today.

I made shortcakes from scratch.

K cleaned and sliced the berries.

We both* made whipped cream from honest to goodness real heavy cream and sugar.

Fresh home made strawberry shortcake is THE yum.

Yes, there really is a silver bullet. Well, at least a rather shiny metallic bullet of some kind.

I have recorded the number of gallons and trip mileage for EVERY tank of gas I ever put in my car (361 tanks as of today). This is a habit that I picked up from my Mom, which generally serves little or no purpose other than monitoring sudden changes in engine efficiency. It is not my Mom’s fault (at least directly) that I bothered to enter this data into a spreadsheet and analyze it. Anyways, it is because of this record that I am able to somewhat conclusively report that there is an easy way to improve your gas mileage.

How?
(more…)

I admit I’m a touch choked up at the moment.

I received this simple email from my Dad about 10 minutes ago:

Goodbye George Aug. 1996-June2008

There’s always been a cat at my parent’s house. Not a froofy cat with a little pink bow, but an outdoor, mouse catching, rabbit terrorizing, sparrow infuriating honest-to-goodness rural cat. Their coats always a bit coarse and in need of a brushing (when they chose to tolerate it). George was no exception.

My Dad taught me that it’s ok to be a man and have a fun, loving relationship with a cat. It has to do with balance: showing emotion, compassion and friendship when it’s appropriate. There are some who would encourage the stereotype that cats are ‘feminine’ or somehow don’t fit in the truck-shotgun-dog mentality. Some kind of “Real men don’t like cats” stupidity. That’s not my Dad and it’s not me.

We make a place for pets in our lives, and we make a place for family pets when we visit family. It’s always a personal victory when the ’shy’ pet allows me to “skritch” them behind the ears or lies down on my lap. George had a crazy personality and I know he was well loved. My folks will be finding little fuzzy balls and other toys under, in and behind various pieces of furniture for years to come. And every time, he will be missed.