great day for working

Wow, what a day!  Glorious mid-September weather, but too hot to work hard building garage storage shelves--in the shady garage--without working up a big sweat.  Physical labor is good, though.  Helps clear the brain, if you're smart enough to sit down when you get tired.

exotic bird identification

Can anybody identify this bird that showed up at my house in north central Wisconsin this evening? We think it's a flyaway pet that probably should have had its wings clipped long ago. Flies very well, sings loud and clear, hung around until dark and then probably went to sleep nearby.

new start

Last May, my oldest son graduated from college. Today, the next one started. It's another of those rituals that doesn't change much--on a warm (or hot!) autumn day, hefting various boxes, bags and small appliances up to the third floor, through aging hallways, without benefit of an elevator. At least this son took a moon chair instead of a full-frame futon! Other things don't change much, either--the shower stalls could use a little re-grouting (or a lot!) and have rusty pipes replaced; the wooden doors have lost their finish and developed character from decades of posters and notes taped to them; parents smile knowing and slightly nervous smiles. At the end, when it is past time for parents to leave, there are last hugs, a few tears, and then the new student turns around and steps into a new world with barely a look back. Way to go, kid--you'll do great!

humungus fungus

Next door, my neighbors have this giant mushroom growing in their yard. We've never seen such a thing there before. Lots of rain lately, but no other explanation. We first thought it was a stray soccer ball or volleyball, because there are lots of those around the yard, but no, it's definitely a mushroom. Could it be an extension of the famous humungus fungus around Crystal Falls, Michigan, about 125 miles from here?

brain on boredom

My daughter blamed it on Vicodin, but that was worn off by then. The problem was a brain sitting around more than it is accustomed to, because of recent surgery. So, we think interesting things. Such as, at lunchtime, talking about varieties of dogs, and what kinds people work to keep purebred. "Nobody tries to breed a bouvier with anything but a bouvier," averred my family. "Oh?" asked I, "How about a chihuahua? Then you'd get a bouvihuahua!" Any other good suggestions of combinations? Maybe I should just get back on my medication--

rest without sleep

I spent most of last night in a recliner in my living room, so I could elevate my leg better after recent knee surgery. Didn't actually sleep much, but what a show I got instead! The night before was fireworks from the Perseid meteor shower; last night was lightning, thunder, and a great steady rain that gave us about 3-1/4" between midnight and 8 a.m. Sitting, watching, listening, sometimes snoozing, it was both very relaxing and very exciting. I thought about logging on to write during the middle of the whole experience, but decided just to soak it in quietly without technological assistance. Only thing that would have made it better is a metal roof.

thinking about time

I used to think Sydney Harris had the best job in the world--he got to write two columns a couple of times a week: "Things I Learned on the Way to Looking Up Other Things," and "Thoughts at Large." They were blogs way before we had computers! Now, laid up after minor knee surgery, I'm thinking about many things, including how the gift of time--even for reasons we don't like--connects to creativity and communication. Time is the gift we appreciate least, squander most, and don't take care of. Slowing down, noticing things, staying in touch, just sitting still and watching the birds, stars, weather, people, or whatever is happening--it's all important. Let's not miss it.