§ Weekend Rambles...

BOOK REVIEW

Wow, have I got another good book! And, again, like the previous book I finished reading, The Immortal Nicholas, the author of my 'newest' book is Glenn Beck. Can the man write, or what? His creations just flow so swiftly and easily. He's becoming a favorite author. I also have to give some credit to his choice of editors....no grammatical errors!  [I really hate that in a publication]  This time around instead of fiction, this book is based on true events/people. More or less short biographies of those who were scandalous and dreamers of achieving goals in life to make something of themselves in the world. The book is DREAMERS AND DECEIVERS. The list of his subjects are

Grover Cleveland [president]
Edwin Armstrong [founder of radio/FM]
Woodrow Wilson [president]
Charles Ponzi [con artist]
Desi Arnas [from I Love Lucy fame - Lucille Ball]
Upton Sinclair [author]
*Alan Turing ['father of computer']
Alger Hiss [spy]
Walt Disney [animator]
Steve Jobs/John Lesseter [creators of Pixar]

*Now, I haven't finished the book yet. As of this blog post, I am going to continue with Alger Hiss. But the last subject I read blew me away. Well, the closing remarks by Mr. Beck blew me away at least!! I just completed the short bio of Alan Turing. He was a mathematical genius from Cambridge, envisioning a machine that would take commands by number and respond with like numbers [binary in our language of today]...he was recruited by the British government to help break the code of the German "Enigma" of World War II. Of course, in no time he did accomplish this feat. His invention, today's computer, goes down in history. But, the epilogue of this scholar is what captured my attention. Mr. Turing committed suicide by poisoning an apple at his night stand one evening.  There is one movie quote from Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs that Mr. Turing was said to say often.  I won't tell you what the quote is...you have to read the book.  But it IS significant to his life.  He took ONE BITE on the night of June 7th, 1954....hence:

EPILOGUE: There is a modest tribute to Alan Turing at Manchester University where he spent his final nine years of his life....Perhaps the most striking, if possibly coincidental, memorial to the man who invented the first computer, is that anytime anyone looks at an iPhone, iPad, or a MacBook, they find the image of an apple on the back...It is missing a single bite!! 

THE COLOR BLACK

Of course in school, my art teacher once told his class that white and black are actually NOT colors to an artist. They are 'hues'. Well, lately, I seem to choose black over all "colors". In clothes mostly. And I have a favorite t-shirt I wear all too often. The color? Black!

Bud: "That shirt again? You'd think it'd be threadbare for as often as you wear it!"
Anni: "You know I love tigers!"

What does black say about me? Read more

SIGNAGE

The sign entering the trailway specifically says "No Bikes".
Yet, just a few yards ahead, what do I see?


EYE ON THE SKY

PARDON ME

It states in our constitution: "In the United States, the pardon power for federal crimes is granted to the President of the United States under Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution which states that the President "shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States". If that is the case, I have a question: "Why, then, are top politicians and high officials pushing for President Obama to grant a pardon for Hillary Clinton? According to her statements there is NO crime, and that she committed no offenses to the United States?!!!" In the past so many pardons have been given without any further investigations, for instance Pres. Ford/Pres. Nixon,  to help the country move on with governing the land  My opinion back then, and still today, it's all kinds of wrong.  It makes commoners think [and perhaps the person in question feel they're 'above the laws of the land']. No one should be above the law!!!  Politics....it's volatile.  
 Read More ...and more: No Pardon

SUN-KIST

On the lighter side...


Today's Flower: Sun Kissed Bougainvillea


Serving up....Sushi!!

§ MEMErized by heart...

I am going to try and add images today for most of the following week's memes since it will be kinda busy around here with not much time to be online. Nature Notes and Our World is all inclusive for EACH image. So, here goes:

Reflections Weekend:

A 'tame' goose [one of several] that is a full-time resident of a park on Holly Drive.

Macro:

A bleeding heart plant found in the city park along Shoreline Drive.

WILD BIRD & GOOD FENCES:

The two birds here in these two photos along fence lines...top: Willet bottom: Mourning Dove

The Willet was spotted at Indian Point Park and the Mourning Dove was sighted at Oso Bay Nature Center. Both perched on fencing that meanders in the 'swamp/marshy areas' of the parks that take you to observation platforms

SkyWatch:

A very temperamental morning sky with two Nighthawks catching flying insects after an overnight storm.

CRITTER:

Can you tell me what kind of critter this is? Yes, it's an animal!! [I purposely 'softened' the image to blur it somewhat] There is a story behind this image, and I will get back to regaling the tale in time. I have more photos of it, but I haven't the time to sit down and type the whole saga for now. The very day I got the photo of the mourning dove, shown above, I saw this fellow/gal out in the marshy part of the bay water. I thought I'd add this as a 'teaser' for now and get back to you.

WILLY NILLY - 5 Randoms

May 28th is National Hamburger Day. Yahoo did a taste test of the top 5. I disagree with their #1 choice!!

Don'tcha just hate it when you read an email and there is something of interest [for me this week it was a birding tour for the Houston Metro area]. And the details listed had no real pertinent information?!! Responding to get the hour/date/meeting place was a waste of my time....why didn't they include that in the initial email?

This week I did my own taste test. For a cool refreshing mid-day drink, I've been drinking a 'new' NATURAL Ginger Ale that is three times the price of Canada Dry which has a great amount of sugar. Ummmm, the natural Zevia Brand is boasted to contain no artificial sweeteners and all other kinds of hype, but it really leaves a nasty after-taste.  And to top it off, I really can't say there is much GINGER flavor.  Sometimes cost isn't a factor in the 'better' product.  This is case in point in my opinion.

Monday is the 1st day of Hurricane Season for the Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico....National Oceanic Atmospheric Association {NOAA for short} and other weather websites predict a Lower Than Normal Season....guess what?  I disagree.  lol

History Channel has a mini series airing on cable/online sites....TEXAS RISING.  It's about the aftermath of the historical battles after the Alamo.  I can't say I'm impressed with it so far...it's more or less likened to Eastwood's Spaghetti Westerns.  And to know who is who for the most part in the beginning is a bit frustrating...but gets better when the characters are known.  The series is just okay.  Nothing spectacular....and besides, a TEXAS history of the birth of the state...filmed in MEXICO?  Why, Goliad [even in the 1800s] and the surrounding area in real life, people, doesn't even come close to what the HC has depicted....what's wrong with this picture?   Why couldn't it have been filmed in Texas y'wonder?    I understand that the viewership dropped considerably for the 2nd installment...it's just not all that  historically significant for the most part.  Hmmmm.  Highly disappointing in my opinion.  Mundane script, mediocre acting, wrongful surroundings, a bit inaccurate according to state history....Definitely a C-, and by the time the 10 hour series is over, I'm not so sure it may drop to a D.  I will watch it in its entirety tho.  It's history...even tho inaccurate and sloppily produced...the 'big celebrity cast' won't help pull it to an award winning series, sorry to say..

§ Signs of the Times aka-Nostalgia Lane

--- from the 50's. I know this ages me, but when a youngster, during summer vacation and traveling somewhere by car, one of the 'fun' things to keep from boredom was reading the highway signs! And Burma Shave was one of those that kept you awake and from whining "Are we there yet?" Once on a deserted highway, far from the maddening crowd...out of nowhere, a sign along the highway shoulder would appear. It usually had just part of a sentence. 5-10 miles down the road another sign would show up with another section of the sentence in text...on and on it would go, around curves, behind a boulder, in the barrow ditch...somewhere another sign would come to view until the last sign that promoted the product....Burma Shave!! [shaving cream in an aerosol can] For examples I add here:

My job is ...drive another 10 miles or so, then:
Keeping faces clean ...drive another 10 miles or so, then:
And nobody knows ...drive another 10 miles or so, then:
De stubble ...drive another 10 miles or so, then:
I've seen ...drive another 10 miles or so, then:
Burma-Shave

or:

This cream ...traveling the desert highway, down the road a piece:
Makes the ...traveling the desert highway, down the road a piece:
Gardener's daughter ...traveling the desert highway, down the road a piece:
Plant her tu-lips ...traveling the desert highway, down the road a piece:
Where she oughter ...traveling the desert highway, down the road a piece:
Burma-Shave

I remember these dearly as they kept us kids entertained along the long, boring stretches of roads when we wondered if we'd ever get to our destination. Read more of the Burma Shave Signage HERE with links for 4 pages of them


How 'bout popular toys of the 50s?   I'm sure you'd agree that probably the most coveted toy of that generation would be the Barbie Doll.  Altho Barbie was a 'dream' figure [literally speaking and playing dolls], she was to be the first anatomically correct doll ever produced.  And 'cause we girls wanted to live out our fantasies, keeping us again from being bored, we were given a companion for Barbie....his name was Ken.  Clean shaven, perfect.  Funny thing was the Ken doll mold had him in underwear if you decided to change his outfit....and perhaps go swimming with his love interest....the underwear?  Flesh colored...all to cover up for our 1950s innocence standards of that era.  Barbie sold for ...ready?  $3 back then!!



image source

§ 'Nother Gab Session- -

I'll begin with some randomness:

1-Updated Firefox Browser...now, again, had to go back in and readjust my preferences. Why, you wonder, do Firefox updates change everything back?
2-Decaffineated Iced Tea hits the spot on these sultry pre-summer afternoons. Better yet, a Root Beer Float with 'fat free' ice cream!!
3-I'd prefer to spend more money at the store, buying deli foods than cooking during the 'hot season'.
4-Television's season's finales [the programs we watch online] have been aired. Now, I wait for NCIS New Orleans Season 1 to come out in a DVD set.
5-I need a new camera with larger zoom lens!! Convincing Bud is going to take some work. Stay tuned. lol



...a bit of continuation of the previous post. Sunday morning, I just don't know what it was all about, but the streets and highways were heavily congested with traffic. Cars bumper to bumper. It took three light changes at the island highway intersection that takes us to either Mustang Island or to Bob Hall Pier and National Seashore Federal Park beyond the light....Heavy, heavy traffic. Once, we pulled off on the shoulder to take a photo of a hawk [and nest - saved photos for my bird photo blog] about 1/4 mile off the road, and it took several minutes for the traffic to clear out so we could once again pull out and continue on our merry way.

It was a hot, sultry, hazy morning. After birding, we were not wanting to go back home just yet, so after our turn at the traffic light/intersection that allowed us to go ahead, we pulled left toward the Pier and the National Seashore Park. Once on that highway, heading south, we tried to decide either to pay the day's fee to enter the park, or go to Bob Hall.   No matter which we chose, we were sure to run into a crowd since it was afterall, a Sunday.  We flipped a U turn and headed into the Access Road, toward the Gulf and the beaches. Here, there is a very popular area that has a long fishing pier, several buildings on the dune side and on the beach side, a restaurant. After parking the car, Bud needed to 'use the facilities' while I began walking along the shore where most of the populace congregated.

Families everywhere, couples swimming and enjoying the shore walks/playing volleyball, etc....people using their surf boards on the 'high' waves. I put the word HIGH in quotation marks 'cause I always have to laugh inwardly while they're out on the waves thinking their surfing when all the time I say to myself, "I've seen more wave action in a toilet"! These people who live here have no idea what surfing is!! We've seen surf off the islands of Hawai'i... They should go to Hawai'i to see some real surf [link]!!



...after getting my feet full of sand and seaweed, I suggested we go into the bar and grill for a 'cool one'. Bud and I split an order of fries and beef/pepper/cheese grilled sandwich [a Philly]. He ordered his Shiner and I had a diet Sprite. We dined in the outdoor patio area while watching the gulf and fishermen. I watched a table of four college age 'kids' drinking something I'd not heard of before. A "Dosarita"...which is a margarita with a Dos Equis [imported Mexican beer]. They'd sip through the straw the margarita, then lift the bottle of beer up a bit to let some of the liquid drain back into the margarita mix. They were enjoying the time together, but my goodness...and they had more than one each!! Hope they could make it home safely after drinking that stuff!!!



The weather changed abruptly, most all left the water, returning to the covered picnic tables along the beach area, and we figured we'd better head home before the causeway got dangerous for driving with the pending threatening rain clouds...

...this is a photo of Oso Bay Bridge, the last bit of highway coming off the islands heading back to the city - not the causeway that is quite high off the Channel, and if winds are strong, the vehicles are challenged for steady traction.


...I was longing for some sunshine. This week it's been spotty, here and there the clouds have broken. On Tuesday, a beautiful day. Bud stayed home and did yard work, while I played 'bum'. I went to a park to spot any birds...not much now that migration here in the coast is nearly nil. I spotted a lone sparrow bathing in the creek's run-off water pooling. After walking in the park about an hour, I hopped back in the car and headed to another 'hot spot' for birds...the cemetery. Nothing going on there, so I walked some and headed toward the war memorial park of the cemetery. And for years I've been trying to find the section of the cemetery for the 'unknown' lives taken too early in the 1919 hurricane that destroyed a huge portion of Corpus Christi area.... identified bodies were eventually moved from the make shift grave site ON the Portland side of the Bay to surrounding cemeteries....but, I found the dedication memorial plaque! Finally!! Personally, I wasn't impressed with this at all...it should be much more beautified with a surrounding flower garden & shrubbery!! But, that is my opinion.

The war memorial section of the grave yard, I will save those photos for a post closer to the day of Remembrance this month.

Okay, since it was still early in the afternoon, and I just didn't feel like doing any work at home, I got back in the car and headed over the Harbor Bridge to Indian Point Park. I walked a bit before it got too hot and humid, seeing very little wildlife, I headed back home, stopping for a roasted chicken and fixin's for our dinner from the local grocer's deli.

Oh, and one more thing...I DID SEE SOME BLUE IN THE SKY!!!

§ ...Oh What a Ratly Feast....

Grassy fields Forever!!  [Calallen, Texas]


There is an elderly woman in Port Aransas, that each morning during Spring Migration, she dons her wading boots and opens the back of her SUV to grab a large bag of orange halves! She then wades out in the pond where she has strategically placed nails in boards....propping the orange halves for the birds. But, on this particular day, there was another kind of critter waiting for hand-outs!! When I saw it in the back corner, nearest the fence line, I thought of Templeton the Rat from the animated movie, "CHARLOTTE'S WEB".

A fair is a veritable smorgasbord orgasbord orgasbord
After the crowds have ceased
Each night when the lights go out
It can be found on the ground all around
Oh, what a ratly feast!

Melon rinds and bits of hot dogs
Cookie crumbs and rotten cotton candy
Melted ice cream, mustard drippings
Moldy goodies everywhere

Lots of popcorn, apple cores Banana peels and soggy sandwiches
And gobs of gorgeous gook to gobble at the fair
A fair is a veritable smorgasbord orgasbord orgasbord
After the gates are shut
Each night when the lights go out
It can be found on the ground all around
That's where a rat can glut, glut, glut, glut!

"Templeton"  [Port Aransas, Texas]



...more fences? You got it!!


Inca Dove [NORTH Padre Island, Texas]


Male Northern Cardinal on a Fence Post [Bazemore Park]

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Sadly, this past weekend, our city's police chief was killed by a 16 yr. old driver on the island highway. The driver cut out into the lane of traffic, a truck swerved to avoid collision, and the motorcycle driver behind the truck was the police chief.

Someone asked me how to add the meme buttons on Blogger's sidebar. Easy. Just go into Blogger's Layout, click on "Add a Gadget"...when that opens, just copy and paste the coding provided by the meme's owner!! Save!! But, to add them in each post, always being the same buttons, it's a bit more complicated....you must be proficient in html and be savvy in how to open and edit the template by choosing customize....it would take a whole blog post and a lot of time to explain it step by step.

On May 11th, Bud and I will celebrate 47 years of marriage!! On May 12th, our oldest grandson will be 26! Then, on May 19th, Erik, my son will be 43...my how time goes by so quickly.

Our two movies this week were "Nebraska" starring Bruce Dern and an oldie but still a classic in its own right....E T

For the last couple of days, my sister in Colorado texted me about her area getting nice, soft, gentle rains. Ironically, with all the flooding we had a few weeks prior, the grounds around here are beginning to crack already...seriously, we need Colorado's soft, gentle rains. Speaking of rains....a tropical storm forming in the Atlantic...already?

[if the image doesn't show...scroll down on my blog to Hurricane Link]

§ Creating Collages...

My photo albums are chock full of miscellaneous images these days, so I thought before I clean out the folders, and delete some pics, I'd make a few collages...

-brown pelican, yellow aloe vera, black bellied whistling ducks, terns, thistle blossom, turtle and peruvian water lily.


Seawall fisherman, moon, red salvia plant, botanical bog, sunshine, shrimp boat


windmill, amaryllis, shrimper, green anole, alligator, restaurant marquee, flag, yard art spinner

bird nest, bird feeders of the 'literal' kind, yellow wildflower, Charlies Pasture Pavilion, collared dove, tour boat, snowy egret & friend [dowitcher]

Now, to change from collages to random thoughts...

...When I was talking with Erik as he drove from teaching class to his daily stop...Starbucks, we were conversing about the upcoming movies, some of which will no doubt be mega-hits.  With the likes of Jurrasic Park IV, the Avengers...and then in the month of December, my highly anticipated movie:  Star Wars The Force Awakens [at least that is what's it's dubbed for now...who knows if it'll change before release date].  Okay, I knew this already, but ya'll don't so I'll share.  Erik does his opening speech with each new semester and new students with a quote from Empire Strikes Back.  For the both of us, it's an all time favorite, which by the way, we preach like gospel...and it goes like this: Do or do not. There is no try.

...I have been a bit disappointed in season 12 of NCIS ['nough said]

...With my mentioning of tornado warnings around the nearby counties here in Texas, Irene experienced a tornado!!  Where she works...the roof was damaged and a storage building was demolished.  No injuries.

...Which word, if pronounced wrong, is right?

a palindrome is a word, phrase, verse, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward. The question:

...What word becomes a palindrome when viewed upside down and backwards?

§ Reflections of Springtime in Texas!

Awwwwww, Spring! Nothing could be finer. Well, maybe Autumn. But that is a close 2nd when it comes to welcoming the newness and awakening of a new, fresh season. The deep blue skies, the new births everywhere...be they animals or crops 'springing' up in the rich, black soil around here. The cotton plants are nearly 6 inches in height already in the fields!! Or maybe some newly hatched chicks or the bird life all around busying themselves; building new homes. It's such a glorious time of year. On our short daytime excursions here and there, I am seeing all kinds of 'new' delights that refreshes and brightens my day. I went 'shopping' for photo opportunities from fences, macros, beautiful Spring skies with a threat of Spring rains or a deep indigo with happy clouds, Spring colors of yellow and green. Oh and anything newborn. I found all I was shopping for and share. Wanna come along?...

Reflection of a Snowy Egret

A beautiful sky!

A couple of NEWBORNS

"Auntie Santa Gertrudis and Nephew Calf"  Her calf is hidden behind Nephew

Mama & Baby Girl

Closeup of Redhead Ducks & a Blue Winged Teal

Pond from Rainwater

Prairie Wildflowers

Multiple Fencing

Ranch & Fencing...Pond & Northern Shoveler Ducks in Flight

...and we didn't have to leave home to find more Springtime Goodies. In fact, in our own back yard. Coming to a post soon...

JUST SOME RANDOMS:

ONE: “And the Spring arose on the garden fair,

Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;

And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast

Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.”

― Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Complete Poems

TWO: If you have Windows 8 version...or later [I think there is a Windows 8.1] and you like the program but detest the "Charms Bar" when you move your mouse over to the far right side of your window monitor...I finally figured out a "fix" to rid myself of the annoyance. LOL

Here's how:

Right click on the taskbar [the active bar that is at the bottom of your window...the bar that has the date, time, volume, etc ---

Find Properties. Click on Properties. When that opens, click on the "Navigation" Tab. You'll then read "Corner Navigation". Scroll down just below 'corner navigation' and check the radio button "When I point to the upper right hand corner, show me the Charms Bar." Once that is checked, click "Apply" and then "Okay". Done. Simple. And no need to mess with the registry!!!

No more charms sliding in if you move your mouse around. Except when you WANT it...clicking on the upper right hand corner of your monitor.

THREE: My recent read is entitled Holy Fools; of which I'm about half way through. Written by Joanne Harris who also wrote a good story and made into a movie:  "Chocolat". Her words flow so easily and the storyline is light with a bit of mystery and charm of a world between a carnival act, a love affair, and a gal who bore a child out of wedlock to end up hiding out in an abbey in the 1600s. All the twist and turns in her young adulthood and the man she once adored comes to life with a longing to not put the book down so the pages keep turning. For her, and the leading man, it's a love/hate relationship that, for now, reveals much turmoil and high emotions.

FOUR: Wednesday last I had a follow-up appointment with my cardiologist. I will schedule an appointment with the ER surgeon in three months following my doctor's request/suggestion. The EKG performed this past week showed well. There have been no complications and I feel good. Exercise is still limited, travel should continue to be short trips...no flights for now. But, after the 3 month visit I should get a 'go ahead' with life as normal as possible....if all goes as well as this past month.

FIVE: Soon, the sound of the cracking!! Contact between the ball from the pitcher's mound to the home plate!! Baseball season. I love baseball.