Why call a tree surgeon?

We had a very, very fast storm come through with horrendous winds this afternoon.  Probably lasted all of 15 minutes.   Don't know how much water was dumped as we never put up any of our myriad of rain gauges. 

Backtrack a bit, we have some very, VERY large trees very close to the house.   One of them, a gnarly elm, had died this year.  We've been kicking around cutting it ourselves (bad idea), calling on a friend who has a lawn service (slightly better idea) or calling a professional tree service (probably best idea).  Of course cost is the all important factor.  

Fast forward to the storm.  Heard something on the roof, (I was on the lower level), and  went outside after the rain passed.   Found that said tree is pruning itself!  The first picture shows the proximity to the house.  In the second picture I tried to show the size of the tree, and the size of the branch.  Now I'm trying to figure out..."if any other branches break off, will they fall straight down or hit the house?  Or was this a wake-up call to GET THAT TREE SERVICE NOW!!!

 The tree on the other side of the house, just as close, is a much taller oak!!!  What about it's branches?   I think I'll go back to reading my book.

Biting the hand that feeds you...

You may know, or not, that we keep various reptiles at our farm.  Some are ones we caught/bought/wanted and care for.  Others are "rescues" which means they're from people who didn't want to take care of them, couldn't take care of them, wouldn't take care of them.  We care for them too.

We currently have 3 alligators of various sizes.  The smallest one is about 18 inches long.  When we got him he would "chirp", as baby alligators do, to gain the attention of their mother when they feel threatened.   I don't think he's grown that much, but he doesn't chirp any more, and he's copped an attitude since he's in an outdoor pen, and enjoying the natural sunlight, and any food that falls into his enclosure (e.g. grasshoppers.)  We also supplement his feed with small mice or chicken parts.

The significant other decided to feed him by hand the other day.  Those little devils have very sharp teeth, but then we always think we're smarter and quicker than the baby...

Obviously this is not/was not the case!!!  This was taken on Day 2, after the bandage was removed...

To Shower or Not To Shower

Okay, I'm hot and sweaty, from just coming in after mowing the lawn, with my PUSH mower, in 90 degree heat, but...Steve Wilkos is almost on.  I love to see people who are worse off, or maybe not, than I am.  Rather a voyeuristic attitude.   I guess since my own life seems so mundane, I enjoy other peoples' dramas.   I still wonder though, if some of these aren't staged.  I mean, how can you get on a plane from Nowheresville, to Connecticutt, to be on the Steve Wilkos show and not think something is afoot!   But then given the apparent mentality of the guests, this would be a stretch.  Everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame, no matter how they come by it.  Their name in lights, that's the ticket.  

Well...it's too boring, and predictable, so I showered during a commercial.  Nothing missed.  Of course this program is followed, on another channel, by Judge Joe Brown.  More drama.  I guess these shows are taking place of soap operas.  I think I need a job, before I find the only conversation I can have is with other people who have been watching these shows, and can commiserate on the guests.  EEEEKKKKK!!!

Not as easy as it looks...

I'm taking a writing class.  The instructor said a good way to get your work "seen" was to have a blog.  I have a blog.  Now what???!!!

Actually, I had thought about a blog for years.  But, being computer illiterate (and I still am), I didn't get one started until Google practically did it for me!  That's probably a bit of an untruth.  I typed in the word "blog" in their search engine, and the rest is history.  They held my hand, albeit it through the written word and very easy instructions, from beginning to end.

Now I guess all I have to do is figure out how to help people find it!

I tried Facebook, but they confused me.  They're not as "friendly" as Google, when it comes to making/adding a blog, to your profile, etc.

Actually the reason I started the blog was because I was laid off from my job.  Unemployment can be a motivating factor.  I thought once I got started, I'd write a post every day.  Obviously that's not happening either.   I was going to go on and on about unemployment, but there are many of us with that problem, and the news is not good, and it's hard to keep beating a dead horse.

I'm still trying to figure out a  common theme that I can intertwine through my writing.  I'll probably end up just bitching about everything, kinda like Andy Rooney.  And Andy, or anyone from CBS, if you happen to read this-when that old curmudgeon leaves 60 minutes, I'm available!

Until then, I'm going to try to write more, here or somewhere...