Critter Sightings at Oyster Shell Park

Lola and I visited Oyster Shell Park yesterday by way of Mathews Park. We often see groundhogs at Oyster Shell. Today on the lower loop where the path runs along a hill I saw a groundhog in his hole looking directly at us. I've never seen a groundhog straight on before. It was kind of cute. (Though not on the level of rabbits or beagles.)

A few minutes later on the upper trail, I saw this hawk.

I think it might be a Cooper's Hawk (immature) or maybe a Sharp-shinned Hawk (immature) or even a red shouldered hawk (also immature.)  I just don't know. It was beautiful.

I guess I feel the way about hawks that Cassandra Mortmain felt about owls. She loved them, but wished they were vegetarians. I hate to think of that hawk catching one of the cute bunnies at Oyster Shell.

I remember an afternoon at Taylor Farm. We saw a bird high in the sky with something in its talons. The something was screaming. It was haunting.

In happier nature sightings, here's a monarch butterfly along the Pollinator Pathway at Oyster Shell.

New Morning Routine?

I've had a busy two months of work--four classes and three tutoring students. Because of the work schedule combined with hot weather, I got into the habit of taking Lola out for her main walk early on weekdays. We'd take the two minute drive to Mathews Park and then walk on the NRVT to Oyster Shell Park.

I worked afternoons over the weekend and now I have two weeks off until my last ACT afternoon class on September 7. I have another tutoring student who may want to resume sessions, and if I get a new student, I'll be happy to start tutoring, but for now, I'm free.

I've started the past few mornings leisurely: drinking coffee, reading emails. I took Lola out for quick pees, but didn't get her out for long walks until 10-10:30. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I do like to get Lola's long walk out of the way first. Tomorrow it may rain in the afternoon or evening, so it's a good opportunity to get Lola out early and get back on that routine.

I may not have classes or tutoring appointments, but I have lots to do, and I might as well get started early.

Women's Equality Day

That's the designation for today--Women's Equality Day is August 26th--the day women in the United States were granted the constitutional right to vote.

Unfortunately gaining the vote was not enough to guarantee equal rights for women. But gaining suffrage was a huge step, requiring a lot of work and sacrifices. I will always vote to honor the suffragists.

Book 16: The Nine Days Queen by Mary Luke

A Portrait of Lady Jane Grey.

This book was one of my book sale purchases from last year. Jane was the granddaughter of Mary Tudor (sister of Henry VIII) and Charles Brandon (one of the King's best friends.)  Despite her status and royal blood, she didn't have an easy life. Her parents were horrible to her because she wasn't a boy, and she preferred books and learning to riding and hunting.

The dying teen-aged King Edward VI named his cousin Jane as his successor, rather than his Catholic half sister Mary. Jane didn't want to be queen, but was bullied by her parents and father-in-law John Dudley the Duke of Northumberland. Jane was a staunch Protestant and did not welcome a Catholic sovereign any more than Edward.

Jane's supporters soon deserted her and proclaimed Mary the Queen. Jane was a virtual prisoner in the Tower where she had originally gone to prepare for her coronation.

Jane waited for Mary to release her from the Tower. Unfortunately, her father Henry Grey joined the rebellion of Thomas Wyatt the Younger. Mary ordered the execution of Jane and her husband Guildford Dudley.

A tragic end to a sad life.

Changing the Billboards

Lola and I often go to Mathews Park in the morning and then take the Norwalk River Valley Trail to Oyster Shell Park.  One day last week we saw a truck along the trail; workers were up on one of the billboards. Later I saw the new billboard: Norwalk Hospital is now part of Nuvance Health.

I didn't know what that meant--besides another consolidation--but it got me thinking about Leave it to Beaver--of all things. I remembered an episode in which Beaver and a friend saw steam coming from a billboard advertising soup. Beaver said there was real soup in the bowl on the billboard, but his friend said no. I remember Beaver's friends were Gilbert and Whitey. (Beaver's brother Wally's friends were Eddie and Lumpy.) Going to IMDB, I see that my memory was pretty good. 

More recently, there was a Simpsons episode that featured a billboard. The episode led to a memorable version of "Kids" and a curfew imposed by senior citizens. The episode didn't make it to the list of my favorite episodes, but it had its moments.

I also remember a movie Good Neighbor Sam that involved billboards. My sister recommended it  to me. Reading IMDB comments, I see there is some offensive domestic violence dialogue in the movie. I don't remember that, but I haven't seen the movie in a long time. I remember a farce with a crazy driving scene, and a late night billboard defacing trip.

By the way, I did see Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, but I'm focused on comedies here. Three Billboards could be another post.

Birthday

Today is my mother's birthday; she would have been 93. I've been thinking a lot about her today. The last six months of her life were hard for her. Frankly, they were hard for me too.

We had a complicated relationship. When I was younger, I had an idealized view of her. Later I saw her flaws. In recent years she hurt me deeply, and it strained our relationship. I doubt she even noticed.

But I was there when she needed me (for the most part.)

I don't miss my mother of her last six months. But it would be nice to talk to the woman she used to be.

Class Dismissed

I've taught three classes this summer and am just over halfway through a fourth. In the past, I've never taught more than two courses per summer.  Ironically we offer fewer courses now, but I guess we also have fewer teachers.

My second SAT course was challenging in many ways. I regret that I didn't do a good job with that class. At this point, I can only do better on future classes.

I'm going to take a hiatus from teaching. Mainly because the next class offerings will interfere with vacation plans. Jeff and I have a destination wedding for our niece in upstate New York next month. We've decided to take the days off between our anniversary and the wedding and explore. We may combine the trip with a visit to Interlaken Inn. We received gift certificates for Christmas. 

Now that we're about a month away, we can start planning, but not too much. Many of  the best times we've enjoyed on vacation have been the unexpected or spontaneous stops.

We can use a getaway.

LGM and a Special DPF

Mets win their eighth straight, the fifteenth of their last 16 games. The Mets are now only a half game behind the Washington Nationals in the NL East and the Wild Card. 

I wasn't happy with Mickey Callaway's decision to start Wilson Ramos instead of Tomas Nido with Noah Syndergaard pitching, but it worked. Everyone is contributing; a different look each night.

The Mets now have guaranteed a series win against a contender. This weekend they're not just beating up on the bad teams.

Let's Go Mets!

***

The weather was beautiful for last night's Dog Park Friday.  We had a relatively small group of seven people and five dogs. Last night was the debut of a five-month puppy Ellis and her human Nick. 

Ellis sparked things with her puppy energy. We let Lola semi-loose on a bright orange long leash. Ellis was intrigued and kept trying to nibble the leash. Poor Lola would suddenly be yanked around despite Nick's efforts. Later Indy was intrigued by a toy that Ellis had. Chris had never seen her play so much before. 

Ellis and Katie had the most fun, chasing each other around. Lola even joined in. That made us happy. Lola loves to sniff on walks, nibble some stuffed animals, and may take a sock or two from us, but she's never been interested in chasing a ball. We've only seen her run with other dogs two or three times. Jeff thinks she gets intimidated by bigger dogs: Katie and Ellis are about her size. It was fun to watch the three of them. I hope that the inspiration of Ellis will continue. 

Teaching Trials and Tribulations

I had a bad day today.  At first I got discombobulated by a change in room assignment for my SAT class. Several students wandered in late, and they sat in different seats than yesterday. There are 19 students. While I had learned most of their names, I was a bit confused. I asked them to give me their names again.

The class runs Monday through Thursdays afternoons with one Saturday morning test. Most people in the class speak softly even though I told them I was having trouble hearing them. They don't seem all that interested in the material. I'm not sure if they're tired or bored. I messed up explaining a few problems. As I said, a bad day.

Sigh.

I'm also teaching a weekend class--Saturday and Sunday afternoons through September 7th with a break for Labor Day weekend. This class has only four students, and two didn't show for the first class. I hope all will show for the second class this Saturday.

Then there's tutoring. I've been able to schedule my active tutoring students around the classes without too much trouble. Some days, however, the logistics get challenging.

And so it goes.

Are the Mets for Real?

It's not easy being a Mets fan. The highs don't last for long; the lows seem to extend forever.

I didn't become a baseball fan until the mid-80's. I watched a few Yankees--Dodgers World Series games in the last 70's, but I didn't really start watching baseball until 1986--the Mets' dream season. I had no idea how special it was to be 20 games up on the competition. Some would say I jumped on the winner's bandwagon, but I stayed on the wagon during the lean years.

2019 has been another rough year for the Mets. My last good news Mets post was Opening Day. Sigh.

Now things are looking up. Since the All-Star Break, the Mets have been 16-6, including a seven game winning streak. They clawed their way back to .500 by winning the first game of today's doubleheader.

As I write this, the Marlins are leading the Mets 4-2. Our .500 record may not last for long. Our next opponents are the Nationals and the Braves. This will be crucial. I look to find a reason to believe.

Books 12 through 15

After reading On Writing by Stephen King, I wanted something different. I returned to Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child for The Helen Trilogy: Fever Dream, Cold Vengeance, and Two Graves. I've been reading paperback versions of the Preston and Child books (long after their original publication) and they have a chapter preview of the next book.

I knew that the next book after Cemetery Dance was about Pendergast's wife's murder. I had questions: would I care about a character I hadn't met before? Would the wife's death just be a motivation for Pendergast?

I should have known that Preston and Child wouldn't disappoint. Each book was fascinating and took us deeper into the mystery of Helen and Nazis. I love when Nazis are defeated. Whoops--spoiler alert.

The Children of Henry VIII by Alison Weir. I've read a few Tudor books by Alison Weir: some of the material in this book was also covered in Weir's Innocent Traitor novel. This book reinforced my hatred of the Seymours. It pains me to say that Jane wasn't so bad (except that she replaced my beloved Anne Boleyn) but her brothers sucked. Greedy and power-hungry, they were both executed during the reign of Edward VI.

For the past week or so, I've been catching up with magazines. I think I'll stay with the Tudors for my next book, a biography of Lady Jane Grey.