Wu Xia rodent afternoon

Lying low in the grass, sneaking up on the unsuspecting garden (Top)

Working the perimeter (Second from top)

Nuts! Finding no way in after a complete perimeter check (third)

Dash from the cold frame to check the garden shed, just in case (fourth)

Mad dash back to the safety of the raspberry patch (fifth)

Twin brother is more daring, sits out in the open (next to last)

But even twin's bravado wanes as he turns and bolts, with mother resting in the shade. (last)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Father doesn't appear in these photos, but trust me, he's there. No wonder I have little left in the garden!

  8:03:53 PM    comment []

$

 

Vacation ahead: post remotely or shutter?

 

This is less a question about taking a break for a couple of weeks than it is about doing remote posting.

 

Has anyone else using Radio Userland tried posting from a computer other than their own?

 

I’d like to give this a shot, but I don’t know if I really want to be a trailblazer!

 

If you have any feedback on this, I’d appreciate it!

 

  1:04:34 PM    comment []

+

 

Restlessness spreading

 

Benton Harbor here in Michigan is a smallish, sleepy town; the surrounding area north and south along the Lake Michigan coast is better known as a vacation spot for folks from Chicago.  It’s all the way across the state from Detroit, almost like living in another state or country in its difference from Detroit.

 

What in the hell is going on that this little burg has erupted into violence?  Okay, allegations of police brutality might easily inflame people into demanding resignations at the local town meeting, but rioting?  Beating of civilians?  CNN reporting on the front splash page?

 

It’s not a place where one would think to find a Rodney King-type incident and ensuing rioting.  In this case, it’s alleged a local cop chased a motorcyclist at high speeds until the cyclist lost control and crashed into a house.  Sure, the cop was not prudent chasing this guy – but violence and rioting in protest??  Have race relations hit another speed bump?

 

And is there any correlation at all with the timing of Bush's announcement yesterday about racial profiling?

 

There’s something else going on here.  I’m beginning to wonder if like the Rodney King incident, this isn’t a bellweather of things to come.  The riots in LA took place in 1991, while President Bush Senior was in office.

 

Hmmm.

 

  8:07:06 AM    comment []

}

 

Avoiding the subject

 

We’re driving home last night after looking at houses and having dinner.  The evening is warm and quiet; lawn sprinklers are running here and there, a sure sign that the over-long spring has finally ended.  The light in the sky is reaching that singular golden ripeness presaging dusk.

 

Interjecting into a conversational lull, Hubby says, I can’t watch the news any more.

 

Yeah, I know, it’s all bad these days, I reply.  I know that my reasons for saying this are not exactly what’s on his mind, but then, I do know what’s on his mind.

 

There are snipers now in Iraq, he says.  His jaw tightens, lips purse.

 

So I saw on the news.  I can’t add anything here.

 

I do know exactly what’s on his mind.

 

We’re nearly home.  Our daughter wiggles impatiently in the back seat, wanting to get to her bicycle and ride off her restlessness.

 

If only it was that easy.

 

  7:41:57 AM    comment []