This is the picture I meant to post

Pete on Letterman

Apparently David Letterman also just read Dishwasher. My apologies to Pete - the TV I watched this on stretches people out a bit. Pete did a great job on television. He was funny and he even told people to turn off their TVs - Pete does not watch TV.

Practice Run

This truck/trailer combo seemed big until we parked it next to the big boys.
Luke and I drove this thing from Albuquerque to Chicago over the weekend. Next weekend we are driving a similar but smaller truck to Boise. See you there.

Tomorrow I am giving my computer back to the institution that owns it. I’ll get a new one in about a month from another institution, so I’ll be blogging with a typewriter like in the olden days.

New Residence

One of these is my new home in Boise. Next time your in Boise stop by.

Boise

Boise is pronounced with a hard 's,' as in Boy C. This is what I saw more than anything else during my four days in Boise - it's called "Rufus."

Waukegan

Today I went for a walk and found half a muskrat, (I don't recommend opening that link), a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a Yellow Warbler, an Indigo Bunting, a Common Yellowthroat and a bunch of large, orange and black wasps digging holes.
It is safe to click on the other links. I can only take responsibility for one of the photos but unfortunately it is the first and grossest link.

Winner

Wow, you really went the extra mile, Matthew L. Warren of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Scientific Discovery

While walking along the Illinois River this morning, I heard a grunting noise. The grunting noise was coming from some logs and boards in the river. I decided to investigate. At first I thought the boards and logs rubbing against each other caused the sound. Upon closer inspection I discovered the source of the sound: carp sucking (eating algae?) or chewing the underside of the wood. I have included photographic evidence of my findings. Unfortunately, I did not bring my fancy recording device so I cannot offer audible evidence.
In the bottom photograph the carp is upside down so it can mouth the wood.

Shortcake

Dessert, breakfast and dinner in that order.

Sadler Drawing Contest

Well, the cicadas are dead and with them goes the Cicada Drawing Contest. Congratulations to all who won. For those of you itching to make a drawing I offer this challenge: draw me.

Bird ID

Can someone tell me what species these swans are?

Uh oh.

This is the view from the cabin of the smoke from the Angora Fire.

Winner

Brittany G., age unknown, from Jamaica Plain, MA sent this beautiful pen and ink on brown paper drawing of a recently emerged cicada.

Yesterday

About 5 hours ago I walked out to put my laundry in the washer (which is in the next room down the hall). I turned the machine on then quickly jogged back to the studio for the detergent but was stopped at the locked door. Without hope, I searched my pockets for my keys. My lack of hope paid off - no keys. *So my laundry was being washed without soap. I was in my swim trunks with no way back into the studio. I decided to search for my pals who had recently gone to the beach. Then I remembered that Chicago has miles of beach and I did not where the friends were. So I went to a bookstore but was in no mood to look at books. I went home, this time with hope, to see if anyone was home yet. Nope. So I went to the Italian deli to have a sandwich but they had just run out of bread. So I went to a café and ordered a chicken curry sandwich but they had just run out of chicken curry. I had a tuna sandwich. Then I read a book (It’s Not About the Bike) I found on the shelf at the café. After a while I went home but still couldn’t get in. So I went back to the café and read more of the book. The guy in the book had cancer but went on to be a great bike racer.
My pals were back from the beach on my next trip home.


*I borrowed soap from my friendly neighbor so the laundry was washed.

For the most part the cicadas have been out in the suburbs but today I saw and heard some in downtown Chicago.

Jeffery Pine

Where I come from smelling these trees is a favorite pass time. They smell delicious.

Here is a chorus of cicadas with an individual chiming in periodically. This one seems to have more to say than the previous cicada, or at least there is more urgency to its message. There is also the sound of an airplane flying over. You don’t realize how many planes fly by until you try to record a singing insect.

Ask a Cicada

This is what a cicada sounds like if you talk to just one. Well, listen to just one. You can't really talk to cicadas. You could but it wouldn't get you anywhere, right?

It might take a while to load but after waiting 17 years for this particular cicada to emerge, it wont seem so long.

Photo: Jennifer Beeman

Another Winner

This lovely drawing was sent to me from Mark N. I do not know where he is from.