I’ve mentioned before that Harriet likes to be covered while she sleeps. Occasionally, I’ll find her sleeping with her head tucked under a blanket or pillow. I really wonder about her sometimes.
Month: October 2006
More Belt of Venus
Two more views of the evening Belt of Venus. The first is looking North, and the second is facing East. The Belt of Venus is the pink band. The color comes from the sunset (or sunrise) opposite reflecting on the Earth’s atmosphere. Below the pink band is the blue band of the twilight arch. That’s the shadow of the Earth cast on the atmosphere.
On a clear evening or morning, if you have an unobstructed view the horizon on all sides, you can see that the pink belt stretches nearly the full 360 degree of the skyline, only fading away as it approaches the setting or rising sun. It is the most distinct, though, at the opposite horizon from the sun.
Laundry
Since I was awakened at an obscene-to-me hour this morning, I thought I’d do some laundry. I’d been taking it to the old place, and doing a couple of loads while I packed, cleaned, etc. Now that I’m done, done, done (hallelujah!) with all that, I no longer have laundry privileges.
So, I called the office bright and early to ask where the laundry facilities were located and was told there were machines in the basement next door to me. Excellent! I’ll have to go outside to get to the laundry room, but I won’t have to drive over to the maintained building/office/pool house, as I’d feared.
I ran to the bank to get quarters, then came home and sorted my laundry and took a load over to wash. I’m happy to report that there are two washers and two dryers, and that it all looks clean and well maintained.
Anyway, as I was screwing around, putting stuff in the machine, I smelled something burning, like a match that had just been put out. I looked around, and there was Milton, walking through the far doorway with two large pillar candles and a lighter in his hands. M’kaythen! After he went back upstairs, and I’d heard the front door close, I looked around in the wayback room he’d been in. There were a bunch of numbered doors, corresponding to the apartment numbers for that half of the building. Oh, hey! We have storage rooms!
I checked out my storage room, and it’s about 8′ x 8′. Not bad. Next time I’m in Owen County, I can pick up the mower I left at Ms. Lea’s house. I also have a bunch of junk–frames and wood and old paintings–that I can stash down there.
Now, what I want to know is, what on earth was Milton was doing, hanging out down there and burning candles in his storage room. Was he meditating in his oubliette?
Telemarketers
One thing I hadn’t fully appreciated the importance of, moving-wise, was the fallout of changing my phone number. Getting a new phone number is one of those minor pains in the arse. Or, at least, it ought to be a minor pain in the arse. What I had not accounted for was that I’d suddenly not be on the state and national Do Not Call lists. Ugh!
I have been inundated with calls from The Chicago Tribune, The Indianapolis Star, The Herald-Times, MCI, and some others I’ve forgotten. The aforementioned stand out for their persistence. MCI has been calling about every two hours since last Wednesday. The newspapers have each been calling a least twice a day. MCI is the one that’s about to shred my last nerve, though. They called at the crack of dawn this morning. I know Mondays are work days for most people, but it was my one day to sleep in this week, and I was exhausted and really needing to play catch-up. Assholes!
Of course, I re-signed up for both DNC lists, but they won’t go into effect until early next year. Hrmf. The only halfway positive thing I can say is thank God for caller ID. Even so, I’m about ready to turn the ringers off, just so I don’t have to deal with it. It certainly does not help that I think the telephone is one of the most loathsome inventions EVAR. Really. I friggin’ hate the telephone.
Trains & Belt of Venus
You can’t see them in this photo, but just beyond the tree line there are railroad tracks. I’m actually really happy about that. The tracks are close enough that I can hear the trains, but far enough that the sound isn’t overpowering. It’s not that I’m nuts about trains (I have a couple of coworkers who are, so I now know what train fanaticism looks like), but I find their presence comforting. It’s like when I was young, and I’d have bad dreams, and I’d wake up and wait for a car to drive by. Somehow, knowing that there were people awake and going about their business was comforting. Trains are sort of like that for me, now.
Bugs
Grasshopper
Skiff Moth Caterpillar (Prolimacodes badia)
It was brought to my attention last night that I have been neglecting my photo posting duties. Mea culpa! So here are a couple of my newest little friends. I haven’t identified the grasshopper, but I assume it’s a juvenile, due to the immature wings. She was ginormous (approximately 70-80mm)! On one of my last trips out to the old house, she was sitting on the step. I didn’t think she’d hang around long enough for me to run to the car for my camera, so I almost talked myself out of even trying to get a picture of her. I’m glad I did, though, because it came out pretty well.
The bottom image is of a Skiff Moth caterpillar. This little guy attached himself to the driver’s side mirror of a friend’s car, travelling with her from Owen county to Monroe county. We found him a nice shrubbery to hang out in, after taking his picture.
Oh Crispety Day
Do you know what’s beautiful? Waking up to find that Fall is well and truly here. It was 30F outside this morning when I got up. Inside, it was 70F, and I still haven’t turned on the heat. It’s weird to live in such a tightly insulated place after living in the equivalent of a big tent for the past five and a half years.
Nuc-u-lar Fish
Someone nuked fish in the staff lounge microwave. I think the stench may have made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. Really. It’s beyond foul.
red paper boat 