Change of Habits

I am a creature of habit.  One is that I tend to plan a kayak ride for later in the day.  I think this is because during the week, I go kayaking after work.  There has not been too much kayaking this year: the wind has been too strong, and the dust makes being outside uncomfortable.  But, I have had the chance to go.

I was thinking about kayaking later today.  But, I heard the weather report, and it send windy later today, with possible gusts up to 40 mph.  I decided to get out there and get it done.  I am glad I leave the kayak loaded for the most part during the summer.  It makes getting out to the lake quicker, one less thing to do to get there.  

I had a great ride around the lake.  Yesterday, I saw a sailboater loading up to go.  I would have enjoyed watching him on the water. Later in the day, I saw a fisherman launch a 2 person sit-on-top kayak.  Today, there was a john boat out, and the occupant was obviously fishing.  It is nice to get out.

I also enjoyed the birdwatching both days.  Some different birds, some the same.  And of course, the turtles were sunning.

I am glad I am flexible enough to change my habits.

Brain Chatter and Calm

There is no TV, no music, no extraneous noise in the house right now.  I can hear the whirr of the ceiling fan, and the windows are open, so an occasional street noise floats in.  Sometimes, the quiet is so blessed, so heaven sent. I was sitting outside, but it was cool, and I decided to move in.  It would be pleasant outside, if I had to be there. I am just a cold woosey.

I am grateful for so many things:  I have good family and friends. I have a job I enjoy. I have a house in which to live, and transportation. I can pick my food choices, for the most part, without worry. I can pay my taxes.

I have plenty of activities which I enjoy: knitting, reading, being involved in NASW http://www.naswtx.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=25, and being on the board of Catholic Family Service, Inc http://www.cfslubbock.org/ .  I am a dues paying member of the Heritage Fiber Guild http://www.heritagefiberguild.org/ and the Llano Estacado Audubon Society http://www.leas.bizland.com/, although my involvement in both are minimal.   I take classes through the Osher Life Long Learning Institute at Texas Tech University http://www.depts.ttu.edu/outreach/   I try to attend the monthly meeting of the Barnes and Noble Mystery Book Club http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2364?subtype=detailList&month=&day=ANY&sat=10.

I enjoy following the sporting events at Texas Tech University http://www.texastech.com/, specifically the Lady Raiders Basketball team, and I follow the football team. I had tried to follow softball, but that did not work for me.  Maybe, with the new coach, I should try again.

I am still and always will be a Red Sox fan http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bos&tcid=mm_nyy_sitelist and a Yankee fan http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=nyy&tcid=mm_mlb_sitelist.  I rarely watch the NBA games, simply because I am only a Celtics fan http://www.nba.com/celtics/ f and their games are rarely shown in this TV market. I have been a long time NASCAR fan http://www.nascar.com/.  This is an endearing and enduring gift from Lisenby, for which I am so thankful.

I am sure there is more that life could offer. Yet, I am so blessed with everything I have.  Thank you to my family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances for your contribution to my life.

Happy 75th Anniversary

Today, I went with friends to the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge http://www.fws.gov/southwest/REFUGES/texas/muleshoe/index.html, which was holding a 75th anniversary celebration.  We were given a gift bag, heard historical presentations, took a van tour of the facility, and stayed to watch the Sandhill Crane fly in for the night.  Part of the history of the refuge is that it was the first one established in Texas.  Also, the work establishing the facility was part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) of the Franklin Roosevelt era.

I have been out to the refuge several times before, at various times of the year.  I am impressed at the work they do.  I love looking out over the plains, seeing the sunset, watching the Sandhill Crane fly in.  I love the wide open spaces of West Texas.

It was a long day, but a very relaxing day for me... I am grateful to my friends for inviting me to be with them.

Fly Over

Autumn in West Texas is really fine.  The temperatures during the day are generally mild, with bright sun and clear crisp skies more often than not.  Lubbock is on a migration fly way, and there are lots of birds flying over head.  Particularly on the clear sky days, you can see and hear geese, and almost as often, hear, if not see, sandhill crane. 

When sandhill crane are migrating, they fly very high.  Their call is a very loud trilling sound. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/videos. To see them is sometimes difficult. As they fly, sometimes they circle, and when they do, their aspect changes.  Sometimes as this occurs, they seem to disappear, and then reappear.  It is a magical display to see.

I love the geese and crane flyovers.  They are just breathtaking to see, and lift my heart.

Capulin Volcano National Monument

I think I have previously written about the Capulin Volcano National Monument http://www.nps.gov/cavo/. If not, this is the story:  last spring, visiting with some acquaintances, one mentioned the volcano...  I was all ears: I have lived in West Texas for 33 years, and never heard about this monument, about 6 hours or less from home.  I knew I had to see it... I decided to wait for the fall, and having done so, made the trip this weekend.  I planned a three day weekend, which I probably did not need.  Technically, I could have arisen early, driven to the volcano, toured it, and driven home... But I was ready for a trip out of town, to someplace I have not been before.

The volcano was neat:  I toured the very small visitor's center, and watched the video.  I drove up to the rim. Although I have had some hip problems lately, I put on my good hiking boots, and took the trip down to the crater.  Then, I hiked the rim trail, my trusty hiking stick in hand.  It really helped.  I went a ways into the lava flow trail, but lost the trail, so was able to just turn around and go back... The hiking tired me out, so a drive home would not be very sensible.

It was a good day: it was warm, but there were some clouds in the sky... There was a storm visible in the distance, but the rain did not touch the mountain.  The wind and cooler air from the storm made the hike better.  I saw a ground squirrel, a lizard, some unidentified birds, and lots and lots of crows at the sight.

On the way, I saw lots and lots of hawks, for sure, red tailed hawks, Swainson's hawks, and, I think, at least one kestrel.

It was a good trip to the volcano.

Spectator Sports Heaven

It is the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, and it is a beautiful day...
I was able to go out kayaking and birdwatching this morning, and came home feeling energized:  I cooked lunch, and will be working off and on with the computer, and sitting outside, watching TV sports.  What a schedule:

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Chicago at Fenway at 1230 http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/scoreboard/index.jsp ... Football: Texas Tech http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/text-m-footbl-body.html vs. SMU at Lubbock at 1430, and NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing at Atlanta at 1830 tonight http://www.nascar.com/.  I can watch sports all day!  I will, but will also do other chores: cook dinner, laundry, read.  Unfortunately, the Red Sox game did not end before the Tech game began, but I can easily flip back and forth between both games.

Because the Yankees are contending for post season play, I believe I will see lots of baseball in the next few weeks. 

I will add, for a Bible Belt community, it might be seen as odd endorsing a non-religious, commercial event. Well, lots of sporting events occur on Sunday, in Lubbock. But for TV rights involving football, Bible Belt Christians can grants LOTS of dispensations.

Birdwatching

A coworker told me I should get into a more active sport than birdwatching, which is too sedentary.  He is older than me, and a runner.  Mmmm. His concept of birdwatching is interesting.  We spent two hours walking around the City of Lubbock Cemetery and did not sit down once.  Granted, birdwatching involved stop and start walking, and you are not covering distance, but you are on your feet. Not cardiac exercise, but good to do, anyway.

Passion

I used to be passionate about stuff, but find I am no longer passionate.  I used to be passionate about NASCAR, and about birdwatching.  Now I just enjoy them... casually. 

I do not know why I feel so little depth of emotion these days. But I have been like this for some time... I just can not get excited about much.

I love my cats dearly, and my family and friends, but just do not have much depth of interest in other things.  I still watch baseball, NASCAR, go birdwatching and kayaking.  I am reading a lot. I still like to knit, and have a crewel and cross stitch project, as well as a couple of knitting projects pending. 

But no passion.   Hmmmmmmmmm.

Birdwatching

I went birdwatching this morning, with the Llano Estacado Audubon Society (LEAS) http://www.leas.bizland.com/  Birding Birds.  The Birding Birds go out once a month, and are a group who just want to do some comfortable casual birding.  Names of attendees and siting information is kept, but is a very casual, relaxed group.

Passion or Blasé

I have noticed that in the last several years, I do not have emotional passion for many things that I have had emotional passion  for in the past...  No passion for bird watching, (http://www.leas.bizland.com/no): no passion for NASCAR ( http://www.nascar.com/ ):, no passion for Lady Raider Basketball  (http://www.texastech.com/sports/w-baskbl/text-w-baskbl-body.html.)

Dissecting this, am not sure about the birdwatching... I do know that some of the local birdwatching types have made me less interested in bird watching....

I absolutely know that I have a hole in my heart about NASCAR since Dale Earnhardt has died.. I try to be interested, but it is a struggle.  I want to be passionate about Dale Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Joey Lagono, but it is not the same.

The Texas Tech University Lady Raider basketball team has done so poorly, and performed not as a team for so long, that it is difficult to have passion for them.  I try to be, and want to be, a team player... I hope that happens...

I think it is hormonal.  I just do not have the emotional spikes I used to have.  Maybe, that is better than not.

Electronic birdwatching

Tonight was the monthly meeting of the Llano Estacado Audubon Society. We did electronic bird watching. There are computer programs that allow you to look at birds and help you to learn to identify them. They usually show different versions of the species, and have the option for bird calls.



The version we watched tonight allowed us to do a "quiz" to test our knowledge of birds that would typically be found on the South Plains. It was fun. There was some good teaching.


This is a good way to learn about birds and identifying them. And, it is amazing the tools that can be used to identify birds. In addition to their visual image and call, some people can identify some birds by flight patterns or other behaviors. Some people can identify them by nest and eggs. And, there was a book written called "What Bird Did That?" which is a study of bird poop!


I was told that bird watching is a sedentary sport. Well, it was tonight, but most bird watching I have done has involved copious walking...

Great Backyard Bird Count

I enjoy birdwatching although I do less of it than I used to... When I walked Mack every day, a friend and I began watching birds every day...Life changes...And I do not walk every day, Mack has been dead for 12 years...(it seems like yesterday), and I do not do much birdwatching.

So, an acquaintance called last week and asked me to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count.  A minimum of 15 minutes, anywhere, as many times a day as you want:  I did several times in my back yard.... It was neat:  I saw almost nothing, and I saw lots!  Hmmm.  

Llano Estacado Audubon Society this year is trying to have Lubbock be the most reported place in Texas...After I submitted my final report tonight, I checked the status, and Lubbock was on top. Great! That could change, reports are accepted until March 15... 

Get out and look at what is in your yard!