Taxidermist

Running:

Today I ran my normal 5 mile route again during my lunch break. Today was a bit faster than yesterday as I ran it in 39:43. Some people are bored running the same routes, but not me. I don't mind running the same ground. I like being able to compare one run to the next. I try running the route differently based on how I feel. Some days as an example I might run the first 3.1 miles as a time trial. This run during mile 4 is probably 3/4 up hill and contains a fairly significant hill during it. The biggest hill is probably two blocks long, but about a 45 degree incline. Today I charged the hill cutting about a minute off yesterdays time for that mile. I've probably run about 1/3 of all my miles since 2004 along this route. I'll have to figure that out some time.

Hunting:

Today's thoughts are really a rant. The picture on the right side under the Hunting title was of a deer I shot in December 2006. I brought it to a taxidermist at that time who was recommended by a friend who I knew had some work done for him. The guy said not to expect to see it for at least one year. That didn't phase me and I kind of expected that. What I didn't expect is that over 2.5 years later I'm still waiting to see it. The last visit I paid to him was about 6 months ago. He said he would get it done before spring. Hello..... It's summer. I think it's time for another visit. The other deer picture is of one I got in November 2008. I found a taxidermist who is the husband of a woman I work with. I'll bet I get that deer back first.

Guess which guy I'll likely recommend if someone asks me in the future.

Gardening:

This morning while I was surveying the garden my thoughts turned to bugs. Every year since I've had a garden I've grown potato's. Every year I've had an issue with potato beetles.

These things are nasty and when left unchecked will totally destroy the foliage, which in turn will diminish or destroy the crop below ground. Usually these things appear almost as soon as the foliage appears out of the ground. This year for whatever reason I haven't seen a single one yet. The plants are as healthy as I've ever seen them. Now if the same thing will happen with the Japanese beetles later this year.... In future posts I'll put up pictures of a couple interesting critters I've found over the past couple years. I think you'll find them interesting.