Words From Ben, On Regret

Mr. Meant-To, has a comrade,
and his name is Didn't-Do;
Have you ever chanced to meet them?
Did they ever call on you?

These two fellows live together
In the house of Never-Win,
And I'm told that it is haunted
By the ghost of Might-Have-Been.

Benjamin Franklin

Today Is My Birthday

Wow I am very excited to be a grand old 53 years young. I am glad to be here, and grateful to be as healthy as I am. I am blessed. I have known, I think, three other people who have shared my special day and one of them was actually born the same day as me. There is Theresa, (she is the same age as me), also an elderly neighbor,who passed a number of years ago, that I had growing up by the name of Esther, and a sweet girl from church who is about to become a mommy for the first time, by the name of Lucinda (Lucy).

If there were men or women who did not age or had discovered a way to cheat aging and death I would feel bad, but everyone ages. I am convinced that it is not how old you are that entitles you to respect or love; it is the way that you love and respect others. There seems to be point in the aging process that some reach, when an imaginary filter of civility wears out, and people become extra opinionated and crabby. If I ever get to the place where I feel like I no longer need to be polite and caring please let me know, and if I resist your help and insist being a grouch; just shoot me. I just don't want to be divisive or discouraging, at any point in my life.

I have had a number of relatives who have passed away prematurely; cousins and an aunt who have gone away to soon. I am glad to be here.

Happy Birthday to me.
I am only 53
I don't mean to be conceited
But I'm awesome, just ask me.
(sung to the tune of Happy Birthday)

Alrightnowyoutellme (8 reveal) The Muskrat

 Yes it is a Muskrat. The other guesses were good guesses; even the duck and platypus, both are water lovers. He is not really a true rat, but he is a rodent, he gets the name musk because of the scent glands that he uses to mark his territory with a "musky", rather smelly odor. Muskrats through history have played a vital role as food, and the fur is said to be warm. Indians and settlers used the muskrat pelt/fur for trading so that they would be able to purchase things.

The muskrat has a near relative that is larger and is an expert engineer; do you know who it is?

Muskrats love plants that grow in the water like reeds and cattails. They will also eat clams, crayfish and frogs, (no thank you I will have a salad); they will even eat dead fish. Muskrats are nocturnal, which means that they are most active at night,.


Here is a picture taken at the same pond but on a different day...maybe it is a mom or dad.

Babes

 
Or was that babies? Baby Robins; I found them while looking for something else. The mother built a nest in a lilac bush right next to our deck. Ugly? Cute? You decide. Won't be long and they will be back in the area. Just remember when you see a Robin it does not mean that spring has arrived, the rule of thumb is: "It will snow three times on the Robins tail, then Spring."

I will call it spring when I see them in my yard. Might only be 4 or 5 weeks until we hear the "cheery, cheery, cheery up" call outside the window.

"Enough already of winter, curse you little wooly caterpillar"

Discouraged In The Fog

Florence May Chadwick was a swimmer born in 1918, at age ten she began competing in swimming events, at age 11 she had her first rough water competition and placed 4th. At the age of 32 she swam the English Channel from England to France, a distance of 21 miles, setting a new world record by a woman. A year later she crossed again making her the first woman to swim the channel both directions setting yet another world record. Florence's first attempt to swim the channel lasted 13 hours 20 mins breaking the record set by American Gertrude Ederle; the second swim was made in 16 hours 22 mins.

In 1952 Florence May Chadwick was determined to swim the 26 miles between Catalina Island and the California coastline. She began the swim surrounded by small boats to keep an eye on her safety and to help her in case she need to be pulled out of the water due to exhaustion or injury. After about 15 hours in the water a thick fog set in so that Florence was unable to see anything in front of her. Florence's mother, and her trainer, in a nearby boat offered encouragement telling her that it was not much further; but all that Florence could see was the very thick fog. With only a half mile to go for the first time, Florence quit; it was not the fatigue or the cold it was the discouragement of not being able to see her goal. In spite of the encouragement that others offered she was not able to see the coastline and gave up hope.

Two months later she attempted the swim from Catalina Island to the California coastline for the second time. This time despite the same thick fog she accomplished the swim; this time she swam with the goal clearly pictured in her mind becoming the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel.

The message is to have a clear goal in your mind and never to quit.
Florence Chadwick

It's always to early to quit.
Norman Vincent Peale

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
The Bible (Proverbs 13:12) 


Even when there is not single shred of evidence for proof, keep moving forward.
Me...Mr. Toad

Alrightnowyoutellme (8)

Well as long as we seem to be a rodent sort of mood lets try another one. This photo was taken at Bluegill Bay Park in Wausau. It was a late morning walk and I heard this little rat splashing along the shore, it took me a minute but I found him and he did not seem too annoyed that I took his picture. I think this is a juvenile so it may not look exactly like it's adult parent. This is a very common water rat in Wisconsin.

A very popular "70s" group sang a song about this sort of love. (was that too obvious?) Tell me what you think.

He is sort of cute...for a rodent.

Alrightnowyoutellme (7 reveal) The Groundhogchuck

Yes it is a ground hog. It is also a woodchuck.
This picture was taken a few years ago on Rib Mountain (hill). It is not a gopher; which is actually a general term for small rodents. In the movie Caddyshack Bill Murray tries to get rid of a pesky gopher (and not a woodchuck/ground hog; my bad).

I was on top of the lookout tower one day and a family from (I think it was) Iowa, started climbing the tower and when the kids got up to the top they were in awe of the panoramic view. To us flat landers it is a mountain, but if you have been to the Rockies out west, or the Alps in Europe it looks more like a hill I suppose. It is a mountain to me; I have walked up the ski slope side of the hill and it will wear you out.

This woodchuck or groundhog is also called a land beaver, and a whistle pig, because of the whistling sound it makes if it senses danger. It is in fact a rather large rodent. Woodruff is hibernating right now, he sleeps the winter away in a cozy little den below the frost level underground. Woodruff will likely hibernate from October until March or April. Woodchucks can be found as far north as Alaska and into the southeastern U.S. in states like Alabama. With the understanding that in cold weather climates that a groundhog would be hibernating on February 2nd, I am not sure how the idea of Ground Hogs Day got started; here is Phil on Groundhogs Day of 2011; it is very funny to see it in action.

Caddyshack (Bill must love groundhogs and gophers)
C'mon this looks like a woodchuck...right??? I hate when I am wrong.

So there you have it, two nods to the Ground Hog for February.

Alrightnowyoutellme (7)

Alrightnowyoutellme; this is an easy one so this won't last long. This little guy has a couple of different names. "How much" do you know about this little guy from the "wood". We have affectionately named this little fella' Woodruff, he lives on top of Rib Mountain or Granite Peak in central Wisconsin.

One of these little guys was in a movie about a golf course back in 1980. Do you know which one?

Victorious Over Fear

In 1964 President Eisenhower went to visit Winston Churchill; Mr Churchill the former Prime Minister was dying. The former President Eisenhower sat next to the bed of the dying man for a long time remembering his fearless leadership. Great Britain's bold leader was never taken hostage by fear, even in the face of almost certain defeat by the German war machine. While lying on his bed Churchill laboriously managed to raise his hand and flash the victory symbol to Eisenhower, the same symbol that had given courage to his countrymen during the very difficult years of World War II; that symbol of victory was the sign of faith over fear. Eisenhower holding back tears rose to his feet stood at attention and saluted the former Prime Minister and left the room.

Life is full of difficulties but we do not have to be imprisoned by fear. Never give up, keep moving forward one step, one day, one trial, and ultimately one victory at a time.

When you walk to the edge of all the light you have, and take the first step into the darkness of the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen:

There will be something solid to stand upon, or you will be taught how to fly.

                                                             Patrick Overton, Author of "Rebuilding the Front Porch Of America"

You Are Here

When our kids were small we would take day-trips in our car and explore exotic places like Green Bay or Tomah. Once in awhile we would consult a map at a wayside or a gas station. To make things easier for the wayward traveler the wayside or gas station would mark the map with words and an arrow that said..."You Are Here". Which was a good thing because it gave you an opportunity to see the big picture; "wow I am quite far from where I started."

I live near a small city called Mosinee. The nice thing about Mosinee is that it has an airport, not a big one, but it does afford me the luxury of going anyplace in the world by air travel. Or if I prefer I can hop in my car and travel anyplace I want as long as I don't need to cross a large body of water, like an ocean. I am pretty certain that I could go to a gas station in Mosinee and find a map that says, "you are here." So it goes, anytime anyone wants to move ahead in their life they must start "here".

I have often wished that I could be somewhere else, at least for a while. I would love to visit Christchurch New Zealand some day, and if I ever do travel there, I will need to start from...here, to get there. Any steps to fulfilling a dream, begins...here. I wish I had more talent, was younger looking, had more money, did not have such a reputation for being...and our lists go on. If you want to move on with the rest of your life you must start...here, regardless of your situation. You cannot go 15 years back in time, you cannot change past mistakes or change the consequences of your present situations; you must begin...here.

I am not speaking of a geographical change of locations but rather a change in the ruts that you may find yourself in. Dream a little, pray big prayers, and step out into the unknown of your life you have played it safe too long; (I am speaking to myself right now).

"You must begin wherever you are"

Jack Boland...clergyman

"You are here and loitering is no longer allowed"

Frank...me

Pack up your talents and gifts and head off into the wild unknown where only the courageous thrive.

(me again)

It's Whats On the Inside That Matters

I came across this when I was looking for something else on my computer; I think it is good enough to pass along. You know each one of us is influenced by many different things, some good some bad. But the most important thing to remember is that each of us needs a relationship with Jesus.

Alrightnowyoutellme (6 reveal)

It is indeed a brown bat. It is brown and it is bat, so there you have it the ultimate revelation of the obvious. I was terrified of bats as a child, my older siblings and all of the neighbor kids believed that bats wanted to get in your hair and eat your hair. When they would get in your hair they would become so tangled that your mom or dad would need to shave your head to get them out. So with stories like that floating around I was afraid to be outside when the bats were out. Click on the red letters to find out more about the big brown and the little brown bats.

Car Poop The Pedestrian Predicament

The other day Mary and I were in the car with my grand-daughter Olivia. We were sitting in a parking lot when she noticed a rather disturbing event; she blurted out "That car just pooped". I knew right away what she meant but Mary was a little slower; I laughed, but Olivia only giggled a little and looked at me for an explanation. I told her that it was only a chunk of ice that fell off the car, it wasn't really poop. She seemed very relieved and we all laughed together. Too funny.

The Third Most Interesting Situation

There are two situations that make interesting stories; when an extraordinary person is plunged in the commonplace, and when an ordinary person gets involved in extraordinary events.

Sister Helen Prejan

As I read the quote by Sister Helen Prejan movie titles and book titles came to mind. We are continually drenched in reality shows and documentaries that tell the stories of nobodies who are now famous because they might have won an award or top spot on a show like American Idol. It is silly, and sad, at the same time, this curious obsession we have with under dogs and fallen heros. You can be certain there will always an audience willing to listen.

I would like to propose a third interesting situation that some may not seem to find all that interesting. What about the man who gets up every morning and goes to work and has scratched out a living for his wife and kids for the past 25 years. What about the single mother who gets her kids up at 6 in the morning to feed them and get them off to day care or school and barely makes it to work on time...every weekday. Or the pastor of a small congregation who works all week and still feeds the flock on Sundays and Wednesday nights, who visits homes and hospitals during the rest of the week. We pretty much ignore those stories because they just aren't as exciting. No paparazzi following them everywhere.

The world is full of people doing the right things for the right reasons, day in day out, justlike you and me, with no nod from Hollywood. It is this third interesting (or not so interesting maybe) that makes the world work, day in and day out. The man at the gas station, the store cashier, the waitress, and the CNA; they all lead common lives that really are the back bone of everything that happens everyday.

So the next time you are tempted to get excited about the new American Idol, ask yourself this question. How is this really going to benefit me or touch my life? Then when you go to the store be nice to the cashier, and be thankful that ordinary people like them are making your life a little easier; just like you are, theirs.

We touch so many lives everyday; what kind of impact are we having on those around us? Good? Bad? Do they see Jesus in us? I hope so.

Alrightnowyoutellme (6 partial reveal)

Well this has been a very popular post and Caleb was right, it is a bat. What you are looking at is the thumb of a bat. The bat is sort of a five fingered creature but the thumb is the only one that has a "nail". It does look a lot like a talon that might be on a birds foot, but alas it is not.

Any guesses on what type of bat you are looking at? It is a Wisconsin bat found along the Mississippi River. I shot the photo up into the nesting box with my flash, so I could get a good exposure. Keep guessing; this is fun...for me. Way to go Caleb, you guessed right.

Jimmy the Groundhog...A Fine Fairly Famous Funny Furry Forecaster

Groundhog Day Sun Prairie 2011

Groundhog Day 2011

2/2/2011 Update: Because of deep snow and Blizzard conditions, Interstate and local road closing, business and store closings, people being warned to stay at home and don't travel, the Groundhog Day event was not held today. Governor Scott Walker declared a state of emergency in 29 Wisconsin Counties. Government, Schools and pretty much everything is closed down today.

Although Jimmy the Groundhog is hunkering down like the rest of us, he did take the time to tell us that he did NOT see his shadow and is thus predicting an early spring.

The other good news for today is that Jimmy has also predicted a Super Bowl win as well. I am fairly certain that one of the two teams will win, but Jimmy is predicting a Packer win. Go Pack Go. (i am not really a sports fan). I wonder if Jimmy will watch the game?

On another note, Punxsutawney Phil, from Gobblers Knob in Pennsylvania is predicting an early spring as well, for the east coast, but no word as to "weather" he predicts a win for the Steelers. 

Go Jimmy Go.