What's That Bug?

I recently found this peculiar bug on my buddleia (butterfly bush). I had never seen it before. Coincidentally I also found a dead painted lady butterfly and two dead bees.


So I captured one of the bugs and placed it in some rubbing alcohol to examine it closer. Digging through my insect books I discovered that this is an "ambush bug". They are predatory insects and will capture other insects and suck out their body fluids. That explains why the butterfly's and the bees' bodies were intact. I don't mind the ambush bug killing the bugs that harm my plants but the butterflies and the bees???!!! I draw the line there! I will be doing some ambushing of my own! Mom

What's in my ice cream?

I have heard everything. PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals) has approached the ice cream producer Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream with the idea of using breast milk instead of cow's milk in their ice cream. Don't get me wrong because I do believe in ethical treatment of animals but what would we do with all the cow's milk? I fail to see their reasoning that milking a cow is torture to the animal. What about humans? I would wonder where they would get the breast milk and where is the humane society for nursing mothers. Who would regulate the sanitation of breast milk, let alone bottle it and make it safe for consumption? Leave my ice cream alone!!! Grandmother

Snail Mail

In the newspaper this morning was an article about our US Postal service. I know sometimes it takes 4 to 5 days to get a letter from Grand Junction to Denver and you wonder if it went by Pony Express. (Pony Express usually took between 45 days to 60 days). The lady in the article mailed a letter in December of 1999 and it was just returned to her with the note stating it was undeliverable. Where in the world was this letter for 9 years? She mailed it from Colorado to Nevada but there was a postmark from New Mexico. I bet if that letter could talk it would have some interesting stories. Grandmother

Half Rain-a-thon

So a week ago, I did a half marathon. And it wasn't just any half marathon. It was a half marathon in the pouring rain (the most rain Chicago had ever gotten). I'd trained for about three months and the moment was finally here. And I'm proud to say that I finished! The hardest part was mile 9. At mile 9, I was tired of running, but more than that I was tired of the rain! The most amazing part was when I got to mile 12 and I found I had more energy than I knew what to do with. And my last mile ended up being one of the fastest. Now if only I could run a marathon...

For those of you who are interested in other photos, visit http://www.marathonfoto.com/start_race_select.cfm?BFI=fk2makidj6.

And select the Banco Popular Chicago Half Marathon, and type Wickman and bib number 14465. Daughter.

Where Do We Go From Here?

I'm almost afraid to find out. Reading the newspaper today, I had to blink several times to make sure I wasn't reading excerpts from a sci-fi novel. Have you heard that the government has given the go ahead for entertaining proposals of the sale of genetically modified animals for meat? And on top of that the meat doesn't even have to be labeled as such. Don't worry the FDA says it is safe!? Kind of gives me visions of the wild haired scientist in his zany lab deciding to mix a cow with a sheep and see what he comes up with!

It isn't even safe to turn to vegetarianism because for a while now the sale of genetically modified fruits and vegetables has been approved. On top of that you think that wearing cotton is a green thing to do? Turns out that the majority of cotton in the US is "Round-Up ready" meaning that the fields can be sprayed with Round-Up to kill the weeds and the cotton plant won't be affected.

And an even weirder story??? A couple in Alexandria, VA operate a salon where customers can descale their feet by placing them into a tank filled with garra rufa fish. The fish apparently enjoy dining on dead human skin cells and will leave your feet feeling like a baby's bottom!

I can hardly wait to see tomorrow's news! Mom

A Hike In The Mountains

Fall has taken a turn to those warm days and cool nights of an "Indian Summer". The lingering warmth of summer with the sharp coolness warning of winter's coming. A perfect day for a hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. The high country has already taken on Old Man Winter's look with an early snowfall.

Vistas of the surrounding mountain range and the changing color in the aspens.

Loch Lake

Serene and calm.

A greenback cutthroat...we could see them in the clear mountain lake, but they sure weren't impressed with what we were throwing them in the way of flies.

Rut season has begun and the bulls are rounding up their harems. It only happens in the fall of every year...probably because the bulls have to work so hard to keep their ladies from straying and also run off any young bulls who try to take over the harem. It makes for better showings than the local movie theatre, but be warned the ratings at times could be for "adults only"! Mom

A historic moment for Grand Junction

Yesterday was quite a day for Grand Junction. Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama flew into Grand Junction to give a speech. The last time a Democratic candidate visited Grand Junction was in 1948 when Harry Truman came to our small town.

For Obama's visit when the Democratic Party booked an auditorium and printed 1500 tickets, which were gone in a few hours, they decided they needed to find a larger venue. The local chapter decided to hold it at the Cross Orchards Living History Farm and over 6000 people flooded the grounds. Some were from the Western Slope, Salt Lake City, Vail, Steamboat and Craig, with the majority from Grand Junction. This is interesting because the Republicans outnumber the Democrats 2 to 1 here. Let's get out and vote this year. Grandmother

Where did all the hats go?

I watched the movie on Coco Chanel last night and loved seeing all the hats. Hats were important when I grew up, my Grandmothers never went outside without the proper hat. To pass the time at our grandparents' homes my sister and I got to try on and model all the hats. Some were small with feathers, rhinestones and netting, but we liked the large floppy ones. When we grew up and got to go shopping, Mother could always find us in the millinery department trying on the hats. Easter was celebrated with new bonnets and in church there was a flood of flowery hats, a sight to behold, don't remember the sermons but can see all those hats in the congregation. There were millinery shops that specialized just in hats and handbags. When I was married I wore a hat instead of a veil. It was white lace with sequins and pearls. Now I only wear a hat when I go outside in the summer. The shelf in my closet has several straw hats, a canvas one, a special one made by my granddaughter, two lightweight hats for really hot weather and my wedding hat. Bring back the hats!!! Grandmother

Run For Cover

When I was in grade school we had bomb drills along with fire drills. The alarm would sound and we would crawl under our desks and wait for the all clear signal...but what do you do if the planet is sucked into a black hole? Have you read the story about the colossal experiment that starts today? Scientists will begin smashing atoms in a deep tunnel between France and Switzerland. The hope behind the experiment is that they will discover clues about how everything in the universe is made including extra dimensions, invisible dark matter and an elusive particle called "Higgs boson".

Talk about your intriguing sci-fi adventure! What lies beyond? Will answers about other dimensions and matters of life be uncovered. But wait! On the dark side there are those who are predicting doom from this course of experimentation. The naysayers proclaim that the collisions will result in tiny black holes and that the planet Earth could be threatened and sucked in.

What do you say? Is the end near? Will mysteries be solved and clues to existence be revealed.
I don't know about you but I am packing and ready to escape...beam me up, Scottie! Mom

Shake that belly!!!

Yesterday I was at the farmer's market when I came to a stall selling peaches. There was a young lady with a small child bartering with the vendor on a flat of peaches. She didn't have enough money to purchase them and struck up a deal with the gentlemen. She would belly dance for him to cover the cost of the peaches. She ripped off her head scarf, pulled down her skirt, pulled out a chain belt with bells and proceeded to shimmy and shake. The vendor's wife was doubled over laughing and he was thoroughly enjoying the show. Apparently they were amused and gave her the flat. The old age of bartering had a field of spectators as people clapped at the end and roared their approval. Just another day at the farmer's market. Grandmother

Feeling More Blue Than Red and White

This post may be a bit contentious, but I have to say I'm not feeling too patriotic at the moment. Right now I feel like my blood is boiling and I've vented to my mom and I've vented to my husband and now I have no one to vent to but you.

I'm finishing up "Daughter of Destiny", the autobiography of Benazir Bhutto, the former Pakistani prime minister who was assassinated in December of 2007. And I'm outraged at the role the United States unintentionally played in planting the seeds for terrorism--first with our role in Afghanistan in arming the Mujahideen to fight off the Soviets and then in showing blatant disregard for democracy in Pakistan by supporting two military dictatorships. As Bhutto put it: "A democratic Pakistan, free from the yolk of military dictatorship, would cease to be the petri dish of the pandemic of international terrorism."

While reading this book inflamed anger in me, it's also impassioned me to make the right decision on Nov. 4th. But that is a daunting task, as I look at the past four presidents and realize that they all contributed to the growth of terrorism in some way. My only hope for the future is in knowing that there was a woman who saw her father and two brothers die at the hands of dictators and terrorists and still she never gave up hope for a government of the people. And that same woman gave her life in the fight for democracy.

So maybe there are some people who aren't in it just for the politics and power, there might be some who truly believe in a fair and honest government, and those are the people I want to support.

My disclaimer: I know that this book is an autobiography and that it's only one side of the story, so my thoughts don't solely rest upon her book. Daughter.

I can't remember

being so interested in an upcoming election as the one for this year. It was sort of humdrum until John McCain announced his running mate. His campaign has certainly taken on a rah, rah, effort with the announcement of Sarah Palin. What a pert, bouncy, determined person. Reading comments from both Democratic and Republican voters it has added spice to this campaign. It is too bad that her family problems have to be aired and discussed in every newscast. I think problems the candidates have with their children should not be given so much media attention. The public tuned in to listen to her acceptance speech. The younger candidates have the public's ear. 37 plus million listened to Obama's speech and 36 plus million listened to Palin's speech. From now on the candidates will have to sell themselves and what they can do for our country. I am looking forward to hearing them to help me decide who I will cast my vote for in November. Grandmother

Come Together!

Yeah, I stole a line from an old song but in this case "come together" relates to the Republicans and the Democrats in Congress. As you know Congress has been on vacation but they reconvene on the 4th. One of the items that was left hanging was a decision on making headway on the gas/energy issue. A bipartisan group of 10 Senators formulated the "New Energy Reform Act of 2008" and while it isn't perfect at least it is a step in the right direction. Instead of arguing about whose plan is better, there has been some compromising between the two opposing groups and maybe just maybe the American public can benefit.

At any rate check out the link and read about the energy reform act and if you agree with it then you can voice your support by sending a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and one to Senators McCain and Obama. Mom