If he was actually pretending, it was pretty amazing. If a 4000 pound animal came at me with a 20 foot kayak paddle, i'd have a pretty hard time trying to look relaxed. Or maybe I'd just pass out from terror.

 

 

That *is* what they do to protect themselves (pretend they are a dead/sick).

Edited September 2, 201312 yr by shellylh

Possums are not the smartest creatures around.

Their pursuit of food and privacy seems to override their survival instinct sometimes.

My backyard fence is a highway for the ones in my neighborhood and when I first moved here, I tried to stop them but gave up.

I'd take a hoe and poke them till they'd almost fall off the fence then take a rake to force them to turn around.

I did this every night for a while but the peach tree a few houses down beckoned so my efforts were in vain.

 

When I was a kid, I had a buddy pick one up by the tail. It became kind of fierce, hissing like a cat and snapping like a gator.

Very unpleasant and kind of reptilian!

 

Skunks on the other hand act like they're at the top of the food chain (even though they're no match for a Buick).

When I lived in a poolhouse up on the ridge of a mountain, they and raccoons used to come to the pool at night.

A couple of times, I almost tripped on skunks in the night and thank god, they didn't spray me. On the contrary, they'd just go about their business after looking up at me as if saying "You lucky SOB, if I wasn't so busy,..".

After I found out that they dug into yellowjacket nests and ate my most hated bug, I was happy to coexist with them (enemy of my enemy,..).

 

Depending on the rain fall, I get lots of different animals pretty close to my house.

Deer come and eat the pretty flowers, I hear coyotes howl and yap all the time and I've even seen a huge mountain lion about 2 miles away crossing a quiet street.

 

Although I don't like the idea of disease being spread, it's kinda the "bad" that comes with the "good" IMHO.

And when it comes right down to it, deer can spread disease just as easily as a possum.

It's just that they aren't so fuckin ugly!

I learned how to work my cruise control today.   Why have I not bothered with it before?  I like it.  

So I am sitting in my back yard performing my daily  Friday ritual of drinking wine and watching the sun set and guess what I see out of the corner of my eye?

 

There are hundreds of these sometimes just a foot or so above my head when i run in the trails in the park behind my neighborhood:

 

 

I learned how to work my cruise control today.   Why have I not bothered with it before?  I like it.  

 

The Kirk certainly comes fully loaded.

Ripped a hole in a seat cushion on the boat when attempting a cast. Fuck. Didn't even catch anything. Double fuck. Father in law caught 2 including a 22 inch largemouth bass. Triple fuck.

Edited September 3, 201312 yr by Dreadhead

duct tape comes in red.  Consider the boat christened

Bryan and Allison came down for a visit today. Had some Dr. Pepper pulled pork (thanks B&A) on ciabatta bread, corn & radish salad and roasted potatoes with a tomato alioli. Drank some beers, whiskey etc. Hung out and just had an excellent time. A great way to finish up the holiday weekend.

Oh man, so jelly.  That whole experience sounds tremendously nice.

 

I need a trip home.  Every single American thing is making me nostalgic.  I actually missed Washington D.C. earlier today. 

You shoulda come in August -- mildest August in memory.

 

Note:  not "...in recent memory", "...in memory".

Saw not one but two GT40's at rest

Later saw four at play. Must be an owners day out

Coolest car ever.

Enzo would not agree.

Wow, lots of stuff Jacob.  But good you're finally getting knowledge.  Hope the options work out well!

Injuries suck big time but hope is good and getting answers is even better!

I'm with you, Jacob.  It's tough to have pain and limitations due to an old injury, but at least you're seeking out answers that can help prevent future problems.  I wish I had learned some corrective steps to the problems my accident caused before I did (legs different lengths, walking in a manner to avoid pain in ankle, which set up other problems, etc.).  Glad you're doing this now.

Took advantage of the nice weather and went out to pick some fruits in the morning.  Then turned blackberries we picked into jam.

Fax is on, Haj. Love me some blackberry jam.

Did a nice 13 mile hike with Jp and some others through the Everglades. 2 to 3 miles of it was through ankle to almost knee deep water. So some critters on the way, including a rattlesnake and gator:

There is no way I would get in that water!

What she said! Eww!

It was rain water. The snakes and the gator were not in the water with us. At least not that I could see. It was a great hike.

Looks very cool but also creepy. What's up with the Rosh Hoshanah beard btw?

Jasen said I had to grow one for the Goruck Light. This is a trial run.

Another Gator pic: