Thursday, September 16, 2010

Thursday Thirteen 170: Bits & Pieces

A few random bits and pieces of my life at the moment....


I’ve been trying to process and sort some of the hundreds of pictures taken over the summer. There were some events I was good about doing right away. Others…not so much. Processing and sorting takes up a lot of time. Especially when you keep putting it off.

One of the events I photographed on a couple of different occasions, The Artzoobilee display at the Henry Vilas Zoo, ends September 26. The animals will be cleaned up and auctioned for charity in late October.

The days have already turned cooler here. We went from 90 to 60 in the span of one week, and have mostly been in the mid-60s to mid-70s since. Niiiice! I’m trying to ignore the fact that that means winter isn’t too far away and enjoy my favorite season of the year.

I’d enjoy it more without the ragweed, which is really bad this year. I’m tired of the sniffling and sneezing and itchy eyes—and that’s with allergy medication! Imagine how miserable I'd be without it.

Football season has barely begun and I am already missing cable. Sigh...I knew I’d miss ESPN, BTN, Versus, etc. once fall rolled around and I am. Listening to the game on the radio may be less distracting, but isn't near as much fun.

Fall means some of my favorite annual events, including the annual “Talking Spirits” tour at Forest Hill Cemetery, which will be on October 10 this year. They are featuring the Civil War again this year, but a different host of ghosts than last.

The Wisconsin Book Festival is also coming up, September 29 through October 3, but to be honest, I am not interested in this year’s event. It has become too narrowly focused on nonfiction, poetry and lit fic, while eschewing all other (popular) genres. I only recognized three names slated for this year’s event: one is out of town, one I don’t like, and the other is too early in the evening for me to get to after work. I have nothing against being introduced to new authors, but the organizers don’t seem to understand that people are more likely to attend such an event when they actually recognize author names. For it to be a true celebration of books and reading, it should be more genre inclusive.

Another favorite fall activity is picking apples at Eplegaarden, a local orchard and pumpkin patch. The apples look really good again this year.

There are some great sounding autumn walks coming up at the Arboretum, including one this weekend at the Grady Tract, “Fall Flowers,” “Under the Autumn Moon” on Oct 23, and “The Lost City Walk” on Oct 31.

Twizzlers are addictive. So are T.G.I.Friday’s Cheddar & Bacon Potato Skins. Just sayin’.

I don’t know about you, but I am SICK TO DEATH of political commercials already. Forty-seven more days to go…

If you missed it, I sliced my left arm last Tuesday, almost deep enough to require stitches. Yeah, very lucky I didn’t hit it even the tiniest bit harder. It’s still a bit tender to the touch, but otherwise healing well, though I wouldn’t be surprised if it leaves a faint scar.

What I’m listening to while compiling this: Margaritaville Café: Late Night Menu. It’s an interesting mix of music, and fun to sing, dance and work to. (Click link to sample it.)



LINKS TO OTHER THURSDAY THIRTEENS:(Please leave your link if this is your first visit!)
Maddy Barone * Shelley Munro * Kimberly Menozzi
Colleen * Darla Sands * Paige Tyler * Kaye
KS Manning * Adelle Laudan * Janice Seagraves
Tatiana Caldwell * Jennifer Leeland * Mary Quast
Jana * CountryDew


More Thursday Thirteen participants




22 comments:

Shelley Munro said...

Picking fresh produce is fun. I hope your hand gets better soon. We have local body elections coming up soon. I'm tired of politic already too!

Kimberly Menozzi said...

I got sick of politics over the summer - if I heard one more campaign commercial while I was tehre, I might have done something I regretted! LOL!

Hope you're healing quick, by the way. If you do scar, you have to make up a really cool story for how you got it.

"I was walking up the driveway when all of a sudden I was attacked by ninjas!" ;-)

Anonymous said...

Ooh, those apples look so good. To me, nothing says fall like fresh apples.
Politics? HATE 'EM.
sorry to hear aobut your arm and allergies. I'm a sufferer too.

colleen said...

I've already been apple picking and making crisp. Hope your arm is healing well.

Darla M Sands said...

I'm glad the cut is healing. You're making me want to take a walk in my local arboretum!

Paige Tyler said...

Love the zoo pics you posted! Oh, and we love football, too!

*hugs*
Paige

My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/

K.S. Manning said...

I work for our local government so I am BEYOND tired of all the campaigning and 'politicking'. Please people! If you can't do it the whole time you're in office, don't think multiple calls to me in the months before the election is going to change things.

Hope your arm gets better soon. That's gotta suck!

Heather said...

Shelley: Ah, it seems many of us feel the local political pain world round. The arm seems to be doing well, thanks.

Kimberly: ROFL...Ninjas do sound more impressive than, "I was attacked by a dumpster," don't they? *VBG*

Colleen: Mmm...apple crisp. Why am I suddenly hungry? *g*

Heather said...

Maddy: Fresh apples definitely say fall. Same with cider. Mmm, maybe I'll get some of that this weekend.

Darla: Glad I can inspire someone to get up and get moving. I hope I can get the allergies under control long enough to enjoy this weekend's guided walk. My camera is all charged and ready for action!

Heather said...

Paige: Thank you, my nieces and I really liked the "new additions" to the zoo this year, and will miss them when they're gone. I bet you get to enjoy football on cable, don't you? At least our local team is on FOX!

KS: I especially dislike the last minute barrage of attacks. There's something to be said for name recognition, but beating me over the head with your name every hour the last week of campaigning...not going to get me to recognize you. At least not in a positive way.

Kaye said...

The primarys in FL for governor almost drove me to distraction. If I saw Rick Scott's face one more time I swear I was going to be sick! I can't wait until it's over too.

I envy you having an apple orchard near you.

I hope you have no major problems with your arm. Enjoy the fall weather as you say, winter is not far behind.

Jana said...

So glad your arm is healing up nicely. Hope the scar is nearly invisable.

And I won't begrudge you your lovely temps while I'm still sweltering down here because by the time we reach consistent 60 degree temps you'll probably be having your first snow. ;-)

Jennifer Leeland said...

Ugh. I'm sorry the book festival has gone that direction. I know here I had the same issue with the Jazz Festival which switched from several different genres within Jazz to only certain ones.
I wish I could get a book fair going here. That would be awesome!
Glad to hear your arm is better!

Heather said...

Jana: Hey! Stop mentioning that "S" word already. At least allow me to enjoy the early fall before I have to start thinking of that.

Jennifer: It really is too bad about the book fest. In the early days there was a romance panel and several mystery events, but now--almost all lit fic. And they wonder why there isn't as much interest...

CountryDew said...

I deleted 10,000 pictures from my hard drive over the summer. It was a lot of work.

Heather said...

Kaye: It is nice having an orchard within easy traveling distance. Not close enough to walk, but a pleasant drive or bike ride just a few miles outside city limits.

Anita: Wow, 10,000 pictures! I don't have quite that many, but I guess if anyone understands what I'm up against it's you.

Tatiana Caldwell said...

Looks like I did miss the news about your arm. Sorry to hear, and I hope it heals soon and nicely. I just got a couple of similar cuts on my thigh.

Yum at TGI Friday's potato skins! Ugh @ Twizzlers (or licorice in general)! :)

Heather said...

Tatiana: Thank you. Dare I ask what you did to your leg? It's probably a good thing the potato skins were only a small bag. I'm having a hard time putting them aside!

Janice Seagraves said...

Ouch! I hope your arm heals quickly.

Happy TT.
Janice~

Mary Quast said...

I've had to switch watching football in the comfort of my home to watching from the cold bleachers. My middle son is playing his first year for our local team. Sitting there, enjoying the fall I think of visiting our local orchard, baked apples, squash, pumpkin pie...
Football & food!

Glad you are on the mend! Hugs!

Kristen said...

It sounds like there are many fun events in your neck of the woods during Autumn. I envy your cooler weather. We are still in the 90s, though it drops to the 50s at night. Only in the desert can you see a 40 degree spread in one 24 hour period!

Heather said...

Janice: Thank you.

Mary: Ahh...I remember the thrill of Friday evening football games in HS. Funny how we didn't mind getting soaked or freezing in the bleachers quite as much as we do now. lol

Kristen: The change in weather here has been a welcome one, and we are indeed blessed with an abundance of activities from which to choose year round.