Bogieblog

Geek Quiz

I have taken several geek tests, but this one is new to me. I managed to score 27.21893% - Total Geek. Actually, I think the test left out several things that could have raised my score (do you own at least 10 computer books, 20 computer books, >150 sci-fi/fantasy books, >300 books, you talk more to your computer than to real-live people etc.). They asked way too many gaming questions - since I don't have time for games (I hardly have time to blog), that put me at a huge disadvantage.

Prepare to spend some time on it.

Quiz stolen from Jay.

Fun with Telemarketers

I have had some conversations with telemarketers, who wanted to speak with WS, whose last words were "We'll just update our records." - and no, they didn't think he was dead - just out of circulation for a while.

Anyway, this guy has surpassed my act by far! Although it is closed captioned - to get the full affect of the southern accent, turn on your speakers.

Birdcounts

I just reported our results for the Great Backyard Birdcount. The totals weren't impressive but here is what we saw:

• Juncos: 16
• Blue Jays: 6
• Chickadees: 4 (more than I recorded the previous weekend)
• Whitebreasted Nuthatch: 1 (usually see the mate too, but not this time)
• Redbreasted Nuthatch: 2
• Downey Woodpecker: 2
• Hairy Woodpecker: 1
• Tufted Titmouse: 2 (there are 3 that usually hang around - but didn't see the other one)
• Dove: 1 (first one I've seen for several weeks)
• Goldfinches: 6 (Previous week I doubled that amount)

I still have to send in my results for the NH Audubon count that was held a week earlier The results were similar except for the goldfinches (13) and of the woodpeckers we only saw 1 Downey.

I was just disappointed that the one lone cardinal didn't show up (this is the first year we have had a cardinal in the winter). Actually, we haven't seen him for several weeks - I figure he found my pet-sitting client's place where I have seen 6-7 cardinals at her feeders during the winter - her cats are strictly indoors.

Chickadees have been relatively scarce here this year. We usually have a good-sized flock of chickadees with one titmouse - this time 3 titmice and few chickadees. This is the first winter in 4-5 years that we have had a bunch of goldfinches. Both types of nuthatches and woodpeckers stay constant for us at around a pair of each. We haven't had doves for the last couple of years, except for every once in a while.

It's really quite interesting how the bird populations fluctuate - not really from year to year, but to some other rhythm.

Unexpected Refund

On January 21st, I received a bill from the college for an "orientation" class that had been held on the 18th. The bill was made out on the 17th, no one ever told me about an orientation class when I signed up for my first class, so obviously I didn't go.

After recieving the bill, I dd an investigation and found on their website that it was mandatory for new students to attend this 4 hour workshop (it also included how to schedule time for homework and such - things I had already learned when getting my Bachelor's degree). So, I finally paid it. The funny part of that was that payment was due by the 19th or there would be added charges ($50 I think and no grades would be available until it was paid) - go look again at when I recieved the bill. Fine, I fgured I owed it, so I sent them a check at the beginning of February (hey, if I was to be late, might as well make it a decent amount of time).

When I got home yesterday, within the pile of mail was an envelope from the college stating "refund information enclosed". Upon opening it, I found a letter and my uncashed check. The letter said in part,

"The semester you owed [the money] for was supposed to have been paid by a third party. Both your account and the company's account is at a zero balance."

I have no idea who the third party is that paid the bill. I am dumfounded that I have a secret benefactor.

Actually I am thinking more along the lines of I probably paid it thru my taxes - the ultimate irony!

Heater Woes

30 minutes after WS left for work (driving to Rhode Island to pick up some steel and deliver it to Portsmouth, NH), the heater has begun to act up again. It sounds exactly like it did before, with a clogged fuel filter. But, that filter is only a couple weeks old, so shouldn't have this problem.

I fired up the woodstove a little earlier than I had planned, and don't dare take a shower (as I had planned). IToday it the day to wash the whites but I probably shouldn't do that either. Some would think that is a good thing, getting me out of work on a day off. However, since we don't have a drier, we have to carefully plan out the laundry so everything has a chance to dry - doing two loads tomorrow to make up for today is not an option.

Not exactly an auspicious start to the morning!

Seed Order

Saturday I put in my seed orders. I ordered from 4 different places and got several types of tomatoes; Big Mama, San Manano, Amish paste, Health kick, and Siberian (tomatoes in 48 days and sets at 38 degrees?). I got several basils, cilantro, green beans, oregano and thyme.

I also got a couple of winter squashes; Carnival, Buttercup and Table Ace. I Will probably never get anything out of them (need about 100 days to maturity), but we'll see.

I also ordered several annuals; Grandpa Otis and Kniola's Black morning glories, nicotiana, impatiens and snapdragons.

For perennials I ordered Pansies, Hot Chocolate Rudbekia, Iron Maiden Penstemon and violas.

And, by the way, I only said I ordered the seeds - not that I would actually get them all planted!

Rosie Thoughts

Cop Car wrote a piece on roses. I started to leave a long comment, but figured it would be something for me to post about instead.

I like roses - I like how they smell and how they look. My problem? I tend to neglect stuff after I have planted it. With all the dusting and feeding and pruning and basic pampering that roses need, I figured I could live without.

Okay, that isn't exactly true. I believe the first ornamentals I planted at this place was roses - rugosa roses. They are above the retaining wall behind the basement door. I planted them 15 years ago in May (I remember exaclty when I planted them because I was on pain killers for a surgery I- I still hurt but didn't care). The main attraction of rugosas are they are just one step away from wild - diseases don't really phase them, neither do bugs, nor do salt or clay, and they will grow in shade or sun. You can't kill these things. The only care they need is to be hacked to the ground every 2-4 years to help thin out the old growth (they grow back to 6 feet tall within months).

The next year I tried to plant a fancy rose. I don't remember what it was besides J&P. For this rose I lovingly dug out a huge hole and replaced the clay with soil (I just plopped the rugosas in the clay). I watered it faithfully. It lived  thru the summer (barely) and came back the next spring; putting out two pathetic little canes. It never even lived long enough to flower that year.

At that point, I decided that roses weren't for me and I have studiously avoided them since.

I'm a What?

The bad part is - I don't want to be any Massachusetts. The good part is, it's only by association and proximity - not by actually being there!

You Are 40% Massachusetts

You could pass for being from Massachusetts - until you open your mouth and start pronouncing R's.

How Massachusetts Are You?

From Jay and Deb

Is it Cold Yet?

Go check out New Hampshire's Farenheit Scale over at The Weekend Pundit. I too have seen it before, but this year it seems particularly apt. There are very few days that I haven't seen a couple of motorcycles out (and yes, we did get a late start to winter, but when it finally arrived last month, it stayed). I saw a bike on the road Monday or Tuesday - it was 20 degrees. All our bikers ask is that there not be too much sand on the road.

I have also been driving without the heat on in the truck in the afternoon a lot of days. Yesterday, when I got out of work, I thought how nice and warm it was ("must be up near 30." I thought). Got in the truck and it was 15. I don't even bother with a winter coat unless it is supposed to stay lower than 20 thru the day, a jacket does me just dandy as long as it keeps the wind out (although I always have my emergency winter gear in the truck if I really need it).

But then again, I'm one of those people that has to be nice and warm when inside - it's some sort of weird trade-off, but it works for me.

Nor'Easter 2007

We finally got our first "real" snowstorm of the year. Oh sure, we've had several inches of ice (which never melted and is still on our walkways and stone stairs as well as the rest of the yard) and a couple of light snow storms/squalls, but nothing that really required a shovel.

I swept about 3" of snow off the walkway, porch and vehicles yesterday morning before I came to work. Then, when I got home (1.5 hours after I left work), I shoveled 10-12 additional inches of snow. 2 hours later (WS joined the fun by snow blowing for over an hour), I was finally able to do the dishes, fill the inside wood rack, feed the dogs (a bit later than usual), fold laundry then start dinner. Needless to say, dinner was done way after I normally go to bed.

This morning it looked like we had gotten another 3" or so, but it was extremely dark, so all I know is I didn't have to shovel to get the dogs into the dog pen - I will worry about cleaning up the remainders later tonight.

WS is ecstatic; it looks like he'll get to use the sled for the first time this year (and only the second time since he got it shortly before Christmas of 2005.