Wilshak's Xanga

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:11:46 GMT

Well try this again. I was grumbling about (xanga) surveys and credits and new private homie pages on here and the browser crashed--ahem.

Well--gas has been nuts here--and the blame game is in full swing. Hurricane Ike/panic buying/ conversion of summer gas to winter gas/shortages because we have to use less sulphur content gas than others for EPA reasons/ lack of leadership from the Governor etc etc.

I had third of tank, but my Inner Dude told me to go to station today--where I filled up easily, but two hours later drove back by and most of the pumps had been bagged.

Been cool--50s/70s. Trees still mostly late summer green. Backyard decorated for Halloween. Need to do front lights and my indoor Halloween tree--new for this year. Tombstones on porch later on.

Got tickets for "Wicked" for October 30. Might reread the novel before then. Need to review closet for any green clothes--haha.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:24:21 GMT

Loretta Lynn concert was fun last night. She keeps on going. Reminds me of the June and Johnny Cash concert I went to some years ago. At that one June held my hand for one song, and I got to shake hands with Johnny It was at the old Cotton Club in Midtown Atlanta, and they were like 3 feet from me on low rise stage. Lynn concert we were up in balcony, but binoculars gave good view. Some women behind us were not--mm--feeling any pain--though a bit loud at times. At least they didn't fall on us.

We've been on fringes of Hurricane Fay. Right now I think it nears New Orleans but feeder bands coming up from the Atlantic over us, and from the East Gulf too. Might actually get some rain this week, though mainly just been cool, windy and misty last few days, but thats ok.

First Olympics I've actually watched since before Atlanta had it. Taken me that long to be able to sort of enjoy it again--propaganda aside.

As for politics--Ron Paul sign still in my yard.

Wil

Friday, August 22, 2008

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:45:18 GMT

Dear Patsy--

You mentioned moss--I do have one stump in back covered in it. A little dry now--but rich green velvet after last rain. I think previous stumps were covered in moss, until they finally caved into the ground. Have been moss in past when more grass back there but varies over time.

I'd given up on the clematis by the mailbox though still watered there. It has since seen fit to give me a flower and some buds.

Saw only my second bluejay this summer at feeder.

I guess hummingbirds like roses. A green one was resting in orange rose blossom like a nest. Looked cute but didn't show up in cell camera.

I'm going to have to adjust the paths in the front yard--the rose bushes grew more than I expected.

The little sunflower by itself in the middle of the yard makes me smile.

Still waiting for spring crocus and daffodil bulbs in the stores--haha.

Wil

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Lots of color outside my office window. Orange rose bush, and smaller bushier "knock out" bush of pink-reddish roses. Purple roses taking a breather. White rose bush on other side of walk. Some type of white iris-like flowers in a patch. Queen Anne's Lace. A small single yellow sunflower in one spot. By porch butterfly bush with purple lavender flower cones--which bring butterflies and hummingbirds.

**************

Lets see. Last week did night walk and the Saturday mountain walk at Panola Mountain Park

And--not that I'm out of order--haha--week before that went to the GSU Observatory at Hard Labor Creek Park. Saw moon, Jupiter, the International Space Station, stars and lightening bugs.

And--for something different--the upcoming Oliver Hardy Festival in Harlem, Georgia.

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Amazing how quickly a mouse can go bad. Maybe it's ball needs to be cleaned, though the pad looking a bit slick.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:02:30 GMT

Went to Dunaway Gardens today near Palmetto Georgia. Sort of a Chautauqua type place in the 20s/30s/40s. Walt and Roy Disney used to visit, and the grounds and productions probably inspired the backgrounds of their early cartoons--especially the dancing flowers and trees ones. Sarah Ophelia Colley lived there and was theatrical director for seven years. You probably know her better by the name of a character she created there in the 30s--Minnie Pearl.

When Mrs. Dunaway died in 1961, place fell into ruin and over grown until 2000 when new owner began restoration. My excitement was when I wandered to shade of tree to return a call, and abstractly watching bright green vine at my feet, that after a while flicked red tongue and began climbing the tree. Haha

When I had been driving out there on the still relatively undeveloped South Fulton Parkway--some type of bicycle race or rally going on--dozens of returning brightly clothed cyclists on the other highway split.

Thought it was going to rain but it dissipated. Supposed to storm tomorrow--maybe. Weather people use all their video graphics to to torment and tantalize what might happen. Bleh.

Haven't been to a movie in a while. Hellboy looks interesting--same director as Pans' Labyrinth.

Guts, from the Berserk manga.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:35:23 GMT

Well the TV weather dronebots keep beating the drums for the drought parade, but we've had lovely rainstorms every day for sometime now. Today the cells are lined up across Alabama, and the line has been training or whatever they call it right over my house--haha. More about to follow.

The crape myrtle has bloomed nicely--sort of fuchia pink. Rose bush with orange blooms has been colorful; the red one too, and the purples sort of taking a breather. Still have rubekia/ Black Eyed Susan to put somewhere. Butterfly bush has recovered from the Japanese beetles though still some out late at night. Lots of big butterflies on it, and a huge ruby throated hummingbird too a little while ago.

Went to Cochran's Mill a few days ago. Reminds me of some of the places I used to hike at in Lafayette, Indiana.
Bought more shrubs for the back. Back area I want to wall off more with wall of shrubs. Eventually be the Alice in Wonderland Tea Party area in the far back--haha.

Gladiola bulbs actually coming up--but I was rather late with those--but whatever happens or not--happens.
If nothing else--headstart on next year. Some sunflowers struggling up despite some beetle damage. I don't know what the hell the hollyhocks are doing--I need to read up on those more. What's growing is more like vines, and tiny print of the seed packages makes it sound it wouldn't be until next year when they bloomed?

Oh--much of the front yard was covered in tiny mushrooms last night. Hundreds of them. Quite fanciful. Maybe the continuing rains will bring more.

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:27:26 GMT

"I love you like day old sushi!" Don't ask--I just thought it sounded good. *finishes his two day old sushi from Publix*

Open.   Inviting. Waiting.   Needing to be filled. Aching.

The formerly luxuriant butterfly bush in front of the porch, before the Japanese beetles shredded it. Now I go out late at night with flashlight to pick beetles off it and the roses, and exact revenge between my fingers.   I could use spray, but whole point of a butterfly bush--is to attract butterflies, so--mmmmm....

Close up of flower cone, or whatever it's called.

Roses out the front office window. What I now call the Rose Triangle--haha.

Different angle--at twilight.

Queen Anne's Lace--a little fuzzy looking.

Better shot.

Haha--the cell camera makes the driveway look like a road.   Actually only about 25 feet.

Caladium's are the colored ones; the Elephant's Ears are green and will be much larger.

Hydrangeas by the driveway.

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I guess it's good I already had been working on this. T Mobile did some little upgrade--and--two years of pictures are now gone from my online album. And neither is it currently accepting new pictures from my cell, so--stuck for the moment.

I'm a little stressed. The online album was sort of intermediate shuffle between phone and my pc. And had been back up of pix of friends at different times.

Woke up about 5:30 the other morning, stepped outside to look at stars, and coincidentally saw space station again--like bright star crossing the midheavens.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:17:10 GMT

New pictures soon. I found a little more space on my cell camera, and now need to shuffle and edit on the online folder then move to pc where I can use them for blogs and the like. New white rose bush has small buds now. We used to have white rose bush from my paternal grandfather's house--must have been decades old. It lingered here for long time but was gone when I moved back. Hydrangeas have blue puffball flower globes. Recently planted sunflower and hollyhock seeds have sprouted, along with marigolds, morning glory, 4 o'clocks.

Some women called get Cat Ladies for collecting cats. I'm probably going to be called the Plant Guy or something by neighbors. My usual response in the yard is "I'm still planting--haha." I get complements, cars slow down, and walkers look while going by, so it's good.

One water plant bought it during heat spell awhile back, but others seem to be thriving enough. Not certain what going to do with them when cold weather comes in fall. Might have to get grow light and move in the garage. I have heard you can winter over water plants by wrapping in wet newspaper and keeping moist in refrigerator. Don't really have room among the dill cheese and ranch dressing for waterlilies, but not an immediate problem.

If anyone is interested--tonight is full moon. Tomorrow Mercury ends it's retrograde and goes forward--which if you're into astrology means things like communications,transportation, thinking and paperwork should clear up and move better too. Friday night is Summer Solstice. Hoo-ah! And Tuesday night is the old Midsummer's Eve on June 24--the traditional solstice/midsummer observance. Faeries are especially active this time of year, so be on the lookout. Hehe

Craft stores already stocking ahead--Garden Ridge has scarecrows and autumn leaves and flowers, Hobby Lobby was putting out Christmas ornaments. November and December have been problematic times for me all my life--I've decided I need to reinvent the period for myself, instead of feeling like I have to hold my breath to keep from drowning while being held deep, deep underwater from mid October to mid January, which is not a fun feeling. No certain what this will mean--maybe try to keep it all to simple things--maybe cook more or get headstart on spring 2009--not that I'm getting ahead myself here at all--haha.

A little odd--I don't know if nostalgic is the right word--seeing all the flooding pictures in Iowa. I lived in Iowa City in an earlier life cycle--and all the shots brought back memories--that area of campus by the river with all the arts buildings--I used to spend a lot of time there. Walked that route by the river many times. Used to party in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines too.

Pix soon--I promise!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:13:44 GMT

The Southern Gentleman's (We Use That Term Lightly!) Occasional Journal of Gardening, Stargazing, Lemonade and Carnival Lights

6/13/08 Should write a book to go with that title--haha. Lets see--in the yard: Butterfly bush I bought last summer by left corner of front porch has doubled in size last few weeks. Long pale lavender cones and springy stems for the sparrows to bounce up and down on. A few butterflies. In the rose triangle outside my office window, the orange rose bush also has had explosive growth, with large puffy orange blossoms. The red knockout rose more to the ground, about to rebloom. And also the purple plum pudding rose. New white rose bush has buds but not rebloomed yet.

Sunflowers germinating in one new bed. Sunflowers and hollyhocks planed in another new one. What had been my mother's main flower bed I've raked but it needs to be violently weeded and soil added, then I'm going to dump all the seeds I gave up planting last year due to the drought.

Elephant ears and caladiums shooting out of ground on wall next to basement--mad excitement!

6/14/08 I don't see where the coolness is--still humid. Hear thunder but no rain. That flower bed by driveway hasn't been worked in years--and shows it. Mosquitoes healthy. Birdfeeders have cardinals, purple finches, goldfinches and sparrows. Neighbor says I have "bluebirds," but I haven't seen them. Butterflies now attending the butterfly bush.

Happy Flag Day!

Wil Adama

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 03:28:41 GMT

Yeah still alive. Haha Saw the space station briefly. Quite bright until about approaching 2/3 up the sky then passed from the sun's rim of light way above. About 100f on the thermometer most of today. Resumed planting stuff after 7 PM but still warm and humid. Finished planting caladium bulbs, some dahlias, and sunflower seeds. Other stuff should have been planted a month ago, but back then I was planting plants and shrubs bought months before that, but what comes up , comes up--haha. Given the price of gas, I'd just as well continue making my own historic site.

More coming up--

Monday, May 12, 2008

Mon, 12 May 2008 05:50:29 GMT

"Fun will commence."

Oh little first bat of the evening--the winds are cold beneath the twilight moon.

So, the sirens went off around 4:30 this morning. Or that's when I woke up on the living room couch as usual, crashing during adult swim anime earlier. . Actually could barely hear them through the heavy rain, but some sounds still reach you. The system here is that all of them are out of sync with each other--so it makes a series of various, peculiar science fiction overlapping wails.

So up from 4:30 am to 6:30 am until it had cleared past me. So far when they show computer "rotations" a few miles west of me they've headed southeast--which fortunate for me but not for many other people.

No rest for the wicked. Orange roses in center, and yellow upper left center, and red to right, and the pots now have water plants floating in them.

World's largest carving on Stone Mountain at night. The 25th anniversary laser show is the best ever, with well integrated pyrotechnics, and tremendously new improved stereo system. It's as good--as it was bad two years ago.

Deep blue mini iris blooming in new flowers beds expanding out front. I didn't mean to get my hand in there, but it was waving around and I was trying to make it stand still (I told my date--nyuk nyuk nyuk)

Another 24th birthday successfully recreated last month. Scrumptious Dino sundae.Red thing is the spoon.

La primavera a Chateau Carter. If the grammar is incorrect--bite me. It sounded good--haha.

Back at ya. Deconstructing the front yard. The future Wilaway Gardens as I banish grass--if I had any--it's all weeds. At least people aren't leaving "lawn repair" notices in the mailbox like last year. And I would have like to have told them Drought! Watering ban! There's a reason it's dead. ha.

I'd almost kill for a Coca Cola float right now--but have neither.

Secret path just behind. Now that it's been bloomed out--time for pruning and refurbishing. The 4 baby robins in the nest by office window long gone--so hope they made it somewhere

The heartbreak of diamorpha. But for pennies a day you too can make a difference. Give generously! (see my e-mail)

Let this be a lesson to you. If you're not paying attention, the Puppeteer will come down off the stage and drag you up front to be the cat.