Monday, May 17, 2004

 

What is that Wierd Humming Sound?

The cicadas are warming up. Yesterday the woods behind our house sounded like a 1960's SciFi flying saucer, except that the whirring never stops. This morning it was twice as loud. There are little holes all over where they have come up out of the ground.


Saturday, May 15, 2004

 

Camping Along the Shenandoah River

Along with some other fathers (and their sons), I took my six year old son camping last night. We went to Watermelon Park, which sits on the banks of the Shenandoah River in Clarke County Virginia. Other than a few evening thunderstorms and the assorted bugs, we had a great time. Camping is a great time for kids to be able to do things their mothers tell them not to do. Yell. Play with fire. Throw rocks. Wipe muddy hands on pants. Wade in the river. Handle dead fish. Play with fire. Eat marshmallows for supper. Yell. Eat marshmallows for breakfast. Wipe nose on shirt.

These boys were in heaven!

Friday, May 14, 2004

 

The Cicadas are Coming

We were out in our garden early this morning. My wife counted 18 cicadas and 23 cicada shells on one rose plant. Our neighbor just called to say she found 40 cicadas on two plants. They must have come out of the ground and molted overnight. I guess they will start "chirping" soon. It will be fun!


Tuesday, May 11, 2004

 

Battle of Hastings and William the Conqueror

My parents sent me a link to a very visually appealing site about the Battle of Hastings. This is the battle where William (the Conqueror) of Normandy defeated Harold II of England, in 1066 AD.

William was pretty much the Hitler of his day. He killed off about 200,000 of the existing English nobility and replaced them with Normans. He also introduced castles (and dungeons) and serfdom into England.

Genealogists claim that everyone now living of English descent can count William as an ancestor. Here is my descedency from William.

Monday, May 10, 2004

 

The Day After Mother's Day

Yesterday was both Mother's Day and my oldest son's birthday. And guess what? Next month my wife's birthday is on Father's day. This year she shares both holidays with somebody else. Bummer!

 

Am I Stepping on Any Toes?

My first posting. Just did a google search to see if anyone else was using my title. I got zero hits. So, at least today, I am not stepping on anyone's toes (as far as google can tell me). If and when the query yields some results, I guess they will be stepping on my toes--or flattering me with imitation--or just living blindly oblivious to this blog.


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