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I can hear a Cardinal chirp over and over. Our little non-flyer is gone. I see no sign of life or death. No adult Jays are around. Perhaps it caught a good breeze. The cat shows none of the signs of self-satisfaction it typically has after a good hunt. Somewhere in this something metaphysical waits to be drafted in iambic pentameter.

"Quit with the flash photography already bud!" 

Our little non-flyer is still alive. Everytime it gets to the ground I bring it back up to its "nest". Some large Blue Jays have taken to protecting it and sqwauking at me loudly whenever I approach the youngling. As much as it has flapped around on the ground I’m amazed the cat hasn’t taken it. When it is on the ground, the larger Jays are more abundant and in closer proximity. It’s really interesting to watch them protect the young one. Observing its flying attempts I wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t take to the air if it survives a couple of days. 

I had hoped to end this week’s naked theme with a post on the Knoxville World Naked Bike Ride 2005 and perhaps some pictures but no such luck. Looks like a naked breakfast at IHOP or Cracker Barrel is in my future instead of some fleshy spectator recreation of stripping on the Cumberland Strip. Maybe 2006.

When my bathroom sink drains slowly and I have to put clods of hair clippings out of the drain, my wife is stressed. Apparently trimming bangs is relaxing.

The little squawker has left the nest but is still protected in the wisteria. He cries out loudly periodically. Large Blue Jays have come into the area and seem to be keeping a eye on it.

…that someone absolutely abhors your very presence despite what you do?

Female doctor was in such a hurry to help stricken colleague that she forgot to put on any clothes

Tang rushed out of the bathroom in such a hurry that she forgot to put on clothes. After the security guards broke the door, she found Chen lying unconscious and stopping breathing with the shower head in his hand.

Don’t you find it rather miraculous that the security guards had the presence of mind to move? I would have thought it would have gone more like "Ok lady. Let me get my pen. Could you tell us again what’s going on? No no. Slow down and start from the VERY beginning."

Looks like our riders in Knoxville are going to be naked..and wet.

The kids found a baby Blue Jay in the driveway. What to do?

My first thoughts were that it feel a heck of a way to be on the driveway and must have its internals smashed to bits. Noah stands guard and I go get my gloves. I pick it up and it seems healthy enough walking on my hands, flapping its wings but apparently unable to fly, looking around and even squeaking a bit.

I’m a mature adult. I know you can’t save these things. Besides, Blue Jays are the rodents of the skies. They are the one bird I dislike. Good targets for BB guns (not that I do that). But I can’t help but want to help this bird.

The outdoor cat stalks 30 yards away wondering what prey we’ve caught. This creature doesn’t stand a chance. Shoe box? No way! I know better.

We even try feeding it a worm. No bite. It simply falls asleep in my palm.

The middle 3 kids assist me in a hunt of the yard with a flashlight for a safe place for this bird. There is no such thing. The best place we can find is smack dab in the outdoor cat’s killzone. We concede and prepare the space. It’s a knot hole in the old sycamore (I think) tree nearest our house. I line it with some hay and let the bird crawl into it. The poor thing seems in shock. I give it a few hours before its on the ground. 20 minutes after that the cat will torture it for about 8 minutes and then its dead and left as a "gift" on the porch. Hopefully I see it before the kids.

Update: It lived through the night. Apparently I build a good nest.

Dad: Amy, do you know what today is?
Amy, matter of factly: It’s my birthday. I’m 3.

Noah got to her first 🙂

In keeping with this week’s unintential theme of nudity and since Saturday is the World Naked Bike Ride, The Daily Tribube brings us A Pound of PETA

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, member Chris Link of Norfolk, Va., top, adjusts the cellophane covering on the costume of demonstrator Dezeray Rubinchik of Philadelphia, top right, during a protest in front of the Statehouse, in Providence, R.I., Monday, June 6, 2005.

The one in the middle looks quite tender!

On Tuesday, I posted "One For the Boys" and I really hope all the guys took some time to watch.

Now thanks to OuthouseRag.com I can post One For the Girls! This is required watching and completely safe for work. Needs sound.

Steve Pavlina tells us How to Give Up Coffee

Caffeine is the modern drug of choice in the work world, easily accessible, socially acceptable, readily affordable, and of course perfectly legal. … caffeine is addictive

Steve suggests two methods: switch from coffee to herbal tea; or switch from coffee to grain coffee. He also explains why to give up coffee. Rather that reproduce bits and pieces here, I recommend you give Steve’s article a read.

Other resources:

• top reasons to be caffeine free
  • Caffeine Sensitivity
  • Weight Loss
  • Health Crisis
  • Pregnancy & Nursing
  • Aging & Stress
  • Sleep & Mood Disturbance
  • The Pursuit of Optimal Health
• Tea – Micronutrient Information Center
• how ecologically devastating it is that “poor” countries grow coffee to pay off their country’s debts, at the cost of degradation to rainforests
• Caffeine alternative – WARNING! Some evil web developer thinks it is ok to resize your browser window (it doesn’t resize anymore)
• Caffeine Addiction Is a Mental Disorder
• 11 steps to a better brain

Ok. One more bare naked post and then I’ll return to tamer topics.

This morning I’m driving around and I casually look to my left to find lo’ and behold! the rather attractive female driver next to me is topless! As she stretches her arms up to pull her sports bra on she saw me seeing her, drops her garment into her lap and pulls her vehicle forward. Being the gentleman that I am I avert my eyes as soon as she is out of sight.

Quote on a billboard near the incident: “Girls, if it’s not for sale, don’t advertise it!”