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Well folks, the weekend is nearly here – and not soon enough!

Today’s pictures feature some creepy-crawlies that I shot for a local science museum . . . . I think they used the photos on educational signs in the butterfly encounter. I really do not know what these are beyond one is a caterpillar that is slinging itself up in a silk hammock before going into chrysalis . . . and the other is a chrysalis . . . . perhaps someone who can ID these will chime in . . . . .

I had a blast yesterday while exploring a new wheeling site in the Hudson area. It seems that it is an old class 3 landfill (construction debris) that is no longer in use. The junk has long been covered up with fill dirt, which makes for some great hill climbing opportunities! Mike is pictured here pushing the skinny pedal to get his rig to the top – pictures never really show how steep the inclines are!

Chris found an off-camber trail that was composed of sugar sand. He nearly made it through – but a sheer wall of sand barred his path.

Here we see Monkey-Boy-Bobby watching someone else’s Jeep. Watch and learn, young grasshopper! Kidding – he did great . . . . an only used 1.2 gallons of tranny fluid.

At the end of a hard day of wheeling, I decided that my Jeep deserved a bath. Yes, my Jeep is under there . . . somewhere.

“Wine and Opera 101″ = *YAWN*

The wine tasted like landfill leachate, the room was small, crowded and about 95F, and too loud to hear the poor performer. Outside the rain came down in buckets making all of the previously-well-made-up women cross.

Today’s picture is one that I took during the most unattractive Florida sunset I have ever seen. Location is Seaplane Basin on the southern tip of Davis Islands. I admit there has been a little bit of photo-manipulation in this one.

Here is a pic of local musician Carrie Pigeon. She was performing at a place I used to frequent with a nice outdoor patio. The low light level and slow shutter speed made for ghostly representation.

So here it is: Talk Like A Pirate Day. And instead of doing a piratey thing tonight I am attending an event titled “Wine and Opera 101.” Thursday will be spent with pirates instead. Oh well . . . so much for elegant timing.

So…..mental note: Never accept an invitation to a South African Cuisine Party.

In snake sightings: Keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.

This headline leaped off the page at me. Bummer. I had big plans for my jumper leads. Oh well. I doubt Dixie would have gone for it anyway.

Please tell me that “booger” is some form of CSI jargon of which I am unaware.

All they need now is coin operated steamer and drawn butter dispenser!

This is great!

Happy weekend all!

This just in from our field reporter in Melbourne:

This just goes to show why knickers are a wholly bad idea.

Here’s a news flash: Death is a side effect of poison. Quote, “McMillen said the bank hadn’t intended to harm any birds.” Yup. That is true. They hired a pest service to do it for them! What ever – they are one of the foulest creatures in my book.

After reading this article I find myself thinking, “Why did this have to be a Florida story.”

Eeeeek!

Heh – I like the way this guy works! Very clever. I don’t think much of the detainee thing . . . . . now strapping a real detainee into a “It’s a Small World” boat . . . . . I think you know where I am going with that.

Here’s a new spin on a time-honored excuse.

Ahhhhh, the sound of crickets.

Sorry folks I have been a bit under the weather. Good news: prescription drugs=good thing. I am not sure why I waited so long to go to the doctor . . . . I always do.

In Jeep news, yet another modification has been made. I now have a stronger front axle, new gear ratios and a nifty device that forces all 4 wheels to spin at the same speed when in 4 wheel drive. (For the non gear-heads . . . 4WD is actually a bit of misnomer. When a stock vehicle is in 4wd really only one wheel in the front and one in the rear is getting power from the engine-and it is the wheel with the least amount of resistance. So even if you have 4wd, if you are on loose sand or mud, or lift a tire off the ground, you will still get easily stuck.)

So today is my first day back in the office since mid last week. So swamped.

Now back to work.