Taking one, leaving one

They're removing a tree from across the street.  But not the one that lost the big branch that crushed a van, a car, and damaged a truck.  However, they will be removing the dead wood from it.  I can't understand how they can leave that tree on the right.  With that big scar on the side where that large branch used to be, I just can't see how that tree can be healthy enough to remain. 
This is just another job done in the neighborhood that I wasn't consulted on beforehand.  Go figure!

Box Turtle

On the way home from Iroquois GC today I found this Box Turtle crossing the street and had to stop and pick him up.  I used to see them crossing streets all the time years ago but this is the first one I've seen in years.  He was crossing Summit Ave., just a few blocks from home.
I figured I'd rescued him so he wouldn't get run over by a car, so I don't plan to keep him.  But I would like to keep him long enough for Erin and Jill to see him.
I'll have to google him and see what you're supposed to feed him.  I remember when the boys were little we had one and he loved nightcrawlers.  I put a little cheese, sausage, and a carrot in with him to see if he'd eat any of that.  I hate that the picture is so 'orange' looking, but I put him in my recycle bin, so it kinda gave everything an orange tint.

Getting my handicap strokes back

I just finished round 47 for the year.  The best thing I can say about it is that I walked the 18 holes and it was good for me.

I played, as usual on Thursday, at Iroquois GC and shot a consistent 42 - 42 = 84.  With my handicap down to a 5 that netted me a 79.  As I've mentioned before, your team needs to average around 70 to win team bet, and to be low man you need to net down to around 66.  So I was a long way from challenging for the money.  But, I just can't feel bad about shooting an 84.  I had 2 penalty strokes today, which is unusual for me.  My game is to keep the ball in play.  I don't hit it very far so I have to rely on keeping the ball in the middle of the fairway and out of trouble.  I didn't do that very well today.  But, this is the first time I've played my own ball in 2 weeks.  So, I was a little rusty.

Another Cross Country Meet. This Time at Hite Elementary School in Middletown

Mary Lynn and I went to another Cross Country Meet tonight.  There was a pretty good crowd, and we had a looong walk from the parking lot to the actual race course.  In this meet Erin got to run against ONLY 2nd grade girls.  Each race was divided by Boys and Girls and class.  Each grade raced by itself.  That made it nice.  I was able to see where Erin ranked with other 2nd grade girls.  The 2nd graders also only ran a half mile.  The course was fairly flat for a Cross Country Course, but it did have one long uphill climb about half way through the race that was challenging.

Jillian read while swinging waiting for Erin to run.  When Erin ran Jill was there cheering hard for her.

Kim on the left cheering for Erin.  Erin was pushing hard to the finish.  Here she's by herself, either way behind the girls in front of her or way ahead of the girls behind her.  I prefer to think of it as way ahead of the girls behind her!

Erin crossing the finish line in 5:07 for a half mile.  I think that's pretty good for a 2nd grade girl.  I'm proud of her effort.  Look at the ponytail fly!

Docent Training at The Louisville Zoo

Some of you know this, others may not, but for the past 5 weeks or so I've been training to be a Docent at the Louisville Zoo.  The training began with orientation on July 16th, and my first class was August 24th.  I have classes each Wednesday, from 9:00 to 12:30, until November 30th.  At that time I'll be a trained Docent and can start doing Volunteer work in the field of educating others about the animals living at the Zoo.

At the end of each session they bring in 3 of the animals they use in the 'Outreach' program.  That is, the Docent's take them out to off-site places, schools, senior housing, pre-schools, etc., for a little show and tell.

In order to sign off on the sheet that says you've handled the animal, you must remove it from it's enclosure, present it to someone to touch or pet, and then return it to it's enclosure.  So far I've handled a Box Turtle, Chinchilla, Ball Python, Lop-eared Rabbit, Rose Hair Tarantula, Hissing Cockroach, Tiger Salamander, Bearded Dragon, Pygmy Hedgehog, ferret, and a Guinea Pig.

Also, the last hour or so of class we go out to one of the exhibits and go behind the scenes. We've been to the Herpaquarium basement, and the Islands exhibit with the Tapirs and the Sumatran Tiger.  Today, we went to the Elephant Enclosure.

The Louisville Zoo has 2 elephants, one Asian elephant and one African Elephant.  There are many differences, but a quick look at the ears and head you can tell the difference.  The Asian has two rounded bumps on top the head and smaller ears, versus a fairly flat head and large ears for the African Elephant. I also learned that the Asian Elephant's name is Punch, and the African Elephant is Mikki.

We got to go inside the pen and stand in the yard where the elephants are on display, and stand right beside the elephants and pet them.  Of course the trainers were right there.  But that was pretty neat.  The skin of the African Elephant was very rough with bristly hair, but the back of her ears were very soft and velvety feeling.  The trainers said they give them Jelly Beans for a special treat and the elephants love them.  I asked how many they give them, a hand full, or what?  Nope, ONE Jelly bean. They love it!  That's their treats when they do what they're told.

Well, I've got two full months of training left, so I'm sure I'll handle all the other 'Outreach' animals before I'm through.  Other snakes, Toads, Tarantula's, Frogs, Millipede's, Rats, Opossum, and a few other varmits.  It's been very interesting, and with a few things behind me after this weekend, I'll have more time to finish some of my up close and in person training requirements.  

The Fall "BubbaLou Classic Golf Scramble"

Here we are all lined up to start the 2011 Fall BubbaLou Classic.  We had 17 teams on this cool, windy morning.

After completing the round, the score card is torn in half, front nine and back nine.  They draw two teams together and that's your front nine score.  We finished 32 on the front and drew with a team that shot a 32 on the front, so our score was 64.  Then they draw two more teams together until all teams are paired with another.  The low score together, both teams win.  Then they draw back nines.

We didn't win anything.

This was my team.  From left to right Norman, Buddy, Rowland, and Me.

I had my name on a closest to the pin on hole #4. When was played it about half the groups had gone through.  But, it didn't hold up.  I played pretty good today.  Hit some very nice drives, nice irons.  Putted OK, not great.  Made one long birdie putt.  Out team birdied 5 holes and bogeyed one.  We bogeyed hole #2, a long par 4.

It was fun.  Would liked to have won something, but I did get a hamburger when we finished.

Oldham County's "Rumble in the Jungle"!

I went to Erin's 2nd Cross Country Meet, the first away from home.  It was in North Oldham, and there were at least 20 schools there.  A lot of competition.  The weather was pretty warm, and the sun shining.  The course was tougher than the "Chance Chase" course.  This course had some hills.  These girls ran 1.2 miles.  Now, that's a long way for 2nd and 3rd graders.
Doesn't Erin look cute in her uniform?

They had so many runners they had to split this age group up into two races.  The girls and boys ran together. 

Erin, on the right, kicking to the finish line.  She was hurting, and her tummy was hurting, but look how strong she finished!  That little girl is tough!   That's my Rosiepie!