The Groundhog's Shadow/My New Bong

It appears that Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow, meaning in folk lore that we will see 6 more weeks of winter:




http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/28987/view/28987/

Of course Groundhogs do differ, even on this Groundhog's Day...I suspect that Buckeye Chuck may have not seen his....as we awoke, at least here in Western Ohio, to a light, but steady, snow...making the roads and walks rather slippery...at least that's what Patricia told me, calling on her way to St. Henry. An inch is expected, just a minor nuisance, unless you are traveling the untreated roadways....St. Henry is also where I'll be late this afternoon as I resume basketball, this time with a girls Junior High doubleheader...post Bronchitis.

Despite the battle with Bronchitis, I managed to make the 5 mile trip north of Celina to Mount Tabor Church last night for Dartball....I might as well stayed home. Playing the team with the worst record in the league, we managed a meager 2 runs the entire night, losing 2-1 in 15 innings, 1-0, and 2-1, as they scored with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th. In the first game we actually took a 1-0 in the 13th, as I lead off with a single(one of my measly 2 hits on the night), and was driven home by JD's triple. Tabor tied it with 2 outs and then beat us in the 15th. We have lost 9 in a row...as for me, leading the league with a .443 batting average going into last night, I went 2 for 11 with no RBIs, seeing my average drop to .419, with 2 weeks to go in the regular season.

Season's First Cardinal____

This morning as I headed out to feed the birds and squirrels, I looked in the trees and noticed the first male Cardinal that I had seen in the back yard this winter....after I dropped today's ration of seeds, he made his way down to the feeder, afraid that it was short lived however, as the pack of sparrows who rule the back yard made their way, along with the half dozen squirrels who live in the various trees lining the back yard, to do battle....not sure if Mr Cardinal got his fill before the rest of the scavengers took control of ground and feeders. I'm sure as we approach spring, the Cardinals, Robins, and the rest will make themselves more visible....a sure sign that spring is approaching...and it cannot come soon enough.

My New Bong!

For those growing up in the 60s and 70s I'm pretty sure what comes to mind when you say "A BONG"....one of those things they filled with water, added some "smoke" to the bowl, lit it, and went off into hippy dippy munchy land....

Well I had not seen a Bong in quite some time....until Sunday. After the visit to the ER in Coldwater, where I discovered that I had come down with Bronchitis for the first time in my life(at least that it was ever diagnosed), we headed to Wally World and it's Pharmacy. Our regular place was closed, it being a Sunday. In addition to the Antibiotics and Inhaler, a little contraption called a Valved Holding Chamber/AeroChamber Plus, was in the bag, extra cost included of course. Holding Chamber? Nope, just a damn expensive Bong! Albeit a small one, used to disperse the "goods" from the inhaler...Hey, I'm 60 years old, I know a damn Bong when I see one.

I used it 3 times on Sunday, and once again last night before heading to dartball....but despite the lingering effects from the Bronchitis, I don't feel the need to use it or the inhaler at this time, my oxygen intake is pretty well back to normal....Maybe I'll "Have another Hit" before heading to the games tonight, just to make sure my weakened lungs can handle the up and down the court...but that will be about it for me and Mr Bong.

back later>>>>

Photos-Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow in western Pennsylvania, the groundhogs in western Ohio did not...a small snow event was passing through as daylight broke...regardless, you can pretty much bet that we will have 6 more weeks and more of winter. A long range photo of our first backyard Cardinal of the season....and am I having a flashback to 1970? I believe that's a bong on my bookshelf!!