A new friend, Thanksgiving and such...

Within a couple of hours of putting up my hummingbird feeder last weekend we have a regular visitor. He is super cute and always eating! I have yet to identify him as a black chinned, juvenile or female not sure but am working on it:) I also put out a bird bath and two seed feeders and the finches and sparrows are going crazy! They are actually going through 1.5 of these daily. I am hoping to attract some other birds but we will see....


I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! We realized it was our first Thanksgiving by ourselves and we enjoyed it to the fullest. Watched football and movies ate and drank all day long:)
To start with we had bacon and cream cheese stuffed mushrooms and homemade crab rangoons.




















Please note the original plan (as seen above) was to take a photo of the food just before we served ourselves...unfortunately the opposite happened:) So here goes; turkey, gr chile and poblano stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, corn casserole and green bean casserole=delish-is-ness!!
















The friday after Thanksgiving was my first day to be in the field by myself, a little nervewrecking but there was only 2 of us so the pressure was a bit off and my boss was outta town. That tiny white thing down there...that is my work truck 4 door Silverado, giddy up cowgirl (my coworkers all have Rangers-:p)

This was my view as the sun rose. Being able to take pictures of the sunrise from different hillsides/mountain tops will help me not be nervous when i am out there at dawn by myself:) And hopefully one day we will have some clouds in the sky to make the sunrise better!
I hope this finds everyone well, take care

Turkey Day 2009, Va Beach

My Dad's fiance Esther, offered to register me to run in the 2009 Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 10k (6.2mi). Obviously, I signed up for it. Getting up early and running in a traffic jam of people for an hour was a new and exciting experience. It was a good way to make an excuse for gorging one's self on Turkey later on. For my first race ever, it was a lot of fun. I will definitely race again and even try a 20k next time.

It is kind of hard to see, but that is Esther and I approaching the finish line. We kept up a good pace with a stop here and there. I've learned that if you are critical of the pictures taken of yourself, then do not ever have a picture taken when you are running. It will never look good.

The weather was almost perfect for me and there was even a little sun out when we were running the course. We finished the race in pretty good shape. I did a lot better then I thought I would. I figured I would be walking in the breakdown lane for half the race due to dehydration, leg cramps or some other indicator of being out-of-shape. Granted I was almost dead last in my age group, I see it as a challenge for next time.

A few hours later, for Thanksgiving dinner we all met up with my Grandmother and had a really nice dinner. The menu was designed as an a la carte so on my plate is basically one of everything, including some king crab legs. And of course that was only round one. After dinner and a nap on Grandma's couch, my Dad and I made it back home for some football and pecan pie. I hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving too! I miss all of ya.
Steve

Virginia Tech vs. NC State

What a perfect day for a football game. The stands were packed, the weather started off good, and we had good seats. The Hokies played great and NC State did what they were supposed to do...lose.

When the Hokies enter onto the field they play 'Enter Sandman'. It was senior day so they did things a little differently. However, everyone was hyped up for the game. I hope the video works.



That's my Dad and I of course. And what's that around my neck.?.. Hmm... Only the coolest scarf ever made! :) The sun was almost overwhelming but thankfully I wore sunblock, for once.

The day game turned into a night game and the temperature plummeted. Lane Stadium looked awesome under the lights. By now the Hokies had a good lead and all the NC State fans were crying in thier Beam & Cokes.

The section of the stadium to the left was just recently built. Before it was put up, there was nothing but a field there. Now it is a fist full of Hokies!!

This is an old restaurant Taj and I worked at. It's called Macado's and they apparently put up some gawdy awnings over the windows.

Take care everyone, hope all is well!!
Steve

Our first house guest

Shyam's friend Justin came out for a couple days this week and he brought us this beautiful chimenea!! the boys partied by the fire on both nights drinkin and tokin the night away. It's such perfect weather now for this since the nights are chilly!!

I forgot how cold the desert actually gets; i have been layering up in the morning for work-it's like in the low 30's when we are starting work:( and is gonna get colder :-0 (request permission to use)
















I will take your ribs and raise you a platter (cookie sheet) of nachos-food wars have begun:)

We went to the two local bars in town-well one is in town, the other is one town over...Yep, that was the name of the band at the first bar we went to...Welcome to a red state:(

2 local bars: Roman's Oasis and Waddell's Longhorn's. Yes, they are both country western bars...i think we will be creating a bar in our home, atleast a liqour cabinet:)

Ahhh, the joys of being a house cat:) Player has taken to finding the patch of sun and laying like this inside of it. Like his new trim figure? too cute or adorable, i can't decide:)

They have also taken to hang out in the back yard. Player has even learned how to open the sliding screen door:( i know the yard is ugly now but soon i will start working on it to make it pretty!

take care guys, hope to hear from you soon!!

desert, desert, and more desert:)

This was a walk we took in the White Tank Regional Park, it was a simple walk with too many people and yes, Taj i mean children but not only that adults-let me rephrase that adult cowboys in cowboy boots that are packing...we will have to look into longer hikes that less cowboy packin dudes are on:)

petroglyphs, .... coolio!

Ahhh, the critters of the desert..not sure about this ground squirrel but the lizard (i think) is a male side blotch lizard...cutie pie!

Shyam vs. the saguaro:)..no offense baby but i think the saguaro would win!

Taj----are you EVER gonna post a blog?!!! and don't tell me you are getting work done:( the holidays are upon us and i know that you have 10 days off!!!!You don't have any ideas? here are some to start with...D, D's Bday party!!!, the clouds and the rain (i have almost forgotten what they look/feel like) kkkk, now you have something to start with! looking forward to seeing it:)

Biblical Dinner?

I forgot to put these ribs in the freezer, so I had to cook the entire rack at once. Not such a bad problem to have. As I was cooking the ribs, I worked on some math:

Ribs + Beer + Bad TV = Tuesday Night!

I also made mashed potato's and gravy but my timing was way off and I ate it before the ribs were done. Well, I wish I could spend Tuesday in the Hawthorn District, with my friends, bar hoppin' but somehow always going to the Jolly Roger. Hope everyone is doing well, take care,
Steve

P.S. God made Eve from Adams rib, biblical dinner? Whatever, I thought it was creative. :)

Finally...

Uh, What's that!?! Oh Yeah Baby! That's a Yuengling and a frosty mug. One bout of swine flu, one Nor'easter and 16 days later, I finally have one of the smoothest beers ever brewed. I will drink this beer and wish all my friends good will :) And yes everything is white here, white walls, ceiling, countertop, chairs, etc. I am more clear then white right now, it looks like beer is floating in air when I hold it in the mug.

Ahh, yes, sweet nectar of the gods. The smooth taste of a lager with no nasty aftertaste. The original brewery located in Pottsville Pennsylvania has been crankin' out great beer since 1829. America's oldest brewery has now provided my belly with a warmth akin to love. It's not that I love this beer, it's just that I have an irrational attachment to it that I sometimes confuse with love. Ah yes, and Go Ravens! Monday Night Football will show the annihilation of the Browns tonight. I will enjoy watching this stomping as I eat a homemade Wing Dog. I got everything, the spicy sausage, blue cheese crumbles, carrots, etc. It shall be epic!
Take care everyone, Steve

Shirt Happy!

What has two thumbs and loves this shirt?









This Guy!!!!!






Thanks guys, if you can not tell I love the new T. Va Beach is getting better as I have been feeling better and the Nor'easter has moved on. That was one hell of a storm, it had wind speeds upto 60 mph's. I can't imagine purposely riding out anything stronger then that, riding out a hurricane would be insane. I have not looked for any work yet, there has just been a bunch of cleaning and cooking going on. Finally I have a full kitchen to work with and every night I have been putting one thing or another together.

I promise to keep posting, it took a while between posts because I put the blog as my home page and I felt guilty if I put a blog overtop your personal photo's. But I will fear no more and post recklessly. Good luck on the hunt for the motorcycle and don't forget to stock up on firearms. I am still looking into adopting a puppy but the house is no way near ready for that kind of living. Take care everyone,
Steve

Here is my new study species, aren't they beautiful?!
So, i thought i would give you a low down as to what i am doing for work now since it is not what i previously described, really. Nonethelesss, exciting and prosperous!

I start work based on when the sun rises, now it is 4 am that i leave our place in Buckeye in the dead of the summer i will be leaving for work at like 2 am. Our office is in Gila Bend, AZ (about 40 miles). It is located on the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Range, which you have to be issued an ID in order to get on. Little did i know i was gonna have to get security clearance from Luke Air Force Base for this job, good thing i don't have any felonies:)

I get to my office, pick up my work truck and head down to range 1 of the Barry Goldwater Shooting Range. The range consists of 2 million acres that the AF uses to train it's F-16 pilots to go to war, so they bomb shit, drop misssiles and fire at targets all over the range.

Once we get to the range we drive another 15 miles in where the other biologists pick up there trucks, get our telemtry radios and antennae and decide who is going to what mountain. Drive another 5 miles in and hike a mountain at dawn with your scope, tripod, telemetry stuff and pack. We get to the mountain top just before the sun is rising and start looking for the Sonoran pronghorn. They camoflauge very well in the desert except for their white rumps that stick out like a sore thumb with the dawn light shining on them...essentially i am looking for white ass at dawn.

Once we spot a group we locate it on a gridded map that the AF also has and continue to do so for about an hour-hour and a half. We call in our sightings to a commander for the AF and determine what targets are within 5 km of the sightings and will be shut down for the day. You cant drop bombs on endangered species...that would be bad! We come down, all the while communicating with the air force traffic controller letting him know where we are at all times.

We get back to the office in Gila Bend around 10 am do a bird survey, fill out reports for our daily sightings and i have been getting home around 1.30 in the afternoon which has been awesome except for the going to sleep at 8pm.

Things i didn't realize would be an issue: the frequency of undocumented aliens, apparetly it is a very regular thing to see UDA's (so many acronyms in the military). They have never been a problem but we carry extra water for them specifically. It is protocal to call security and have them picked up. the worst thing that has happened with the pronghorn crew is that they busted a window of a truck and took water....and they left pastries. The ones we need to concern ourselves with are the ones carrying big black packs-drug runners. But becuase they have scouts we usually dont see them.

the other thing is the massive amount of rattlers in the desert. The crew has said that you see TONS of wildlife (HOORAY!!!) mostly rattle snakes; mohaves and western diamondbacks. We have mountain lions, bobcats, mule deer, gila monsters, tarantulas, scorpions, desert tortoise, etc.

I feel really good about the move and the job. The only adjustment will be the sleeping schedule which i have been trying to adjust responsibly to. Shyama was approved for unemployment so he is feeling a sigh of relief and is able to relax for a little while before jumping back into work. thank goodness, after these last 8 months i love having a house husband!!

Buckeye is just like any other suburb in Phoenix except it is a little less developed but everywhere else is over developed. We went into Tempe yesterday to meet an old professor/friend of mine and i took Shyam to Four Peaks brewery, i had only been talking about it for 3 years and it was just as i remember except the 50 minute drive as opposed to the 5 minute drive i had before:(

Other than that still putting pictures up with all our extra wall space. got a hiking book and already expecting our first guest: Justin is coming in on Wednesday for a visit:) Please get on the blog and update us with what is new with you:)!!

take care, a

Making new friends in the desert

OK, alright..old friend, new toy:) Shyama got a grill for his birthday and he loves grilling on it...Mmmmm, look at that meat!


I found beauty in this tree even though he is quite naked. I have to admit though i am missing the green..trade-offs are a bitch! Why can't we just have everything we want when we want it!:)


Side-Blotched Lizard, cutey pie-come out and play...she just watched for like ever, i was able to take like a dozen photos:)...but i will only post one.


Can you find the Long-tailed Brush Lizard in this photo? This lil fella was super quick and super camoflauged! i was not sure that i was gonna be able to zoom in far enough to get him but lucky me!



We saw these tracks on our desert walk....We are stuck b/n ringtail and raccoon? I would like to believe they are Coati tracks but am pretty certain that we are too far west to have coati's:( Any ideas?



Roadrunner, I love you!! Shyama and i saw this guy in our neighborhood:)
I have already seen these guys multiple times because we daily bird surveys at work but i dont think i can bring my camera onto the Air Force Auxilliary Field due to security:(...but soon i will be working by myself, hence i will definately be taking pictures!!

Shyama's FINALLY 30 years old/Viva La Mexico!!!

Here are some pictures from Mexico!!, Sorry it took sooo long:(
It was soooo much fun, I cannot wait to get you guys down there and only a 3 hour drive to swimmable beach, delicious (understatement of the year) mexican food, beautiful sunsets, shopping, prescription meds, illegal absinthe...i mean what more could we ask for:) Hope this finds you both doing well! Keep in Touch:)












Las Palmas!!, Yippee, I finally done good picking a place for us to stay. This place was beautiful with a balcony, full kitchen, washer/dryer, living room, huge bathroom. I usually wind up putting us in the ghetto or far away from everything but we were very impressed with this place and they have condos for rent that have multiple rooms to rent, like a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, with a kitchen...hint, hint, HINT!!





View from the balcony



Hooray!! we made it to Mexico!!! and swimmable water, OMG-i forgot that you could swim in this water in November! The Sea of Cortez is super calm with really no waves, so it made great for seeing all the fishies swimming around us:) and it helped when we were hung over to not get pushed around:)



Breakfast on the balcony, it was like having a private beach and resort to ourselves with only a couple other cars in the lot during our stay!



We decided to take a break from shopping down at the port and stopped for a snack, pretty relaxing view.


Ahhh, beer and the beach..who could ask for anything more, not this birthday boy!



I thought this was a great picture but i had no idea what we were in for once that sun went down!



The tide went in right before our eyes, it was a spectacular sight!



Why hello there my little friend:)After following him around a few minutes I realized that i was 3 beers and 2 xanax in and should not be chasing down the little stingray:(






I could not take enough sunset pictures this night..it was stunning!



And here we are barhopping in Rocky Point on our last night; Mannys, Pink Cadillac, Sandbar, and Around the Corner





Watching him put this together was like watching Picasso paint...it was a beautiful thing:)....I had no idea how ugly the next day would be! Taj-does this glass/pitcher/drippy thingy have a proper name?




And that was it. We did another one of these with the bartender and left soon there after,hit up a taco cart, stumbled home, set the alarm, passed out and made our way down to the beach at checkout time the next morning where we passed out for 4 hours and then got on the road back home. What did we learn: NEVER do absinthe in Mexico...or maybe just never do 2 shots of Absinthe...anywhere! Cannot wait to see your ugly mugs in Mexico with us!!!!



Still feeling like crap at 7 pm this was our welcome home..not too bad:) Now just get me a cheeseburger!!!