Smitty Can't Wear a Wedding Ring

Really. Here is a picture of my hand. Note the web. The other hand is almost as bad. So I'm looking for suggestions here: tattoo? Ring on middle finger? Ring on necklace? Something more creative? Help!!!
This post will remain top post on the blog all week so skip down to see what's new if you've already left a comment.

Smiling in Terror

Well. Today I got word that, probably this time next month I'll finally be leaving my current job.

Deep breath.

I'm excited. I've been waiting for this for... two years. I hate the place I work. I didn't when this all started, but boy I sure do now.

Deep breath.

I'm scared out of my mind, too.

Um.

Breathe. Yes.

Farmers Ho!

Look, another fascinating map from Smitty!
This map grew out of a desire to give the rural counties in the Dakotas and eastern Montana and Nebraska a chance to be dark blue for once. Out of the total number of people in each county, how many of them reported living on a working farm in 2000? Not many, in most counties. Even in the most farm-intensive counties the number never got above 50%. Still, I think this is an interesting map. You'll note that the darkest counties here are generally among the lighter ones elsewhere. When I post the population growth map next time, you'll see that the darkest counties here are the darkest on that map too--darkest in the negative direction. Something to think about.



Other Maps:
Population Density Map
Household Income Map
Dollar Density Map

Azariah Tree

You remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, right? From Nebuchadnezzar's Fiery Furnace? Abednego's Hebrew name was Azariah; I like the name. This tree deserves it.

This is a Florida Ash (Fraxinus pauciflora). It just sprouted a couple days ago from a seed I collected in Corkscrew Swamp, near Naples. Such seeds should be collected in autumn, kept cool until planting time, and set out in the spring.

This seed had a much more interesting life. It got to go in the washing machine! And then in the dryer! The fiery furnace, as it were. That's right, this tree sprouted from a seed I accidentally put through the laundry in the pocket of my shorts. I thought it deserved some publicity.

2005 Books

This is a list of all the books I read after about May of 2005. Click on a cover, and you'll be taken to my review. Click on the cover in the review, and you'll be taken to Barnes & Noble if you want to buy the book. Or at least see how much money I spent on it...

2005 Books

This is a list of all the books I read after about May of 2005. Click on a cover, and you'll be taken to my review. Click on the cover in the review, and you'll be taken to Barnes & Noble if you want to buy the book. Or at least see how much money I spent on it...

2006 Books

This is a list of all the books I read in 2006 other than in Djibouti. Click on a cover, and you'll be taken to my review. Click on the cover in the review, and you'll be taken to Barnes & Noble if you want to buy the book. Or at least see how much money I spent on it...

2006 Books

This is a list of all the books I read in 2006 other than in Djibouti. Click on a cover, and you'll be taken to my review. Click on the cover in the review, and you'll be taken to Barnes & Noble if you want to buy the book. Or at least see how much money I spent on it...