A Happy Halloween
Today, in nearly every aspect, was a great day. The weather was amazing (windows open to warm breezes on the last day in October??) and I was able to get the lawn mowed (and leaves mulched) and finish a number of other "to do" list items. Nate had a great time with all the other kids at moms group and then, in the evening we went out to visit the grandparents and do a little trick-or-treating.
Transitions
A little while ago, GapersBlock - Chicago asked for submissions for a themed photo essay. That theme was "Transitions." There were no restrictions on how one was to interpret the theme, so I submitted a couple of different ideas.
Happily, and somewhat surprisingly, two of my photos were selected for the photo essay:
http://gapersblock.com/detour/photo/20081020_transitions/ ( #3 and #7 )
yesterday’s leaf photo
Scott asked about the photo in yesterday's blog post so I thought I'd provide a larger view of the subject. It is a panel on a piece of playground equipment at a park in Indianapolis.
It's not a particularly good photo and still doesn't show a ton of context, but it's a little less mysterious than the first image. 
She can be all four seasons in just one day
When we left Indy, it was partly cloudy, breezy, and a wonderful 61 deg F. By the time we got to Itasca (at 290 and 355) it was 38 deg F and the falling hail was almost completely horizontal.
Catch and Release
We've had a "population" of chipmunks around the house over the past couple of years and, the occasional hole aside, they've pretty much kept to themselves. Had they maintained the status quo and not tried to move a metric ton of gravel that surrounds the foundation of our house or dig deep into our window wells, I would still be ignoring them (except, perhaps, to watch them nibble on seeds from our trees).
But they did not keep to themselves and did, in fact, decide to dig in all the wrong spots.
So, off to the hardware store for a no-kill trap. While these types of traps do not kill, the name belies my intended usage, which can only be described as: "deferred hawk kill." For you see, I have been releasing these mini excavators to their fate in the hopes that one of the area red tail hawks will have a little extra for lunch.
At the recommendation of the manufacturer I baited the trap with slices of apple which thrilled our many local ant colonies to no end, but did nothing to entice the chipmunks. I moved the trap and baited it with Townhouse (tm) crackers. Bingo.
Wishing to keep the stress levels low, I quickly moved the trap and occupant to the trunk of my car and drove a mile to the east. I dropped the first chipmunk off and he (or she, I didn't look too closely) headed right into the tall grasses near the bike trail.
All told I have trapped four chipmunks with the winning combination of Townhouse cracker and better trap placement. The second two were caught within an hour of each other, and the fourth (a more wily opponent perhaps?) not until Sunday evening.
While a mile away may not be very far (certainly they could find their way back if they wanted to) there exists another challenge: In order to get back to our neighborhood the chipmunks will have to cross about 1/2 a mile of open grass (literally: a sod farm) thus my belief that the local hawks will have a chance to grab an extra meal.
(As an aside, it only /now/ occurs to me that I should have photographed at least one of these captures for nothing more than illustrative purposes for this very blog entry. Oh well, perhaps there are more in the area.)
Homecoming 2008
It's 80 deg. F in October and I wish it could last a little bit longer.
This weekends weather made for a very enjoyable visit to my alma mater. I partook in such hedonistic delights as: regular (not diet) pop and apple pie before lunch. I was out of control, I know, which is why I'm having a salad for lunch today (and not one that has been deep-fried or anything!).
I (nervously) visited the Physics Department for the first time in 10 years and, in the end, it felt really good. Honestly, it felt like I had come home. Change comes subtly to some areas: new computers but the same (reliable and proven) rack of cables hang on the wall of the main lab room. New lights in the stairwells, and a painted walls, but the same doors, same signs, same smells of physics.
I wasn't able, however, to get over to the Geography department. While I was there just a couple years ago to see the new addition dedicated, the timing didn't work out during this visit.
We were able to spend the weekend visiting with a close group of friends all at one location. All 8 children were able to play together and all 10 adults were able to relax and chat. It was a great get together.