Thursday, July 3, 2014

It's Been a Year

Almost exactly one year ago I went with my father out into the country on his traditional 4th of July celebration with several of his friends. They shoot-off skyrockets and blow up various items with fireworks, some of them rather large, homemade fireworks. I met a guy there; Dan. He was a really nice guy and we carried on a relatively brief but enjoyable, and at times highly energetic relationship. There are times when I sometimes think of him. I find it hard to believe that it was a year ago.

Yesterday evening my father called me and asked me if I wanted to go with him again this year. He quickly assured me that Dan would not be there. When I still hesitated a bit, he barked, "Katie, we really want you to be in attendance", I kind of giggled and agreed. It's nice to be wanted, such as it is.

So tomorrow morning I will set my alarm to 7AM when I will rise, consume some breakfast, and then drive over to my parents' where my father and I will travel together out to a farm for the annual event. I will likely see the demise of some toy cars and/or boats, a Barbie Doll or two, and some functional but expendable electronic devices. There's nothing quite so oddly entertaining as the sound of Glen Beck's voice being abruptly silenced by a small explosion.   

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Sparkly Evenings

If anyone cares anything concerning wildlife, this is a banner year for at least one species of firefly, and their flashing activity is just peaking this week. I do not know much about fireflies other than there are thousands of species worldwide, many of them in the United States. I also know that depending on the species, there are different flashing patterns, different times of the evening when they flash, and even different heights off the ground when they most often flash. In fact, some species actually do not flash and are technically not fireflies, although they are biologically classieifed as such.

Anyway, the firefly species that have been putting on a show lately seem to peak about an hour or so after sunset. They seem to be at their most abundant over seldom-mowed grassy, weedy fields. They have a twinkling type of flash rather than a longer, blinking flash. If you find the right location where they are abundant, and just stare at their show, it really is pretty incredible. It might be worth a trip outside some evening soon, and maybe even a short trip in a car, especially if you had an urge to go out for ice cream anyway.