fuck you, Republicans

The Democrats introduced a bill to provide permanent health care funding for responders to the 9/11 attacks. After all these years, many of them still suffer from respiratory ailments. The aim was to pay for this by closing a loophole that prevents offshore corporations from paying tax on income earned in the US.

Republicans voted it down on grounds that it was being pad for by a tax increase.

wildlife

Heard some sandhill cranes flying nearby this morning (and saw them a week or so ago). A little while later, caught a tiger swallowtail. Saw a bat in the yard last night. Accidentally killed a mouse in the lawn. Lots of dragonflies around. Had a cute little grey bird living in the forsythias. Have another one of those yellow/white and black spiders (tonight, it was resting in its web with its belly outward). Goldfinches abound. As mentioned a couple weeks ago, I saw a pair of great blue herons nearby, and a screech owl. And a black swallowtail. On the other hand, I haven't seen any turkeys, deer or coyotes around this year.

an old friend

My friend Phil moved to the Twin Cities several years ago. We all have kept in touch with him pretty well to some degree or another, but it seems like I haven't been as close with him in the last year or two. So it was nice to get a call from him suggesting we get together when he was in town last night. Usually, a bunch of us have some kind of get-together when he's in town, which is nice, but you can't really connect. So last night, we sat in the Ale House for five and a half hours. It was nice to be able to catch up, and find out what's really going on with him. And fun talking about old times, and whatever's going on these days. Jobs, kids, camping, cars, football, concerts, gaming...