hookem2010

They used to be restricted to south Texas, but their range has been steadily moving northward. Even in DFW, they're somewhat regular now.

Found a really good migrant for central Texas today in MacGillivray's warbler. I also found the gas company cutting a wide path through this particular stretch of woods during peak migration and early nesting season. Fuckers.

Yep, falcons that really just want to be vultures

We've chose the FAFO approach. It's a bold strategy. I've become quite the curmudgeon about basically everything, although I've learned to keep most of my thoughts in my head to prevent everyone around me from being miserable. My inner monologue goes something like "Do we really need another strip center? Why are there so many giant goddamn pickup trucks? What is the purpose of planting a bunch of non-native grass just to pay people to use gas-chugging mowers and weedeaters to cut it every week? Why is there so much shit in my own house? Does everything need to come in plastic? Why are we all getting a bunch of bullshit delivered to our front door in 3 extra layers of packaging? Is it so hard to have recycling bins available? Oh yea, because people can't even be trusted to walk 3 feet to throw something in a trash can when they can just leave it at there feet." It would be nice if we as a society showed some urgency in solving any of the myriad issues contributing to climate change, but having stuff and never being inconvenienced are what we value most.

Since she likes writing stories, she should author a terrifying children's tale in which she is the monster. "Eat your veggies and brush your teeth or the Noem will drag you to the pit and put two in your head."

I came here to post this. They were definitely there in the late 2000s. Seems a bit more disruptive and disturbing to me than people walking down the street chanting.

Don't worry, guys. I already sent my angry email to the president. He is NOT going to like waking up to that! In all honesty, I imagine he is having a really bad time now, which gives me at least some solace. Or maybe he is as shameless as the entire GOP, idk.

I'm just glad all those students didn't have their classes disrupted thanks to the efficient, quiet, subtle actions of law enforcement in dispersing the protesters. I'm sure campus will return to its former serenity as finals approach. Imagine the chaos had the protest been allowed to ensue!

The saga continues! I've got the top done, except for sanding and painting shelves. Still have all the bottom doors/drawers to do, but painting the boxes moved pretty quick up top, so should have that done on the bottom by early next week. Also, anyone have experience installing floating shelves onto tile backsplash? Is it as simple as having the proper drill bit, going slow and keeping it wet?

There was some additional land set aside in Texas recently, too. https://www.kcbd.com/2024/04/16/biden-administration-announces-texas-wildlife-refuge-expansions/

I hope I can find an area team in Round Rock a couple years from now. They were great, cheap swim lessons as a kid and I always loved the meets.

We already had new counters and backsplash installed last year. Thought we could live without the cabinet update but they made everything still look dated

Sanding actually going faster than expected. Just have the little peninsula left to do. And all the shelves, lower doors and drawers. And painting. But at least my kitchen will be back to semi-functional, if empty, soon enough.

That episode kicked ass. I really spoiled myself watching it and the final 2 episodes of Fargo S5 in a 24 hour span.

Eh, it's doing the job so far. I'm sure I'll have no issues keeping it in place when my toddler gets home.

I wish i enjoyed this shit. I feel like I just built myself a prison cell for the next few weeks.

I've thought about it, but I think we're OK in that regard. Again, in a number of settings, he will interact perfectly normally. He just seems to be very shy and is also hitting peak tantrum right now. A month ago, he didn't act this way.

It doesn't seem to be attention-seeking. Usually happens immediately upon entering an environment he's not feeling or as soon as people come into his space. Worst around a dinner table for some reason, I guess if he feels stuck in one spot near other people. I think he is just painfully shy, but he makes it pretty painful for everyone around him.

Anyone deal with their very little ones having social anxiety resulting in crazy tantrums? Our 22 month-old goes to daycare and does just fine. He can go play at a crowded park and is OK. He can go out to eat with just us or fly on a plane. But if we go out to eat with other people where there is any extended interaction with someone else, or have people over that he isn't very familiar with, it's meltdown city. Screaming, crying, arching his back, smacking his head on the ground. He is developing language just fine. He can interact appropriately with kids at daycare, or the caregivers there, or us. But throw him in a room with anyone who isn't family or daycare, and he loses his shit. It's get super frustrating.

That is an epic cross-racial doppelganger.

Spring migration is finally underway and should be peaking in about 3 weeks here in central Texas. A few good things pushed down by the storms yesterday, including several hundred Franklin's gulls, and these long-billed dowitchers. An eastern screech owl also recently cooperated as I fumbled to get my phone to my bins for pictures.

Clouds cleared up about 15 minutes before totality in 78665. Then, right before totality, a big, thick cloud rolled in for 3 minutes. Not cool

Big break in clouds here in Round Rock.