Was Our Warm Winter My Fault?

The FUN stuff of summer.

I don't like the cold weather. I don't like the darkness. In fact, there is very little that I do like about winter, except, perhaps, that the grass doesn't need to be mowed and most of the bugs are inactive. I do, however, realize the value of winter in terms of slowing down germs and viruses as well as holding down the population of those previously mentioned bugs.

Yesterday, I basked in the sun on an unusually warm March day, remembering that in June I couldn't even sit on my deck without gallons of bug repellent. Yes, the warm days of winter were truly wonderful bug-less treats.

My reverie was interrupted by something buzzing around my head. I opened my eyes to see a lone fly circling me. Well, flies can be found any time of year, I told myself. Then I noticed that all around my yew tree was a thick mist of gnats - pests I don't normally see until late spring.

It was then that the horrible realization came to me. A warm winter surely means a bumper crop of pests in the yard, all of them trying to get into the house. It means daylight mosquito bites and wasp nests inside screen doors. It means swatting gnats in March.

New Jersey is surely going to pay for this past mild winter. What we saved in rocksalt we are going to spend on bug repellent. And I think it may be my fault. It is quite possible that the nuclear-reactor type hot flashes I have been having on a daily basis this winter actually raised the average temperature of the entire state. If we have record-breaking heat this summer, you'll know why. I apologize in advance.

Retrieval Artist #8 - "Anniversary Day" by Kristine Katherine Rusch

Anniversary Day by Kristine Katherine Rusch

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Retrieval Artist series is by far my favorite set of audiobooks, both because of the exciting and intricate storylines, but also because of the superior narration of Jay Snyder. A new Retrieval Artist audiobook means I'll be listening every chance I get - in the car, in the bath, while eating lunch at the office.

Anniversary Day continues the interwoven story of the future colonized moon, as well as its place in the greater Earth Alliance. What is especially appealing about this series is how each book builds on the previous ones, creating one long tale of not only retrieval artist Miles Flint, but also the stories of those who has worked with or crossed paths with. In Anniversary Day, he is not really the lead story, but his involvement is critical. We spend a lot of time with Bernard Nyquist, whom we've previously met. We also get glimpses of life in other areas, other domes, of the moon besides Armstrong as the entire moon, and perhaps the entire Earth Alliance faces a crisis of incomprehensible magnitude.

I will now be waiting impatiently for number 9!





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Giant Rats? And it's a GOOD thing?

When John Platt writes an article about ecology, conservation and general animal welfare, I pay attention. He knows his stuff. Last week I cried over his article about rhinos who are attacked for their horns, then left to die, bleeding and mutilated.  Other times, his stories bring a smile when we learn about a species making a comeback, or a habitat being protected. However, today his article touches on a subject often discussed here at Roderama — mainly rats and the other small furry ones around us.

I've written about the rat experiments that humanize them to an uncomfortable degree, rats that have outsmarted scientists and the rats that, every so often try to share my home. What I have never written about is the rat-as-food although I do know that occasionally someone on "Survivor" might consider preparing one for dinner.  Honestly, a rat would have to be a meal of desperation, even the biggest rats I've ever encountered wouldn't be much of a meal.

That is what I thought until John's article. While rats as big as cats are an urban legend in cities, they are apparently really alive and kicking in other parts of the world. Called "cane rats" or "grasscutter rats," these native-to-Africa rats are apparently large enough to be considered "mini livestock," suitable for farm raising as an alternate meat source. One of the challenges, apparently is understanding "grasscutter reproduction."

A little rat research into experiments previously covered in this blog will reveal the "drive female rats mad for sex" drug. A little of that and we can have all the giant rats we want. I can't wait to see the recipes that will be featured on The Food Channel.

John Platt's original article

Some Bumps in the Road at MidLife

I've been quiet about it, preferring to pretend it hadn't got me, or at least that it wasn't bothering me. For quite a while, that was really true. I am six years past the average onset, and was feeling somewhat invincible, even immortal. There were some signs, a drenching sweat while doing a photo shoot for an annual report back in 2006; something I chalked up to thyroid issues because it only happened the one time. (and it still may have been thyroid related, these things are woven together). However, as of 2012, there is no ignoring it. The 18-wheeler truck carrying my order of menopause has run me over like a bug on the highway.

Contrary to the impression I had always had about how this "life transition" took place, things did not gently slow down to a stop. My body slammed on the brakes with little warning. After a couple of months I thought that was easy. Then truck #2 came into town, and this one was piled high with surprise gifts. First are the proverbial hot flashes, which come in two styles —drenching night sweats and desert dry day saunas. I wake up in bed, treading water in the fluids generated by my own body. Some days it actually feels like I am back in the August Arizona desert, shirtless and hatless. My skin feels as if it could burst into flames at any moment.

The second surprise is something that has been called the "menopot." Ever since having 3 C-sections, I have had the C-pot, but now, suddenly, there is a twin to it, sitting on top of it, and growing at an alarming rate. Since I've lost weight in my extremities, I find myself fast approaching a body type more suitable to an M&M. Other gifts include my thin, fine hair becoming thinner and finer while bold dark hairs have started sprouting on my cheeks and chin. It's a lovely picture isn't it? The newfound fear of shriveling up like a raisin has sent to the cosmetic counter, looking for a 55 gallon drum of something I can dip my whole body in.

Call me a vain Babyboomer if you want. But I am not going gently. I'm too busy growing, reinventing myself, and enjoying life to get stuck in traffic on Menopause Lane. This is not the end of the road, just a shift in gears.

Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel present "Lunatics"

Lunatics: A Novel by Dave Barry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The audio version of the book starts out with the two main characters yelling at each other over how many people, groups, countries, and other entities they need to apologize to. It is a high volume profanity-laced intro that was a bit off-putting at first. However, once the book started and I realized who each character was (meaning who Dave Barry was portraying and who Alan Zweibel was portraying) I was able to settle in and enjoy their ridiculously far-fetched, over-the-top tale. To try and describe it would be to do it a disservice. Madcap is a word that comes to mind - and that is a word that seldom comes to mind in this day and age.



Having read almost everything ever written by Dave Barry, I noticed that he took the opportunity to work in some of his favorite subjects - children's organized sports,dance recitals, low-flush toilets and disgusting bodily function scenarios - to name a few. There is some voice talent utilized to represent various news reporters and outlets and accents galore as this pair of nincompoops (another word that rarely comes to mind) manage to obliviously stumble their way through a world of trouble. And I'd say they come out smelling like roses, but that would not be the smell you will associate with them once you listen to this audiobook.



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The Giveaways of "Treading Water" Continue!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Treading Water

by Noreen Braman

Giveaway ends March 29, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Living On the smile Side of Life - 4 Week Class Monroe Township

Research has shown that laughter is not only fun, it is good for you. It reduces stress, relieves pain and increases the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream. Come and explore the health benefits of laughter through interactive presentations, laughter exercises, breathing techniques and more with Noreen Braman.

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