Shagbark hickory

Shagbark hickory
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Another look at the shagbark hickory. The leaves are pinnate (i.e. feather-like), with three, five, or seven leaflets.

Shagbark hickory

Shagbark hickory
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Nature lesson for today: This is the trunk of a shagbark hickory tree.

Tank twelve

Total miles: 4413. Trip miles: 394.6. Gallons: 7.163. Price per gallon: $3.139.

Screen mileage: 56.8 mpg. Tank mileage: 55.1 mpg. Tanked up at the usual pump, yesterday.

Trees at Cockaponset State Forest

Trees at Cockaponset State Forest
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I went letterboxing at Cockaponset State Forest today. What a day! Trees. Blue sky. Little puffy clouds. This is heaven!

Engraving

Engraving
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This engraving reads "1924 FMH DEG".

I found it along the white trail at Sleeping Giant, up around the Right Leg. I'd never noticed it before. Is it really from 1924? It does have an authentic look to it...

I finished up "The Table" letterboxing series today. The hardest box was "The Quartz Rock". Reading the description, I was sure that I knew exactly where it should be found, in the vicinity of another letterbox that I've previously discovered. However, the clue mentions a pipe embedded in the rock, and I couldn't find that anywhere... It turned out to be one of those cases where you're so sure, but in fact you're completely wrong. All the more rewarding when you do find it, though!

Purple-flowering raspberry

Purple-flowering raspberry
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

While letterboxing on Sleeping Giant today, I came across this interesting plant. After a bit of hunting, I think I've identified it as a purple-flowering raspberry. It was very attractive to insects. Here, a very small insect is getting drunk on pollen. A larger bee kept hovering around, and would often kick this smaller insect out of the way to start its own frantic pollen harvest.

There are a few of these flowering plants currently blooming along the red circle trail.

View from Giant's shoulder

View from Giant's shoulder
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This was the view at Sleeping Giant this morning. More letterboxing fun today!

Tulip tree above

Tulip tree above
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

If think you've spotted a tulip tree based on its trunk, look up. Here you can see the distinct four-lobe leaves that cinch the identity of this tulip tree.

Ok, that's all for today's nature lesson.

Tulip tree trunk

Tulip tree trunk
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This is the trunk of a tulip tree. Now you can see the corrugated pattern as it runs up and down the tree.

A tulip tree may have several trunks growing up from one central root. In letterboxing, if a tree has two trunks, it may be called a "two-sister" tree. A "four-sister" tree has four trunks, and so on.

Tulip tree bark

Tulip tree bark
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This is the bark of a tulip tree. I put my hand up against it to give a sense of scale. Notice the very distinct ridged pattern, almost corrugated.

The bark alone is not enough to identify the tree for me; I often get it confused with certain oaks. However, you know what you're not looking for - nothing smooth or silvery or partially split.

Tulip tree leaves

Today's letterboxing clue involved seeking out some tulip trees. I found that several people had made comments in the logbooks that they didn't know what a tulip tree was, and therefore had difficulty finding the treasure. Lesson to the wise: read the clues before you set out to make sure that you know what natural features you will be asked to recognize.

So here's a little nature lesson. Tulip trees are particularly recognizable in the summer, because their leaves are so distinctive. These are some tulip tree leaves that have parted with their parent branch. Notice the four pointed lobes to each leaf.

Tulip tree leaf
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

View from spur trail at Spiderweed Preserve

View from spur trail at Spiderweed Preserve
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I went letterboxing at Spiderweed Preserve today. It was a very rewarding experience! Fantastic weather, moderate temperature.

Spiderweed Preserve is a real playground, a pleasure in which to roam. Lots of interesting geological features, massive stone outcroppings and so on. Also has a few interesting ruins - the usual stone walls, a stone foundation, and a falling-down house.

This view was taken from the pegmatite outcrop mentioned in the trail guide (pdf).

Tank eleven

Total miles: 4019. Trip miles: 395.2. Gallons: 7.301. Price per gallon: $3.139.

Screen mileage: 56.6 mpg. Tank mileage: 54.1 mpg. Maybe 50% local, 50% highway? I'm really not sure. I tanked up at the usual pump, today.

Ruins at a waterfall

Ruins at a waterfall
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

More letterboxing today. I sure am hooked! This hobby has me visiting hiking trails that I'd probably never do without the added incentive - the hikes are too short.

This is a view along the trail at the Wallingford Land Trust, Orchard and Spruce Glen area. This shot was taken from the trail, standing on an old stone and concrete bridge that crosses over the stream. I'd love to know the history of this place - why was the bridge built, was there a road here? It's quite close to the Wilbur Cross Parkway. You get a lot of highway noise along the trail, especially in this area.

View from Peter's Rock

View from Peter's Rock
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I went back to Peter's Rock Park to attempt the last two letterboxes - "Rabbit Rock" and "Sachem Montowese" - in the High Point Series, today. Success!

Lovely day today, too. This was the view from Peter's Rock this morning - clear, cool, perfect.

View from Peter's Rock

View from Peter's Rock
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

It was a rainy morning, but I visited Peter's Rock to attempt some letterboxes anyway. I was able to find the "NO ATV-in' please" letterbox, but not the box up near the summit.

Tower at Sleeping Giant

Tower at Sleeping Giant
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I went up to the Tower on Sleeping Giant to collect the "Sleeping Giant/Tower" letterbox today.

It's getting more hot and humid today. But around the intersection of the Tower trail and the white trail there is a blissfully breezy and chilly spot. It's almost like passing through an air-conditioned blast. It was there yesterday, and again today. I'm guessing it has something to do with the large cliff wall to the west, but who knows. Whatever the cause, it's welcome relief on a day like this.

Geodetic survey marker

Geodetic survey marker
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This geodetic survey marker is set into the concrete at the very highest point of the Tower at Sleeping Giant.

It reads:

FOR INFORMATION OR TO REPORT DAMAGE WRITE
THE DIRECTOR
NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY
WASHINGTON, D.C.
REFERENCE MARK
MT CARMEL 2
1940
NO. 3
19[83?]

The Tower is at an elevation of 739 feet above sea level.

Quinnipiac view

Quinnipiac view
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This is a view from the chin of Sleeping Giant, looking at Quinnipiac University, with New Haven on the horizon.

I scored four more letterboxes this morning, all up on Sleeping Giant.

Bears at the park

Bears at the park
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

These are the bears that greet you upon entering Huntington State Park, in Redding, CT. It was a bit of a steamer today, but I had fun letterboxing!

Tank ten

I forgot to record my tenth fill up on Tuesday of this week. Total miles: 3623. Trip miles: 409.8. Gallons: 7.059. Price per gallon: $3.199.

Screen mileage: 56.2 mpg. Tank mileage: 58.1 mpg. Wow! I filled it up at the usual Getty this time. Last time I filled it on the highway at an Exxon. I guess I was doing about 60% highway miles and 40% local.

View from Mica Ledges

View from Mica Ledges
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I took a little hike today, along the Mattabesett. Here is the view from Mica Ledges - a bit hazy, but the breeze kept it cool.

I discovered two letterboxes - "Messenger Vulture" and "Coyote Song". But I couldn't find "Nurses Letterbox", and I only found an empty container where "Oma's Outlook" was supposed to be. That's the first time that I've found one vandalized.

Tower at Sleeping Giant

Tower at Sleeping Giant
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This is a view of the Tower at Sleeping Giant, as you approach it on the blue trail, from the southwest. Today while hiking I found the letterbox up here. I found my first hitchhiker in the letterbox, as well!

Right Hip view

Right Hip view
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This is a view from the Right Hip of Sleeping Giant. Rain threatened, but never arrived. Those are Quinnipiac University buildings in the center, and off in the distance to the SW can be seen the tall buildings of the city of New Haven.

I hiked for about one hour in Sleeping Giant today, and spent another hour hunting for letterboxes. And what a bonanza! I found three: the one at Right Hip, the one at Ned's Cabin, and, finally, the one at Right Leg (third try's the charm). Yes, the letterbox at Right Leg really does exist, although it sure is a stumper.

Water had seeped into the box at Right Hip, and I did my best to dry everything out. There was no ink pad there either, so I used my own.

View from Right Leg

View from Right Leg
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This is a view from the Right Leg of Sleeping Giant, along the white trail. It was humid this morning, but the breezes helped.

Despite 30 minutes of hunting, I was unable to find the letterbox that's supposed to be here. Strike two! I also can't find the letterbox at Hezekiah's Knob.

View from Right Knee

View from Right Knee
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I did about an hour on the white trail at Sleeping Giant today. Humid and buggy. I went hunting for three letterboxes, but only found the one at Right Knee.

View at Sleeping Giant, near Left Hand

View at Sleeping Giant, near Left Hand
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I went for a short hike at Sleeping Giant again, hunting for the "Left Hand" letterbox. It was a bit tough, but I found it! As usual, I was astounded that it was actually still there.

This is a view to the north, from the violet trail, in the vicinity of the Left Hand. The weather was rather humid and hazy.

Paugussett Trail

Paugussett
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Today's hike: 2 h 45 min | 6 mi | 2.2 mph

I had to be in Shelton today, and decided I should take the opportunity to do some letterboxing and hiking in the area. I'm hardly ever over that way.

I picked the Calvin and Hobbes letterboxing set, perfect since it's along the Paugussett. Note: You do not have to park in the Indian Well State Park parking lot, which costs $6, in order to get to the Paugussett trailhead in the vicinity. There is free parking well before you get to that lot, along Indian Well Rd.

When I arrived, I realized I had forgotten my compass. Doh! Despite that, I had very little trouble finding the three letterboxes, aside from an initial red herring. The stamps were adorable!

After collecting my stamps, I kept going north on the Paugussett, all the way to Okenuck Way. At that point, with only a mile to go till the end, I reluctantly turned back, at the command of my stomach. Doh! again, I had neglected to bring sufficient food for a lengthy hike.

The weather was perfect for hiking: crisp, cool, clear. This section of the blue trail is very pleasant. There are a few steep stretches to do but the trail is well maintained. There are a couple of lively brook crossings and several lengthy rock walls along the trail. Most of the trail is shady so you don't have to worry about getting sunburned.

I saw lots of squirrels, chipmunks, and even a couple of deer.

View from Left Knee

Left Knee
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This is a view from the blue trail on the Left Knee at Sleeping Giant. Great weather, a bit cool, blue skies.

I created my very first rubber stamp today, using a Speedball linoleum cutter set and a Speedball Speedy-Cut carving block (which is like a very large vinyl eraser). It was a crude first effort, but I was very eager to get out and do some letterboxing, so I didn't make any refinements.

I went up to the Left Knee, carrying my custom-made stamp, an ink pad, some pens, and a fresh booklet for stamping on. Since the pen in the current letterbox had dried up, I left a new pen there. I got my first stamp and left my own in the letterbox! Very exciting!

Tank nine

Ninth fill-up yesterday. Total miles: 3214. Trip miles: 410.8. Gallons: 7.428. Price per gallon: $3.109.

Screen mileage: 56.1 mpg. Tank mileage: 55.3 mpg.

Most of the driving was done on the highway at 65 mph. Temperatures were generally high, in the seventies.

Friendly deer

Friendly deer
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Today, I met the friendly deer, hanging out in her usual place. I tried to get a good photo, but she was in constant motion, eating and shaking off flies.

And I met a friendly woman with her friendly, well-behaved dog. The woman asked me: "Are you happy?". I replied: "yes!".

Letterbox at left knee

Letterbox at left knee
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I went letterboxing today. I was afraid all the letterboxes would be gone because the spec I was using was a few years old, but at the 3rd site where I looked (the "left hand" of the Giant), I found this letterbox. I'm afraid I'm hooked.

The letterbox text says: "You've found a letterbox! Please don't destroy or move it. Instead, leave us a note. Then rehide it all back in the same place for the next person. Thanks! More info at: www.letterboxing.org"

Deer at Sleeping Giant

Deer at Sleeping Giant
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Today I spotted several deer along the trails at Sleeping Giant, including a deer with her fawn. This particular deer didn't appear to be too alarmed by my presence.

I also saw a turkey, and the woods were alive with chipmunks and squirrels.

Sleeping Giant view

View from an unmarked trail
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Another nice hike today! This is a view from an unmarked trail on the Giant.

View from Hezekiah's Knob

View from Hezekiah's Knob
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Wonderful hiking weather today, maybe a little hot but not very humid.

Aim high

My brother gave me a Dyna-Flex PowerBall last year, but I haven’t used it much, for no good reason. Who wouldn’t want to work with this thing? It’ll give you fingers of steel, and you’ll be climbing walls like Spidey in no time.

Yesterday, I started playing with it again. I’m getting it up to just about 6000 RPM. Is 10K RPM out of reach? Maybe, but I hope not!

See more progress on: Get My Powerball to 10,000 RPM

Fortune cookie

No man will work for your interests unless they are his

You can say that again!

May - Confessions of a Street Addict

I just finished reading "Confessions of a Street Addict" by James J. Cramer.

This book is a good counterpoint to Nicholas Maier’s Trading with the Enemy (which I read last March). It is well-written, very detailed, and portrays Cramer in a more even-tempered way. He may throw bottled drinks at his employees and make them wear post-its on their foreheads, but when you get the story from the horse’s mouth, it doesn’t seem like he’s that bad of a guy. And even as he’s busy making everyone surrounding him miserable, there’s no one in the place more miserable than he is, himself. The reporting of his aggravation at the revolving management at TheStreet.com is worth the price of the book.

We are also treated to various nuggets of market wisdom. For example:

On the dot-com craze, p. 238-239:

The public, with high job growth, and lots of 401(k) money to put to work, needed stock to invest in.... Put simply, there wasn't enough public equity to go around, particularly dotcom paper, to equal all of the cash looking for a home.

And further on p. 304:

Major companies, valued in the billions of dollars, visited my office and when closely questioned knew nothing about their own business or the way analysts categorized them. Anything went. Capitalism unbounded and unrestrained.

Yes, quotes like these, coupled with his own stories of what seem a lot like market manipulation to my naive ears, make me want to put all of my cash into government bonds. Oh wait, they're crooks too.

See more progress on: Read one book a month

High water

High water
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Today's hike: 2 h | 4.8 mi | 2.4 mph

I went for a hike along the Quinnipiac Trail, starting at Chestnut Lane in Sleeping Giant Park and hiking down to Quinnipiac River State Park.

According to The Connecticut Walk Book West, p 223, "parts of the trail are overgrown with brambles and poison ivy that can be impenetrable during late spring and summer when growth is lush." You can say that again! I'm not allergic to poison ivy (knock on wood), or I never would have attempted this section - it is loaded with that plant. On top of that, trees have fallen over, blocking the path, and there are sections of the trail where you really could use a machete. I'm going to have to do a thorough tick inspection.

After hiking for about 30 minutes south of Toelles Rd, I came to this deep stream (could this be Pine Brook? There's supposed to be a bridge at Pine Brook). I didn't see any way around it, so I turned around. I was hoping to complete the Quinnipiac Trail today, but it'll have to wait.

Pink lady's-slippers

Pink lady's-slippers
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

These pink lady's-slippers are currently in bloom at Sleeping Giant. They're on the yellow trail, very close to where the blue trail crosses it, just off Chestnut Lane.

Am I the only one who finds these flowers a bit, uh, suggestive?

Shrimp fried rice

In my experience, the Chinese takeouts in suburbia serve some pretty unappealing stuff. This shrimp fried rice is an example of the weirdness: Where's the egg? Isn't fried rice supposed to contain egg? And why does it look all orangey-yellow, as if someone snuck in some saffron (or yellow #5)?

I can't complain too much, because the shrimp was cooked to perfection. I also got some broccoli with garlic sauce, which was tolerable - the broccoli was not overcooked, still bright green, but the sauce was too oily and insufficiently hot and spicy.

Tank eight

Eighth fill up yesterday. Total miles: 2803. Trip miles: 414.5. Gallons: 8.77. Price per gallon: $3.279. This was at a Hess station on Long Island.

Screen mileage: 54.0 mpg. Tank mileage: 47.2 mpg. Can't explain the difference here.

Lots of highway miles. One ugly traffic jam.

Tank seven

Seventh fill-up yesterday. Total miles: 2388. Trip miles: 410.4. Gallons: 7.843. Price per gallon: $3.139.

Screen mileage: 53.8 mpg. Tank mileage: 52.3 mpg. Same as last time!

Most of the mileage was done on highway trips, 55 to 65 mph. Lots of family events going on, so I'm driving all over creation.

Tynan Park connector

Tynan Park detour
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This is where the new Tynan Park connector comes in. It is at the north end of the Higby Mountain section of the Mattabesett, as you approach Country Club Rd.

I kept following the blue blazes, rather than going to Tynan Park, because I was curious about the state of the main trail. At this time, it's a bit rutted, messy, and muddy, with trees sometimes blocking the trails. Presumably this is blowdown, but maybe it's due to logging activity.

You can see evidence that a tractor has been through this area; the woods road has deep ruts that couldn't have been made by an ATV. And indeed once you get to Country Club Rd, you find the tractor itself.

Black Pond

Black Pond
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Yesterday's hike: 3 h 25 min | 8.2 mi | 2.4 mph

I did the Higby Mountain section of the Mattabesett, starting from the parking lot on Rt 66 and going all the way to the Country Club Rd exit and back. I did this section last August, from the opposite direction.

Although the view was a bit hazy, the afternoon was cool, perfect for hiking. I pushed myself to get through the entire section as quickly as I could because I didn't really have as much time as I needed.

In the foreground here is Cockaponset State Forest, with a glimpse of Black Pond in the back, beyond Rt 66.

Cherry trees

Cherry trees
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

It was a gray morning, threatening rain. I took this photo along one of the main streets in my town. A few of the streets are lined with cherry trees, which put up a pretty display every spring. They're starting to fade now.

Actually, I'm not completely sure that they are cherry trees, but I think they are.

Mattabesett is open to hikers

Recently I posted about some no-trespassing signs at the Country Club Rd entrance to the Mattabesett trail. I contacted the CFPA and got a reply from Theresa Peters, who gave me the good news: the trail is open to hikers. Here's what she said:

Actually, the City of Middletown was (overzealously) posting the signs to ward off ATV riders. Unfortunately, the wording of the signs also scares the hikers. Hiking is allowed, the blazes in that area have been refreshed.
...
As a general rule, when a trail is closed to hikers, the blazes get blacked out with black paint and Trail Closed signs get posted and our website will have a trail closure notice on it.

She mentioned that there's a new connector trail in the area:

This spring, a new connector trail opened that links Tynan Park (on Higby Road) to the Mattabesett Trail. It is more scenic to park at Tynan Park and take the blue/red connector trail and link to the Mattabesett Trail that way, than it is to park at Country Club Road and use the section to the south which is not so scenic (ATV ruts and illegal dumping).

Thanks for this info and the rapid response, Theresa! I'm very glad that the trail is still open, and I'll try the Tynan Park connector next time I'm in the area.

Tank six

Sixth fill-up yesterday. Total miles: 1978. Trip miles: 364.6. Gallons: 6.906. Price per gallon: $3.109.

Screen mileage: 52.8 mpg. Tank mileage: 52.3 mpg.

Note that I filled up at a different from usual gas station so the tank measurements could be off.

I think well over half the mileage was done on highway trips, between 55 and 65 mph.

Chauncey Peak

Fortunately, I was more interested in hiking up to Chauncey Peak, at the other end of Country Club Rd, and I could avoid any questions of trespassing.

As usual, I stopped by for a look at the old engravings on the cliffs overlooking the quarry. I was disturbed to find that some of them have been newly defaced by some moron with a can of spray paint. In particular, my favorite engraving, done by the Cosmopolitan Club in 1875, has been partially obscured. Hopefully the paint will fade quickly. While it's true that the engravings are, in some sense, a form of graffiti themselves, they now wear the patina of history, which gives them special status. Well, unless they're fake, of course. I'd love to find some verification that the engravings are genuine.


View of Crescent Lake aka Bradley Hubbard Reservoir

Mattabesett

Nice day for a hike, if a bit windy.

Billy pointed out that there are now no-trespassing signs posted by the city at the entrance to the Mattabesett trail, off Country Club Rd. I had to go check it out.

Indeed, there are now a couple of big old signs that read "NO TRESPASSING PRIVATE PROPERTY NO ATV RIDING ALLOWED PER CITY ORDINANCE 285-22". Apparently this is a reference to Middletown ordinance 285-22 [PDF], forbidding the use of motor scooters and the like on public property. I don't understand the application of that particular ordinance here, because so far as I can tell, the ordinance has to do with public property, whereas the sign says this is private property.

.

Aside from that quibble, the sign is confusing and annoying for anyone coming in on foot. Does "no trespassing" apply only to motorized vehicles, or is the blue trail itself blocked here? There are new blue blazes in the immediate vicinity of the no trespassing signs; you can see them in this photo. The signs were not there last summer, and I'm pretty sure that at least some of the blue blazes are new, too.

This requires further investigation.

Crabapple flowers close up

Crabapple flowers
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Crabapple flowers

Crabapple trees
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

Flowering crabapple trees

Crabapple trees
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This is a grove of crabapple trees flowering now, on the Mattabesett trail, just off Mt. Pisgah.

Crabapple trees

Crabapple trees
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I took a short hike along the Mattabesett today, on the section north of Cream Pot Road, up to Mt. Pisgah. The sky was ominous, but it never rained.

This is a view along the trail. I believe these flowering trees are crabapples.

Food for the week

Over the last year or two, I've mostly been brown-bagging my lunch to work. I've been a lazy brown-bagger; mostly I'd dump half a can of soup into a microwaveable container, grab a cup of yogurt and a snack, and I'd be done. Since I work in an office with a fridge and a microwave, eating lunch at my desk is all too easy.

Maybe it's just a phase, but for the last couple weeks, I've gone back to cooking meals in one huge batch and bringing individual servings to work for lunch. I really don't like cooking. My motivation for doing this was to try to get more green leafy vegetables into my diet, and to eat less salt (canned soup is far too salty in general).

This week's recipe:
1 large bunch of organic red chard - $2.87
2 15 oz cans Eden Organic chick-peas (garbanzo beans) - $3.60
1 15 oz jar Ethnic Gourmet Punjab Saag Spinach Sauce - $3.60
8 new potatoes (small potatoes) - $1.00

This is a sort of stew so it doesn't matter too much how you cook things, but I did it like this:

• Cook the chard in a large pot till tender (about 30-45 mins), meanwhile microwave the potatoes till barely tender (10 mins).
  
• Remove chard from pot, leaving remaining liquid in the pot. I didn't dry off the chard after rinsing it clean to begin with, so there was a lot of liquid, maybe 2 cups.
  
• Add Spinach Sauce to the liquid in the pot, bringing to simmer.
  
• Add potatoes and chick-peas to the pot, let simmer 10 minutes.
  
• Add chard to pot. Stir. Done.
  

Prep time: about 30 minutes. Cooking time: about 30 minutes. Servings: 6-8. Cost per serving: about $1.60.

I've frozen the extra servings for use over the next week or two, since I don't like eating the same thing day in and day out. I felt a little trepidation before trying it, but it worked out really well - flavorful, not excessively salty. Quite nice.

Why I recommend "Breakfast of Champions"

Breakfast of Champions

by Kurt Vonnegut

I finished reading Breakfast of Champions, which is a deeply sad book. Wiki describes it as satire. I suppose there’s some humor here, but in general what I find is a well of despair. I have to give it two thumbs up for just how painfully despairing Vonnegut was able to make it. It is populated with characters who are filled with “bad chemicals” and who lack free will. Here’s a snippet:

“Listen: Bunny’s mother and my mother were different sorts of human beings, but they were both beautiful in exotic ways, and they both boiled over with chaotic talk about love and peace and wars and evil and desperation, of better days coming by and by, of worse days coming by and by. And both our mothers committed suicide. Bunny’s mother ate Drāno. My mother ate sleeping pills, which wasn’t nearly as horrible.”

And so on.

See more about Breakfast of Champions

Tank the fifth

Fifth fill-up today. Total miles: 1613. Trip miles: 387.2. Gallons: 7.653. Price per gallon: $2.939.

Screen mileage: 53.8 mpg. Tank mileage: 50.6 mpg.

The weather is warming up. I had a few highway trips on this tank.

After filling up, I drove the car to work, which is about a 15-20 minute 7.5 mile trip. When I reached work, the screen claimed I had averaged 66 mpg, which seemed too good to be true. Indeed after a couple of more trips to work, it's now down to about 53 mpg again.

Breakfast of Champions

Last week, Kurt Vonnegut died. I'm reading Breakfast of Champions in memoriam.

I really want to like his work. I've read a couple of his books: Galápagos and Slaughterhouse-Five, with mixed results. I'm giving him another whirl.

Tank number four

Fourth fill-up today. Total miles: 1226. Trip miles: 266.0. Gallons: 5.738. Price per gallon: $2.899.

Screen mileage: 47.7 mpg. Tank mileage: 46.3 mpg.

Temps went south for a while. Spring went back into hibernation.

Immediately after filling up the tank I made a highway trip of 155 miles. The screen tells me I did 54.6 mpg for that trip, which is quite pleasant. I wish I'd get better city mileage.

Third tank

Third fill-up for the new Prius today. Total miles: 960. Trip miles: 334.2. Gallons: 6.918. Price per gallon: $2.819.

Screen mileage: 49.4 mpg. Tank mileage: 48.3 mpg.

I made two longer distance trips on this tank (more than 30 minutes). Most trips were under 30 minutes, mainly back and forth to work. I bet the increased mileage is due to an increase in temperature. Spring has sprung.

Fill 'er up

Yesterday was my second fill-up: 7.231 gallons with a trip odometer reading 298.3 miles for a "tank mpg" of 41.3 mpg. The "consumption screen" claimed 45.5 mpg for a total of 297 miles. Um, I don't think so??

This last tank included a highway trip, doing speeds as high as 65 mph. It also included a day when I had to shovel the car out from under a load of icy snow, while the car sat still for 20 minutes burning gas to run the front and rear defrosters. All things considered, not too bad.

Now that the weather is warming up it will be interesting to see if the mileage improves.

A review of "Dead Like Me - The Complete Second Season"

Dead Like Me - The Complete Second Season

by Tony Westman

The series Dead Like Me is a real gem; the first season was good and the second season even better. Very witty, well-written, with great performances by all the actors! The plotlines were often a bit weak in the first season, but were gradually improving. However, I enjoyed the acting and character development so much that a weak plot didn’t matter. It’s a pity that Dead Like Me was cancelled. It was one of those rare shows that make television worth watching.

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Passed by the Rising Sun Tavern

I was unaware that there was a building in North Haven that was in the National Register of Historic Places, until I saw the Rising Sun Tavern listed in 43places.

So I went by there today. It looks like you can’t go inside but it was fun to see it from the outside!

Why is this building of historical significance? Good question.

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