Life returns....

....to normal. Well, life really has returned to its pre-trip state. I am trying to decide where to go from here with the blog. I originally started the blog to stay connected with people whilst traveling, so now that I am home I wonder what I should do with this site. I think I would like to keep it going. Maybe I could have several topics to work with each day and post something about either photography, birds, nature, perhaps some cooking or recipe ideas, but I haven't quite worked out the details yet and so I am struggling to entertain you at the moment. If you guys have any suggestions or ideas please chirp up!

I have been keeping busy going through all of the photos from the trip to Nova Scotia, New Bruswick, PEI, Maine and Massachusetts, so the blog has really been moved to the back burner. I am attaching this photo of a Barred Owl I took a couple years ago out here in the front field. This guy was a wonderfully pleasant surprise. I hope you enjoy him too.

Blog Statistics

If it is teal, it is a link, so you can click it and go directly to that post (if you are so inclined). 

I enjoy checking the blog statistics and so I thought I would share a few with you. This one always surprises me. The number one viewed post on my blog is: (1) Blog Blogging, which blows the competition out of the water. It isn't even close to the runner up which is (2) Peggy's Cove, a wonderful day with friends, followed by (3)Jump , a local show review, then (4) Toothpaste: A Choking Hazard? (my very first post and one of my personal favorites), (5) Rooster or Hen? - in the top 5 seriously? I chalk that one up to the number of people Googling "cock" out there! I used to do that when someone at work would leave their desk and forget to secure their computer. Bet some of you are still wondering what that damn chicken is! You will know soon, I promise. Then (6) The Pearl Truck followed by (7) Dear Mr. Bloomberg   which reminds me - I am still waiting to hear back from Mayor Bloomberg (maybe I should send a follow-up email?). (8) The Canadian Gang -  what a good looking group, eh?(9) Beech Forest, Provincetown always a lot of fun and (10) Back on the Maine-Land. Those are NOT necessarily my personal favorites. They are the posts with the highest number of views to date. I don't expect that these will always remain the same, so I will update these statistics for you from time to time. A couple of my favorite posts were The Original Big Gulp (a true story from my childhood) and Acadia National Park for the photos.....and of course there are many more, so please feel free to read them all and comment as often as you like. Comments come directly to me via email, as they are written, so you can leave comments on older posts if you wish, I will get them and they will appear on the recent comment list in the right hand collumn of the blog page as soon as the comment gadget updates! I always read and enjoy your comments and appreciate your taking the time to do so.

My very favorite part, of the blog statistics, is the snap shots taken of you guys reading my blog! You really should turn your cameras off and/or away when not in use. Those photos are priceless! 

Ok seriously -- I'm just joking! There are no photos of you guys reading my blog. But I am chuckling to myself wondering how many of you just checked your camera! Actually, the statistics are pretty generic. They don't tell me who is reading and much to my dismay there are no photo snap-shots of your oddly contorted, consternated faces staring at the computer screen! The statistics do reveal that most of you are reading at work, during the work week and that your network administrators are taking notes! Wow statistics now show everybody has suddenly logged off!

For those of you statistics indicate are ONLY looking at the pictures: This one's for you! No particular rhyme or reason, just a random photo I selected from my computer. This was shot at White River Gardens, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Blog Blogging

Everything I have ever done really well, was a struggle for me. I still get it wrong more than I get it right - and I am certain that my blogs will exemplify that fact. I'm not afraid of getting it wrong. In fact, getting it wrong provides an infinite supply of fodder for the stories that you all enjoy, like 'The Great Kroger, Coca Cola Debacle of 2009'. If I ever find a way to tell that story, without the expletives, I just might blog about it!

A little blog trivia for you: Chipz was a nickname first coined by a close friend of mine. Quipz should be self explanatory, but I know there are IU grads reading this, so allow me to explain. Quipz stems from quip; a clever comment or sarcastic remark. "Life at Mach 3, Without Safety Restraints" is a tag line I penned to infer a life lived dangerously. On the edge. Just flying by the seat of my pants at mach speeds, which may actually be more truth than inference.

I started this blog, for the opportunity to learn something new, to express myself, to be creative, to share with you, to make you smile, to make you laugh, maybe make you cry and maybe even make you think (ok, scratch that last one). And for some of you out there, maybe even make you piddle yourself. Don't worry! I am not pointing fingers here, but I may use that photo you sent to my cell phone, for an evidentiary blog someday;) I hope you enjoy my blogs, but if you don't, unlike in person, you can shut me up with the click of a button;)

Thank you to those of you who have taken the time to read my posts and provide me with feedback. You have been a tremendous help. I have also enjoyed the examples of other wonderful blogs that you guys have shared. I can only hope to aspire to such greatness. Please visit often and don't be afraid to leave comments. I do enjoy the banter.

Special thanks to my number one fan, promoter and partner! I love sharing my life with a woman who enjoys my quirky sense of humor, gets my jokes (after only the third or fourth explanation), and is always first in line with a pat on the back (when I'm choking on toothpaste). I love you dear!