Call Me Bat Girl

This past weekend, I took a class at Como Zoo about BATS!

Why bats? Because I had to take a class to renew my teaching license and I didn't want to take another Classroom Management type class.

Plus, I love Steph (the teacher) and all the classes at Como Zoo.

Here are 5 Bat Class Take-Aways.

1. Something I thought I'd never hear myself say:

"That bat is soooo cute!"

- Most bats = not so cute. Some bats (Flying Foxes/Fruit Bats, think Stellaluna) like this one are very cute!

2. Something I thought I'd never do (or enjoy):

Geocaching

- Steph had us go geocaching with a GPS and a "Bat Capture Data Form." We probably walked about a mile. I had to take off my three inch platform sandals and walk barefoot. Thank goodness for nice weather!

3. Something I didn't know:

Minnesota has 7 species of bats

- None are the cute kind. But they are FABULOUS because they eat lots of bugs and help pollinate plants. Be nice to our bats. They rock!

4. Something I'm glad is a myth:

Bats do NOT want to fly into my hair

- People usually stand under a light at night. Bugs like light. Bats like bugs. Thus, bats sometimes fly toward our heads. Not because they want to get stuck in our hair. Because they want to eat the bugs!

5. Something that is hard to believe, but true:

Bats are not flying mice. They are most closely related to LEMURS! (huh?)

- Yes, bats are closer to lemurs (as in cute Madagascar primates) than anything else. But really, bats are their own unique kind of mammal.

BAT PHOTOS:

Cliff, the Fruit Bat, visited us during class. Cliff (at 20 years-old) is a senior citizen and retired from his Como Zoo duties. We're glad he was up for a visit.

See his little furry fox face? And his cute little ears?

Thus, my comment, "He is sooo cute!"

But despite his cuteness, bats do not make good pets. Really, no wild animal does. Pythons, Lions, Wolves, Bears. Not such a good idea. Although some dummies try it. I say, stick to cats, dogs, and hamsters. They're even cuter than bats!

Road Trip - Day 2: Handwriting Analysis & a Grammar Quiz

After a yummy breakfast at the B&B, Juliana and I were back on the road for our Mother/Daughter Road Trip.

Destination: Grand Marais, MN

My parents live in the woods, above Lake Superior. Originally, we had planned to cross country ski during this vacation, but since the snow was very slushy, we decided to make our own fun.

My mom pulled out a Hand Writing Analysis Book from 1958.

Here are some things we found out:

1. "Negative people write small. Positive people write large."

- John Hancock must have been a VERY positive person.

2. "How is Your Self Respect?"

a. Small capital "I" = Low Self Respect

b. Capital "I" same size as all capital letters = "Reasonable Self Respect"

b. Very large capital "I" = "Exaggerated Self Respect." "You will be conceited" and if you are also an out-going person, "you will annoy other people."

- Apparently, I vacillate between having "reasonable self respect" and being conceited and annoying.

3. Crossing Your "T's"

- There are 29 different ways to cross your "t's." And they all mean something different, from strong willed and flirtatious nature, to sarcastic and "brutal course nature."

- Which am I? I'm not telling.

Then, Mom found a Grammar Book from 1941.

OK. I admit it. I'm a grammar snob.

I credit this entirely to my mother who corrected me ALL the time! (Also, I'm an English teacher and good grammar comes in handy.)

Here's a little grammar test. Which sentence is correct?

1. He reads good.

2. He reads well.

ANSWER: Number "2."

1. Can you borrow me some milk?

2. Can you lend me some milk?

ANSWER: Number "2." I really hate this one.

1. This is a secret between you and I.

2. This is a secret between you and me.

ANSWER: Tricky one. The answer is number "2"- "you and me."

Whew! After all that brain strain, we called it a day.

Tomorrow: Eating at the Blue Water Cafe and buying books at Drury Lane.

Wordless Wednesday - Logs for the Fire

My parents live way up north in Minnesota, almost to Canada. They routinely have bears and moose in their yard. They can hear wolves howling not far away.

They heat their entire house with wood. It's not a little wood-burning stove in the living room. It's an industrial size wood furnace outside, away from the house. Someone has to add wood to the fire 2-3 times every day in winter.

These photos are of my daughter (when she was much younger) helping Grandpa haul some logs to the furnace.

She's using a Norwegian kick-sled to haul the logs.

That's a big log.

Now the house will be toasty and warm.

I'm linking up today with these Wordless & Wordful Wednesday blogs:

Appreciating the Sun

Today I am completely appreciating the sun. It's 47 degrees outside, which is a little chilly. But the sun is shining bright and there's no snow on the ground!

I tend to talk about the weather. But so does everyone in Minnesota. It's a state-wide past-time.

Here's a fairly typical conversation:

"It's cold today."

"Ya sure, it's cold."

"But remember last year?"

"There was snow up over my car."

"I had to shovel for 3 hours."

"Ya, I had to shovel for 5."

"I don't have one of those snow blowing machines."

"I think I'll get one of those this year."

"If it ever snows."

"You can count on it. The snow's a-coming."

I just hope not TOO soon!