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While their name would portray trees and old barns as a favorite place to bash their long beaks into in a jackhammer-like motion, our local woodpeckers seem to be converts to the new school of metal…

After weeks of trying to get a good shot of one of these crazy birds, I finally snapped this one a few days ago perched up at the top of our TV antennae. It was rattling away at the antennae and making quite a racket while doing so. I don’t know a thing about woodpeckers, so I don’t know if this is actually common. If you have some insight on the subject, let us know! Why would they DO this?

Wow… It never ceases to amaze me how much your own problems can suddenly seem so small. I am currently unemployed and the job market in this area stinks. Sheila and I continue to discuss how we can cut back, and what our options will be if I can’t find anything suitable in this area. The stress level is up…

Suddenly, I find out today that my brother Jim and his wife Cammi lost their house and EVERYTHING within while they were away at work yesterday. A fire gutted their home. Gone… House… Clothes… Pictures… Personal Items…

I know that at some point, both he and I will look back at this point in time and think about how much those around us helped out, smile a little inside, and think about how glad we are to be wherever we are at that point. But right now it stinks.

Jim has hands down gone through more (a LOT more) drama in life than I have, and I really feel terrible about his situation right now. I’m sure he’ll hear all the normal things over the coming weeks such as “at least no one was hurt” or “it could have been worse, the garage could have gone up too and you would have lost your Harley.” But none of that will lessen the sting right now. I know they are going to be hurting for a while…

Jim and Cammi, you are loved by many. We are all thinking of you. Jim, I pray for you more than you know and I will continue to. Keep your chins up.

With love…