Farming Aphids, Mother Would be so Proud

OK, this is totally cool!

Ant mutualism

Some species of ants "farm" aphids, protecting them on the plants they eat, eating the honeydew that the aphids release from the terminations of their alimentary canals. This is a "mutualistic relationship". These "dairying ants" "milk" the aphids by stroking them with their antennae.

I woke a time or two during the irrigation system's watering cycle, but that didn’t disrupt my sleep to any great degree. I woke feeling rested around 525am and quickly peed, brushed my teeth, then headed downstairs with my running clothes tightly in hand.

While slipping into my running shoes I glanced out the back door. What caught my eye first wasn't the clear sky, but instead those pesky geese slowly and methodically making there way up and out of the pond and into our yard. Grrr!  I noticed the sky was clear too. I thought about heading out to shoot at the geese but I was more determined to get my morning calisthenics underway.

I completed 55 sit-ups then got online where I checked the weather and headlines. It was only 63 degrees, or about 10 degrees cooler than the morning before. Still expecting a high around 85 under sunny skies – a nice summer day. After a little PC time, I headed to the family room where I whipped out 55 push-ups.

Time for coffee. I enjoyed some coffee on the deck, but took my BB gun too. I headed out to the middle yard, my aim to drive the geese away. There must’ve been about 12 of them eating at my grass and pooping. I don’t like the geese and I don't like their feces. They must go now! Be on your way!

Perhaps that wasn’t the best segue into meditation but it is what it is. I did my best to let go of any angst and collected myself through meditation. Near 610am I moved on to stretching. That went well and felt terrific.

It was just after 615am when I headed out the door for my run. I ran the full 4.1 miles feeling good and running strong. I took special notice of how far north the sunrise took place here in late June. I have learned to appreciate all the seasons but there’s no denying that I feel most connected to the summer. Id say it’s the beauty, the smells, and the easy going feeling a warm summer morning fosters. Awesome!

I finished my run just ahead of 7am. I was happy to see that the geese had yet to return. I proceeded to make my breakfast and lunch. That’s a 20 minute ordeal at a minimum depending on how efficient I am. I took an extra few minutes to prepare a nice garden salad in addition to a fruit medley and cheese.

I took Mindy a cup of coffee and gave her hug. I headed to the shower determined to be out the door close to 745am. I wore khaki Dockers and a red polo shirt. As I prepped to depart, I stuffed the latest Golf Galaxy coupon and my F.D. gift card into my back pack thinking I might pay them a visit come lunch time. I left for work pretty close to 745am, but needed to stop for gas at Thornton’s.

Dang it! My gas procrastination cost me $.26 per gallon. It was $3.19 last evening but $.3.45 then. The BM’er took about 11 gallons, so I figure the procrastination cost me an extra $3 bucks.

I was in my office by 805am. Curious, I pulled up my team in IM to see who else was in that early. I was the only one in. Hmm? My new boss stopped by for a chat mid morning. He took me around and introduced me to several other team members, most of whom I’ve seen around for years but had never actually talked with. We then spent a little time going over expectations. Because our team’s so new, I get the feeling I’ll be learning the ropes via baptism by fire. But that’s OK. Sometimes that’s best, and it’s something I’d like to think I am rather adept at.

Around 1230pm I left for Golf Galaxy and possibly a haircut. I was hoping to find some nice golf (think wicking) polos on sale to add to my wardrobe, but found none that struck my fancy at a reasonable price. The few that I did like were as much as $70 each. Hell no! I decided to buy nothing despite having a $100 gift card.

I left G.G. then headed to Mill Run. So far I’d been gone from the office for about 30 minutes. I headed in Great Clips first, but they had a wait of at least 20 minutes. That was too long, plus, the last time I was in, the wait was far longer than I was told. I shared that I was on a tight schedule and would need to move on. I headed a few store fronts down to  the tried and true Saturday’s. They were backed up too – 20-30 minute wait. No thanks. Can’t wait. I’d have to get a haircut another time, perhaps after work, or possibly on Friday. Thursday definitely wouldn’t work.

I headed back to the office a tad frustrated that both trips proved unfruitful. However, all wasn’t lost. What the lunch did do was provide the break in my day that I sorely need.

As soon as I was back, I went for my packed lunch (salad, cheese, and fruit). It was really good. I stayed busy through most of the afternoon familiarizing myself with my new customer's product mix and then some of the tools necessary to support them. I managed to keep busy until sometime after 5pm when I up and left for home.

I hadn’t heard a peep from Mindy all day long. I arrived home near 515-520p. Mindy’s car was home but the house completely silent. There was taco meat cooking in a crock pot on the island. I rinsed my lunch dishes then hurried upstairs to dress for lawn work. I figured I’d go ahead and get started on the lawn while I still had some energy.

I bounced back a step when Mindy emerged from the shower just as I was entering the masterbath. She startled me. I quickly changed into shorts and a t-shirt then headed out to get started on the grass. I cut it on Sunday, or just three days prior, but it definitely needed it again.

I decided to mow first, doing the push then the tractor. Because we've had three days of dry weather, the lawn was drier than it was Sunday. That made the cutting easier. However, despite cutting it just three days prior, parts of the front were so thick and lush that it bogged the mower and left clumps of clippings, especially in the area I rebuilt a couple years back. That part of the lawn is very healthy these days.

I managed to finish all the mowing in about an hour. I thought about stopping, but decided to keep going and did the trimming and blowing too. That took another 10-15  minutes or so. I topped off my ice water beforehand. While in the kitchen I spotted a note on the island from Mindy indicating that she was off to Giant Eagle.

She pulled up at home while I was busy watering the front flowers. She asked if I planned to shower before dinner. Said I didn’t plan to. Somehow I managed to remain relatively free of the yard debris that I typically pick-up.

I ended up watering all the flowers front and back (beds, baskets, and pots). It took about 25 minutes. I was hungry and looking forward to the tacos/burritos. The kids were already eating and Mindy busy preparing her burrito. I waited until they were seated then made mine. It was good. The kids finished quickly then begged off outside with their friends. Mindy must’ve been waiting for such an opportunity to light into me for giving her the silent treatment over what she deemed a foolish reason. Let’s just say that we argued unproductively for about 15-20 minutes and both said things we probably shouldn’t have said. Mindy even went out on the deck and knocked over two of my prized flower pots to show her frustration.

In an argument, getting one's own point across is always the goal, but rarely if ever is it successful when both parties insist on being in a talk-only mode and neither doing much if any real listening. Just my observation. Fair to say that was us.

Mindy headed upstairs and I headed outside to tend to more yard work. Before anything else I picked up the knocked over flower pots. I then headed out to deadhead the knock-out rose bushes mid back yard. While doing so, I noticed that deer or rabbits have started to eat away at some of my perennials. Grrrrrrrr!

Next, I headed to my tomato plants where at long last I finally thinned then from about 30 plants to just the 5 I planted. The rest were volunteers. They were growing in so thick that they were crowding out the desired set and causing some to get eaten by insects, aphids I think.  Hopefully I got to them soon enough that they still can recover.

The kids were next door tossing the baseball. They asked a couple times if everything was OK. They obviously caught part of our earlier argument. Yes, of course. I felt bad that Mindy was so upset. When she finally regained her composure, came downstairs, and headed out to her patio to sit and reflect, I followed and apologized for basically utilizing poor arguing skills.

We hung on the patio long enough that I started getting attacked by mosquitoes. It was dusk, the worst time for them. At the same time, there were oodles of fireflies about the yard. The girls, Bella and Lillian, were having a hey day chasing them around. I headed inside to save my ankles from attack.

Inside, I spent time updating my blog then checking on the Reds score. I couldn’t believe it when I checked the time and saw that it was already near 10pm. Holy smoke! Where did the evening go? Mindy had the kids get showers earlier. Bella came down and asked me to tuck her in. I headed up around 1005p and tucked both kids into bed.

I headed back downstairs to watch a little TV until 1030p. I watched, In Through the Worm Hole, and episode about string theory and the potential for dimensions beyond the three we’re aware of.   Although interesting, I soon fell asleep. I woke at 1030p and headed up to bed. Mindy was already snoozing. Good night aphids.