This Just In - Spring
Northern Illinois Weird Weather Alert
We interrupt our regularly scheduled sequence of posts to announce the transformation of the Northern Illinois tundra into the Republic of Kokomo.1
What A Difference A Day Makes - If The Fountain Opens That Day
This Morning
This Afternoon
Footnotes
- That would be the Beach Boys Kokomo, not the Indiana Kokomo. Remember that no one likes a smart ass, even in the Spring ~back~
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A Pictorial Post-Op Arboreal Visit
The Oak At Heck Of A House As Photo Opportunity
Most recurrent Heck Of A Guy visitors are familiar with the Oak in our back lawn. Because Heck Of A House was originally situated on this site in large part to present the Oak1 to full advantage, the tree is framed in the windows of the family room, the office, the exercise room, the conservatory, and my bedroom. Consequently, it is hardly surprising that, in the process of building a portfolio consistent with my self-anointed title of “The Indoor Ansel Adams,” the Oak is a frequent and easily recognized subject of my photographs.
And, when it’s not the primary focus, the Oak is often the backdrop for the many photos of deer, wild turkey with poults, coyotes, and other critters displayed in these posts as well as a serving as a handy, photo-worthy maker of seasonal and meteorological changes.2
Oak in mid-summer and winter
The Diagnosis
Ice storms this winter featuring especially cold temperatures resulted in a higher than usual number of felled trees. In arranging for the removal of these, including one that had fallen across the driveway to the neighboring corn/soybean field, the arboreal specialist (AKA “The Tree Guy”) assessing the situation and estimating the cost mentioned that this might be a good time to prune the deadwood from the Oak. When I recovered from my apoplectic episode, we discussed this further and set a date for the procedure.
The Surgical Intervention
After a delay or two because of still more snowstorms, the team performing the multiple limbectomies arrived yesterday.
Oak prepped and draped for surgery
Treatment team members take their stations
(Click on image to expand)
Exploratory confirmation of diagnoses
Note scalpel hanging at right side of operator
The first pathological specimen removed
The procedure
(Click on image to expand)
The Oak is said to be in good condition and should be fine.
My status is being held pending next of kin.
Footnotes
- When we purchased the land, we were told this was the oldest Oak tree in McHenry County. I had no idea how that could be determined; I was wise enough, however, to very carefully avoid asking any questions or exploring the issue in any way, a course of action I have steadfastly continued to follow even unto the current day ~back~
- It is, admittedly, less clear why I think viewers will enjoy or benefit from photos of a given day’s snowfall on the Oak when they have already been treated to the Oak being covered with snow that fell three days ago, eight days ago, and sixteen days ago. You folks just never get tired of it, I guess. ~back~
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Public Official A - A Comic Morality Play In The Illinois Style
Judge reveals Blagojevich is ‘Public Official A’
Rezko allegedly sought donations for governor
-Headline from February 26, 2008 Chicago Tribune
The Illinois Scandal Du Jour (But At Least It’s Good Theater)
It may be necessary to reside within the boundaries of the State of Illinois to fully appreciate the nuances of the latest entertainment being offered by the gubernatorial repertory company, starring Governor Blagojevich (on the far left in the graphic) and his fundraiser, Antoin “Tony” Rezko (on the right in the graphic), but significant enjoyment can be garnered as long as one knows the basic story line.
Happily, the plot is is succinctly summarized in CliffsNotes style by the first two paragraphs of the Tribune story, which are excerpted below:
Laying to rest the latest parlor game of Illinois politics, a federal judge on Monday made it crystal clear that “A” stands for Rod Blagojevich in the public corruption case against the governor’s indicted fundraiser, Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
A ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Amy St. Eve dispensed with an array of pseudonyms that had cloaked the identities of several people who allegedly benefited from Rezko’s financial schemes, including Blagojevich. He had previously been referred to in court documents only as Public Official A.
Notes On The Mismatch Between Symbolism In Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter and The Heck of a Guy Satiric Graphic Referencing Public Official A
Before I’m indicted by the Symbol Squad, I admit that the the scarlet “A” that Hester Prynne is condemned to wear for her adultery, as evidenced by the birth of her child out of wedlock, and the “A” in “Public Official A” are hardly parallel. Hester, after all, is revealed to be angelic (which also begins with an “A” - get it?) while it’s beginning to look as though Governor Blogojevich (AKA Blago) may be revealed as - well, not so angelic. At best, he has been absolutely oblivious (yes, “absolutely oblivious” is a long way to go for that “A,” but I want to get this posted before the court case and appeals are completed).
If Blago fits a character in Hawthorne’s tale, it would be Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, the outwardly pious minister who impregnates Hester and refuses to acknowledge his responsibility, forcing her not only raise their child without help but also face the censure of the church and community alone.
And, I suspect even Mr. Rezko would agree that he is ill cast as Pearl, the infant daughter of Hester and Dimmesdale.
Let’s see, that means the prosecutor would be either or both Reverend Mr. John Wilson, the senior clergyman who advocates harsh punishment for those who have sinned as Hester has or Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s husband, who was thought to be lost at sea but returns and becomes obsessed with discovering the identity of the miscreant who cuckolded him. Maybe the judge is one of those guys. Or not.
Well, the point is that getting all the representations straight is difficult just to work out; it would be a bitch to illustrate.
So, I’ve learned to deal with it and trust that the gracious and generous reader will do so as well.
Re “Hinky Dink” Kenna and “Bathhouse John” Coughlin
The nicknames alone probably supply sufficient inforrmation to get the joke, but these were intriguing characters. Should the reader be so intrigued, a short, accurate, and readable description of these two politicians can be found at the Encyclopedia of Chicago web site. A much longer and much more enjoyable version is available at the oddly named but fact- and fun-filled Weird and Haunted Chicago site.
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SOS: Same Old Snow
Yet Another Snowfall
So, it’s not really the “same” snow, but I couldn’t come up with a clever play on an acronym that would fit something on the lines of “Yet Another Darn Snow” or “What Is This -The 19th Snowfall This Winter?”
And, I can’t deny that, even the 9th or 19th time around, the snow makes the woods darn pretty.1
Oak Tree - Back Lawn (Click on graphic to view larger image)
Side Lawn
Back Lawn Woods
Pines - Back Lawn (Click on graphic to view larger image)
Footnotes
- I do want it on the record, however, that spring has its own charms. ~back~
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On Track For A Saturday Morning
The opossum that lives in the rocks beneath the fountain apparently checked out the area just outside my office door last night.
Our back lawn is a high density traffic area. None of these tracks were made by biped mammals - unless the deer are showing off.
This one was adding to the tracks this morning.
As were these.
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Just A Deer
Deer Ambles Onto Deck
Deer Saunters Away
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Best Option Re Final Candidates For New McHenry County Seal
County Board’s Final Choice For New McHenry County Seal Is In The Bag
Alternative views of the two final versions competing for selection as the new McHenry County Seal can be accessed via the McHenryCountyBlog at Two Proposals Surface for New McHenry County Seal
Previous Heck of a Guy posts on the call for a new McHenry County Seal, including suggested designs for that emblem, can be accessed at Another Great McHenry County Seal
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Christmas Eve Coyotes
Passing Through The Back Lawn
Lady Lawanda and Prodigal noticed the two coyotes in the back lawn this morning.
They appeared to be the same animals featured last week in Afternoon Hunters and Coyotes Tracking Deer - Episode 2, actively stalking deer both times.
Today, we had not seen any deer, and these two didn’t appear to be following a scent.
They were, I suppose, just making their rounds.
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Coyotes Tracking Deer - Episode 2
The Hunters
The same coyotes that made their way through the back lawn and the woods earlier in the week (see Afternoon Hunters) returned this morning, again stalking deer in the same area.
The Stalking
Unlike the deer I saw being followed two days ago, these were not fleeing in haste but simply walking. It was clear, however, that they were especially alert, constantly surveying the situation. Three deer kept close to one another on the left of the view as I faced the woods (Photos #1-6).
A fourth deer was separated from the others by 20-30 yards and can (barely) be seen in the woods and brush to the right (Photos #7-8). The three deer on the right appeared to repeatedly look directly at the fourth deer.
After remaining immobile for perhaps 10 minutes, the three deer to the left began grazing, moving steadily to the right and toward the center of the woods (Photos #9-11). The fourth deer, alone on the right, remained stationery and alert (Photo #12).
Five to 10 minutes later, all four deer walked away, again at a leisurely pace, disappearing into the right side of the woods.
Within a minute of their departure, the two coyotes appeared, trotted at at moderate pace through the snow from right to left until they had traveled 10 yards past the nearest site the three deer had roamed (Photos #13-15).
They then turned into the woods, headed back to the right (Photo #16). Both coyotes are caught in a single (blurry) shot (Photo #17), headed toward the right.
The coyotes finally departed this area, traveling the same route taken by the deer (Photos #18-20).
The Photos
The large format photos of the action described can be viewed at