Posts: Blaster34 | Ugly Hedgehog

UTMike wrote:

Beautiful set! You just need to convince ATC to direct them to the bushes. Happy New Year!

Thanks Mike, bushes are so thick here if they were in there, it would be impossible to see and they are soooo skittish. Cheers, be safe and Happy New Year

Dec 26, 2020 10:57:25 #

rmalarz wrote:

Very good catch, Blaster.
--Bob

Thanks Bob, guessing their wintering here in FL trying to stay warm or passing through...Cheers, be safe and go use that old Nikon F, great photo.

Dec 26, 2020 10:47:18 #

lbjed wrote:

That is one small colorful bird. Great capture. A nice surprise on Christmas Day. Attached is my Christmas morning surprise. Looked out the patio door and what to my wondering eyes should appear... I think it was Dasher and Dancer.

Cool, looks a couple vying for the hoofs of a young lady friend....good catch.

Dec 26, 2020 10:45:15 #

Marg wrote:

Oh yay! I got one of those feeders yesterday, too. I’ll put it up right now and hope for a painted bunting of my own!

Wife was at Lowe's last week and saw the bell feeder and wanted me to hang it....between the doves and an upside down squirrel eating away, it has served us well, especially with the bunting....Cheers Marg

Dec 26, 2020 10:22:14 #

I know, I know its a bird feeder, but wife wanted it but as we were sitting down for Christmas Dinner yesterday, Painted Bunting showed up on the feeder, had to try and get a photo. I've seen these in a few places in Florida but never in my backyard. Would love to get one in the bushes but they are so skittish, I'm happy to get a photo anywhere...much better in download.

I'm presuming the first photo is of female buntings, not sure but the last two are definitely a male bunting in his best Christmas colors...Cheers everyone, be safe and Happy New Year.

(Download)

Dec 24, 2020 12:15:42 #

The Conjunction +1

Earnest Botello wrote:

Very good shot, Blaster, blown up to 300% you can plainly see the rings of Saturn.

Thanks Earnest, it definitely needs enlarged....I could see it nicely on my Pentax 16-48x65mm spotting scope, not as good with the 600mm lens though.

Dec 24, 2020 09:49:56 #

The Conjunction +1

A few clouds the night of the Conjunction not to mention it was low in the sky. So I tried on the second day and here's all I could get. Heavily cropped and somewhat better in ddl download and then even expanded a little....Cheers and Merry Christmas to all

(Download)

Dec 24, 2020 08:40:04 #

Photo of us in the ICU

sb wrote:

The mortality rate is about 2% - meaning that out of 10,000 who get it, 200 will die.

Mortality vs Survivor Rate (CDC)

COVID-19 SURVIVAL RATES (per CDC):
Ages 0-19: 99.997%
Ages 20-49: 99.98%
Ages 50-69: 99.5%
Ages 70+: 94.6%

Dec 24, 2020 08:03:21 #

Photo of us in the ICU

LCD wrote:

I had the privilege of holding my wife's hand as she was on a ventilator in the ICU because of COVID-19. I used my phone to capture the moment. She is off of it now and beginning to recover. Please, as I said a thousand times, stay isolated and stay safe. Happy holidays!

Its Fantastic your wife is recovering, hope she improves rapidly....As for those who've never dealt with a respirator, I can relate to her condition with a respirator. Never considered how bad they might be and never thought I'd ever need one but during a recent complicated abdominal surgery, one was inserted because of respiratory failure while on the 'table' and under anesthetic. Coming out of anesthesia in recovery, I could remember hearing the continual in/out pressure as they were about to remove it (guessing I wasn't supposed to be awake)....I gagged extensively as it was coming out and hopefully never have to go through that again. As for Covid and those on a respirator for extended periods, I share their feelings and hope many never need them and agree with you, practicing safe distances, wearing masks when around others and continual hand washing is vitally important. Seriously, no one wants a respirator inserted if it can be avoided.

Merry Christmas LCD and so glad your wife is recovering....Cheers

Dec 21, 2020 12:46:18 #

Retired CPO wrote:

I'm glad you took my input with a sense of humor. ... (show quote)

Thanks again Chief for your service and may 2021 be a blessed year for you and your family...

Dec 21, 2020 12:45:02 #

nimbushopper wrote:

The first thing I learned after I earned my wings was never to piss off the maintenance crew!

For sure

Dec 21, 2020 07:42:41 #

Toolking wrote:

Well said

Thanks for posting.

Glad you enjoyed it TK.

Dec 21, 2020 07:42:04 #

Retired CPO wrote:

I always wondered why the aircrews always thought their shite didn't stink while us maintainers kept our heads down and worked long into the night fixing the birds that you guys were always breaking! So you could take 'em back up in the morning and break 'em again!

We broke a bunch of them for sure...had to keep you working

However without the maintenance crews, we wouldn't have the greatest Naval Aviators and Air force pilots flying the best a/c in the world...Cheers and Merry Christmas

Dec 20, 2020 17:40:13 #

Triple G wrote:

Glad you made it back. Thanks for your service.

Thank you triple G

Dec 20, 2020 13:35:01 #

Triple G wrote:

Any gooney birds?

https://www.dc3dakotahunter.com/blog/see-how-the-vietnam-c-47s-gooney-birds-came-to-their-horrible-end-by-the-dakota-hunter/

No but I worked with them and Black Shadows in Vietnam in the Central Highlands