Thanks for Your Vote!

Remember my little rant a couple weeks ago about the possibility of a Sandhill Crane hunt in Minnesota? (if you don't, click here to read it again). I also posted this item on my Facebook page and encouraged "birding friends" to cast their vote too.

When today's issue of the Minnesota Outdoor News arrived in the mailbox, Mr. Johnson immediately turned to the "Online Opinions" page to see if any results of this vote had been published yet and lo, and behold, they had. I scanned these items from the Outdoor News to share with you here.

I thank all of you, my "birding friends," who took the time to cast your vote on this issue. At least we got the attention of the folks at Outdoor News. You may remember also that this was only an opinion poll for the Outdoor News and the results would obviously have no bearing on the decision of the Minnesota DNR......as was evidenced by this article which subsequently appeared on page 6 of today's issue of the Outdoor News. (One small step forward for the Minnesota DNR and one giant leap backwards for bird conservation.)

Sorry I wasn't able to include the entire article on my scanner, but I think you can pretty much determine the outcome from what I've managed to scan in this image.

Survivor Stories

Today was the Fillmore County "Relay for Life" event down in my hometown. I found out last week that my dad was scheduled to speak at the Survivor's Tea and share his story. Here's Dad sharing a humorous anecdote about being a cancer survivor.

(BTW Dad, did you notice you had your survivor shirt on backwards or was that intentional?)

My brother Phil and his son Charlie were also in Minnesota this week for a visit, so Phil got to share his cancer survivor story also. It's probably one of the few times (if not the only time!) there's been a father/son presentation at this event.

Phil looks good doesn't he? It's hard to believe that only about 10 weeks ago he was in the Sutter Cancer Center in California having his bone marrow transplant.

After the tea, all of the cancer survivors were invited to take one of the balloons hanging from the ceiling in the presentation hall for a special balloon release celebration (that's what those white strings are hanging down by Dad and Phil's heads at the podium)

It was an overcast and drizzly afternoon, but the balloons didn't mind. What a pretty sight!

The actual relay part of this Relay for Life was scheduled to start around 6 PM with events for participants continuing until 6 AM tomorrow morning. As an additional fundraiser for the event, people could purchase luminarias in memory or in honor of a cancer survivor. Down this 2-block stretch of town, there were already 4 rows (thousands!) of luminarias already set up and I saw a cart carrying hundreds more still to be placed.

There's rain in the forecast for all of tonight, but I hope it holds off until they get all of these luminarias lit. It will be quite a spectacular thing to behold.

From all the people who spoke at this event, there were several common themes mentioned that helped them to become cancer survivors: Hope, Positive Attitude, Caring People, and Prayers. That's something each of us can provide (without cost) to any person we know who's battling cancer. Of course, the doctors and medical care are also an integral part to cancer survival, but without the hope, positive attitude, caring people and prayers, I don't believe my dad and brother would be standing here today sharing their survivor stories.

I thank all of you, dear blog readers, for your prayers during my brother's bone marrow transplant and recovery.

Thank You

Thank you, dear blogging friends for your kinds words, thoughts and prayers. It's humbling and heart-warming to know how much you care.

A week ago, I made an appointment that meant I would have to take today off from work. How fortuitous--I really didn't feel like going to work today anyway.

It's sunny, but cold this morning. My birdfeeders are filled and at 11:00, my friend Steph Anderson, our local weekend meteorologist and co-author at the KTTC weather blog is coming out to our house for a look at my birds and backyard habitat. I'm looking forward to her visit and hopefully will have her story and videos to share with all of you in a few days or so. There's nothing like birds and nature to take a person's mind off the unhappy current events (and maybe Steph's story will provide one of those "windows of opportunity" that opens to a new career!)

I've already applied for another job, and will also be looking at the opportunities being offered by the census bureau, and if I don't hear anything from them, there's always the unemployment option which will provide me loads of time to spend in the backyard this spring and summer for birding, gardening, and improving the backyard habitat.