^, <, V

[William Brand]

^ Perspective on my fears, but no new ones.

< I have become decidely more protective of those close to me.

V Is there anyone here that is afraid of water?

[Jacky Tar]

^ Not the water per se. Things in the water give me pause... Sharks, sting rays, jelly fish...

< Hand feedin' fish last summer an had a shark came in close. Steve Irwin dieing from a string ray barb. When yer in the water wit' yer children an other children, these things give ye pause.

V Would ye put yerself in harms way fer those ye care 'bout?

[William Brand]

^ Always.

< I have friends who would do so for me, and almost have.

V Have you ever been attacked by a wild animal?

[Jacky Tar]

^ Just snakes; never bitten.

< We see coyotes all the time; they keep the rabbit population (an stray cats) in check. Cats must stay indoors here.

V Wot' wild creatures live in yer neighborhood?

[Ransom]

^ Deer, cougars, bears, skunks, racoons, opposums, ...you name it.

< Never really developed a fear of wild things. I hung out at my grandparent's place too much. 20 acres of sagebrush, in a house that had no electricity and you had to walk outside to get from the top floor to the bottom where we slept.

V What's your beastie fear? Bugs, snakes, spiders...?

[Morgan Dreadlocke]

/\ Livin on the edge 'o Saguaro National Park we gets ALL of 'em

Seriously, We've had bobcats in the chicken pen, mountain lions at the fish pond, javalina every freakin place, harris hawks hoot owls an bats all passin through. Me little truck got run over by deer one mornin'

< Too hot too quick. Rattlesnakes are out an movin'. Be keepin' a pointed shovel at every door.

\/Any dangerous critters ?

[Jacky Tar]

^ (Answer t' Ransom) Grasshoppers. Not onesies, but coverin' the ground (biblical numbers).

^ (Answer t' Morgan) Aye, rattle snakes; they eat the rodents.

< I've caught snakes, spiders, frogs, lizards an bugs; no big deal. But swarms o' locusts make me skin crawl. I've only witnessed this in Laughlin; they were crawlin' all over a buildin'.

V Pass on Ransom's question.

[Red Cat Jenny]

^ OOgh bugs....in my clothing..especially those wot sting

< Here, Pheasant, quail, raccoon, squirrel, chipmunk, mole, mouse, rabbit, garden snake, box turtle, slugs (eww), possum, crows, hawks, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, geese, ducks seen all of these at one time or another here..

V Been stung twice..owie! As far as I know I'm not allergic..but I worry. Are you allergic to a sting?

[William Brand]

^ I am not allergic. I have been stung a few times with no more of a side effect than cursing insects aloud.

< It is raining outside and the valley is starting to really green-up for the first time. It truly looks like the first day of Spring outside and I am anxious to begin my Spring and Summer projects.

V Any yard developments this year? New plantings? New alterations around the house?

[Ransom]

^ At our house, that's the never-ending story. This year, maybe more fruit trees, and a few more maples to add fall color. Then there is always The Garden, which is a major summer project every year.

< It sounds like I dread all that work, but really, I like it. My garden is a joy, and a good place to work off frustration! I don't own a rototiller, so spading all those veggie beds over is a real workout. Cheaper than joining a gym!

V Like garden/yard work, or hate it?

[William Brand]

^ Yes. Or yes and yes, if you prefer. It's a labor of love and hate. so much to do, so little time and money.

< I'm doing vast improvements this year. Escpecially on the tavern.

V Do you own any outbuildings?

[Ransom]

^ Pole barn, pumphouse/potting shed, chicken house.

< I've got wildflowers coming up in the pastures, and dozens of daffodiles in the garden/flower beds up on the terrace. I plant lots of those, as they are the only bulb the gophers won't eat.

V What garden/yard varmints to you deal with?

[LongTom]

> Raccoons. Seem to think that any inflatable rubber ball left in the yard is good eatin'. (I can only imagine what must be going through their pea-brains: "Vern! Lookit the size of that blueberry!" Pow! "Whut-th--??")

< My spring project is to replace the concrete patio I had to break out in order to install a drain cleanout in the kitchen branch line. (Last year, Christmas Eve day. It's only been a mudhole for fifteen months now.)

V What is entropy doing to your house and grounds?

[Boots MacGee]

^ The only project I have is to put away my snow shovels, and ice scrapers, then bring out the mower and rake (oh ya, and my grill) everything else is in order.

< Enjoying a nice spring day (it's about time), and getting my fishing gear ready, (trout season next week).

V Favorite spring activity?

[Cheeky Actress]

^ Being able to take a walk after work.

< gas just went up...AGAIN!

V Fright night or Romance movie time?

[Red Cat Jenny]

^ Romance tonight would be nice

< Damn the Chinese place got me again. Took my order and when I got there they said the Eggplant wasn't fresh. Damn.

V Do they *&^% you at the drive thru? or yer favorite take out place?

[CrazyCholeBlack]

^ nope, but I rarely eat out & never go through a drive thru.

< Really just don't like the idea behind drive thru's. I mean really. Like staying in your car is going to make it go that much faster? Like a few minutes here or there are that important in the grand scheme.

V Up to the minute or round to the nearest hour.

[Jacky Tar]

^ Round t' the nearest quarter of an hour.

< Aye, certain things require been on time or early. If yer a host, give a time window, an be flexible; it's less stressful fer everyone.

As fer drive-thrus, Chole ye multi-tasker, think of all the things ye could get done while waitin' in the drive thru!

v Do ye carry books, or projects wit' ye, fer those times when ye do wait fer someone or somethin'?

[Red Cat Jenny]

^ Gosh yes - but usually just one thing an my ever present notebook

< makes lists/ notes of things for later

V Are you a list maker?

[Jacky Tar]

^ Nope. But me pockets sometimes hav the oddest collection o' post-it notes!

< I use t' carry a organizer, an tried a palm pilot. Now I relie on memory, notes an on-line services.

V Would ye perish wit' out yer PDA (personal digital assistant)?

[Red Cat Jenny]

^ Don't own one.. email myself, write on things and I'd be lost without "notepad"

< Utterly blotto at the moment---bed calls...

V Speak another language?

[Jacky Tar]

^ Wish I did.

< Bought some Spanish tapes; time t' carry a player around in the car again.

V Pass Red CAt's question on.

[Silent]

^ I've always wanted to learn Japanese but I didn't. So no I don't

< I love pirates and the ocean but I can't swim

V Do you have any pets?

[Red-Handed Jill]

^ One turtle with attitude and one kitty.

< Used to speak French when I was very young, but forgot most of it.

V Passing on Silent's question.

[William Brand]

^ A slinky, black, Holloween cat named Anubis.

< I'm a cat person, generally speaking. I like almost all animals, but I am a cat person, more than a dog person. Ironically.

V Passing the question..