Hope is the Thing with Feathers

Back in May I spied a yellow bird dancing around the branches of my cherry trees inspecting my cherry blossoms.

I quickly grabbed the Alpha 77ii and went about the business of photographing the little guy.

My neighbor to the east was outside and she tried to strike up a conversation with me. I believe it was on this day that I realized that she hasn’t the slightest clue about what my name is…

“Neighbor guy. Neighbor guy. Neighbor guy.” She kept calling to me.

I was trying to ignore her and hoped she’d go away. Not just because being called “Neighbor guy” is super annoying. It is like being called “buddy” or “pal”. 2 failed attempts of endearment. But the reason I was ignoring her this time is because all I wanted to do was photograph this bird.

I didn’t want or need another conversation about if I think her dogs bark too much or how I trained Naima to not bark constantly when she is outside. I didn’t want to hear about how her other neighbor had called the police on her because her dogs bark constantly when they are outside.

I just wanted to photograph this bird!

So I never made contact with her. I just kind of said, “Yeah” and “Uh-huh” to whatever she was saying and kept photographing the bird.

Here are a few products of my rudeness:


Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird

She also calls Naima “neighbor dog”. She is an interesting lady. Very interesting.

+++++++

Here is an update on my 10 Step Process to buying a drone.

  1. Car paid off. – I got the pink slip daddy!
  2. Training Budget Reimbursement – Bought about 10 books and signed up for an online portrait photography class that I will discuss someday.
  3. Purchase Popcorn Maker – The Union Street theater has procured its very own popcorn maker from Flat Earth Joe. The one that was borrowed from Andy’s friend of a friend has been returned.
  4. Computer Upgrade – I have completed upgrades on my home computer. I’ve put in a solid state drive to run the OS and the applications, I upped the RAM to 16 GB and I replaced the video card with a video card with twice the ram and that is capable of running 3 monitors.
  5. Figure out the effect of the Iowa GOP Tax Scam – The Iowa GOP Tax Scam will indeed result in me paying more taxes. There is about a $7 effect on my paycheck, meaning I am getting a tax cut of roughly $200. (Assuming the withholding from my paycheck is being done right.) However, since the Iowa GOP Tax Scam made it so a 6% sales tax is levied on all online purchases, I will be taxed well more than the $200 benefit. For example, I’ll pay over $100 in taxes on purchasing the drone that I wouldn’t have had to pay before the Iowa GOP Tax Scam became law. 
  6. Rear Brakes – I had the rear brakes replaced on my car last night. It costs me about 40% of what I was expecting Win!
  7. Computer Mine Bonus – I did indeed get a Computer Mine Bonus. I can’t complain about it one bit. 
  8. Bank Fraud Resolution – I am going to consider the bank fraud situation resolved. I haven’t received a letter saying that it is a done deal, but the bank did place the $350 that I requested in my bank account as a provisional credit. The investigation is still to be closed by January 31. I have a naive faith that the investigation will end in my favor. Otherwise, Credit Union Time?
  9. Federal GOP Tax Scam – The Tax Scam didn’t effect my tax refund at all. It was almost like it wasn’t meant to be a tax cut for lower class and middle class people. It is almost like it was a cash grab for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations under the ludicrous precept that some of the benefits would trickle down to us poor folks. I can say this with 100% certainty. I respect a person that believes the earth is flat way more than I respect somebody that believes in the Laffer Curve. 
  10. Change Jar -I have added some change to the change jar, including the change I won in a football pool at the Computer Mine. However, I am still probably 2 inches short of being almost full. I should effort to go through the cushions of my couches. If I can get within one inch, of the top of the jar, I will call this quest complete and proceed to order my drone.

9 out of 10 steps are complete. I might call my change jar good and take it to the bank soon. With the weather being so brutal, you can’t really even use a drone right now. Although this weekend’s weather report would be good enough. Hmmmm… decision… decision…

2 thoughts on “Hope is the Thing with Feathers”

  1. I also still don’t know what that bird is. When I first saw it, I assumed that it is a goldfinch, but it isn’t, unless that is what an immature goldfinch looks like.

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