Even MORE Deer In Iowa City....

As the last blog posts suggest,  we have been seeing a lot of deer.   Especially after they "supposedly" thinned out the herd with "professional" hunters.    I did not mention it a few weeks ago, but on the first day of going back to the job,  we almost HIT a deer.  (Ok, technically we did hit it... with the mirror...)  Good thing Cheryl called it out as I barely saw it.   ( Also, good thing I was going rather slow, since we just cleared the high school speed zone...)  We have seen the deer in fields all over on the way home each night.   It does not help that is it "Deer-Thirty" by the time we get off work.

But today we were witness to a treat.   12 deer slowly walked across the road near the ACT campus.  It is a 4 lane road and everyone stopped to watch the deer slowly cross.  We have seen our fair share of deer within the city limits,  but not this many... During morning rush hour!

At least no deer or Subarus were hurt in the exchange.   We watched them as if they were a parade.   Kinda cool.    Every now and then we see a dead one on Camp Cardinal road ...   a place where the speed limit is 25 most of the way.

 How anyone can strike a deer at 25 MPH is beyond me.   But I also know that people rarely travel the speed limit there.  ( Besides deer,  there are Pedestrians, Runners, and Cyclists all over that place, yet people drive 45mph there!)

Other than that,  a New Week of scoring... Yeah!  And there is a rumor that we may have to go over by a week.  (yeah!...kinda.)  There was supposed to be a week gap between projects but looks like we "get" to work straight on through...  Oh joy. 

At least the roads have been clear and the temps are mild.   Cheryl may even want to run tomorrow after work.  We shall see how it goes.  It is bad enough that the sun does not wait for us during the "Deer Wandering Hours/"   Coming home in the dark sounds even more dangerous.   But... Cheryl's gotta run sometimes.  And I'm pretty sure she will be at her wit's end before the end of the week.  Wish us luck!

The Snow, The Runner, The Eagles, And Now... The Deer!

Ready for a run?

Coon Tracks in the Snow.

 For the last three days, we have been getting snow dumped on us.   It makes for fun Winter Subie driving!   (Subie LOVES snow!)   As long as we can see, and the other drivers are not crazy,   we have an enjoyable commute to work everyday.  ( Mostly) 

Some snow removal...

LOTS of eagles.  (22 to be exact... plus a few flying  over the
river. 

Finally the temps have risen to the point where we are getting thick heavy wet snow and not the dry wispy stuff.    Heavy snow is a little more fun to drive in because: Subie has traction!  I can see! And the warmer temps keep the ice from forming on the roads.

Eagles! 

More Eagles. 

It also allows us to finally hit the trail to run/bike.   I can handle the heavy wet snow much better with my bike than the crusty, " ice" snow.    Turns out, I did not even have to worry much about it, since they have kept the trail along the river plowed for fellow "Outdoor Enthusiasts."   If only they would plow the trail around the lake as well....

Lots of "Popular" trees. 

Cheryl scares them as she runs by.

I simply can't stop myself from taking pictures of the Eagles.  There were certainly a lot of them today!   I counted 22 in one cluster of trees.   They were constantly coming and going, so it was difficult to capture all of hem at any given time.

Fly!   Here she Comes! 

Fly like the Wind!

 Not to mention taking pictures from a bike is not the best method.   I missed several shots of Eagles flying right over Cheryl as she ran.   Seems I have to be ready for anything all the time if I want to capture the "Ultimate Shot!"

Robins in the snow? 

Eating all the winter fruit. 

I also missed the first Robin of the year.   Seems a little early for them...( They usually appear around the first of February.)    Robins do not carry the same significance as they once did in Michigan ( They were the symbol of Spring)   Here in Iowa,  hardly anyone seems to notice that they strip the Crab Apple trees bare!  Or that there are SWARMS of them  clustered in any black cherry tree that still has fruit.  Still,  I enjoy seeing them this time of year.   They still hold that mystique for me.

Deer on the trail. 

Someone in black?   Looks bad!

And then there were the deer.   Several weeks ago,  they hired professional hunters to trim the deer population in the city limits.   Since then, we have not seen many deer around Iowa city.  I figured they were simply not as bold as they normally are after having the DNR shoot at them for several weeks.  But today,  three of them were on the trail right as Cheryl approached the bridge.

Better be safe and RUN! 

TO THE RIVER! 

They hung around for a few moments, but eventually bolted off the trail.   There was no where to go, so I thought I would get a great shot as they ran by me.   Instead,   they crossed the river!

Swim, Swim for your LIVES! 

Shake!  Shake, shake,  Shake!

I guess Deer can handle the frigid water as long as they can get out. ( i.e.  NOT fall through the Ice.)  They crossed the river as if the water was pleasant and slow moving.  They trotted out on the other side seemingly unaffected.  Talk about All Terrain capability!

No more deer...

I like the sound of that....

So Cheryl was finally able to complete 7 miles.    She has mentioned if the weather stays consistent, we may have to run/bike after work.   I guess I can bring my bike along and see how things go.   We don't really have to go very far, just enough to drain all that anxious energy she has after sitting all day.  Not to mention I could use a little exercise as well.   Sitting for 8 hours is not very good for my butt!  Last time I pulled my Hip flexor and could not sit comfortably for a month.  Best to at least stretch things out from time to time.

Hope everyone is having a fine weekend so far.   Work really cuts into my blog time.    Perhaps I will be able to post some stuff mid week... if anything noteworthy happens.   Thanks for stopping in.

Ice And Cold Make For Hard Biking And Running!

Yesterday,  we attempted to hit the trail with the Bike and Cheryl....  It was around 20 degrees with a seriously gusting wind.   I had my doubts, but I knew if they had plowed the trail near the river, we could do it. 

No ducks or geese...

But Cheryl wimped out.  Yes Cheryl!  "Too Cold and Windy!"  was her complaining.   It was true that the wind was so gusty that all of the birds had fled the lake.   And there was a very real possibility of  a Wind Chill freezing your face.   But as long as she did not complain hat she "could not run" for the rest of the day... then I would allow her to go to the Bookstore. 

Much colder....

So, after spending all of our Christmas money on Magazines and Ice cream,  we headed back home to enjoy the rest of the afternoon in the warmth of Wellman.  There was always tomorrow....

And slippery.

Well,  Tomorrow came...
  Today!  And it was COLDER!   At 3 degrees,  Subie froze up again and did not want to start.  You know it is cold when Subie hesitates to turn over. 


The roads are still a little icy, but we made it fine.   They even plowed most of the parking lot near Trueblood Trail.  However... there was still plenty of Ice!  On the road AND the trail/sidewalk.   We decided to check it out this time instead of turning back immediately. 

Candy-Coated ice covered snow...

Break  through and slide....

Well,   Cheryl mostly walked because the snow was covered in a thick layer of crusty ice.   As for me biking.   Ok,  I'll admit I did my share of "complaining"... with some colorful words.   (It is my process of "Angry Motivation." ) But I saddled up and rode all the way to the end of the lake.   I overheated twice and my lungs were on fire breathing that ridiculously cold air.  Perhaps it was the Cold I was getting over...  Or just the cold air I was forgetting how to deal with.   Either way,  Cheryl suggested we turn back after the Wind at the end of the lake kicked in.   It was plenty strong enough to ruin any experience we would gain. 

A little origami. 

A few pelicans...

So... Back home again!   Cheryl is resigned to wait until warmer temps arrive.    She can't run on Ice.  And I certainly can't bike in it!   Looks like health and fitness are on hold for a bit.

One of my favorite models. 

So...  I have been trying to occupy my time folding a few things.   I go a request from someone at work for a cat.   There certainly are a lot of models out there for Origami,  but I like the one from Hoang Tien Quyet. 

Avoid cycling on Ice...

Hope everyone is staying warm today.   If you live further north than Iowa... I do not miss that cold or wind at all!    At least you can bike in the summer here in Iowa.   When the Sidewalks are covered in Ice,  all bets are off.

And Finally, The Snow Storm Has Arrived!

Because Subaru's RALLY! 

Our first day back after two sick days and we get sent home early today because of snow!  YEEHA!   I'll Take it!  Because... I own a SUBARU! 

In the snow! 

Yes, yes,  Subie certainly loves the snow.   Better than Ice.   In fact,   Our entire driveway is covered in snow...but with a thick layer of Ice underneath.   One of the Upstairs tenants parked her car down on one of our slots because she could not climb the small incline up to hers.   I climbed in Subie to have a little "fun" climbing up and down the driveway....   I barely noticed the Ice until I hit the brakes!  The Ice made Subie slide sideways.   His traction is so good it would be easy to think you are on dry roads!   I don't think I could ever go back to driving a "normal: car again....

 The Traction may be Awesome, but I still have to worry about things like "Visibility" and "Other Drivers."  It still can be a bit unsettling to drive in the dark with limited visibility.   And although the AWD is possibly the best in the biz, ( Certainly the best in Class...)   It does not give you licence to go stupid.    Still....  I do enjoy the snow sometimes.

Luckily,  they sent us home at 12:30.   The snow was just hitting us, but it started in Wellman... So we were gonna go through it  no matter what.   But coming home in the light, what little there was in the blowing snow,  was better than trailing a train of red lights.. Each only going 25 mph because they are driving a Chrysler minivan...  All the while being tailgated by a F450 SUPER heavy duty  Ford truck who thinks he can still drive 70!  ( That happened last year...)

The snow is to continue all night and end tomorrow morning.  Add in a serious Wind Chill and much colder temps by tomorrow morning.  Cheryl wants to run,  and I've been feeling much better lately, so it may be inevitable. When Cheryl can't run, it is like when I stop eating...  We get very grumpy and unbearable to live with.   Best if she runs a little of that "negaive energy" off in the deep freeze.  Besides,  We have riden/run in the negatives before...  even with a biting windchill.

Time to check if Leo is outside wanting to get in.   I would not blame him if he was a no-show tonight.  The wind is certainly howling!  But such is the life of an outdoor cat....  I offered him the opportunity to stay inside for the day, but he insisted he be let outside.   He does have a very plush fur coat, so I'm sure he will be fine.   Even so....  He probably will get hungry. 

Hope everyone else is staying warm and safe.  Thanks for stopping in.

The Ice, The Cold, and The COLDS!

Cheryl and I have been battling colds for the better part of a week now.   We cleared up just enough to go back to work on Monday, but I seem to have taken a turn for the worst!  Cheryl still has a nagging cough and stuffy nose, but I had fever and aches and chills.... everything!   I thought it might be too soon to take a sick day after just starting a project... but then!


The universe stepped in to help me make up my mind.   You see,  Yesterday, is rained and then froze... again!   Everything was covered in a sheet of glass. 






I slipped on the way out to the Subie and I had to chip away the ice on the doors to get them open... again.   I was not in the best of moods, having only slept for about 2 hours that night,   when Cheryl suggested we call in.  She had an Eye appointment that morning, and they had just cancelled it because the Doctor could not make it.  So why should we kill ourselves just to score a few papers? 

Ah, the Common sense wisdom! She was probably more concerned for me because I  kept her up all night with my coughing and sneezing.   But she also hates work as much as anybody... so that was also a possible motivation.  But with the roads being a frictionless surface,  my aching body, stuffy head, and contagious cough,  we decided that it would be the perfect day for a "sick day."   I should say "ICE"day, because I turned on the news only to hear that all the schools had closed,   there was an accident on every major road leading to Iowa City, and there was no less than a 2-4 hour delay if you did not take a back road.  And on a icy day like yesterday,  I was not going to risk it.    Even with the Subaru, I was not feeling that heroic just so I can work!

Speaking of the Subaru.   We did go out for some coffee and to check the roads a few hours later.   They were not better!  You know it is bad when your Subaru is slipping with all four tires spinning.

Well I did not enjoy my day off very much.  I still had  to deal with this cold.  Cheryl took my temp and I was close to 102.   Mostly I just slept and drank liquids.    I was actually too beat up to even blog! 

Well I'm feeling better now.   Cheryl suggested we take today off as well since I hardly slept again last night.   I think the juice and "almost" rest is finally having an effect on the symptoms.  I can almost breathe out of one nostril at a time now.  Hopefully things will look better by tomorrow morning.

As for the weather.   The Air has gone from just below freezing to the DEEP freeze.  And there are reports things may get worse by the weekend.   Something to look forward to....  Subie does not like starting when the temps hit single digits.  And if there is to be snow mixed with wind,  that does not make for fun traveling here in  Iowa.