Ants climbed the tree and found the hummingbird feeder, so I moved it to a new location. We’ll see how fast the ants find it!

The operation was a success, but the patient died!

This looks to me like a different hummingbird!

Avia Venefica writes:

It is not commonly known that the fluttering wings of the hummingbird move in the pattern of an infinity symbol – further solidifying their symbolism of eternity, continuity, and infinity. By observing the Hummingbird, we see they are seemingly tireless. Always actively seeking the sweetest nectar, they remind us to forever seek out the good in life and the beauty in each day. Amazing migrators, some Hummingbirds are known to wing their way as far as 2000 miles to reach their destination. This quality reminds us to be persistent in the persuit of our dreams, and adopt the tenacity of the Hummingbird in our lives. The Hummingbird animal totem is a messenger of hope and jubilation.

Watching the hummingbirds brings me joy! I was looking up their symbolism last night and found this on Wikipedia:

Aztecs wore hummingbird talismans, the talismans being representations as well as actual hummingbird fetishes formed from parts of real hummingbirds: emblematic for their vigor, energy, and propensity to do work along with their sharp beaks that mimic instruments of weaponry, bloodletting, penetration, and intimacy. Hummingbird talismans were prized as drawing sexual potency, energy, vigor, and skill at arms and warfare to the wearer.

How the heck did that happen?

I believe that the human body if given food, exercise, and rest tends to maintain health and is self healing.
I believe that physical, mental, and spiritual factors can predispose, precipitate, and prolong injury and illness.

Physical Predisposition: I re-injured degenerated disks in my spine and did not exercise enough.
Loading — http://microchunk.tv/2007/07/10/loading-the-piano/
Traveling — http://microchunk.tv/2007/08/16/big-rig-rollin/
Wrestling — http://microchunk.tv/2007/11/04/wrestling-forever/

Mental Precipitation: My wife and I had basic differences about creating marriage, working together, and raising kids.

Spiritual Prolongation: I failed to nurture my own and my wife’s ability and power of choice.

It took me a while to sort all this out.

It’s a boy!

Last July I went for a general health exam, which included the usual blood tests. My PSA Test (Protein-Specific Antigen Test) came back high at 9.1, so a retest was scheduled. That test came back at 8.8, which is still too high, so a needle biopsy of the prostate was scheduled for August. Of the six sites biopsied, one came up with cancerous cells in two of the five fragments for a Gleason Grade of 4+3=7, a very bad grade. At a consultation in September, both the doctor and my wife wanted to immediately do surgery or radiation treatment, but I had something else in mind.

I don’t like to spread bad news or get sympathy from others, but I do need to talk about what’s on my mind. Nearly a year ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. For the last six months my wife and I have been talking about getting divorced and we have been separated for the last three months. I have been without a job for the last three months and I am now broke. This has all been a great opportunity for reflection and insight, and I do believe the insights are worth sharing, and so I will in the coming days.

I hit the road this morning to the glorious sight of the Tehachapi Windmills, with the clouds touching down to the ridge tops. On this Full Tilt Road Boogie west, I’ve wondered if I was just Tilting at Windmills, but as I climbed the mountain from the desert, and came down the mountain into the Central Valley, I knew otherwise. I passed the Raisin Capital, the Garlic Capital, and the Asparagus Capital to arrive at the capital of California.

Driving down the road, my attention went to tight spots in my body, places where I was holding things, and my breathing. The beautiful sky, and mountains and deserts of Arizona and California seemed to help. I had planned to stop in Barstow for the night, but none of the four exits showed the motels I favor, and then I was off in the direction of Bakersfield. I figured there would be something along the way, and so I settled into Mojave.