Birds on the deck...

and you in my arms.

Erm. Well. That is a little mantra Arvin and I have. Anything with the rhythm "da da da da daaa" is followed by "and you in my arms." When I encounter such a phrase my brain just jumps to "and you in my arms." Arvin's still does that too which is a small sign among many that he is still in there no matter what other behavior might indicate. This is our resident Steller's Jay - oops Flicker - who regularly rat-a-tat-tats on our chimney cap to let the ladies know what a great provider he is. In the extras is Peg, the one legged seagull. So glad he is still around.

I'm sticking home today because I ordered a new camera and it arrives between 12:30 and 4:30 today according to UPS. I know. I don't need another one. But nevertheless I'm getting one. It is the Panasonic G85 (G80 in some places) and it will make a great companion to my GH4. Even though I'm not going to Africa until next year, I decided to get this camera based on its reviews. I could have gotten a GH5 for twice the money but honestly, it is more about video than still photography and I am still 99% a still photographer. And every time I delve into video I am overwhelmed by the technical side of it. Taking quick little movies of family works fine for me. But wildlife video, where I'd like to go, is just too much new stuff and equipment for me. So I realized that the G85 would give me still photos very close to the GH5. So there it is, as the king said in Amadeus.

Steve is coming over later for dinner and that makes me happy. My little brother (7 years younger) and I have been friends since we were little kids. And I was also kind of a second mother for him. Mom and Dad didn't like waking in the middle of the night so they put his bedroom next to mine once he was old enough to sleep in a bed. From then on if he had bad dreams or other worries at night, I was right next door to help him. And from our earliest days he and I would be doing art while my other brother (the middle guy Dave) would be playing games and doing other things. I feel very lucky that we three all love each other and get along well. If there is a bump in our relationship we work it out. And we got through all the stuff associated with our parents' deaths extremely well. Money and stuff never did get in the way of our friendships. I am very thankful for that. I admit that I am proud of us all for being kind and caring people who have respect and compassion for others.