Better Than Teeth?

This is the first time I've gotten a look at a Hooded oriole tongue.  I can see how it can get nectar from hummingbird feeders.  It's thin and translucent, just like a hummer.  Not quite as thread-like, though.  Looks like she's got a piece of orange wrapped around it.

A whisper of good news: I got the results of yesterday's blood draw. My GFR* has risen to 22 (from 15).  It's still stage 4 but it went in the right direction.  First change since May 5.

*GFR basically refers to the % at which your kidneys are functioning. It nose-dived from 31 in April and was at 15%. Now it's 22%. Incremental changes are what we want to see.   :-)