Is It Still a "Blue Crab?"

Molly Murray has a story in the News Journal today that a commercial crabber has pulled an Albino blue crab out of Delaware waters. This is reportedly rare, but not unheard-of. I was intrigued to read that the fellow is thinking he might introduce the white crab -- a male -- "to some of the females in the shedding tank as an experiment to see whether they might breed more white crabs."

I hope Molly checks back on this story.

Meet Nick

Nick
Originally uploaded by mmahaffie.

Nick is the alpha male among the many cats at the Milton Equestrian Center. He's a stocky, tough-looking cat. By all accounts he's a good mouser. But he's a sweet cat, too. Likes people. Likes hanging out with horses.

Truer Words Were Never Posted

Truer Words Were Never...
Originally uploaded by mmahaffie.

This actually refers to fundraiser held by one of the offices in my building, but it struck me as I first got on the elevator this morning as a wonderful koan-like thought.

This is indeed today. I hope to see you there too.

Sixth Golf Game of 2005

On Bethany Bay Golf Course
Originally uploaded by mmahaffie.

Andy Southmayd and I played 18 holes at Bethany Bay Golf Course this morning. We wanted a tune-up prior to our two families' joint trip to northern Vermont where we like to play the mountainous courses.

I'd never played Bethany Bay before. It's an executive length, 9-hole course with eight par-3 holes and one par-4. A pleasant little course with some nice challenges.

Things got a bit crowded on our second time around the 9 holes, so we teamed up for the last few with two gents -- Jerry and Ahmet -- who have vacation homes at Bethany Bay. We were visited a Deer and by a Great Blue Heron.

I'm proud to say I carded an 88 for 18 holes. It is a short course, of course. Still, I cut strokes from the first 9 to the second 9 and Andy, who is a much better golfer than I , only beat me by two strokes.

Another round of golf in 2005.

AgriPhotos

Tractor and Field
Originally uploaded by mmahaffie.

As you may know, I spend a fair amount of time at the Milton Equestrian Center where Colleen rides and looks after her horse Jazzy. It's an interesting place to take pictures. I've started a collection.

Language that Makes Me Think

In a column by Al Mascitti in the News Journal this morning, there's a quote that gave me a moment's pause.

The column (It's racing interests vs. expanded gambling, and the purse is huge) is about the long-term effort to expand gambling's footprint in Delaware. What caught my eye, though, was part of quote from the executive director of the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems.

She spoke about the state having "an obligation to fund programs for the victims of public policy."

There's a notion that we should think about: "victims of public policy."

Another Form of History

cincinnati 1915
Originally uploaded by Least Wanted.

A Flickr member, Least Wanted, collects old photos discarded from law enforcement archives.

This one struck me because it looks oddly like my friend David Pedersen, of Georgetown. David with darker hair, a hat, facial hair, and a fancy collar.

Least Wanted's collection is a fascinating look back at fashion, hairstyles, and the faces of America over time. Remarkable.

Til Purnell Honored by the Sierra Club

A woman I have great respect for, Til Purnell, has won the National 2005 Special Services Award from the Sierra Club.

Til is part of a wonderful couple that returned to Sussex County from service abroad and has helped shape who we are. While she has championed environmental issues, her husband Skipper has been a voice in improving and modernizing state government. I had occasion to mention Skipper back in December.

Til Purnell is who I think of when I think of the word "forthright." She has convictions, and she stands for them. I have covered her as a reporter, worked with her in community theatre, sat with her in the audience at County Council, interviewed her and profiled her for Outdoor Delaware magazine, and argued with her as a state employee.

The woman is who we should all aspire to be.

Fourth of July at Bethany Beach

We spent the fourth with my folks, one of my brothers, and some family friends at Bethany Beach. We went to the Bethany Beach Fourth of July Parade, where I took a mess of photos. We spent the afternoon on the beach at North Bethany. We had a traditional meal of Burgers and Dogs, and eventually went down to the beach to watch the fireworks.

The Bethany Beach parade is one of our favorites. It's long. It attracts a decent number of politicians. It includes kids on decorated bicycles. And it brings out a healthy goofiness.

It was a pleasant afternoon on the beach. We swam, we sunned, we watched the kids dig for sand crabs, we sat around and talked politics.

After dinner, we planned to head down to the beach to watch the Bethany fireworks show about a mile south of us. We do this each year; we have the added fun of the fireworks shot off by all the groups up and down the beach around us.

Interestingly, this year here was some sort of cloud bank between us and Bethany and we really only could hear the town's fireworks show. There was some reflection off the ocean, but we were shut out visually. None of us could ever remember that happening.

The free-lance fireworks were still fun. We also traditionally distribute glowsticks to the kids. We put them on lengths of string for twirling, and throwing, and catching, and dropping.

It made for some interesting pictures.

Fifth Golf Game of 2005

An Island Green
Originally uploaded by mmahaffie.

I played 18 holes, poorly, this morning; again at the Heritage Course.

I had planned to go early and play a fast, solo, practice round. But the place was packed and it took longer than I had planned.

In fact, it was so crowded that, after a few holes, I joined up with a threesome to finish the round.

They were Chip, an assistant manager at the Heritage Course and the attached hotel, and his neighbors June and Tammy.

All three were very nice folks, at about my level of golf or a tad better. We had a good time, shared some laughs, and cheered each other on. It's a nice way to play.

I wish I'd played better. I did have a par on the 12th hole we played. But I'd also blown-up on a couple of holes.

In the end I carded a 123 for the 18 holes.