You see, this spring our beautiful young river birch seems to be infested with spiny witchhazel gall aphids. Last week at the farmer’s market the League of Women Voters were handing out nice little containers of ladybugs, which everyone KNOWS love to eat them aphids, oh yes.
So for the past week I have had a little cup of ladybugs sleeping in my fridge. One of those nice little clear cups identical to and right next to the cups of salsa from the Mexican takeout. Every other night or so around twilight I have been looking forward to heading out back, hosing down the tree, and carefully placing ladybugs on the leaves.
I’m getting pretty good at it - it’s not as simple as you might think.
Last night I was appreciating my handiwork and enjoying watching my little warriors heading out up and down twig and stem to do battle, when I realized that the percentage of folk whose idea of a good fun evening was peering at ladybugs at close range was probably low indeed.
Anyone want to share their personal pleasures that would make the vast majority of folk say, “You enjoy WHAT? Get a LIFE!”
In my extremely humble and well balanced opinion, nothing is quite as mature as realising you need a little enjoyment in your life. And then doing something about it.
As long as your “fun” does not harm or encroach on the rights of others, go for it.
My wife and I have taken to watching our new kitten climb up our walls. We live in a modern log home. In fact, little Minmei is about ten feet off our floor lookiong around. Seems it’s her favourite thing to do. My dog just sits there looking up at her in utter disbelief that his stardom was taken over by something he could swallow in one bite.
Then again we do a lot of projects around our house. A few months ago I posted a thread wanting to know how to make a medieval long bow. That was fun, now my wife and I have two longbows, of which one can be used as my wife can not pull her’s back.
I don’t think the ladybug thing is weird at all.
I love sitting on my back porch at night with a fire and a beer, watching lightning bug with my wife.
Check here and here for how-to’s and equipement. It’s really fun. We made our own arrows and everything. We are not hardcore SCA’s either. Actually we are not at all affliated with SCA.
Let me tell you those bows shoot so damn strait and strong. They’ll go through a 4 inch sapling.
My biggest problem, though, is that I now (ok, close to a year now) live in an apartment and i can’t play some of these of these albums at their optimum sound pressure level.
I mean, come on, early Heart, all David Lee Roth era Van Halen, and Dwight Yokum needs to be loud.
Fortunately, I picked a very old and well built complex (small complex, big units, maybe 40 total) and none of my neighbors have yet complained. I’ve even asked the nonagenarian living underneath my place if I’m too noisy. “You mean someone lives upstairs?”
Not bad, but I miss having a house. Had to do it, though. We’ll see what the next year or two brings me…
Dinsdale, you are killing bugs and you think people here wouldn’t agree that it’s a fun and exciting way to pass the time? How long have you posted here?
I take the time to competely clear an Etch-A-Sketch board about 3 times a year. It takes many hours to do this to my satisfaction, I would estimate about 100 or more.
I write down the definition to a “useless” word everyday. I try to go after stuff that no one ever uses. Yesterday was Parasympathomimetics. I know I will never use it, but…
I have a list of flavors from our local ice cream eatery, and I cross them off every time I get a new flavor.
I study world capitals almost everyday. Even though I already know them all.
I constantly repeat the order of the presidents in my head, as well as all the combinations of 1,2,3,and 4.
I spend way too much time writing about useless info. on the SDMB!
Are you kidding? The simple pleasures are the best. I enjoy working around the house. I’m putting an addition on. That’s what I do. I love to tinker. I once spent an entire afternoon trying to start a fire with a stick, a knife and a piece of string.
What it comes down to is ‘No time is really wasted’ you do things because you want to or need to. And the line between want and need is blurred.
I can see the stick and the piece of string (new improved string! now in respendent shorter lengths!), but how does the knife fit in this equation?
Real question, btw.
'Cause I’ve done the stick, string, bark, dry grass thing before. Works better if it’s all soaked in lighter fluid or 151 Bicardi, but that’s cheating. What do you use the knife for?
