I woke up early this morning to the see the sun shining and hear birds singing outside my window. And as I laid there in bed soaking in the sun and songs, I thought - yes, Happy Mother’s Day!

Making my way to the kitchen, I made some coffee and grabbed a cereal bar, my iPhone and camera, then headed outside on the patio to sit at my new bistro set and enjoy the quiet and newness of the morning. As I passed by my desk, I saw a card made out to “Mom,” picked it up and walked outside.

Sitting down at the table, I opened the card - “Mom I know you love a bargain … so I got you this cheap-assed card. I know this is a proud moment for you.” …Hope you have an AMAZIN Mother’s day and enjoy your lawn furnishings (lol). Love, Nick.

Indeed, he’s a funny boy!

In case you didn’t guess, him and his father bought me a new bistro set for Mother’s Day. And I LOVE it!

So, I’ve got my camera and I’m taking some pictures of a bird’s nest that I discovered yesterday. The nest is empty, and I wonder how long it’d been there. (This was the first time I’d spent any time outside since winter.)

A familiar sound caught my attention and, as I looked up, I saw a cardinal in the tree next to me.

I tried to get a picture but couldn’t clearly focus on him since I only had in the 50mm lens.

This was the best I could get. I waited to see if a female was anywhere around thinking, maybe this was their nest. But, alas, no female showed up.

By now, Gar’s come by and I’m hungry for breakfast. So we decide to go grab something to eat at a local diner, while Nick stays home to sleep. After breakfast, we pick up Nick and go over the flower shop for some hanging baskets of something that will grow in the semi-dark caverns area of my back yard.

When we walk around the back, I see a bird in the nest, and she flies off upon seeing us. I walk over by the nest and peek inside. There’s a blue egg! A blue Robin’s egg. Only one.

As I later discovered, they lay one a day until their clutch is finished, and then begin the incubation process. Cool!

Later in the day, we grilled and the guys hung out in the hammock, trying to balance both of them on it at once. Quite entertaining.

Hope you had a great Mother’s Day!

Friday, Friday - my favorite day of the week. Start the weekend off right, here’s an oldie but (non)goldie.

Crank it up!

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…well I just get high on tequila
and see visions of vineyards in my dreams … (or maybe just fields of cacti?)
I’m a genuine example of a social disease.

I’ll take my wrinkles with a light sprinkling of wisdom and sage salt please.

What will you be doing today?

Me? later - a LOT of this…

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(click on image for the full-sized version) Would you expect any less?
Happy Cinco de Mayo!

(and this will be me later in the evening after having consumed copious amounts of cabo)

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While my heritage is a hodgepodge of nationalities, I’d wager that I’m about 1/3 Irish. This year, the Roman Catholics officially celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on March 15, since - in 2008 - it falls during Holy week. I read that that won’t happen again until 2160. Well, I’m happy to report that yes, indeed I did my part for the “2008 official celebration” - I was at the pub on Saturday night, throwing down some car bombs. And, I’ll be doing it again tonight, on the real St. Patrick’s Day.

Here are some interesting facts about the holiday:

• St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was not a born Irish. But he has become an integral part of the Irish heritage, mostly through his service across Ireland of the 5th century.
• Originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday. In America, in fact, St. Patrick’s Day is basically a time when everyone becomes Irish, wears green and goes out to party.
• That green is associated with St. Patrick’s Day because it’s the color of spring?
• One estimate suggests that there are about 10 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.
• Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

Can’t have a St. Patrick’s day without a good Irish joke: