Epic Day of Birding in SoWePa, 61+ species and rarities, plus two 4-leaf clovers, plus new friends...

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

I birded today at the Wingfield Pines Conservation Area in the company of Matthew Juskowich and James Hausman III - more experienced local birders and guides. We got a crackin' start to the day, and I'll write some more about it later perhaps, but suffice it to say it was Properly Epic. We saw more than 60 species of birds throughout the wetlands and spent hours there making observations and sharing the info and encouragement with other birders who'd followed news of our successes. It was pretty cool.

Definitely want to write some more about this, and will leave you a pic of the Indigo Bunting, one of the magical birds we saw...

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is OK

While the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency isn't immune from constructive criticism, they've been doing things right (Big & Small) for the athletes whose commitment to clean sport they're charged with verifying.

The redesign of the Athlete Express website has made it fantastically easy and convenient to update Whereabouts now from multiple platforms. My last plan change took about 17sec to complete. This is pretty Big, since inclusion in an out-of-competition testing pool means accepting unpredictable intrusions into what "normal" people might consider to be pretty sacred private space. So being able to efficiently manage your role in the process makes it easier and less dramatic for all involved.

And apart from the actual monitoring & testing regimes...just last week I got an out-of-the-blue call from a USADA investigator - not looking for intel or assistance, but just to say hi and ask how I was. And then Chester (Bob) found this gem in the post today. It's a nice reminder that USADA is staffed by actual human beings like Athlete Services Coordinator Kirk W., who'll take the time to send you a hand-signed birthday greeting. Little things like these encourage one to see the relationship as collaborative, and not adversarial or unpleasant.

I know this isn't every athlete's experience with their NADO, but it's been consistently mine and I appreciate it enough to want to let you know.

Greg LeMond swoops into Paris ahead of peloton on Avenue des Champs-Élysées

Rare moment of pro cycling chivalry, back in the day...

Scuba cat

scu·ba cat (skoo-buh kat)

n.

1. A cat that enjoys being in water.
2. A sopping-wet pussy.
3. Term of endearment.

interj.

1. Cry of warning to persons in a swimming pool who are in danger of being struck by airborne cat.
Origin(s): late-2000s, a scuba-diving calico featured on an episode of Discovery Channel's "How Stuff Works" show, with its own commercial.

Examples:

• "Chester hates getting wet! ... Yeah, he's no scuba cat."
• "Miss u Scuba Cat! Sending u lotsa luv & kitty kisses! home by 8PM! xoxo" (via text)
• "Heads-up! ... Scuba cat!!" (throws cat into pool)

LOST CAT

LOST CAT

Dark BROWN Tabby
Mystical YELLOW Eyes

On Friday July 20th our kitty “Cookie” – a medium-sized female indoor cat – escaped from our house at 5887 Keystone Drive and disappeared. Please help us find her! 

She is approximately 1-year old with a soft, medium-to-long fur coat that is very dark brown (with light brown stomach and neck and some tiger-striping). She has striking yellow eyes and tufts of extra-long fur in her ears and her on paws. Cookie is extremely timid and has both front and rear sets of claws. Her tail is bushy. If you think you’ve seen our cat, please contact us at any time. 

Use the contact form:

http://www.josephpapp.com/index.php/contact or 
http://goo.gl/0c9tR (short-URL)

2012 Tour de France stage 18 Dog Daze(d)