My Week that Was - January 15

Eagle over the Wisconsin River.
1/8/2022 dwm photo

  The week started well.  It was warm enough to run outside after several days of basement workouts while cold enough to offer the promise of seeing Bald Eagles in Sauk City.

  Our first stop was in a riverside park where we looked through the windshield at a branch near the top of an old tree to see a partially visible mature eagle.  It was nice, but when it became clear it was sitting tight, we moved on.

  It was near the hydroelectric dam that is vital for the area's winter population of Bald Eagles by keeping the water open.

  Bald Eagles stand out, especially in winter, when the trees are bare and their silhouette is clearly that of a raptor.  Three were a quarter-mile downstream perched high in a tree while two, one immature, roosted above our car.

There were dozens, if not hundreds, of waterfowl on the river.  The eagles didn't pay attention to them, but every few minutes the they tried their luck fishing in the fast-flowing buffet.

I didn't see any eagle with a fish in its talons, but was transfixed by the soaring, the turns, twists, ascent and dives.  It was thrilling when they came close enough to get their picture.  If you missed it, check out Thursday's blog.

Lambeau Field 
celebrates a TD.
10/3/2021 (dwm)

Green Bay played its final regular season game in Detroit.  While the goal was to win and play well, the undercurrent before the game was about the importance of avoiding injury so the team would be ready for the one-and-done post-season.

The Packers are idle this weekend as they wait for their next opponent.  The best news at this point is that whichever team it is will play in Lambeau Field.

Before that game it will be nice to watch twelve teams slug it out to reach the quarterfinals.

Wednesday we watched Eternals, the latest Marvel Comics movie.  We didn't have any background on what its story was, although some Greek mythology I read years ago helped me follow the plot.  Frankly the preview sewn into the end of the next movie look more promising than what the first delivered.

This week I'm working on the Epilogue for my StoryWorth book.  It's a reflection on the experience and notes intended to stay in the family.  I might share some in this space, but only a few will read that final chapter.

I was supposed to give blood this week.  This week the Red Cross declared a National Blood Crisis, so it surprised me when a representative of theirs called to tell me my scheduled donation was cancelled due to staffing problems.

I appreciate and applaud the effort to vaccinate Red Cross staff, but found it strange that at a time blood is desperately needed they couldn't take it.  I am now scheduled to give the 27th.

Please, please consider registering to give blood - it is literally a gift of life.  There is barely a one-day supply of blood on hand right now, it is usually a three-day supply.  Who knows? Someone you love may need blood tomorrow.

Give blood - and have a great week!