Oct 4th, 2025 Moon in Olney, IL

The nearly full “waxing gibbous” moon by the Richland County Courthouse in Olney last night (Tuesday, Oct 4th, 2025). 

The Land of the Lost

I’m not the smartest person in the room. I have often disagreed with what those in power - on both sides of the political spectrum in this country - are doing with that power. I know that Donald Trump won the presidential election, unequivocally and undeniably. 

AND… there is an awful lot that concerns me right now for the future safety of my friends on all sides of every issue that we could bring up. And I’m not just talking about my more liberal, left-leaning friends. 

I’m not into debating whether what’s happening will ultimately be for the greater good or disasterous. I simply don’t believe that a “little pain” equates to a relatively short timeframe of economic discomfort and political rearranging that winds up  (or down) with things in a better place for those of us in my portion of the federal tax bracket.

Honestly, I fear for the direction things are heading - for all of us. You may laugh it off and think that you understand what we are in for; more power to you… I hope that you’re right. Because at the end of the day, what is actually better - in reality - for 95% of you - is probably also better for me. Except that I already disagree with much of the means to whatever end is in store. 

The thing that worries me most is that I don’t believe that anybody truly knows what we are in for. We’re like the family on that raft in The Land of the Lost - heading towards that waterfall. I can hear the intro music playing in my head.  

Find your “Dopeys” and your “Cha-Ka’s” now, because sooner than we all think, the “Grumpy’s” and the “Sleestaks” might be running amok outside your cave. That analogy might apply to more of us than anyone reading this post believes. 

And maybe I’m completely full of shit and my concerns are baseless. I hope so.

Cicada Nymph Emergence Hike

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We went out with friends on an after-dark owl hike last night. We did hear a couple of owls hooting. But what it quickly turned into was a nighttime cicada emergence hike instead. They were everywhere!

Cicada Nymph in the Front Lawn

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My wife found this cicada nymph when we were working out in the yard on Saturday, May 11th, 2024. 

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