Julie Bueller's Day Off

I called in sick today.  Or as my coworker Jim says - I called in "afraid".  "Afraid" that I can't come to work.  I used to always fall for that one when he would tell me that someone had called in afraid.  I'd say, "Afraid of what?" and then you see where this one is going.... Actually,  I feel OK as long as I don't talk.  I know, Scott is so lucky.

I bet you can't wait to hear what exciting things I have been doing on my day off so far.  First of all, I did NOT borrow a Ferrari from anyone's parents.  I did not attend a baseball game at Wrigley field or crash a parade by lip syncing to "Danke Shoen" on a float.  I did not even torment my high school principal.  (I've already forgotten his/her name.) Instead, here is what I did...  To start off, I took my friend Michael's advice and used the zoom lens on these weird caterpillar thingys.

Then I looked them up on Google.  Apparently, they are called Eastern Tent Caterpillars and are very common in the Eastern US.  They will not damage your trees but they will eat the leaves and make them look yucky.  Scott is going to kill them later today.  Wait, we have some late breaking news:  I just got an email from my good friend Liz who informed me that they are indeed tent caterpillars.  I knew she was the smart one.  I should give her a prize for being the only one to answer correctly.  Or the only one to read this blog.

Greta decided to walk out on the porch and see what was going on.  You have to look real close to see her in this picture (unless you click on it).  She doesn't look happy to have her picture taken this morning.   She has that - Shouldn't you be at work? look on her face. 

Next, I stalked a bluebird nest (for almost 2 hours) to try to get a good picture of Mr. or Mrs. Blue poking their head out of the nest.  Well, I got a picture....it wasn't as good as I had hoped.

You are going to have to click on the above picture to see the bird but don't forget to "back" out of it or you will close the website and have to start over.  I was pretty far away but I was using a 70 - 200mm telephoto lens (for the first time ever).  Where did I go wrong?

After walking next door to see what mom was doing, I took a nice nap.  I can't believe it is after 5:00 already.  I guess I'll have to go back to work tomorrow.  It wasn't as exciting as Ferris' day but then again, he didn't have a cold. 

Word to my mother:  Ferris Bueller's Day Off was a movie in the 1980's where Ferris pretended to be sick and had a "big" day.  You may or may not have seen it.  :-)