Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Where did March go?.....

I can't believe that the month of March is gone already. It just seems like it was only a couple days ago that the calendar page for February was torn off.....now March will join it. Time flies, there is no doubt about it.

Today my neighbors were outside pushing their little 2 year old on a brand new swing set they had put up. When did she get so old? Seems like it was only yesterday that mom was still in maternity clothes. Before you know it she'll be heading out the door on the way to her prom.

My co-worker took a little vacation to sunny Florida for a week so I had to work every day, Wednesday through Friday last week and Monday through Wednesday this week. This old butt is hanging pretty low to the ground about now.....I'm not used to working every day like that. But its over and I made it.....I made it and am alive to brag about it. LOL Sorry I let my blog come to a complete stand-still but some nights I was so tired I just came home, let the dog out and back in and then went to bed. Pretty exciting, huh?

This week was sort of a strange one though. It was quiet for the most part. I even noticed a difference in traffic. It was like a lot of people were out of town.....and maybe they were. But the warm weather has finally arrived. The big sign along the highway said it was 77 as I drove past it on my way home. I know it may not stay for long and I also know that we could still get a snowstorm....that's happened many times before.....but they are predicting a high of 79 on Friday and that's music to my ears!

You know I'm always reading something and I just love to share unusual things I read so I'm going to tell you a nutshell version of something I read yesterday. They have found that honeybees have a sense of smell as good as any tracking dog and they've also found that they can be trained and furthermore.....its far cheaper to train them than a dog. They are fast learners too. They have found that if the bees are 'conditioned' to think that the smell of explosives is a food source, they will stick out their little tongues in anticipation. Scientists have figured out a way to enclose them in a device (not harmful to them or to the handler of said device) and when the device is "scanned" over a person (say at an airport for example) if there is any hint of an explosive odor, the bees will react and set off an alarm in the device. Their conditioning lasts for a couple weeks, then they have to be re-trained but it only takes a day or so to train them again. Amazing, isn't it? One article I read said that they are thinking of putting this to use at airports as early as next year. Read one article about it here and another article here. (both are short)

Well, tomorrow is April 1..... so you all be good....no nasty tricks! Above all, keep smilin'.

17 comments:

ain't for city gals said...

Glad you are back...missed you..

Leann said...

The only question I have about the bees is that the number of bees is decreasing as it is and they are going to use them for such a device?

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Honeybees as security workers! That goes into the category of "things that make you say hmmm."

Coffeypot said...

Train killer bees and if they smell explosives, turn them loose on the culprit.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Glad you survived your week at work..very interesting about the bees! :)

JY69 said...

Glad to hear that it is warmer there... it is here too...but raining... blah!

glnroz said...

where did March go?... where did Christmas go... Zoooommm,,, hope ya have a fun day/

fiwa said...

Bees are so smart. They can recognize people too. That's why bees in the garden will ignore the gardener but buzz all around anyone new who comes in. What a neat link!

Cheryl said...

Time does fly. Can you believe how long ago Christmas was?

Very interesting about the honeybees. A paradox that they're becoming endangered and useful for something else very important at the same time.

SOUL said...

good to see you postin again, and runnin around-- on my blog of all places- i've missed ya - so yep-- happy to see you there :))

you sound buzzy -- i mean, busy lately -- but what a strange and informative book you read-- about the bees. i had no idea. soulkid told me a few years ago about their extinction scare-- and what that could mean to our planet-- i never knew how important the job they did for us really was -- or to our environment really.so -- that - and now this even further information-- here's to bees everywhere -- let them carry on. eh :))

anyhow-- i hope you have a happy easter-- and a happy weekend as well
big hugs charlotte :))

gayle said...

That's strange about the bees!! At first I thought it was a joke!!

Joy Des Jardins said...

I felt the same way about March Val...it came and went in a blink...what the heck. These days I'm not lovin' the fact that time flies...I'd like it to slow down a little frankly. Here it is the beginning of April; and before we can turn around, we'll be saying the same thing.

You don't have to apologize for not blogging every day...I haven't been doing that for a long time; I don't think I ever blogged that consistently...and I'm getting worse about it, and I get the guilts too. I don't always have the time...or inclination to post as much as I'd like. There's just so many hours in the day. But I still love blogging....Oodles! I don't think that will ever change.

Thanks for the info on the honeybees...very interesting. Happy Weekend sweetie... ~Joy xo

Linda Medrano said...

Amazing about the honeybees! Wow! Glad you are back. I've missed you! Happy Easter Darlin'!

Savannah said...

I just wanted to wish you and your family a very Happy Easter Val. I know I owe you an email and I will get to that very soon. I was sick in bed all last week. In fact, this is the first day I've been up and around.

I'm happy for you that the weather has finally taken a turn for the better. Soak up those warm rays and make the most of it my little mate.

Mama Llama said...

Wishing you a very Happy Easter, Val. Thinking of you and all the love and support you give to so many--you are a treasure and you need to know that!

Be well, dear Val.

Linda@VS said...

Very interesting about the honeybees. Gives a whole new meaning to the concept of a law enforcement "sting" operation.

Jenny said...

What a great post. I didn't know this about bees...we used to have hives...and I was always sort of relieved when someone bought them.

Hope you had a good Easter.

PS Saw you on Gramme's blog and came to visit...I was intriqued with your blog name.