I'm a great horned if you think I'm a hoot.

When we were kids my dad built a fireplace and chimney from stone. The next year we woke up to see a snowy owl sitting on the grate. Dad put it in a big potatoe sack and let it go.

The bats were far more entertaining. I pretended it was normal while the siblings and Mom went under the table.

I was 14, and there was a tennis court across the road. It turned out to be game set and match, though it made quite a smear on the picture window when I tried to play volley with it.

We men have to take care of stuff like bears and big trout, caribou, musk oxen and mice. The latter are hardest. My wife sees one every hour. The traps remain empty.

Owls are one of the only birds I can hear now.

Turns out my hearing test were all messed up, I was told if I hear anything press the button. Over 2k I was pressing it but there was no tone, just a click. We figured that out a few weeks back and they say we can now fix things. Probably not.

I need just 2k to 3k jacked, at the end about 95db or I would need ear protection. So the ceiling fans are now really loud and the tires on the road drive me nuts. Eh bien.

It is what it is.

John Conley
Musica est vita