Out Foxed

The fox got most of our remaining chickens, including super-rooster. The strange thing is that instead taking just one, he got a bunch of them at once. Maybe it was a gang of foxes. Or, maybe it was a coyote. I don't know of coyotes in this area, but they are elsewhere around DC, so, maybe.

Foxes and coyotes don't get along. Basically the coyotes are stronger and munch on foxes, although they prefer cats. So, it is either a fox or a coyote, but not both.

The arms race is on. I'm going after 'em. In my opinion, a keeper of domestic animals has an ethical duty to protect domesticated animals from the wild ones.

Updated Adventures of Jon and Jake

Already a gypsy pickpocket tried to get Jon's wallet. He foiled them somehow. Pickpockets are ubiquitous in Europe. They almost don't exist in the US.

Jon and Jake are now on the way to the south of France. I sent Jon an email with this pickpocket advice.

Avoid kids with signs, they use them to hide their hands. Likewise swaddled infants in mom's arms.

ATM machines: they insert a sleeve into the slot so your card jams, then observe you enter PIN. They retrieve the sleeve with its tab and your card.

If someone in a uniform asks to count your cash, its a scam. Ask to see their ID.

Keep your passport especially safe. Below the belt money pocket is better than above the belt. They razor it out.


Another good idea is stitch the bottom of all pockets to the clothing. Pickpockets don't reach into your pocket, instead, they lift up the lining until they get what they want.

Weekend recap: miracle of blogs, cheap gas, hedge hogs

On Saturday:
I had to go to Warrenton to drop off my crap woot refurb Dyson vacuum to be fixed. It’s outrageous they couldn’t provide me with a closer repair facility, but it was a beautiful drive with the foliage just starting to turn. I also had a bit of business to do in nearby Bealeton. My friend has been jonesing for a hedgehog for months now and I happened to spot an ad for the perfect little hedgehogs in Bealeton. Since he’s out of the country I picked it up for him and am watching her until he gets back. What my friend doesn’t know is that the favor I’m calling in will be that he goes back to Warrenton to get my vacuum once it is fixed. Anyway, the hog’s name is Rhianna and she is cute as a button and friendly too even though she can feel like a cactus at times. While I was in Bealeton, I picked up some 87 octane for $2.99/gallon. When I got home we went to the race track and stimulated the economy for a spell.

On Sunday:
There is a happy ending attributable to this blog. My long lost buddy, Ingrid started lurking on it after seeing a link from the Baby Blog and we made plans to hang out. Yesterday, Brian, Leo, Karen, Ingrid and I all crammed into my car to head up in the mountains to hone our marksmanship. They have a park which is a gun range with landfill like aspects; in that you can bring pretty much anything you can carry and use it as a target. However it was drastically cleaned up from the last time I was there. They must go in with a bulldozer and haul off the trash periodically and reshape the burms. I wanted to practice my handgun shooting and we also brought along Brian’s m-4 and 22 rifle. Ingrid shot the rifle the whole time and she is one hell of a shot, hangover or not. She had this index card sized piece of paper with a 1 inch black dot on it and the thing looked like swiss cheese after her shooting at 25 yards without a scope. I think she could do well at 50 or 100 yards. She could be our designated sniper if people resort to raiding each other’s property.

On our way down the mountain I turned off my car and put in neutral to save gas. For blog action day on Wednesday I will write an article on my gas saving techniques. I have never experienced the kind of ridiculous economy I got going down that mountain. I wish I had measured it, but we must coasted for 10 minutes until I got to a stop sign. Next time we go up there I’ll be sure to check the mileage.

We went through about $50 of ammunition. Brian says when he bought it at Wal-Mart he noticed it was getting more expensive. If you are the type who fell for Y2K, ect.. you should probably start stocking up on ammo, water, and non perishable food. The cost of ammo should be something you consider when picking out a gun. My new gun costs $.20/round whereas the 22 only costs $.01/round. Brian’s M-4 I think costs about $.50/round and his friend shoots sniper rifles that costs $3/round so he started recycling the bullet casings and refilling them.