So who's going to admit to doing it? Or having done it? Collected stamps that is.



Stamp collecting is called Philately. Nobody knows who collected the first stamps, but it is now considered a rewarding and relaxing hobby. It is also educational. Learning about stamps teaches us about the currency, history, and customs of diffenent countries. There are more than a half million stamps issued worldwide with thousands more being released each year.

OK, I'll start with the confessions. I used to collect stamps when I was about 8 or 9. I remember enjoying it, and being 'chuffed' with myself when I remembered or worked out, for example, Magyar = Hungary.

Of course I would find a dancing gif, wouldn't I, for Hungary.

That was really tough to load. I had downloaded a smiley toolbar, which is great, but keeps trying to give me Caribbean hotels or the such like while I am uploading gifs, and then I lose the gifs I've located. Grrrrrrrrr

And morning arrives at our favourite island

Well I never, not quite what I expected to see. Very interesting though!!!!

I'll try and post it *normally*

A very pretty morning indeed



Hope your journey is easy this morning, Annie. I am thinking of you.....

I am really enjoying this sunrise

I gotta go, guys.... See you all later

Jenni - such a personal question, and in public, too!

Okay, I admit to being a closet philatelist. LOL I have a fairly extensive collection of nature/biology topicals. The biggest collection by far is the birds - with specialty groups like parrots and penguins. I spent hundreds (thousands?) of hours working on it - then the internet came to town and I haven't touched it since!

I was a philatelist in my younger days. Sold my collection to get my first Nikon. Since I'm not a GIF collector either (aside from a few that have appeared in this group) I'll have to just put up something related to Rusty's topicals from a descendent of that first Nikon.

John - good morning! Neon fishy! That is a super shot. I think you made the right decision in swapping philately for photography. You must be freezin' down on the coast - it's about 5F here in the *west*.

Jenni - beautiful sunrise pix.

Yeah, it's not bathing suit weather, although the water moderates the temperature a little. Right now WeatherBug is saying it's 10F with the wind coming off the bay at 14 mph, gusting to 24. That makes the wind chill -3.

Makes you want to go visit these guys.

Greetings from the great white North - a balmy -18C (Zero F) but it is sunny!

Gotta drive Alison BACK to univ. this PM. (Better not get another ticket)

And I've never collected stamps. Dabbled in coins when I was young - Dad travelled a lot - but I get bored easily. Moved on.

Gotta go out and get gas for the drive back - Gone from 70 cents/litre to 82 cents/litre. Grrrrr

Bill

Hey, forget what the thermometer says! Believe it or not there's a robin perched in our holly tree eating the berries. Spring is here.

Safe journey, Mr. Bill - we'll catchya on the flip-flop!

John, a robin? You sure it wasn't a penguin??

Bluebeard and a Blue Tang, methinks?!

Well, if it was a penguin, it sure looked embarrassed.

Good morning from the frozen East End..Burrr..
I just noticed that this thing moved.. wonder if it's windy or alive??

Could be the elusive Bonaire leaf snail.

Good morning everyone... it's cold cold cold here in central Ohio, but I awoke to a little birdie chirping in the tree outside my window, a sure sign that spring can't be too far away. Jenni, thank you for posting that incredible sunrise this morning, it was breathtaking. Sure wish we were there in person to enjoy it even more. My thoughts are with you today Annie B. xoxox

Well, we can see the boat from above and below.


Don't know if I missed the divers, since I'm going in and out of the cam site.

mornin' all...rusty...i just read your post on last nights thread...thanks for settin' me straight...so it was DAD who gave that possum chili! PPPPEEEEWWWWW!!! it has rained for 3 days straight...i can't remember the last time it rained this long! it is nice though because i have huge windows in my office, and usually have to have the blinds closed cause of the reflection it makes on my puter screen, can't see anything...i have had the blinds up for 3 days! wooohooo!

bill, drive safe...not yet awake, but i wonder how much a liter is to a gallon...we are topping $2.00 for premium at some pumps...it irritates me because there is no crisis yet, but the owners of the gas stations GOUGE you when they get the first opportunity!

john, great pics..is the first a queen angel? gotta go get ready for the work gig...my apologies if i made any boo boos in my post (busty rather than busy)

oh, hugs to annie and emma

Hi Cynde,

Yes, a queen angel, along with blue-striped grunt and Caesar grunt. (Although it's been so long since I've been in warm water, I should check the fish book ono the grunts.)

Maybe it's the Bonairean snailmailman?

It's a beautiful day on Paradise Island!





La Bomba?

Maybe it's the Bonairean snailmailman?

It's a beautiful day on Paradise Island!





La Bomba?

Sorry about the stutter (stuttererer) there. Must have dbl-clicked when I should have sngl-clicked.

Blue parrot?



John - love the grunts - and I think you're dead-on for the IDs.

good pics rusty...bill, blue striped grunt is correct i didn't know what the ceasar grunt was, very cool!

Diver alert:

Divers finally came around.

Double post. Shows what happens when you leave for a while.

Someone doesn't want the divers getting all the attention.

John - looks like the parrot is laughing at the upside down diver. LOL

Is it Friday yet?

a couple of more fish ids out of the way...thank you john for the grunt and i think it was jake that supplied the name for this jackknife spotted drum...




inspite of myself i am learning things

Nope, couldn't be Friday yet--it's not snowing. That robin is still hanging around. Wish I had something to feed him, but am fresh out of worms. He's going to have a tough time of it in this weather.

Okay, had to dig out the fish book. I was wrong on the Caesar grunt, the one I posted was a Spanish grunt (which I had started to put down, then changed.) The one you posted, Bob, is a Caesar grunt (thin yellow stripes, black caudal). I was right on the blue stripe grunt (thin blue stripes edged in black, black caudal) which looks similar to the French grunt (not pictured, but thin blue stripes some of which turn up diagonally behind the gills, and yellow tail). Haven't scanned one of those yet.

Good Morning!!! Well speaking of birds, our martins have arrived. So I guess it's spring here. Highs today should be in the 70's. Nice..huh....

I have robins, around my water feature. It's one of the few places they can get water when all is frozen.


So, does having a robin in my garden mean spring is coming? Really?

Cynde, I noticed you were mixed up between me and Rusty's dad but decided to let it go...It was funny but it could never be me anyway..I don't eat or handle hot sause..LOL...
UB

What do martins [other than the de weger type] look like, Ida?

Okay, did a couple scans. Here's another version of Bob's Caesar grunt.

Well the ones we get are so black they look purple. Hey that's what they are. Purple Martins! We purchased our house a few years ago and the previous owners left the martin houses, so we clean them and get them ready each year. We really look forward to seeing the birds each year. They swoop down in the pool to drink water which is really neat expecially if your in the pool.

Then there are the French grunts, that look something like blue stripes (see above), except for the diagonal stripes behind the gills.

And there are smallmouth grunts, to finish off those I have handy for scanning. Too cold to go up to the files in the attic.

good grunt lesson gang

uncle bob, thanks for not tar and fetherin' me

Thanks, Ida. I'll have a look for some here.

Off to the theatre now. See you all later, or tomoz.

Bye

hey uncle bob, i keep meaning to ask you, have you ever taken an Alaskan cruise?

Yes, BlueTang We took a 7 day Alaskan cruise in July 2000 on the Royal Carribean Cruise Line...Left out of Vancouver and returned to Vancouver.... Well were told to go in late July for the best weather. The cruise ship was fantastic but the weather was horrible.. We had to cancel our helicopter visit up on top of the glaciers and had to cancel our seaplane ride also. We also had to cancel one boat ride excursion but managed to get one in and a train/bus ride up to the continenal divide... My wife really enjoyed it but I had lived in Alaska twice..Once at the Artic Test Board and once in the Alutean Islands..(Adack)... It is beautiful..we didn't get to see all of the animals that we had hoped for but did see enough to make the trip worthwhile... UB

uncle bobby, Aleutian Islands??? No thanks! LOL! We have thought about doing the Alaska trip, have heard some good things about it, but I am just not sure about all the cold. What time of year did you go?

Speaking of cold...i would rather have this:


than this:


just found this webcam page for the maine harbors...couldn't find one that didn't have tons of snow and ice...giving me the shivers just thinking about it! It is beautiful though!
Maine Pictures

Hi Everyone, Thought I better show my face Have been messing about on the other thread. We had another good day today, two in a row, that is just too good to be true. Emma's blood tests came back ok, so she didn't need the transfusion, so that was good.

Nice pink colours on South Beach, but I couldn't get the same grey background on the other thread. Hope it works here ok. I learned a new party trick with a little help from a friend. Annie B.

Yep, It works better on this thread.

If you get back late, we know you drove slow today. LOL Annie B.

For you movie buffs out there. My brother turned me on to this site. SO FUNNY!! http://www.jerrythefrogproductions.com/MovieTheatre.html

Oh dear, we are forgetting the sunsets, and it is nearly my bedtime. Annie B.

Last ones I think. See you all tomorrow. Annie b.

Cynde, I would never tar and feather you....I treat all pretty girls nice and send them flowers unless of course you mess with my puter,steal my money, or stop my traveling...LOL


As far as Alaska is concerned...If you asking what month did we go cruising (Late July) if you are asking when I was in the Aleutian Islands (Adak) then I was there one full year. The artic test board at -55 degrees then the answer is 6.5 months Sept-March... Brrrrrrrrr....but then that's why its called the Artic Test Center.
haha... UB

uncle bobby...thanks for the pretty flowers, i will be sure to leave your puter, money, and travel arrangements alone! "artic test center"...hmmm...yes, does sound a bit "chilly" for me! Lol!