April Being Uncruel

The woodpecker of dawn is drumming on the mailbox again. I wonder if it's a male trying to attract the attention of females? If so, it doesn't appear to be working for him. I've known guys like that. Not guys who drummed on mailboxes, but guys who got loud in various ways and showed off when girls were around. It didn't work for them, either. It'll be too bad if the drumming woodpecker doesn't get to pass on his genes, though. I've come to enjoy his daily antics.

The oak leaves are finally darkening to a rich, bright green. They were brownish for an awfully long time this year, and I feared that their premature sprouting and subsequent exposure to so much cold weather would prevent them from achieving their usual degree of lushness, but they have overcome their poor start. The entire landscape is looking particularly lush this year. All that water that fell will make for a splendid May, I think. This morning is so balmy that, going out at six o'clock, I saw a bumblebee buzzing about in the gray light. I'll take that as a good sign.

For fellow fans of old movie palaces: Chicago's Uptown Theatre Renovation Project. I've never been there, but I'd like to see it someday. I hope they do manage to save this one.