If you haven't already done so, get a copy of John Dean's "Worse Than Watergate: The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush." It's a good read, lays it all out with good citations of source. Of more concern to me, is what has happened to the media in this country and why Watergate-style investigations of Cheney/Bush are not being reported.

Was the Washington Post just lucky enough to have Deep Throat feeding them leads? John Dean lays out all the leads for them in this book. Who will pick up the bat and step up to the plate? Is there still a media of a caliber worthy of a Pulitzer for investigative journalism in this country?

The Western Tiger Swallowtails returned to my balcony garden last week.

They are such a treat to observe. They flutter in a spiral pattern up and downwards between the branches of the trees, not appearing to have a destination in mind, just out enjoying themselves on the subtle breezes and updrafts.

They might be performing courtship rituals as they appear in pairs and seem to be dancing and interacting with each other in flight.

Saw my first monarch of the season today. It came for a drink of water at my bird bath. It was all by its lonesome. Wonder if she's the first to arrive on their way through Pacific Grove or got lost enroute. I don't see many of them around here. The swallowtails are in abundance. This must be a migration rest stop for them. Spring is defintely here in Citrus Heights. There are already several nearby bird families chirping for food from frantic parents.

While out for a walk this afternoon I was followed all around the apartment complex by a group of neighbors. Felt perfectly safe, though. I think they were more interested in the cute chick with them then they were in me.

Finally got all the little puzzle pieces of tubing and drippers put together. My fingertips are numb from all that pinching and squeezing. It's going to work out well enough to keep year 'round and not just when I'm on vacation. I have enough left over tubing that with the purchase of a dozen more drippers and another timer, I can probably hook up a temporary drip system for all my houseplants when I group them all around the kitchen sink for my vacation this month.

Quite an ingenious system for watering if I do say so myself. Even placed a dripper over the bird bath so the birds will get continuous fresh water each time the system comes on. I'm now trying to work out the delicate balance of how long and how frequent to have the system on. It took three hours for all the containers to get wet enough for water to seep out the bottoms, so I'm figuring one hour a day every day should be good. If not, I'll go for 3 hours every 4 days next.

My brother had some good news in his job hunting. He's been called back for a second interview and is pretty confident he'll get the job. They're already talking salary expectations. Hopefully his knees will hold up so he will do well there.