The birds have been getting more gutsy the last few days, and today I caught a cardinal on camera chowing down at my office birdfeeder.

I’m determined to get a bigger in-window birdfeeder – watching these little fellas is so much fun.

Brent Ozar

Brent specializes in performance tuning for SQL Server, VMware, and storage. He's one of the very few Microsoft Certified Masters of SQL Server, a published author, and a Microsoft MVP. He likes travel, Jeeps, Apple gear, jokes, and writing about himself in the third person. Read more and contact Brent.

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Well, the birds finally found the window birdfeeder up next to my office. Several times a day, a couple of birds will make their way up here, plop down in the birdfeeder, and chow while I work. It’s very relaxing.

I shot this picture right before we left for Paris for vacation, and promptly forgot about it until I unloaded the vacation pictures this afternoon. Not a great picture, but you can click on it to see the full version, which is even less exciting, hahaha. I tried several times to get pictures of the little fellas feeding, but every time I picked up the camera and aimed it at them, they scattered.

This evening, I saw the first pigeon on the porch. One solitary fat fella was parked on the top of the fence, keeping an eye on the army of a dozen or so small birds. He looked out of place, like an older kid that’s been held back in school. I like him already.

Brent Ozar

Brent specializes in performance tuning for SQL Server, VMware, and storage. He's one of the very few Microsoft Certified Masters of SQL Server, a published author, and a Microsoft MVP. He likes travel, Jeeps, Apple gear, jokes, and writing about himself in the third person. Read more and contact Brent.

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My New Nailmaster

I’m a Republican, probably even your stereotypical Republican, right down to my NodeDB license plate that says “I vote, shoot, and wardrive.” (Well, okay, maybe the wardriving part isn’t so stereotypical.) But I’ve never actually owned a gun. I fired a few back in high school, and I’ve wanted one for home defense, but not enough to actually shell out the clams.

I finally broke down and bought one this weekend. Not so much for home defense, though, as it is to just finish off a few problems around the house. Erika’s been bugging me to get some household projects done, and I got tired of her bothering me about it, so I let temptation get the best of me.

I live in Houston, so guns are easy to get. There’s two stores near my house, with plenty of models to choose from. I didn’t want to get a cheap one, because I’m concerned about the safety on those – I mean, who wants one of these just going off accidentally? No, I stepped up a little and bought a slightly more expensive model, something more durable because I think I’ll be using it a lot. Besides, those cheap ones looked a little femmy, like the kinds of guns girls would use. While mine isn’t manly by any means, it’s a nice gunmetal blue.

It’s electric powered, which surprised me. I’d never seen an electric one before, but that’s cool, because this one will fire twice a second if you need to really shoot some metal around.

I think I’ll go use it in the living room for starters. Some people might practice outside first, but not me. I’m the fearless type.

Brent Ozar

Brent specializes in performance tuning for SQL Server, VMware, and storage. He's one of the very few Microsoft Certified Masters of SQL Server, a published author, and a Microsoft MVP. He likes travel, Jeeps, Apple gear, jokes, and writing about himself in the third person. Read more and contact Brent.

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I know, I know, I talk about the squirrels a lot, but to me, this really is why I got a house. I walked downstairs this morning to find Mr. Squirrel staring back at me through the back door. I’d caught him getting ready for breakfast.

I’ll forever call all squirrels Mr. Squirrel – Dad & Caryl got me started on that. The family dog, Lizzie (Borden), knows what Mr. Squirrel means. Whenever you say, “Hey, Lizzie, Mr. Squirrel’s outside. Do you see him?” or anything like that, she makes a beeline for the nearest window.

Brent Ozar

Brent specializes in performance tuning for SQL Server, VMware, and storage. He's one of the very few Microsoft Certified Masters of SQL Server, a published author, and a Microsoft MVP. He likes travel, Jeeps, Apple gear, jokes, and writing about himself in the third person. Read more and contact Brent.

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Today surprised me with all kinds of new friends and enemies. This morning, while I was showering, Erika snapped a few photos of the first squirrel to eat at our birdfeeders. I was thrilled because I love squirrels, and we promptly moved one of the feeders to a more visible place. I went the extra mile and drove to Lowes tonight to get another two feeders, including one that mounts outside a window using suction cups.

I filled up the window-mounted one with the birdseed we’d stored in the garage (in its original plastic bag) and carried it inside to hang it up in my third-floor office, where I can’t see the other bird feeders. I didn’t make it ten feet into the house before I started wondering what that sharp burning sensation was on the back of my hand. When I looked down, I saw my first fire ants. On my hand, no less. Not very gracious, considering they’d taken up residence in my garage and eaten my food.

The bird food went into the garbage, and I learned a lesson: no bird food in the garage unless it’s in a sealed container. Very well sealed. In a vault.

Home ownership is full of funny lessons like that. I’d rather not learn the rest the hard way. I didn’t do my research before I got the birdfeeders, and now methinks I’d better hit the books this weekend. Or at least the web sites.

Brent Ozar

Brent specializes in performance tuning for SQL Server, VMware, and storage. He's one of the very few Microsoft Certified Masters of SQL Server, a published author, and a Microsoft MVP. He likes travel, Jeeps, Apple gear, jokes, and writing about himself in the third person. Read more and contact Brent.

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