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So yeah, why am I telling you this? We have decided to move back east.

On Friday, I witnessed a random shooting. It was as if I had a front row seat to it. I took a rare day off from work and went to the beach in South Haven, MI. I hadn't been to any beach since before the pandemic. The kid (and he was just a kid, only 19) sat with his back against the base of the...

I lived in Titusville and rode my horse up on the mountain a lot. As an aside, I'd be more afraid of the ticks than the snakes there. It's where I left my heart when I left the state. It's gorgeous. The mountain is nice to hike on, but if you're going to travel, you may as well go up to the...

Yes, Delaware. Right near Baldpate mountain.

That's where I used to live, Hopwewell Twp by the river. Saw copperheads all the time. I am impressed that he had the presence of mind to take a pic of it!

Yeah, I had to move for work.

I left because I was forced to. I regret it though, and can't wait until we can come back.

You're right, Boyd, there is no evidence yet that multi-host ticks (like the ones in the pines) are permethrin-resistant. There are situations with one-host ticks where they're exposed a lot, but that happens in mainly the extreme southern US with cattle ticks. But you're right, they're not...

These are amazing, thanks so much for posting them. They really bring it all back. Things I remember most besides the rollercoaster: The boat ride and the beer garden. My grandmother was a fun gal.

Wow. That's a blast from the past. Bertrand's Island was the name of the park. My great aunt had a house right on the lake on Silver Spring Road. I would give my left arm for that house now. It was very small and adorable and SO COOL. I begged my grandmother to take me on the rollercoaster at...

Me too. Whooo-weee.

Any time. I am not kidding when I say IDing ticks is my favorite thing to do.

Ranges have definitely moved. They follow their hosts, many of which are birds. For instance, here in Michigan, we didn't have Lone Star ticks or Black Legged ticks when I moved here in 2010, and now we have TONS of both.

No, there are more than just Lone Star ticks in the pines, but they're the most numerous. They do not carry Lyme disease, only deer ticks do. You also have brown dog ticks, American dog ticks, rabbit ticks, etc etc. There are a lot of species, but they don't all bite people. Every one of them...

It's a lone star tick nymph. Asian longhorn ticks have very short, blunt mouthparts with a little flare at each side. Here's a side by side comparison of nymphs. H. longicornis on the left, A. americanum on the right.

Okay.

The CDC recommends everyone get the vaccine even if you have had COVID before.

I am really sorry to hear about your mother, what a terrible loss. I need to step in here and say that this is inaccurate that the mRNA recodes your DNA. That's just not true. Not any more true than any immune response to any foreign material. The mRNA gives your body the map to make the code...

I won't be eligible til Aug.

I just made cranberry sauce with Jersey fresh cranberries. It'll be just the two of us, and we'll have leftovers for months. I also made this pie. Yes, that's Covid on it. Happy, safe, healthy Thanksgiving everyone!