Late Night Fee for Restaurant Services is Expensive than Tax - Sign 69

Friday, February 23, 2024
We eat out quite a lot especially when we have worked very long hours or gotten out of late a several nights per week.


Fig 01 - The late-night fee service. 

It’s getting harder to find restaurants with decent customer service anymore. We dine at "a certain restaurant" quite often.

We really like the foods. We have noticed the place steadily declining both in the atmosphere and service.

The last time we dined there the server forgot to bring some items we ordered. We reminded her and she still didn’t bring them.

So, we just said oh well, as long as we don’t get charged for these, there’s no problem. We didn’t make a big deal of it. People are human and they make mistakes.


Fig 02 - A cafe, just illustration.

# Important postings:


Fig 03 - At the corner, illustration.

We went back this week. It was 9:06 PM when we walked in. We typically order the same (almost the same) things.


Fig 04 - One of favorite foods

We then sat down at the table they gave us. It was dirty. The server made no attempt to clean it. We ended up cleaning it ourselves.


Fig 05 - A Sign of ice cream on the street.

Finally, when we got the check, we noticed a line that said:
- late night dining service fee $9.62.
- we must pay 18% gratuity for dine after 9.00 PM.


Fig 06 - A cat, illustration only

So, we got to pay extra for the privilege of leaving with their nasty dirt all over us. We have never been treated like this.


Fig 07 - The tropical fruit, illustration.

We should have gotten a discount to sit there eating in the midst of their housekeeping, not charged extra! This is a horrible way to treat customers! We will not be going back any time soon.


Fig 08 - Seafoods, illustration

Before someone asks if We addressed this with management, we did not. They clearly knew all about it when they added this as a line item to the sales check. So why bother.


Fig 09 - The Monarch butterfly and flowers, illustration

We are posting this so other late night (after 9.00 PM) diners will know about this before bothering to go there (restaurants).


Fig 10 - Just for illustration, a sign of food vendor

Have you experienced with multiple fees for late night after 9.00 PM?

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A Hummingbird in the Flight - Critter 68

Tuesday, February 20, 2024
 We have 3 migration seasons of Hummingbirds in our areas, they are Spring, Fall and Winter migrations.


Fig 01 - Hummingbird flight close by wall.

If we have observed the Hummingbirds in Baton Rouge, Louisiana between middle of November to early March, then these Hummingbirds are considered as Winter migration of Hummingbirds.

There are several locations which well known for winter migration of this tiny birds. Some of them are:
- Baton Rouge
- Lafayette
- New Orleans


Fig 02 - A Hummingbird on the feeder.

# Important postings:


Fig 03 - A rural area, illustration

We recognize at least 5 (five) species of Hummingbirds as winter "special" visitors in our city, Baton Rouge, LA.


Fig 04 - A corner of the city, LA

The winter Hummingbirds in our areas are:
- Black-chinned Hummingbirds
- Broad-tailed Hummingbirds
- Calliope Hummingbirds.
- Buff-bellied Hummingbirds.
- Rufous Hummingbirds.


Fig 05 - Immature male Rufous.

We love to observe Rufous Hummingbirds since these tiny birds most frequently seen in this season.


Fig 06 - A hummingbird is flying.

What species of Hummingbirds in your areas?

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39 Million USA Dollar per Gallon Liquid - Part 1

Sunday, February 18, 2024
All of us might know scorpions, their stings are painful, and few scorpions may kill people. There are 2,000 scorpion species worldwide, but 30 to 40 species only could cause life threatening.


Fig 01 - Arizona bark Scorpion (credit to Responsible pest control).

USA has one species of dangerous scorpion to human, called as bark scorpion, with scientific name is Centruroides sculpturatus.

This species mainly lives in the state of Arizona, but also may be found in the states or areas of:
- New Mexico
- southern Utah
- southern Nevada

In addition to USA, Bark scorpion might be found in Mexico, include the states such as Chihuahua and Sonora.


Fig 02 - Fixing a lamp, illustration.

# Important postings:



Fig 03 - We may find Scorpion in place.

Surprising for me that scorpion poison in form of liquid is the most expensive liquid in the world.


Fig 04 - Foliage, just for illustration.

We might wonder: Why the liquid price could reach US$ 39 million per gallon (3.8 litter)? 


Fig 05 - A cat, belong to the neighbor.


Do you know about scorpion?

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The Criollo Mangoes in the Market - Sign 68

Saturday, February 17, 2024
 We saw quite "small size" mangoes sold in the ethnic store just recently. The mangoes called as "a mango criollo." 


Fig 01 - Sign of Mango Criollo. 

This mango has many common names include wild Mexican, Indio, Coche, Mexican and Corriente mango. Based on its common names, we may guess its origin. Yes, the origin is from Mexico. 

If lucky enough, we may find two kinds of Criollo mangoes in the ethnic markets (Mexican groceries or Asian shops):
1) Criollo wild
- smaller sizes 
- highly favorite because of their flavorful and rich in nutrients.


Fig 02 - Ripe mangoes, bigger sizes

# Important postings:


Fig 03 - Smaller mangoes, not ripe yet.

2) Criollo cultivated:
- quite larger sizes
- juicy flesh and sweet.


Fig 04 - Green, just illustration.

The Criollo cultivated mangoes have some advantage's abilities compare to Criollo wild mangos.


Fig 05 - Indoor plants, illustration only. 

Cultivated mangoes are able to self-pollinate and heavy crops production in warmer areas or regions. 


Fig 06 - 4 smaller sizes of Criollo wild. 

Some beginner mango growers choose Criollo mangoes as their great choice since the plants have minimal care requirements and excellent productions.


Fig 07 - Criollo mangoes sold in the grocery. 

Have you tried Criollo mangoes?

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If your Dog Doesn't Like Somebody - Sign 67

Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Honestly, I can't relate myself to a dog dislike someone as of sign "if your dog doesn't like somebody, maybe you shouldn't." 


Fig 01 - Sign of if your dog ....

How about with you? Do you?

However, there are several possibilities that why dogs might react negatively to someone:
1) Those dogs are rarely exposed to stranger, thus they are wary

2) Dogs feel threatened
- they are fear, anxiety or threaten to new people due to voice, appearance and attitudes that might trigger negative responds. 

3) Dogs have powerful sense of smell to respond strange smell from new people, include scents of smokes, colognes and perfumes. 


Fig 02 - A dog barking at me.

# Important postings:


Fig 03 - Just for illustration.

However, it is important to keep dogs (your dogs) on a leash, and in case of anxiety, they have a space to retreat.


Fig 04 - A dog stares to strangers.

What do you think?

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The Cooper's Hawk Perching on the Myrtle Branch - Critter 67

Thursday, February 8, 2024
We saw a bird hiding between branches of Myrtle tree in the neighborhood, and we believe the bird is a Cooper's hawk. 


Fig 01 - A predator hiding between branches.

Yes, helping by GoogleID and BingID, the bird is identified as a Cooper's hawk with scientific name, Accipiter cooperiiThe bird is a slender bird with a long tail and rounded, broad wings. 

This kind of Hawk is medium size hawk with about 45 cm (17.7 inches) length, and wingspan 80 cm (32 inches).

The range of this species distribution is quite wide, spreading from North America to South America. We may observe Cooper hawk in several places around city, and even in our neighborhood sometimes. 



Fig 02 - The bird hiding. 

# Important postings:


Fig 03 - Myrtle trees during cold season.

In our state, Louisiana, Cooper's hawk can be observed in many habitats include woodlands, forest and urban areas.


Fig 04 - The Hawk is perching.

The Cooper's hawk is a predator, it mainly consumes small birds and mammals. The predator eats reptiles and insect as well.


Fig 05 - Myrtle tree, during Spring season.

The favorite birds as Hawks diets are woodpeckers, robins, jays, flickers, doves, quails and songbirds.


Fig 06 - Hawk is still there.

Hawks hunting small mammals such as squirrels (tree and ground), chipmunks, mice and bats.


Fig 07 - Myrtle with pink flowers.

Some reptiles such as snakes and lizards are kind of supplements for Cooper's hawks.



Fig 08 - A lonely Cooper's hawk.

Have you ever seen Cooper's hawk in your areas?

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Day lily in Our City Garden – Part 2 - Gardening and Hobby 45

Friday, February 2, 2024


Fig 01 - Orange with mix colors

Daylily are adaptable plants, they spread to almost part of USA, and even in Canada. The well-known species has a scientific name Hemerocallis fulva, has other names include Tawny daylily, Ditch lily and Orange Daylily. This Daylily native to Asia, then grow well across America and Canada 


If we lucky enough, we may notice wild daylily, especially orange ones are growing (blooming) at roadsides, field and even in the open areas in many parts of USA.

Easy to adapt, also easy to spread into clumps. Crowd daylily may not bloom, thus we need to divide regularly. Some people do it for every three years.