Author Archive

Memorial Day Staycation

By From https://chrisod.org • May 24th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Memorial Day Staycation
We should have been camping this weekend. The weather had other ideas. All of Virginia is in a moderate to severe drought, but of course Memorial Day weekend was a washout. I cancelled camping plans last week, and instead we did…



Viral on LinkedIn again

By From https://chrisod.org • May 19th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Viral on LinkedIn again
I went viral on LinkedIn again.

Previously.



Birding at Dorey Park

By From https://chrisod.org • May 16th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Birding at Dorey Park
It’s difficult to photograph birds at all times; it’s especially difficult when they mostly live in the leaves. I did get this one decent shot this morning of a brown thrasher. We saw 33 species, including my best-ever look at a G…



Camping at Machicomoco State Park

By From https://chrisod.org • May 10th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Camping at Machicomoco State Park
Trip: 56
Nights: 187-190
And the 2026 camping season has started. We spent the weekend at Machicomoco State Park near Gloucester, VA. It’s only a 70-minute drive from home. Until a few weeks ago it was Virginia’s newe…



County Roads, Take Me Home

By From https://chrisod.org • May 1st, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

County Roads, Take Me Home
My phone served up a cover version of this John Denver classic as I was chauffeuring my wife around yesterday. Something about the lyric hit me in a way that I’d never noticed before.
Almost Heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge M…



That’s a lot of work for a name tag.

By From https://chrisod.org • Apr 29th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

That’s a lot of work for a name tag.
15 weeks of classes, 5 or 6 field trips, a final exam, and a practical application (I made a zine) to earn this.



Sunday Dreary Sunday

By From https://chrisod.org • Apr 26th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Sunday Dreary Sunday
After some much needed rain last night, the temps barely hit 50°F (10°C) today, with the wind making it feel much cooler. I have not left the house today. I haven’t really left the computer. I had some much needed vacation research…



I’ve been tweaking the CSS for the site

By From https://chrisod.org • Apr 24th, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

I’ve been tweaking the CSS for the site
I’ve spent the morning tweaking CSS for the site. Please let me know if anything is off for you. It all appears to be fine on my desktop and phone.



Q1 Books

By From https://chrisod.org • Apr 23rd, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Q1 Books
I keep the list of books I read at the books link above. Here are the highlights from the first quarter of 2026.
The Society of Unknowable Objects: This follow up to The Book of Doors mostly delivers.
Life After Cars: A depressing look at all …



35 hours of class…done!

By From https://chrisod.org • Apr 21st, 2026 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Last night was the final lecture class for Virginia Master Naturalist training. 35 hours of classes, 10+ hours of field trips, and a few additional hours of continuing education since January. It was like being back in night school, except that most of…