Don Pullen

Ham radio operator, amateur astronomer, sci-fi nut, nerd and often dazed and confused. But I always travel with my towel.

[astrodon]

Some recent hikes over the past few days in the Hamilton area. We are lucky to have so many trails and natural areas. #hamont #fallcolours #fallcolors #hiking #princesspoint #princesspointtrail #victoriapark #eramosakarst #karstexploring #caveexploring #rbg #rbgcherryhillgate #cherryhillgate #radialtrail #mountainbrow #happyhamiltonhikers (at Hamilton, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGtktEyHFwj/?igshid=1ib5odvbu2bl1

[astrodon]

Feeling rather crappy for the past few days. Figured I'd try some hiking and time outdoors which often helps get me out of my funk. Started with the Chedoke Radial Trail from the golf club to Scenic Dr and along the top of the escarpment to the 403 and back. Most of the falls along this stretch were dry or nearly so. Also there weren't any good jumping cliffs. Then, being slightly hazy/cloudy, thought we might get a good sunset so wandered over to Bayfront. Nice but not glorious. Nice enough to be out but none of it helped my mood. (at Chedoke Radial Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFqPouhFUhv/?igshid=1o2896dlrllr8

[astrodon]

Oh oh... Either someone lost their balloons, or some of the squirrels are having another party and I wasn't invited again. 😔😥🎈🎉 #hamont #lostballoons #squirrelparty (at Hamilton Mountain) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCROBevHpal/?igshid=5u06hs2h2rox

[astrodon]

At The Spoons #thespoons concert tonight at the Festival of Friends #festivaloffriends at Gage Park in Hamilton. Great to see both Gord and Sandy play some of their classics and hear some tracks from their new album. I had a crush on Sandy in the 80's and she's still looking good. 😍 Big crowd there to hear them play. Even my good friend pretended hard that she was having a good time. Lol Someone even brought their pet Burmese python to the show. #hamont #hamiltongagepark #gagepark #sandyhorne @amethystjeantiu (at Hamilton Gage Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0xM6Uhnk_j/?igshid=1wszut13yeirh

[astrodon]

If Congress won't begin impeachment proceedings against Trump (and his admin), then Canada has no choice but to unleash its massive air force and bring reason back to North American. (England - you are on your own) Hundreds of squadrons are stationed at parks along the border across the country, ready to be deployed by the thousands. These are nasty as both paratroopers and ground forces. (Dual-combat arena forces). #impeachtrump #impeachgop #stoptrump #canadianairforce #canadianparatroopers #canadiangeese (at Bayfront Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0WeWvynmCP/?igshid=1d3k7svu7cdny

[astrodon]

A couple of sketches from tonight's #sitelines art drop-in. @centre3_ @sitelinescentre3 . A great free art environment for those with lived experience of mental illness. Art therapy is a great way to calm the mind. #arttherapy #mindfullnessart #mentalhealth (at Sitelines) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzrCE0KnWzV/?igshid=1wzosumrdb1bg

[astrodon]

Out for a hike in the pre-Spring-like weather and seeing some old friends. Nice to be feeding the black capped chickidees, the downy woodpeckers and nuthatches. Sadly the cardinals, sparrows and red-winged blackbirds were less sociable.

Interesting that there is a pecking order (pun intended) in who feeds first. Both the chickidees and the woodpeckers. In the case of the chickidees, size seems the determining factor. In the case of the woodpeckers, the females control the pace.

Also a nice gathering of Canadian Geese, Trumpeter Swans and Mallard Ducks. I think though they were protesting all the tourists.

#hamont #rbg #naturehike #teasingspring #chickidees #nuthatch #downywoodpeckers

[astrodon]

With the March Break upon us, i decided to take a trip with my favourite transport. #tardis #arlingtonhotel #wishfulthinking #takeatrip (at Arlington Hotel) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuyCXlah9qk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1pnphmx9v5c5a

[the-art-of-medicine]

Brain Anatomy

Cerebellum - located at the back of the brain beneath the occipital lobes 

Functions: 

Fine tunes motor activity or movement

Assists in maintaining posture, sense of balance or equilibrium, by controlling the tone of muscles and the position of limbs 

Important in one’s ability to perform rapid and repetitive actions

Frontal Lobe -  largest of the four lobes 

Functions:

Motor skills such as voluntary movement, speech, intellectual and behavioral functions

Plays an important part in memory, intelligence, concentration, temper and personality

Occipital Lobe - located at the back of the brain 

Functions:

Enable humans to receive and process visual information

Influence how humans process colors and shapes

Temporal Lobe - located on each side of the brain at about ear level

Functions:

Involved in visual memory and helps humans recognize objects and peoples’ faces

Verbal memory and helps humans remember and understand language

Allows humans to interpret other people’s emotions and reactions.

Parietal Lobe - 

Functions: positioned above the temporal lobe and behind the frontal lobe

interpret simultaneously, signals received from other areas of the brain such as vision, hearing, motor, sensory and memory

[astrodon]

The CP Holiday Train arrived in Hamilton tonight near Gage Park. As usual, huge crowds showed up to listen to the music (Sam Roberts) and see the festive train. This is the first time that events and conditions (and memory) all worked together for me to actually see the train. Went with a good friend who had difficulty seeing over the crowd even though she's reasonably tall. Cold and windy. A hot coffee afterwards was a very welcome way to warm up. After, I tracked the train to the yards in west Hamilton where it stayed for the night before continuing on to Cambridge tomorrow. I found the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail was an ideal location to get close to the train for better shots. #cpholidaytrain #gagepark #hamiltonfoodshare #hamont #cpr #holidayseason #timhortons #klitefm (at Hamilton Gage Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqwM4bUhK3X/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qo2zy5abkbvj

[astrodon]

A little hiking along the Hamilton Bayfront Waterfront trail on a mild, and what was supposed to be a mixed sun/cloud (saw no sun) day. The Mute Swan young have gotten a lot bigger. Appears that 3 survived. Looks like a beaver has set up shop along the trail. And a good looking hawk/falcon posed nicely for a few of us enjoying the day. I just wish I had brought my DSLR instead of using the phone camera. #waterfronttrail #bayfrontpark #hamont #cloudysunday #hikinginhamont #beaverden #muteswan (at Bayfront Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqnxiwjBY0N/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1g8gfyux4l52f

[astrodon]

A piece I've been working on for a few weeks - finally done. An amalgam of some thoughts and images I deal with thru my depression and other issues relating to recovery. Though high functioning at times, it can also be debilitating for long stretches. Death is a major theme. #mentalhealth #sitelines #centre3 #suicideideation #suicidethoughts #depression #anxiety #sweetrelease #highfunctioningdepression #arttherapy #mindfulness #artasrelease (at Sitelines) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqYPx-5BIvT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ruzwhni0vxrt

[astrodon]

Got my flu shot today at my local Rexall Pharmacy. Quick and easy. Helps to protect me and others. Now available at most pharmacies and doctors offices across Ontario. Have you got yours? #gettheflushot #getthejab #fluvaccinedoesnotgiveyoutheflu #flushotdoesnotcauseautism #rexallpharmacy #preventthespreadoftheflu #protectothers (at Hamilton, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp8XhFgAdKS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fvqhj4ra0wqi

[astrodon]

1 year ago, this cutie came to live with me permanently. Happy anniversary Luma. (at Hamilton, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpNguebBso1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1mguu7e200p88

[astrodon]

A couple of quiet hours at Cherry Hill Gate and the Grindstone Marsh area of Royal Botanical Gardens. Sunny and pleasant temps. Had fun with some friendly critters. Photos from my phone camera. But they also didn't mind the DSLR when I pulled it out. @rbgcanada #cherryhillgate #grindstonemarsh #rbg #hiking #enjoyingnature (at Royal Botanical Gardens) https://www.instagram.com/p/BohxUcxB_Qx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jx0v5gyimyma

[astrodon]

A fun afternoon with my favourite 4-legged nephew, Carl @sdit_carl and his daddy Jake @jake_and_carl @jake.maurice. Started with training and playing in Gage Park. Then McDonald's for dinner, then a trip to Wal-Mart where I bought him a small toy. He was so good. We worked on his distraction training and he really improved a lot in just 1 afternoon. Smart puppy - and so damn cute. They are a great team already. He's almost 4 months. (Well, daddy is a bit more than 4 months old. Lol) We tried on a hotdog costume while at Wal-Mart. Lol #dogsofinstagram #sdit #servicedogintraining #puppy #gagepark #hamont #puppytherapy (at Hamilton, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoFm1ZEBFAx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=woawbawyfnlo

[astrodon]

3 and a half bags of donations prepared for 3 of the community groups I frequently attend and receive so much from. Time to give back a little. Mostly art related supplies. Though I've also included some personal care products that are always in need by MHRC. #sitelines thru @centre3_ , @thelostorganization and #mentalhealthrightscoalition I will also be making a small cash donation to @harrrp since I do pottery there. And they offer a lot more programs. My thanks to all of these organizations who have helped me and many others in our community, especially those dealing with mental health issues. All of you are very much appreciated. I hope that others reading this post will also consider making a contribution. #hamont #hamiltonontario #arttherapy #charity #charitydonation #mentalhealth #mhrc (at Hamilton, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnJrjzknVel/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kgsfec91y4vz