minor highlights

I suppose this week's highlights aren't all that exciting.

I've been thinking recently how I've had my phone for nearly four years (in July), and it's still going strong, so I don't want a new one. But this week, I noticed that it seemed to be bulging a bit. I would rather just replace the battery than get a whole new phone. I called around to a few places (mostly chain stores), but they didn't have a Pixel 6 battery in stock. It would take a few days to get one.

But I found a local business, Mr. Vik in Kaysville, that seemed to have one in stock. So I drove up there on Thursday, but the guy in charge didn't think the bulge was a problem, since it was so small. He said I only needed to worry about it if it got bigger. 

Well, two days later, I noticed that it was indeed bigger. So I went back on Saturday, and he agreed that it was bulging. So an hour later, I had a new phone battery! It's a little thing, but I'm so pleased that I got a new battery without the cost of a new phone and the hassle of transferring everything over. And it also seems more ecofriendly to keep using something I already have.

Speaking of ecofriendly, the City of North Salt Lake hosted another event to pull myrtle spurge from Springhill Geologic Park. I go there all the time (when I only have time for a short run), and I am very concerned about invasive plants, and it's almost Earth Day, so I went, just like I did last year. While the bulk of volunteers stayed fairly close to the gathering spot, I went to a place where I knew there was a ton of spurge growing. I ended up filling three black garbage bags, and it seemed like it wasn't a dent. 

All that bright green stuff is spurge

But I did hear one of the guys in charge saying that there was a lot less than last year where they purged before. So maybe some progress is being made.

I definitely used muscles I don't usually use, and I wonder if I should spend more time pulling spurge from the Wild Rose Trail, as I have done in the past. But it is a bit of a commitment, especially since you have to wear protective clothing. Invariably I get a rash on my wrist where the sap touches my skin. What a horrible plant! But I already spend a great deal of time pulling goatheads in the summer and fall.

This week I was making my bed, and Reggie wouldn't get off. He provides no tangible benefit to my life, and yet I am so happy to have him around.

And I suppose the other noteworthy thing was running six evenings this week. April and May are wonderful months for the trails, and there are lots of wildflowers in bloom.

Smallflower woodlandstar on Wild Rose (it's hard to photograph)

arrowleaf balsamroot on Wild Rose

longleaf phlox on Wild Rose

common paintbrush above Wild Rose

tufted evening primrose, one of my favorites, at Springhill Geologic Park

Aspens are best in the fall, but they're also cool in the spring!

Yellowbells in North Canyon

North Canyon

Glacier lilies in North Canyon