PIED TYPE
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Flea circus
(Updated May 12, 2012 at 2 pm MDT) For the last week, my home has been a three-ring flea circus. And I mean that in the most negative way possible. A week ago, on May 3, I got it into my head to treat both my dog and cat for fleas. Not that I’d seen … Continue reading
The (old) eyes have it
You’ve had a pretty good idea most of your life what “rheumy eyes” are when they are mentioned in print. And you see them on television occasionally — rheumy-eyed old men and women. But just try to find a photo that shows what you mean when you say “rheumy-eyed” … or that illustrates what you … Continue reading
Remembering the Oklahoma City bombing – II
Today is April 19, the day Timothy McVeigh bombed the Murrah Federal Building in my hometown seventeen years ago. The blast claimed 168 lives, including 19 children under the age of 6, and injured more than 680 people.The following is a reprint of my post two years ago: Fifteen years ago today Timothy McVeigh’s bomb … Continue reading
It’s the little things
It’s amazing the joy that little things can bring to your life. Often in ways that defy description. That first hot cup of coffee in the morning, without which the day is doomed. The perfect red jacket — not orangey but a true, deep glorious scarlet — found after two years of searching. A bowl … Continue reading
Funny how that works
We’ve all been in situations bleak, desperate, or frightening where, in our minds or perhaps aloud, we start making promises. Please, God, just get me through this and I promise I’ll …. All of us have probably done it at one time or another in one way or another. My current situation seems vaguely similar; … Continue reading
Oh joy, I’m a canna
I’m a sucker for all kinds of little quizzes. What color is your aura? How liberal or conservative are you? Are you depressed? What kind of parent are you? What’s your IQ? How secure is your home? What’s your personality type? I suppose on some level I think these questionnaires and quizzes will somehow help … Continue reading
Being there
I came across this rather remarkable panoramic photo this morning while browsing for header art and wanted to both preserve and share it. The file will load slowly because it is massive, but take heart. Your patience will be rewarded. You’ll be able to click on the photo (twice for maximum size) and scroll all … Continue reading
Another Comcast complaint
They say you get what you pay for. So when Comcast gives you something for free — say, a router for your wireless network — you probably shouldn’t expect much from it. In my case, the router in question lasted not quite six months. It failed a few days ago, which is why I’ve been … Continue reading
The hermitess hits the wall
One’s senior years are not the best time be a hermitess. Nor are they the best time to have finally established that you’d really rather be left alone. Nope, it’s not the best time to have finally become the independent, introverted loner you’ve always wanted to indulge. Because of course your senior years are when, … Continue reading
Civic duty done
For almost two months I have been dreading today. I had to report for jury duty at 8 am. That’s about the time I normally roll out of bed, so being at the courthouse dressed, caffeinated, and coherent by then was more than a little stressful. I found out I could take my laptop and … Continue reading
How to do Black Friday
I don’t have anything to say, really. But I’m tired of looking at that turkey photo on the front page. As noted previously, my son and his family went skiing on Thanksgiving, but we got together yesterday to have a wonderful time and thumb our noses at the Black Friday lunatics who were jamming the … Continue reading
Thanksgiving memories
As best I can remember, this is the first Thanksgiving Day I’ve ever spent by myself. My son and his family decided to go skiing today, which I was delighted to hear; normally he’s too busy working to spend a whole day with his family. Besides, when you get to be my age and have … Continue reading
Beetle fences
You may know them as snow, sand, or drift fences. They come in various forms, usually either wooden slats wired side-by-side, or perforated orange plastic sheeting strung on stakes. They may be solidly planted, permanent fences or rickety, temporary-looking installations. I’ve seen them on the few beaches I’ve visited. But I know them better for … Continue reading
Atheist by default
Over on Sean Hannity’s blog there’s a thread entitled “Anybody else here a reluctant atheist?” Someone calling himself Poptart posted the following, which happens to explain my own thinking rather well: I didn’t choose to be an atheist, because I am without belief by default. I don’t “choose” my beliefs. My beliefs evolve from a … Continue reading
Grandma got new wheels
Let the record show that at 3 pm today, the title to my beloved old Mazda passed from my hands to those of the tow-truck driver who took her on that last, long one-way trip to auto heaven. … sniff … Damn, I loved that car. It was cool (I thought), and I felt cool … Continue reading
A bug on the windshield of life
Like a bug on the windshield of life. That’s how I’ve felt this week. Or maybe like there’s been a death in the family. I put my beloved Mazda in the shop Monday morning, knowing something was seriously wrong under the hood. Actually, I’d known since the previous Friday, but it was Monday before I … Continue reading
Name that tune
Funny how the mind works. When it works. If it works. I was in the kitchen fixing lunch and out of the blue I recalled a line from an old song where a voice interrupts and concludes the verse with, “… and I don’t like anybody very much!” I heard that line as clearly as … Continue reading
Oslo
In Sympathy from an Oklahoma City native
Enough with the heat already!
Doh. Guess whose air conditioner went out today. Yep, at 5 pm it was 78° in here and I was really dragging. That’s about the best my A/C can do when it’s better than 95° outside, but as soon as the sun goes down, it cools off. However, after dinner, I noticed things were not … Continue reading
A bit of a dustup in Phoenix
Nature was playing games today with the folks in Phoenix, AZ. By now everyone has seen some clips of the dust storm and heard all the meteorologists going nuts over it. But in case you missed it, I’ve included some great video from Channel 10 in Phoenix. I haven’t personally experienced anything like this since … Continue reading
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