Paving the Yellow Brick Road
Okay, it was more of a peach color, but the parts of this century old street that showed was really a simple pleasure to walk on. A few weeks ago, new street signs indicated a change in the alternate parking days, from 4pm Sundays and Wednesdays to 6pm Mondays and Thursdays. The problem was they posted "Do Not Stand" bills along the side of the street with dates coinciding with the side we were supposed to park...
A Perfect Start for Fall
Well, I've done a few firsts. I got stung by a bee (fortunately I got the stinger out immediately so there wasn't much swelling). And I finally launched the pilot for my Earth 2 Mouth project. There were five of us, Michelle and people from her church, along with Katie from Native Offerings farm where we worked, then preparing and serving food at Friends of Night People. We had quite a bounty, and the left half...
Where Did the Summer Go?
Lately, when people ask me what I've been up to, I'm a bit puzzled myself how to respond. My wife says I should say "fine" and leave it at that, but it always causes me to think back and answer the question, at least in my own mind. I've been somewhat busy, and I know I've gotten a lot done -- including organizing a lot of odds and ends I've never gotten around to -- but I can't put my finger on any real...
LiveJournal Imported!
I just imported all my LiveJournal posts from when I started blogging back in February 2004. New posts here are automatically added there, but otherwise I don't use it except for nostalgia. The number of entries was actually a bit mind-boggling ...
A Child, Me, Not Me
There was a time when I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up: the guy who collected the shopping carts at K-Mart. (It was right up there with engineer, which I felt I was well-suited for, but not nearly as much fun.) It seemed we went there every week for one thing or another. I don't recall anything we actually bought, but my Dad and I ate at the "Sandwich Shoppe" in the back as a matter of ritual. They had...
It’s done. Our Lady Bug has passed from this world.
This morning, we had our Shih-Tzu put to sleep. We had her for 12 years; she was just shy of 20-1/2 years old. She wasn't really a dog, but a person that expected to be treated like a princess. So we did. Last weekend, we had decided it was her time, and it hit me really hard. the worst part was knowing after memorial Day weekend it would be the exact time. Knowing was the worst ... thinking it was her last day,...
When Life is Too Easy
I was just thinking about how awesome my daughter is. But then I realized that maybe I was doing a disservice by telling her too often how proud I am of all the things she does or writes or says. I've always been a cheerleader type for the people around me. I show my love by expressing my appreciation for who they are and what they do, no matter how subtle or seemingly mundane. Maybe they think I'm easily...
I’m a Real “Amerrcan” Now
My friend Jim from grade school (who found me on Facebook a little while back) took me out to a shooting range in Tonawanda the other day. I fired a Remington 597 .22LR, Saiga .223 (takes both .223 and 5.56x45), and Beretta Storm CX4 .45 ACP. He also showed me his Springfield XD 9mm. I've always been a little embarrassed that I'm an American, yet never fired a gun. Sorry, hippies, I may be a pacifist like you...
No One Cares = Freedom of Expression
Having just checked my site traffics statistics for my new blog, Think Think Again, a revelation is upon me. First, the number of visits is low, since I only promote this on Facebook. This is not unexpected. However, there were only TWO click-throughs in December from Facebook. Meaning no one gives a fex. {And yes, that is a real word, useful for highbrow cussing and scrabble.} Even my own wife won't read my blog,...