When the Smoke Clears

There is a story going around this fine place about a history scholar we once had. He was an icon and taught in the 80s before political correctness was becoming a new buzzword, long before it was an insult.
The professor, a brilliant man, was known to be less than genteel in many of his [...]

Hey there, friends and onlookers, just got a call, guests are on the way and they made some specific dinner requests so I’ll be running to the store for a bit. If you are bored and just can’t get enough, feel free to mosey on over to my big-sis Cat’s place where I (and Martha [...]

… or so it is often referred to as the busiest day for shopping in the holiday season. Fights are even breaking out, because, you know, nothing says “Peace on Earth” quite like getting that plasma screen at a 50% discount, beating out the dude in the blue hat. Chump. Jesus loves winners.
Is it [...]

“They come down sometimes, kind of like now.”
I shook my head, recalled to reality “What?”
“The walls,” she said. “They come down sometimes. Kind of like now.”
Across the table sat a woman a good bit older. We were the only two in the truck stop diner aside from a waitress too tired to notice any more [...]

So it’s Thanksgiving and time for the obvious, obligatory post, though Velociman says it quite well too. My guests for the day ended up having family emergencies so I have had a day in silence. Then the thermostat on the oven went kaplooie and I could never get it above 300. No turkey roasting today. [...]

In the last few days, I’ve had several surprise visitors so I’ve given in to some moments of pleasure. Not like THAT. Sheesh. I’m talking about public socialization only.
With the holidays I have also been indulging in some brain-pablum level reading. Not only are the recent books picked up non-taxing, they are so out there [...]

Well, it happened again, but this time it was a bit unexpected. One of my friends, a newly commissioned officer, payed me a huge honor. He came to visit one weekend a little while back. At one point a lengthy story started up about the people in his life as he grew up. Then 30 [...]

Well I started on leaf-duty today. First off, I had to rake my porch. Yes, I said “rake” not “sweep.” Two weeks ago one of the kids came over to hang out and offered to sweep the porch clean. In the short time since, the leaves piled too high for a broom to do any [...]

Such a good day. Zonker visited and we were able to talk for many hours. We even enticed Eric to the phone and into the conversation at one point. We certainly couldn’t have talked with him in person. I bet he smells pretty bad today. It’s amazing how the world of seeking online approval by [...]

I was talking with my close, personal friends The Indigo Girls the other night and Emily said, “You know, one of the things I like best about you is that you’re not a name-dropper, unlike that guy… oh… what’s his name? Blackfive?”
“Yeah, his name’s Matt. We’ve hung out some.”
Well imagine my surprise when I [...]

Joan posted recently and there is a line of people jumping on this one, so for now, here is my celebrity, why-yes-I-think-I-will list. I’m keeping it with celebrities and unattainables so no one I know or chat with realizes how much I wouldn’t mind settling into a little love-beast action with them. Or at least [...]

Had to leave work a little early today. Almost no one was there and I am expecting guests this evening. Also, today is such a beautiful day I really wanted to be able to spend some time at the cabin in daylight, staring at the piles of leaves that I’ll have to contend with this [...]

Alright, I have to stop wearing black.
Over the weekend, no problems in the field until I showed up in all black. Tonight, at a hail and farewell function at a fine restaurant, I had my nice black shirt on. Someone came rushing into our dining area yelling for someone who knew CPR.
Well, in a [...]

Some staff members are deliberately messing with each other by filling each other’s mailboxes with magazines and junk. That can lead to the discovery of the true nature of a man and why you just don’t bother war-hardened NCOs with petty complaints no matter how highly you rank.
Emails started flying, culminating with…
From the [...]

Today was an experience in acrimony. The closer you get to the completion of the design phase of a new building, the more knives and egos come out.
You know there is something wrong when the four main operational “shareholders” in a building are agreeing on most things, compromising with each other, giving some space [...]