When the Smoke Clears

“Medic!”

“What?”
“You got here at just the right time. I need a medic,” Butterbar’s little Younger brother shouted down at me.
I had already been greeted by name by several people whom I did not know as I got out of the jeep at the 4-H camp where we were staying for the weekend. [...]

Something snapped on 1 April 2007. Collected below are the posts from that day along with a snapshot of the site with the changed name of “Clear Smoke: Filter My Coffee Through Butterfly Wings.”
Unfortunately it is some of my best writing ever. Please forgive me.
——–
FUN SILLY
Kitties Fun! Puppies Fun!
Happy Happy Day of Fun!!!
Make some [...]

And not bad company to be in… but there will be real postings later.
Your Score: Humphrey Bogart
You scored 45% Tough, 4% Roguish, 33% Friendly, and 19% Charming!

You’re the original man of honor, rough and tough but willing [...]

A friend/blogger I know has finally made an official release of some software for writers. He developed and wrote it himself.
If you are a Mac user, go have a look and consider downloading and buying the program. It’s a clean, easy to use interface with a great way of keeping up with story notes, [...]

Friend: Watcha doin’ for Memorial Day?
Me: Nothing special. Just got back from West Virginia at 2 am. Yardwork, clean out the Jeep. Fix some lunch.
Friend: What’s for lunch?
Me: Normal food.
Friend: Which means what to you?
Me: Sandwiches, maybe a tomato…
Friend: Which means what to you?
Me: A sandwich and a tomato…
Friend: Which [...]

Our town is ringed in crosses and flags. The week up until Memorial Day, volunteers called for in our local newspapers set out around our perimeter and throughout our square, posting these symbols of thanks, of remembrance. I see the tradition in nearby towns, but many of those places pick a single location to post [...]

The other night was guy’s night. The Trusty Bulldog called to ask me down to the Ballgame. He was driving in from North Carolina. I checked with our fellow friend, the Viking Medic and he was up for the game as well, so with a little internet magic, we had tickets waiting for the Bulldog [...]

So I’m joining the masses on the road headed out again today for the long weekend. I’ve stories from last night’s ballgame with my Viking Medic and my trusty Bulldog, along with a little New York trash talk (it was about to turn embarrassing and I’d have gladly taken my lumps late in the game), [...]

Alright y’all.
I used to think it would be cool to have a twin. I was young. I was an only child. I saw all the neat things in movies about them. After a while I would have preferred a big brother instead, but that wasn’t happening either. Laws of physics. Ask Mom.
But as [...]

A full day of it here in the mountains. Apparently the wildfires of south Georgia and North Florida managed to have an effect on us Appalachians. Early this morning it was impossible to see beyond the most immediate range of mountains no matter which way I looked, with a sickly gray wall blocking further sight. [...]

Today was a day for civic responsibility. I pulled Jury Duty. Yes, it was an unpleasant experience to a degree, an entire day, possibly a week of time taken away to work in a job with which one is not familiar.
And from the fellow potential jurors I heard all the typical “such a waste [...]

Stolen from Richmond, but you know, I don’t think these things are entirely accurate. I mean, who hasn’t cleared their browser history all of a sudden? And how is just having a gay friend impure?

You Are 28% Pure

Pure? Sure, you’re about as pure as yellow snow.
You’re a downright devil. But you’re also a pretty [...]

A crescent moon hovered in the gray sky tonight as the day slipped away. The weather has been perfect for enjoying the little plot of land I own for now. Three owls have taken up residence in my woods of late, two with very similar whistle/screech calls, the third with a much more mellow, cooing [...]

* The Jeep hit 100,000 miles this morning on the way to get an oil change and service. For some reason they left a check-sheet that indicated I needed transmission service but didn’t say why. Dang it. Another expense.
* I missed the wedding. As I said.
* All my paperwork is being processed, with [...]

That’s what I am.
My friend/blog-daughter was getting married this weekend. I had it all on my calendar. I was ready. The gift is sitting here in the floor next to the comfy chair in the library. It has been there for three weeks. The shirt is just back from the cleaners, the pants ready [...]