Head-dibs

The unrest of the forest became evident at the turn off the main road. Thistles thrust their purple crown through the piles of snow-white blackberry vines, thorn to thorn battling for precious ground. Young pines surrounded the massive trunk of a long-dead oak tree in the pasture, taunting the old pine across the road who, leaning in his old age, eyed the place he would eventually fall with no one to help him up again. There is no withstanding their sluggish ambush. The old pond waits patiently for ducks, quietly knitting water lilies and nursing tadpoles from the mud. Walking through a cloud of gnats and fairies it's difficult to tell which is which by taste. One is confident, however, that fairies tickle the nose and ears while gnats really don't put up a fight. None are eaten on purpose and neither tastes like chicken. The mottled road is quiet around the second turn, away from the weedeaters and tillers hard at work trimming and turning over the yard. Back at the ...

The origin (and subsquently, the meaning of) "Crescit Eundo" (the motto of the great state of New Mexico) is widely debated. One might suggest that the primary reason for debate is due to the lack of readers. The phrase is found in a 1st Century text called "De Rerum Natura," ("On The Nature Of Things") written by Lucretius, an Epicurean philosopher.  Epicureans maintained some strange ideas but many were actually right, such as the design of nature (personally, Stoicism is the better choice). Lucretius held that all matter was composed of particles invisible to the naked eye. With this in mind, Lucretius wrote about lightening, and this caused a stir, for popular opinion was that lightning was a demonstration of anger from the gods. Lucretius, on the other hand, proposed that those particles were acting and reacting to one another, that nature was doing what it was designed to do and no gods were tossing...

Ever been stalked by a turtle? A turtle with a very full bladder? That's what it's like waiting for a hurricane. Tuesday, September 11 the Governor of South Carolina shut down all schools in preparation for the coming hurricane. The shut down is interesting for a number of reasons which include: allowing time for families to prepare for the coming storm and moving school buses to the coast to assist in evacuations. Though our University does not bus kids, we were still required to shut down. So the last few days have been "hurry up and wait." Just like last year, this very week. And in 2015, which saw record-breaking floods. It was October of last year we did this with Hurricane Matthew. At this moment, the sun is out and the wind is picking up. Stores are still heavily shopped and the pharmacy lines are long. While waiting to drop off a prescription last night (noting the length of the pick-up line--the Publix staff kept things moving and were very polite) we saw ...

When I have the opportunity, I drive with the windows down. Most often someone else is in the car with me and that's ok. Most of my passengers (my wife, my daughter, my niece) are "windows up" kind of people--which is fine. That is a different kind of comfort. But when alone, the windows go down. Sometimes my son is "windows down." He works in that environment anyway. He doesn't think anything of it, I'm sure. Perhaps I should clarify: when the weather's nice, the windows go down. But not every time. Sometimes when I am able to drive in the rain, the window comes down just far enough to put my hand out and get stung with a million high-fives by heavy drops. Sometimes the bite of cold winter air snaps one to a new level of consciousness. Still cautious of the deeply humid summertime air of the South, though--got heat-stoke once a few years back while driving a couple hours with no air conditioning in the middle of June. Maybe it was July. Bad stuff...

(not to be confused with "Evaluate Your Life Day") Happy New Year! As is the practice of some (present company included), this is the time we resolve to do better, to be better. So we inflict upon ourselves demands that may or may not come to fruition in the long run. Don't get me wrong, having resolve is a discipline but to accomplish anything, a discipline must be learned before it is mastered. The primary difficulty for our culture is lack of discipline altogether. We want things NOW. So where do we go from here, right at the start of a new year? If you're not in the habit of making resolutions, don't start. If you like making resolutions, then make them. Whatever your habits are (unless they are bad--stop that), make your life. What you want or desire just might not come quickly so don't get discouraged with any setbacks or failures. Be a life-long learner and enjoy life. One suggestion? Sometime this year, plant something. Get some dirt, some...

Today's is my wife's birthday and in this post I'd like to acknowledge the woman who put her life "on hold" to see that others were fed, clean, dressed, not bleeding--just taken care of overall. She's a wife, Mom, Nanna, Aunt . . . and a salesperson. She can sell you just about anything off the shelf. Guess you'd have to be there. And if you are, bring cash. Anyway . . . Now it's her turn. Now that everyone's (mostly) self-sustaining, she's gone back to school and working on her Bachelor's in Communications. And she's doing it, too! Full load of classes, late nights, writing papers, reading books--the works. And still making sure there's food in the fridge, that the lights are on and band-aids are in the box. So here's to another year, uh, wiser! "Happy Birthday" Leslie! 

You don't know what you're missing if you don't get outside once in a while. While enjoying this beautiful day on a short 3 1/2 mile hike, I decided to leave my music off and enjoy the sounds of nature as well as the sights. I got more than expected. The frost was just burning off as I stepped out, trekked up the street and turned left out of our neighborhood where I was greeted by the distinct sound of hunters punctuating the morning song of chirping birds. About a quarter mile down the road I reached the spot where I recalled how I once found the keyboard of a destroyed upright piano someone had dumped just off the road. And a broken toilet a few yards further back into the trees (more evident when the leaves have fallen). While my anger at the apathy of "some people" began to rise, I became aware of many unusual sights and sounds that exist just outside the front door. Perhaps the most unusual sight was the 50 year old man trudging into the morning wea...

The other day we took a short road trip (no more than two hours, tops) up some back-roads to Ridgeway, SC then on up to Winnsboro, SC. Not much to see in Winnsboro but the South Carolina Railroad Museum and a stop sign that holds your attention long enough to read the green sign that points left to "Columbia." A right turn will take you to a red light that, if you wait long enough to make a left turn, will take you to a little dive that serves greasy burgers and good southern fixins'. Park in the dirt, step up onto the porch and in the door on your right and wait your turn to place your order in line past the tiny tables that, with ten people, completely fill the joint. Belly up to the counter that is no more than a shoulder-wide and tell the lady what you'll have. When she calls, grab your baskets and make your way out the door on the left and enjoy the sweltering summer heat that keeps the grease draining from your burger and nice cold tea. Or a Coke. But if...

ht: Analisa Crowder for making this.

Different forecasters have different models but looks like we're still in "the cone." My prediction is the storm will move more westward before turning North--if it turns at all. Regardless, until it move on by, our guard remains "up." Today, matters will be more "around-the-house" focused--in no particular order. Car's already gassed up, so that's done. Pick up prescriptions; Get the house clean, per usual; Clean gutters and make certain yard drains are clear; Make room in the garage to bring in outside furniture and garbage cans; Tie down or remove fence gate altogether (latch is broken and having that heavy things banging in high wind can be dangerous). Take down outside lights, windchimes and the Flag; Charge all the chargeables (batteries, cell phones, laptops); Fill all the fillables (maybe on Sunday, if it looks like weather's turning); Get reading material together (see sidebar). I'm sure other things will demand...

Decided to make a couple stops on the way to the house last evening, one stop being at a smaller local grocery store. Signs taped on the door said "Two cases of water per customer. No Exceptions." I took that to be a good sign that water was available, so though I already have a water plan in place, thought I should take advantage of the opportunity. I grabbed the last basket and we made our way in. Boy was the place busy. Not far from the registers were pallets of gallon-size bottles with a sign "2 for $1.39." Noted. $1.39, huh? For a case? as of 6:00 a.m. today, by Intellicast Made our way to the back of the store and found one pallet with a couple cases of water left, six gallons per case. I lifted a case into our basket and left the other for someone else. Finishing our shopping, we were behind another fellow who (among other things) had an identical case of water. The store manager standing nearby saw our cases and came over, "you can only...

University officials announced this morning that school will be closed Monday, September 11 due to the size of Hurricane Irma and the potential damages. This may also give some students an opportunity to find safe retreat with family or friends in other locations over the long weekend.  HT: Marti A friend of ours (not a student) isn't worried. When commenting on the hurricane she said, "100 miles from the coast; 1 mile to the closest bar." I'm not worried either as my bar is in the garage. On the weight bench. Got back-up water bottles frozen and bags of ice stashed away. Just need to fill the coolers when it's time. 

Hurricane Irma has slammed into Puerto Rico and at this point, the storm could still turn any direction. Regardless, our state has been placed under state of emergency by the governor. So with that in mind, the mix of overcast skies and a little rain made folks go a bit nuts. Already.  Gas prices have been riding high for a few days now, but the stores are getting hit fairly hard. The store parking lot was full of cars and I witnessed folks sauntering out carrying loaves of bread and jugs of milk like prizes won in a fight.  Inside the store it was not terribly bad--attitudes were good--but the water was gone. And the bread. Plenty of milk though, and eggs were 59 cents. So we loaded up on bread items that were left--though I can't figure out why all the sliced bread was gone but not the Ciabatta rolls. I'm not ashamed to put a slice of Spam on Ciabatta if I have to. Thanks for leaving the good stuff! Plenty of water-bearing fresh fruit left. Especially the waterme...

While grandbaby #5 enters the world, I'm watching my gran'daughters, doing as many rounds as possible of: Go outside, go inside, make a snack, go potty, Finias and Ferb, Zootopia, Minions, karaoke and who knows what else. One of us needs a nap.

This brings up a question: where did the practice of putting candles on birthday cakes come from, anyway? Well, here's an intriguing answer.   Happy Birthday, Dear!

I've always enjoyed science and when I was growing up, thought that maybe some day I would be a scientist. My parents bought me microscopes and telescopes and chemistry sets, so I was always studying something. I think what tipped them off was my inventive mind. See, when I was small, I invented. Here are a few I remember: MONSTER KICKER My parents made me go to bed when it got dark and in the winter time, that time came pretty darned early. Of course, I had to keep the light off and the door closed, and I recall the only night light came from the hallway--if it was on. Nights got pretty scary for a small boy who was not quite ready for bed. So while protected from evil by the invincible covers and blankets on my bed, I determined something had to be done, so I devised "The Monster Kicker." I envisioned a long stick with a boot on the end that, when mounted on a hinge by the door, would "kick" any monster that opened the door in hopes of eating my face. ...

Sitting here thinking about my favorite recipe and the first thing that pops into my mind are these chocolate cookies my wife makes. They are like little brownie bites covered in powered sugar. Not sure what they're called, but they are Crack. You can't eat just four. And milk is required. So what is my favorite recipe? Hmmm. Seems we have our favorite dishes that find their way to the table, such as "Italian Steak" or Poached Eggs (yes, that's a recipe!). But my favorite? Is that like "comfort food?" Like chocolate? Or Ice Cream? I think my favorite is the kind I "own." When you no longer have to look at the card or in the book. You just get ingredients, add a heaping helping of "creativity" and see what happens. Like my Cabbage recipe. May not sound like much but I sure hear a lot of "yum" around the table. Left-overs are rare.

I must have been between 6 and 10 when it happened. I can't recall exactly. But I'll never forget the moment the boy disappeared right before my eyes. And the blood. We were upstairs, in the hay loft. Moving hay from one side to the other. We were small enough that we could not move the bales by ourselves, so I pushed from one side and he pulled from the other. I don't know why we were moving bales, but that's what we were doing. And it was hot already. Summer was coming.  The barn was on a campground outside of Marble Falls, Texas and if memory serves, we were there doing service work, preparing for the campers that were to arrive later in the summer. I was too young to attend camp (I did go later), but it seems we made a few trips to help get ready.  Anyway, this other kid (I don't remember his name) and I were up in the barn moving hay bales. I pushed, he pulled. Then suddenly, he was gone. Vanished. I heard someone slam a stable door downstairs--I ...

Asked Gollum to Bilbo, playing the guessing game that ultimately changed the fate of the world. "What has it got in it's pocketses?" What one carries in his or her pockets may tell much about a person--or not. I learned this while working security--and believe me when I say that people carry the strangest things. Like fist-fulls of change. A gazillion coins. Or wads of cash. For Pete's sake, use a bank! But I don't have change in my pockets. But I do keep a quarter in the overhead bin of my car for the grocery store cart. LEFT POCKET (front): Keys Cleaning cloth for my glasses or phone.  Life-saver mint or three. RIGHT POCKET (front): Knife. I always carry a knife.  Chap Stick.  LEFT POCKET (rear): Handkerchief or Bandanna RIGHT POCKET (rear): Wallet I ain't skeered to say where my wallet is or what's in there--'cause there ain't nothing in there but my: Driver's licence Insurance card Library card (which I nev...