Gunga Din and me: revisited

I grew up in a family of devoted readers.  My history with books began with my mother reading to me, and most importantly, reading to me at bedtime.  I read so many books as a child. I loved Grimm’s Fairy tales and  I remember savoring Pippi Longstocking books, and as I grew my tastes grew with me.   In second grade our teacher would end each day by reading to us.   “Gulliver’s Travels” carried me off on strange and splendid adventures.

My Left Knee

We can rebuild her. We have the technology. We can make her better than she was. Better, stronger, faster. She will be the 1,069th Bionic Woman in Florida. We replaced her right knee. Now we will replace her left knee.

Mostly Dead Tree Mostly Gone

Trees are nature’s wondrous edifices. They provide food, shelter, and shade…a place for a swing or tree house, or just a place to climb for fun or from danger. Trees make oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide and in forests and jungles–rain forests, are the engines of the planet’s climate–driving the planet’s rains.

Does the Noise in my Head Bother You (2)?

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music”. – Friedrich Nietzsche

Hail, Hail, the Gang’s all here

I really enjoy my backyard. I am into growing banana plants in pots and then putting them in the ground when they’re big enough. Right now I have about 10 rather large plants that should have gone in the ground a while back but I was unable to do so because of my knee.

The Seventh Seal is not a furry sea mammal: Redux

Seals are pinnipeds along with walruses and sea lions. It’s fairly simple to tell a seal apart from a sea lion.  But I’m not going to talk about pinnipeds nor am I going to talk about Ingmar Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal”, 1958.  Instead I’m going to talk about the Biblical Seventh Seal.

Lions to the Left of Me, Christians to the Right, Revisited

Disclaimer:

 

The following is anecdotal and not meant to challenge anyone’s religious conviction or to defame any one of the world religions. The fact that the author is an anthropologist may or may not slightly bias the narrative.

“Lions or crucifixion”?
“Nothing, thank you. I’m a christian with a small “c”.”

The dog and potty show

It’s become a cliché to step outside the box, so, let’s step outside your house, stand in the street or on the sidewalk, depending on traffic–turn, and look at your house. Don’t worry how it looks because you’re going to have to imagine how you and the other occupants of your house look to your neighbors. And so, another lesson to be learned by my criticizing Christian with a big “C” roommate (RM).

Name your National Celebration

It’s here, folks. November 13th is National Indian Pudding Day and we have a bonus:  World Kindness Day.  So, when you’re at that truck stop in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico and the Indian Pudding you choose over Rosie’s special home-made strawberry cream pie is a decidedly bad choice, then you can either be kind when you call the waitperson over to your booth, or,  tell the truth or face the consequences….That’s too many “or’s” for me.

The Nano Poblano Oddly Specific Gratitude Blog Hop

Doobster418 at Mindful Digressions tagged me for this next installment of the Oddly Specific Gratitude Blog Hop. I can always count on Doobster to read and often comment on whatever I publish on my two blogs and I know clicking over to his blog will always leave me entertained, enlightened and with a better understanding of punctuation..;”

Tennis Anyone?

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The phrase “tennis anyone” is associated with juvenile roles played by Humphrey Bogart on Broadway during the 1920’s. The phrase had variants: “tennis anybody?” and “anybody for tennis?”  According to Bogart, it was a method of getting some of the characters off stage so the plot could continue.

Silver Alert

Only in Florida. Or maybe in other states but very appropriate for the land of sunshine, snowbirds, God’s waiting room: the silver alert.

A Connecticut Yankee

George Bernard Brainard was a born and raised Connecticut Yankee. By the time he reached thirty, he was a billionaire and he owned his own quaint village just next door to Mystic Seaport. His village was named Brainard, of course–his mother’s family name.

The Culling of Pelham 123

Corruption can be defined in several ways such as  depravity and decadence of one who is wicked. One’s tooth can decay and so can a radioactive isotope. A sleaze-bag can be crooked and a scum-bag can be guilty of misconduct.

Right Knee Redux

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Hey, everyone. I want to thank all who wished me well going into surgery for the knee replacement and the hearty welcome back I received. Just thought I’d let you know how much my new knee cost:  $112,679 American dollars. I’m doing well.

The Marine and the Monk: Part Two

 

The following is Part Two of a serial story about a woman Marine and a  Monk.  Click here to read the first installment.

“How is it going with your situation with the Church, Lucas?”

“I have to go before the Archbishop this Thursday. I had planned on Jo standing in for me….”

The Marine and the Monk

“That said, let’s move on to the next slide. Okay, one more.  What is it Josephine?”

“What does it smell like…feel like? I mean, how often does a person get a chance to do what you did? Have you written anything about it?”

Nano Poblano Blog Hop Story

I have been chosen to continue the Nano Poblano Blog Hop Story that Fish of Gold started. Thank you Mark Bialczak over at markbialczak.com.  for passing it on to me!

Nuns on ice

The events depicted here took place in a time when Alaska didn’t have tourism; men had not yet walked on the moon; Florida was covered in orange groves; soccer was not embraced by American schools, and almost everyone smoked…something.

The dogs of winter

As many of you know, this weekend was Fall Back Weekend in the States. I awoke at the new time of 7 AM to find that it was 45 degrees F or 7 degrees C outside. The winds yesterday were outrageous. The huge leaves of my potted banana plants acted like propellers–lifting them off the ground and dropping them in a scatter of torn leaves and dumped dirt.

The Terrible Two’s

“You smell terrible. What happened?”

“I’ll tell you after I bathe Roger and I take a shower. I’m beat right now….”

“You can’t come in. The storm knocked out the electric so you can’t take a shower. There are horse flies buzzing around you.”