Tomorrow is a big day. In addition to Cecil Con, a small comic book convention in North East, Maryland, I’m going to visit four cemeteries in the area. My dad’s side of the family comes from what I call “the borderlands of Maryland and Pennsylvania”; there are Gibsons and Browns and Reynolds and Russells thatContinue reading “Plans for a Cecil County Outing”
Category Archives: Life
Cheese and Onions Experimentation
Of late I have been experimenting with cheese and onions sandwiches. I mentioned back in March that, because of George Harrison’s 75th birthday, I rewatched Eric Idle’s The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash. Harrison was a huge fan of Idle’s satire of the Beatles, and he even had a cameo as a reporter coveringContinue reading “Cheese and Onions Experimentation”
Solution Time
Until today I had never solved a Rubik’s Cube. Now I’ve done it twice. Solving a Rubik’s Cube was something that I never learned how to do. Or, never figured out how to do. I had Rubik’s Cubes, several of them, actually, and I’d twist them and turn them. The best I could do wasContinue reading “Solution Time”
A Harrowing Moment on the Highway
When I got to work this morning and thought about my commute, I had the thought, “Yeah, that could have resulted in a fatality.” The situation… When I left home this morning, the sky was overcast and the air was raw, but there was no precipitation. I stopped at Royal Farms to get some gas,Continue reading “A Harrowing Moment on the Highway”
Projects In Progress
Lately, I’ve been working on a couple of projects. In the fall, I colorized a photograph of Swampoodle Grounds, Washington, DC’s baseball park of the 1880s. I liked working on that, and now I’m working on colorizing another old baseball photograph, this time of Babe Ruth and (future president) George H.W. Bush. The photograph wasContinue reading “Projects In Progress”
The Things You Find in Your Photo Collection
As some people know, I like to visit cemeteries. And when I visit cemeteries, I tend to take pictures of headstones and the cemetery itself, even if I have no familial reason to. I’ve visited Dallastown’s cemeteries many times, I’ve taken many photos, and I’m related to absolutely no one. I have a particular fondnessContinue reading “The Things You Find in Your Photo Collection”
Conversations I Have With Myself
This is a real conversation I had with myself recently: “Farpoint is this weekend! Maybe I’ll go to Andy Nelson’s and get some BBQ for dinner.” “You freaking moron. You drive past Andy Nelson’s every single day when you go to work. You can stop anytime you want after work. You don’t.” “Oh. Yes. You’reContinue reading “Conversations I Have With Myself”
My Grand Fenwickian Heritage
In the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will be asking people to write in their ethnic background. I have decided that I will report that my ancestors come from Grand Fenwick, an independent, English-speaking principality somewhere in central Europe. If I need to name a second country, I will name Ruritania. Grand Fenwick, of course,Continue reading “My Grand Fenwickian Heritage”
The Wisdom of Children
Probably the most profound thing I’ve read today, if not this year. A pediatrician in South Africa, Alastair McAlpine, who works with terminally ill children, asked them what was important to them, what they liked doing, and what they’ll miss when they’re gone. The children, aged four to nine, talked about their pets and howContinue reading “The Wisdom of Children”
Cold Weather, Hot Breakfast
The cold snap, which has seen temperatures below zero and wind chills well below zero, should end in the next few days. It won’t be warm, but we’ll at least see the thirties again. On an unspeakably cold day like today, you need something warm to eat, and for that I turned to Grape Nuts.Continue reading “Cold Weather, Hot Breakfast”