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”
Category Archives: Life
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”
The Great Bomb Cyclone of 2018
There are things you don’t want to feel while driving. Your car, moving 60 miles an hour, shoved about three feet to the left is one of those things. The commute home wasn’t bad. At least in the Baltimore-York corridor, the Great Bomb Cyclone Blizzard of 2018 was a lot of sound and fury, signifyingContinue reading “The Great Bomb Cyclone of 2018”
Pi Day Planning
Pi Day is one of those geekish holidays that I don’t pay much attention. Pi Day, by the way, is March 14th. 3/14. Ie., 3.141592653589793. The circumference of a circle divided by its diameter. π. Fifteen digits of π is all NASA needs for its interplanetary missions. A calculation of the circumference of a circleContinue reading “Pi Day Planning”
Winter Misanthropy
The new year began with a day bereft of human contact, save for the online kind. At midnight, there was the sound of distant fireworks and gunfire. I’ve often likened it to the sound of artillery shelling. I wonder how people from Sarajevo or Aleppo would react. I didn’t even sleep late today. But IContinue reading “Winter Misanthropy”