The sun had gone down. My grandmother stood at the window in the dining room, looking out into the backyard, transfixed by the sight while she giggled. “The President’s plane is about to take off!” I didn’t have to look outside to know that there was no plane in the backyard. She was seeing theContinue reading “On My Grandmother’s Quirks”
On the First Signs of Spring
After weeks of cold, ice, snow, and more cold, today promised to be warm. Snow still lay on the ground from a snowfall on Wednesday. The ice from the previous week’s ice storm had melted over last weekend; I took a hoe and a shovel to my driveway and walk to rid myself of it,Continue reading “On the First Signs of Spring”
On My Annual Report to the Head Beagle
Recently, I picked up Fantagraphics The Complete Peanuts Volume 10, which covers the adventures of Charlie Brown and the gang from 1969 and 1970. I was flipping through it leisurely, and on January 4, 1970, Snoopy received his annual questionnaire from the Head Beagle. Without further ado, here’s my annual report to Head Beagle onContinue reading “On My Annual Report to the Head Beagle”
On the Latest Blog Stats
You can tell I’m a baseball fan; I love statistics. I don’t always know what to do with them, I’m always reminded of Mark Twain’s “There are lies, damned lies, and statistics,” and sometimes I can get really squirrelly with stats. Numbers, hard data — these are fun things, even if they’re completely meaningless and,Continue reading “On the Latest Blog Stats”
On the Slow Passage of Time
If I had to make an estimate, I’ve spent an hour of my workday in the elevator. I work on the sixth floor. It’s been a very clear and bright day in Baltimore, albeit a cold one. I’ve spent my day delivering paperwork to the third floor. Either I’m given paperwork to take to theContinue reading “On the Slow Passage of Time”
On Alberto Gonzales’ Next Job
Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has a problem — he can’t find a job. He blames a “tough economy.” If law firms aren’t hiring, maybe Gonzales should look to other venues and employment opportunities. Maybe he should think about a career change. What about Professional Hellboy Impersonator? He could get done up in red greaseContinue reading “On Alberto Gonzales’ Next Job”
On Elbow’s Abbey Road Concert
If only I lived in the UK, I could have watched this — Elbow performed the entirety of The Seldom Seen Kid live with the BBC orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. Fortunate, then, that I’ve learned that the concert will be released as a limited edition CD/DVD package through the band’s website in March. I’veContinue reading “On Elbow’s Abbey Road Concert”
On Anniversary Years
Needing some mood music, I went to my CDs, and pulled one that I’d not listened to in a while — Danny Elfman’s score for the original Tim Burton Batman film. As I put it in the CD player and leaned back in my office chair, a sudden realization struck me. This summer, it willContinue reading “On Anniversary Years”
On a Sunday Morning Meme
Let’s start Sunday with a meme. Then I’ll follow that with breakfast and writing. Go me! WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?My great-grandfather for my first name. My great-grandmother for my middle. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?Friday. I was just feeling kinda down on Friday. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?I do! I can’t writeContinue reading “On a Sunday Morning Meme”
On Joining Last.fm
A scouring of the Opera website, looking for new and cool widgets to trick out the Opera 10 Alpha this afternoon, led me to a realization — there are all sorts of social networking music sites out there, and I’ve never, ever looked at them. So, I went and signed up with last.fm. Here’s myContinue reading “On Joining Last.fm”