Author Archives: Joel

Courtesy of The Arizona Rifleman.

M found out yesterday evening that the steel for his house wouldn’t be ready until later in the week, so there wasn’t any point in his driving to the city to pick it up. I admit I was looking forward … Continue reading →

M went to meet the building inspector at his site, roughly the same way one goes to meet one’s executioner. He’d already been on the phone with the inspector to ask questions, like “Do you think 5/8″ rebar would work … Continue reading →

The next person who tells me he wants to build an earth-bermed house … gets it. Unless I’m not obligated to help him build it, in which case he can do whatever he wants.Poor M. He’s suffering for his choices, … Continue reading →

This story has been all over the tubz the past couple of days: JERICHO, Ark. – It was just too much, having to return to court twice on the same day to contest yet another traffic ticket, and Fire Chief … Continue reading →

Kinda trapped indoors today. It should be a great weekend: M’s parents are visiting, and they’re interesting and very pleasant folks. The landlady got here today, and that’s always a treat. But it started raining around 11 and doesn’t look … Continue reading →

This story is completely true. I’m being deliberately vague, because too much info would yield – well, too much info. So a few months ago, M and I took a tire to get it repaired at the shop in the … Continue reading →

Yeah, that’s a big rock. One of three, to be precise, since fortunately we were able to break it into barely-dealwithable pieces. And not the thing you want to find two hours into a four-hour digging marathon in the nice … Continue reading →

[old-timey blues voice] Well I moved to the desert(duh DAH dah dum)And I took a look around(duh DAH dah dum)Shoulda ran back to the city(duh DAH dah dum)Without making a sound!Cause I got the bluuuuesI got the desert suckage blues!I … Continue reading →

We’ve been working on all the preps for M’s foundation. Having finished the framing, we discovered that either the frames were too low or the ground was too high – take your pick, but it wouldn’t work as it was. … Continue reading →

My little buddy’s growth spurts have gotten kind of selective, and generally slowed down. I still don’t know how big he’s going to end up, but my fears about needing wider doorways have slacked off a big. Lately he’s been … Continue reading →

Story Update: I confess I don’t know how old this update is, but it’s funny as hell anyway.

So I get this letter from President and Mrs. Obama, telling me of an exciting new opportunity. They’re from the government, and they’re here to help me…help them. Or something: I confess I’m a bit fuzzy on the details. Details … Continue reading →

Still Dead Today. Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray, told investigators that he gave the pop star a series of drugs starting with Valium and then Lorazepam, followed by a sedative – all so Jackson would be able to sleep. The drugs … Continue reading →

Is ‘Friending’ in Your Future? Better Pay Your Taxes First Tax deadbeats are finding someone actually reads their MySpace and Facebook postings: the taxman. State revenue agents have begun nabbing scofflaws by mining information posted on social-networking Web sites, from … Continue reading →

Fact is, it’s just been a slow week around the gulch. Which is the way I like it, but doesn’t make for scintillating blogbait. This oldie-but-goodie is fun, though…

Yeah, I can’t leave it alone. I’m sorry…I just can’t. I did try. A little. If there really is a just and loving God, Mary Jo Kopechne just got issued a ball gag, a blowtorch, a pair of pliers, and … Continue reading →

…has left the building. Oh, the temptation. The temptation! Six brazillian insulting images on the intartubz, in honor of a man so richly deserving of insult! But I…will be a good boy. Today.Don’t go away mad, Ted. Just…well, I’m genuinely … Continue reading →

I’m sittin’ here bein’ all Deep and Thoughtful and Stuff because it’s easier than working, which is what I’m supposed to be doing. Blog-crawling with one hand over a keyboard and the other wrist-deep in a pizza plate full of … Continue reading →