Author Archives: Joel

I want to know what happened to my freakishly warm winter. Did one of you sneak in here and steal it? “Clearly,” smirked the giant pile of firewood cluttering my yard, “You weren’t as finished with us as you thought … Continue reading →

So a couple of days ago the phone rang and L asked, “Did you pull a gun on [oh, let’s call him Jay]?” I said, “No, I did not pull a gun on Jay. Why do you ask?” Okay, a … Continue reading →

Halfway through my first cup, I already found my belly laugh for the morning… …those Republicans in the Freedom Caucus and the conservative organizations undergirding them who killed the AHCA have done Trump, the GOP, even Ryan and the House … Continue reading →

Remember last year’s Operation Blazing Sword? For some reason I always think Operation Flaming Sword, which may be a bit flippant on my part and certainly complicates the archive search. But yeah, in the wake of that big gay club … Continue reading →

At the end of December a friend of the blog sent me a big box of books and old DVDs, and I’ve spent the balance of the winter working my way through it. We have similar low taste in movies, … Continue reading →

North Dakota Governor Signs Concealed Carry Bill Into Law BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Republican Gov. Doug Burgum has signed legislation that will allow most adults to carry a hidden firearm without a permit, making North Dakota one of about a … Continue reading →

I think I’ve got everything I need to make one with recirculating water, including an overnight shut-off timer. Looks like it’d need a pipe up the middle, a very slight lip around the edge for a very shallow pool, and … Continue reading →

Briefly, too, if the forecast means anything. And the forecast saw today’s weather coming a week ago. It should hardly be surprising, it’s only March, but the days have been warm and golden long enough that people are tempted to … Continue reading →

I didn’t get anything done yesterday, don’t know why but the trip to the big town took it all out of me. I’m not a lot more ambitious today, but tomorrow it’s supposed to be cold and rainy (ie, seasonal … Continue reading →

I got another text from my maildrop location, informing me that the gelsock count, which had supposedly come to a whoa at 25, is up to 30. That’s well over my most optimistic hope, largess it should take several years … Continue reading →

Spending the better part of the day at the big town about 50 miles away, on a sacred mission to increase eye doctor wealth. So don’t send the ransom or start polling hospitals. ETA: Back. That stuff they put in … Continue reading →

Stocking the woodshed every year is very time-consuming but seems less so because I do it a little at a time and it’s kind of a constructive process. Emptying it didn’t actually take as long as two hours but it … Continue reading →

Just read it aloud. Actor recites all 9 hours of Amazon Kindle T&Cs according to Australian consumer rights advocacy group Choice, that lengthy jargon can often conceal strange clauses, and it’s unfair to expect consumers to wade through them. To … Continue reading →

This is the fast part, compared to stacking it all back up, but (I tell myself) it’s the part that’s hard on my shoulder. But I’m mostly there… I have to take each armload out and wing it onto the … Continue reading →

Don’t wear a good shirt while fiddling with batteries. Bet it happened when I used the hydrometer. That always splashes acid around, and I know I didn’t use the rubber apron. Yes, Zelda, I know I should have used the … Continue reading →

Things have been placid in the two flocks. I moved Seymour to the big flock and right away started getting stressed-out hens and one injury, but I moved the four obvious malcontents to the Fortress of Attitude and things settled … Continue reading →

My pitiful pear tree made it through another winter, not that this one taxed it very hard. Flowers, sure, but they’re just faking me out. This tree will actually fruit the day after I’m elected Pope. It grows a little … Continue reading →

Little Bear’s starting to drop his winter coat. For the next several months I shall begin and end each day by cursing whichever of his ancestors decided she just had to have sex with that Newfie.

We’ve hit 24 confirmed, either arrived or definitely in transit. Awesome.

When I was a kid we moved a lot. I eventually sort-of graduated from the twelfth public school in which I was ever enrolled, so I was always the new kid. You could say I was a bit maladjusted. You … Continue reading →