Author Archives: Joel

It’s the thought that counts, Bob. Landlady did the honors this time… Dinner’s a day late at the Gulch, because putting in kitchen cabinets was the whole point of Landlady’s stay. So this time there’s something to celebrate!

The book, that is. I already read the review. Over at Borepatch… This book has two purposes. The first is to show the thicket of nonsensical gun laws currently on the books, that get in the way of ordinary people … Continue reading →

If you’re among the sort who likes to shop on Black Friday, and if you do so via Amazon, don’t forget to send Claire a gift too by using her link. Might not get you into heaven, but why take … Continue reading →

I am amazed! And suspicious, and waiting confidently for the sky’s sudden but inevitable betrayal. But in the meantime, since it’s Thanksgiving and nobody’s reading anyway and I plan to pour every millivolt into my starving batteries, here’s a video … Continue reading →

Ghost is just not a player. With the exception of very brief moments when he forgets himself with me, he isn’t one of those dogs who’s constantly crouching into “play posture” and wanting a good wrestle. Which is too bad … Continue reading →

These short gray days make me want to hop on a boat and go burn an Irish monastery for some reason… — Tamara K. (@TamSlick) November 27, 2013

Lost power last night around ten, quite unexpectedly. Partly cloudy all morning, and only in the past hour or so has there been really good sun. I don’t ever remember cloudy weather hanging on like this, even in Monsoon. If … Continue reading →

Tam over at VftP is trying to wrap her mind around the concept of a rural city. I suppose that’s a New Yorker’s view of any urban center containing less than ten million people and a cow or two that’s … Continue reading →

At last, some clearing. I was promised clear skies for Monday, and when I woke to more overcast I wanted to crawl under the Lair and hibernate. But now that it’s too late in the day to do the batteries … Continue reading →

It’s time to have the talk. (I swear I didn’t make this up.) This holiday season (sic), millions of Americans have a chance to get quality, affordable health insurance—many for the first time. If you have family members who are … Continue reading →

Thank you! Some donations to the blog have been coming into the Paypal account lately, which are solving for a few months the increasingly troublesome question of how to pay for my Internet access. Also there was a bit of … Continue reading →

According to the weather forecast, today was supposed to be every bit as crappy as the past 3-4 days, and maybe the afternoon will be. But I awoke to mostly-sunny skies which have allowed the solar panels to pump some … Continue reading →

Forecast calls for rain and overcast skies until Monday, when it calls for…fog? That’d be a first. This is the first time so far I’ve lit a fire in the stove just to make the cabin feel dry. I’ve been … Continue reading →

Nasty weather has rolled in, including some of the heaviest and most uniform overcast I’ve ever seen over the desert. Therefore I’m not playing on the ‘pooter. I’d rather have them newfangled eeeelectric lights at night, and this unseemly weather … Continue reading →

Longest trip to town in my memory. We were on the road by 7:15, and I didn’t see Lair Sweet Lair again until five. And at 7:30, well down the road, I had the awful thought: “Did I turn the … Continue reading →

Have a chance to go to the big town about fifty miles away and buy eye drops, which is just a major thrill. I’ll be gone pretty much all day, and have to meet my ride at 7 in the … Continue reading →

The TSA Wants to Remind You That You Are A Captive “We need to be vigilant and maintain high security protocol at all times. These portals were designed and approved by TSA which is important,” said Syracuse Airport Commissioner Christina … Continue reading →

SNL does something a little funny.

Or so said the voters of Chambersburg, PA who threw out their old multi-term mayor when he joined Nanny Bloomberg’s MAIG. [New Mayor] Darren Brown, said he knows one thing he’ll do immediately after being sworn in as mayor: “The … Continue reading →