Author Archives: Joel

Have you noticed that people are more tolerant of the concept of police arrest? Less put off when it turns out a friend has been arrested? Less frightened of the idea of being arrested? Maybe it’s just me. Or maybe … Continue reading →

I hate uncertainty. I don’t mean minor uncertainties, like what book I’ll read next or whether I should have rice or macaroni for supper. I mean major uncertainties, where I don’t know if something is going to be screwed up … Continue reading →

Since moving to the Lair, this “using the internet” thing has gotten to be kind of a hassle. I’ve got a (second) appointment with the installer who’s supposed to move all the gadgetry to the Lair tomorrow, but he cancelled … Continue reading →

Hey, remember the incandescent lightbulb ban? Set to kick in on Jan 1? Oh, sure you do: We’ve been bitching and laughing about it for years. Well, it’s still in effect. Only not really. A last-minute rider attached to the … Continue reading →

Uncle Ghost went off to spend the weekend with S&L, leaving Little Bear a bit lonely. Poor li’l guy…

Wednesday was just a miserable winter day all around. Yesterday I started having trouble with water pressure which put me in a bad mood. I don’t know what the problem is: The pump was running but the cistern was dry. … Continue reading →

…and it still wasn’t Monster Hunter International. Not sure what I was thinking, but when I did my Amazon shopping spree I went looking for MHI and got hooked by the reviews of a newer book instead, something called Dead … Continue reading →

I was washing dishes in the Lair (Yes, I do that now) when I got a text saying that due to bad weather the installer guy wasn’t coming to move my internet connection. So I’m still in the cold, dark … Continue reading →

I don’t do Christmas much. And so I’m always a bit embarrassed when people give me gifts. Oh, I take them … but it embarrasses me. This morning I rushed to get the shit-shoveling done. I had to move it … Continue reading →

Only he could find a way to make a revolver with a bayonet look cool. Because it’s not mall ninja gear when it’s a 100-year-old Webley…

I’ve had about three disjointed lines from this dumb song stuck in my head for days. Guess my subconscious is trying to get with the season. Yeah, I grew up with a better class of comics than you young fellers … Continue reading →

…knows the difference between being kicked and being tripped over. I’m not so sure. I came out of the scriptoreum to, um, chase some mutant zombie bikers. Yeah, that’s it. And on my way to the tree Little Bear came … Continue reading →

From Random Acts of Patriotism, courtesy of The Travis McGee Reader.

Seen at Days of our Trailers… Panel backs new fine for guns near schools, parks People toting guns within 500 feet of Chicago schools and parks would get hit with an additional $3,000 fine under a measure endorsed Thursday by … Continue reading →

When a plot of ground gets graded for a house, a fair number of junipers are usually bulldozed to their deaths. And since cedar is often reluctant to rot, there they sit: shoved off to one side, a haven for … Continue reading →

This is a subject I avoid, mostly. There are strong feelings on either side. But I’ve got a son-in-law in the military, husband of my only daughter, father of my only grandchild, and this picture got to me. If I … Continue reading →

Okay, nothings going on in my life worth talking about (I cut some wood! I flushed my toilet! Yeah, you’ve got all that) and nothing seems to be going on in the world worth linking to. I’m going back to … Continue reading →

Except to say we finally got our first single-digit night, and the cabin came through pretty well. Unfortunately the fire I set to smolder decided it would rather go out entirely, fairly early, so things did get a bit shivery. … Continue reading →

Woke this morning to a couple of problems that were going to have me illegally driving right through town in broad daylight, something I avoid, because I had two physical needs that could no longer be put off. I needed … Continue reading →