Author Archives: Joel

No problems at all. A little packed snow on the road in the mountains, but the plows had clearly been busy. Really light traffic most of the way. The boys and Click have settled down from their meltdown now. I … Continue reading →

They’ve moved the road closures away from our route, so we’re throwing stuff in the truck and going for it! Yay! Adventure! Danger! HOME!

…is being in control – or at least giving yourself the illusion of being in control – of your circumstances. Today, I’m totally unprepared. Just got word that the road between me and home is still closed. I’m sitting here … Continue reading →

After seven hours on the road! We got caught in the storm, in M’s faithful but not terribly snow-loving pickup. We got into the mountains and the snow got a bit rough, trucks fishtailing all over the place, visibility not … Continue reading →

…Who claims never to have heard a Tom T. Hall song other than (gurg) Sneaky Snake.

Before dawn on Day 3 (4, for us) of the SAR show. Too much to remember, because it’s all jumbled together in my head. Days that start around 5 in the morning and end whenever my hosts can beat their … Continue reading →

…be my last word on Fritz. Though probably not. Years ago, before they established the Gulch, Landlady and her husband T used to do a lot of desert four-wheeling. On one occasion, ‘way back in the boonies, they came upon … Continue reading →

…Over the next several days. I had a chance to go to the SAR show in Phoenix with a friend, a chance I regretfully turned down when Fritz turned so sick. And when M & W urged me to rethink … Continue reading →

After a sudden relapse over the weekend and one really bad day, Fritz passed away in his sleep yesterday afternoon. I still don’t know what was wrong with him. After a week of praying it wasn’t cancer or something else … Continue reading →

…but it is, on occasion, hilarious. Happy Turkey Day, Y’all!

So we’re all sitting around the Interim Lair last night, wishing it wasn’t so bloody cold. LB is camped on my bed. Click jumps down from her loft, curls up next to LB’s belly, then reaches up, grabs his head … Continue reading →

ME: (Clicks “SEND MESSAGE”) THUNDERBIRD: “Do you want to send PLAIN TEXT to (address of recipient)?” ME: No. I want you to translate it into Hutu first.

“When pols or athletes do a painfully bad guest spot on a sitcom, people clap pedantically like Retard Jimmy just hit a layup. The reaction to actors pretending they’re critical thinkers should be similar.” – Anon

On a post from back in July. This post gets a disproportionate amount of attention, possibly because when you type “Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs” into a search engine it comes up on the first page. This comment was less abusive … Continue reading →

Still no word on what might be ailing Fritz, but the meds are having a pleasant effect. He’s been much more active, though not nearly to young-dog levels. His appetite has returned nicely, which tells me his temperature is probably … Continue reading →

With much help from M, (IE, he did nearly all the work: All I did was cut panels and carry stuff) the Secret Lair now has a genuine waterproof roof! Yay! Yes I know the stovepipe’s too short, gorram it. … Continue reading →

From West of the West via Tam: How to choose your religion, in one easy flow chart!

Concerning those swiped emails… “It is right before the Copenhagen debate, I’m sure that is not a coincidence,” Trenberth said in a telephone interview from Colorado. The Cultists of Climate Change claim that the emails were selectively leaked, exposing only … Continue reading →

Had a pretty good day right up to the point where I stopped working. Then it all went to hell. Landlady came over and shared coffee and breakfast. Tried to take the dogs for their morning walky, but Fritz made … Continue reading →