My brain hurts...too much informationI just read in my Scientific American magazine that our solar system (sun and planets) is flying along at 241 km per second, orbiting the center of the Milky Way galaxy every 210 million years. I already felt insignificant, and this didn't help.
A new friend on our walk todayMy beagle and I found a new friend today, a broad-banded w atersnake. (1)
Two New Friends in Our NeighborhoodA mature white ibis and a juvenile white ibis were hanging around behind our house this afternoon. (2)
Olympics Opening Ceremonies: Boring or Exciting?The Paris ceremonies were okay, but I was really moved with Celine Dion's performance, knowing that she was unable to perform publicly for a long time. She did a wonderful job. I also liked the laser show on the Eiffel Tower.
Good luck to our Texas neighbors dealing with BerylI hope everyone stays safe as Beryl hits our coast and moves inland. It looks like a rain event and not a wind event, so watch for flooding.
Always have to look for new friends on my walksMy dog and I ran into this young western cottonmouth on the trail a few minutes ago. I used a stick to chase it into the woods before two more dogs got there. My dog ignores snakes. Others might not be so lucky. (1)
Maybe only a few Texans noticed: Kinky Friedman died this week. I'll miss him.Kinky Friedman, singer, songwriter, author, politician, and unique character died this week. I voted for him for Governor of Texas, but he only got 12% of the vote in the Democratic primary.
My Favorite Week of the Year: The MastersI can't watch the first two days because I will be in the hospital. I have been there several times, and it seemed to always rain on Thursday. Same thing this year. I'm betting on Scottie. Who do you think will win.
Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final FlightThis series stated tonight on CNN. I was professionally and personally involved with the people associated with the Columbia mission, disaster, and recovery. The first show proved to have a more emotional impact on me than I expected. I look... See More »
Valentine's Day is Ash Wednesday this year.It won't affect us since we never go out to eat on actual Valentine's Day...too crowded. Since the night before is Mardi Gras, some people will be so hungover that they won't even remember that it is Valentine's Day. So celebrate Mardi Gras and... See More »
Anyone watching "Masters of the Air"?I started watching it last week. It's okay, but I don't see it being anywhere near as good as "Band of Brothers."
Have you ever had the holiday dessert called syllabub?It is an old English dish passed down through the aristocratic side of my American family. My grandmother served it every year as a thick dessert drink.
School in the good old days?My grandmother and grandfather went to school in this schoolhouse. Can you imagine being stuck in there in the south Georgia heat, along with mosquitoes and gnats? My great-great grandfather built the school. (1)
There's a snake in the kitchen!I had just turned off the light to go to sleep when my wife yelled that alarm. It's not the first time we have had snaky visitors, so I got up to evict the intruder. Sure enough, there on the floor was the smallest snake I have ever seen, and I... See More »
No Good Deed Goes UnpunishedYesterday, I decided to help my kids by thinning out the family history files I have accumulated over the past 30 years and stored in a four-drawer metal file cabinet. I worked all day, tossing a kitchen trash bag full of paper out of the top... See More »
Okay golf fans, who will win The Masters this year (2023)?It's that time of year again, and I need your predictions.
Actor Who Played the Gill Man in "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" DiesRicou Browning, who did the underwater scenes in the Creature from the Black Lagoon series died at 93 last month. Those were some of the first horror movies I saw as a kid. I used to fish in a swamp lake that looked just like the Black Lagoon, so I... See More »
Oops! Keyboard under water!I fixed myself a nice pre-dinner drink and sat down at my computer. Some unseen force spilled my entire drink on my desk and keyboard. "Oh crap!" was the best I could do, so if anybody wants to curse for me, go ahead.
Anniversary of Space Shuttle Columbia DisasterToday is the 20th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, when the orbiter broke up on reentry. I just drove by Space Center Houston, and the orbiter mockup sitting on the back of the 747 brought back some sad memories of that day and... See More »
Just Got Home with a New Knee.Knee replacement went well, and after a night in the hospital, I'm home. I'm ready for the fun of physical therapy!
Possum invasion thwartedOur beagle/terrior mix was going nuts outside, so I went to check. There was a possum on the back fence. I shooed the invader away, but the puppy is convinced there must be many more out there. She won't stop barking and prowling the yard. Maybe... See More »
It Feels Good When Someone Shows Sincere AppreciatiionMy wife and I were shopping at Sam’s yesterday when I heard a lady behind me say, “There’s a good-looking couple.” I turned to see a handicapped lady on an electric cart, and I recognized her as someone who comes to get food twice a month at the Foo... See More »
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