Today, the sibilant call of the shredder. Some sort of sprint ritual, perhaps, or a nod to carrying less away from here, but many (many) old receipts and other assorted sheets of personalized print were fed to the “jaws” before shipment to the incinerator. Double assurance. Which reminds me; check the blue bin for badly sorted bags of confetti.
posted in politics, technology | Comments Off on The melt is getting real | 254 words
Today saw me off to the box store, to buy milk and a bath mat. No connection between the two. Amazing how many other things are available in a big store these days; the general store can blush and go home. I even found a plastic round of sour candies, just in case.
posted in genealogy | Comments Off on A reflection on inventory | 251 words
Another morning among the specialists; hard to believe that I’ve been making the pilgrimage for close to a decade already. This time, a new face. Just as busy as any of the others, but still ready to peer through his lens, checking to see if I showed signs of a pucker. I learned that term, thanks to the Internet.
posted in health, media | Comments Off on A coastal tour | 259 words
Take a preference for ruled lines, a nasty chemical goo and patience. Apply the three to a job at hand and wait (for at least three hours). Thanks to son #3, the tub now has new joints, just in time for the next need to shower up. Good work, under uncomfortable conditions; kneeling over a standard tub is a good way to “put your back out”, after you reach a certain age.
posted in environment | Comments Off on Ruled lines and goo | 270 words
Today, I learned that pride comes before a fall, as well as after. I loaded the bread machine, and three hours later unloaded a small “stone”. What I believed to be foolproof, isn’t. The water might have been a touch too warm, given that I measure the temperature by touch. In any case, nothing you’d want to add to a triumphant table. Worse, I followed another axiom; something to do with getting back on the “horse” right away. Loaded the pan, with slightly cooler water… and the machine wouldn’t start. Deep in the instruction manual, a key phrase about allowing things to cool down caught my eye. I did a hand stir of the loaded ingredients, and then waited impatiently for the thermal interlock to side with me. For the record, my second load turned out “just fine”; fresh bread is a tasty meal, especially with a glass of cold milk.
posted in environment | Comments Off on Pride before a fall | 263 words
Despite my careful study of how my betters live, yesterday, no servants joined the household overnight. Maybe next year.
posted in education | Comments Off on Preparing for the reno-apocalypse. | 253 words
Another year has passed. Today, I binge.
We’re back over to spy on the folk at Downton, and although things change, they don’t, really. Always on the edge of a crisis, but when you are terminally polite, there’s no pain. So different from the American cousins; no laugh track, no simple resolution of the world’s issues in just under an hour. I don’t expect to get away before midnight.
posted in humour | Comments Off on Binge watch | 265 words
When I was very young, shopping was centralized. The Eaton’s catalogues; in colour and filled with dreams. The range of products far exceeded my needs. I learned what the appropriate price point might be, and how to build a dream. Later, when we added the Canadian Tire catalogue, I learned to “ensemble shop”. As in, choosing a complete set of hockey gear, even if there was no possibility of playing in a team environment.
posted in economy, environment | Comments Off on New ways to recycle and reuse | 250 words
Is there any creature more confident in my knowledge of good food, than the family dog? He sees (me, with) a plate, and his eyes light up. He stands on guard, ready for any error due to gravity. His paw reminds me, often, that he has not forgotten our good times together. Oddly, he doesn’t decline my salad option; when he eats grass on his own, things tend to go in (and then out).
posted in environment | Comments Off on A quote will surely follow | 263 words
Let the play begin. A certain senator is about to face the courts. The crimes matter, but not nearly so much as the players involved. You see, the senator, who may or may not be a legal Islander, has decided that he won’t be “thrown under the bus”, or “washed overboard by a rogue wave”. He has requested that some friends in high places shall appear, in his defence.
posted in politics | Comments Off on Let the play begin | 259 words
