Jerry, to his friends, was born on July 23, 1920 and died on August 4, 1969. If he were still alive today, he would be 100 years old. He was born in Wesley, Iowa at a time when it was common for young boys to wear knickers and knee socks and lace-up ankle-high boots. HeContinue reading “Jerrold George Walter Edward Aldrich”
Category Archives: This and That
Creativity
I don’t just write. I have a number of other outlets for my creative spirit. I like to crochet. I just finished making a new leash for Maddie. My sister doesn’t know it yet, but I am making an afghan for her. Well, I suppose she knows it now. She likes greens and browns together.Continue reading “Creativity”
Would the World be a Better Place without Mosquitoes?
In a poll of one, me, the answer would be a resounding “yes.” At least on the surface. But when I think about it for a moment, maybe not. Mosquitoes are flies. They belong to the order Diptera; DI (two) plus PTERA (wing). They are distinguished from most other insects by the number of wingsContinue reading “Would the World be a Better Place without Mosquitoes?”
I’m Annoyed
There are a lot of things that annoy me. Honestly, I’d like to think of myself as a tolerant person. But the truth probably lies somewhere between those two statements. Maybe, sadly, a little closer to the first one. Yes, police brutality is a problem. Yes, it’s been a problem for a long time. YesContinue reading “I’m Annoyed”
Tidying Up
We have oak cabinetry throughout our house. There have been times in the past when I got so tired of all the oak that I wanted to paint it all. The interior doors are all cheap hollow core, but they are sheathed in real oak. And the door frames are oak as well. Adds upContinue reading “Tidying Up”
Weird Words, Part 11
Nincompoop Even though the word “nincompoop” is considered to be colloquial, it’s claimed that it has a very learned past. One account reports that it stems from non compos mentis, which is Latin for “not of right mind.” It’s claimed that it was once actually a legal term. The idea of a lawyer using thatContinue reading “Weird Words, Part 11”
Pure Delight
We used to feed all the birds. We had thistle seed for the finches. We put out mixed seed for the various songbirds. We were sure to have plenty of black sunflower seeds on hand. And we scattered unsalted, roasted peanuts in the shell for the scrub jays. We tried a suet feeder for aContinue reading “Pure Delight”
Side Effects
Side benefits, actually. My steel-toed work boots have seen a lot of use lately. My husband’s place of employment still has not reopened. We don’t know if they will. The company was in some legal trouble before the pandemic and since it’s a medical office, reopening poses a few more challenges than it might for,Continue reading “Side Effects”
Renewing
It rained during the night. Hard and heavy at times. Sporadic. Making a staccato racket on the aluminum awning that shades the sliding glass door of our bedroom. There was thunder and lightning too. Always exciting. The smell of the rain was like a blessing. Fresh and new. The cool air a welcome change fromContinue reading “Renewing”
Two Ways of Looking at Things
There’s always two ways to consider something. I’d be willing to bet that there’s usually even more than that. My husband, Bernd, and I have two different basic modes of operation. His is mainly to panic. Mine is to mainly remain calm. It’s not that I’m more enlightened than he is. It just that IContinue reading “Two Ways of Looking at Things”
