This morning, while checking in at the airline counter for yet another mad adventure into the hinterlands of Alaska, I noticed that the young woman helping us was having trouble getting the boarding passes and luggage tags to print. She struck the device sharply several times with her open hand, and, much chastened, it began […]
Depression cake
When you see this title, what do you think of? “Depression cake” is a recipe for cake without eggs or milk (some recipes don’t use butter either), that came into use during the Great Depression in the United States. The same goes, apparently, for such modern marvels as mock apple pie, vinegar pie, and my […]
A good steward
Some years ago, the term “janitor” was quietly upgraded to “custodian.” Being the type who gets a huge kick out of words-and-where-they-come-from, I looked first at the word “janitor.” Fascinating! The first definition uses “custodian” as a synonym, while the second digs a bit deeper into the etymology. Apparently, this word first came to us […]
A One Mile Race: Guest blog by Laura J. Graham
A One Mile Race By Laura J. Graham The day Laurel went mad dawned like any other October day: cold, crisp, beautiful. This day began a bit unusually however, in that Laurel had signed up for a one mile race, to benefit some charity or other. She rose early and after performing her […]
Termination dust
Walking with my son, aka Younger Brother, on this mid-November day, I was startled to see snow on the top of Sunnahae Mountain. I immediately felt cold! Younger Brother kindly pointed out that the cold sensation might have been augmented by any number of other factors, including the wintery-flavored wind, my lack of a hat, […]
I double-dog dare you
For a raging introvert, I am remarkably likely to accept a dare. One of the arenas in which I will rise to the occasion is for cultural exchanges. I’ll be the first to join the friendship dance at an Alaska Native potlatch; and be right up front to put on the Korean ceremonial dress or […]
Right as Rain T-shirts
Boy howdy, I am new at this! I think I have designed a line of T-shirts that readers can purchase through spring.com. Here, I remain ever hopeful, is the link for this! https://right-as-rain-online.creator-spring.com/listing/right-as-rain-custom-t-shirt I would be most grateful for any feedback you might have to offer me about my set up.
Facial recognition software
Take a good look at this picture of my bathroom sink faucet, and tell me it doesn’t look just like Jar-Jar Binks: Human brains go out of their way to construct faces where there are none. (Read more on this phenomenon on the link below.) This house is looking at something surprising on its right: […]
As common as violets. . .
One Christmas some years ago, during a visit to Virginia, I sat drinking wine with five women I had grown up with. I hadn’t had as much of the libation as the rest of them, but I was always a cheap date, and I was feeling blurty. “Hey!” I shouted. “Raise your hand if you […]
Writer’s block
Dear friends and loved ones: It seems that, after writing this blog with ferocious intensity for almost a year, I have hit my first real dry spell. Since I leaned so heavily on my dear old cat Socks for material, her passing away last week may have something to do with it. Rest in peace, […]