Since my pal Wallace was too lazy to get up this morning to take photos of the eta Aquarid (translation: flaming rocks falling on your noggin) meteor shower, I stepped up to the plate and captured the astronomically amazing event for the sake of posterity. OK, so I didn’t have a camera, and I was… Continue reading eta Aquarid Meteor Shower (more or less)
Random Thursday – The Weekend Edition
Readers note: I’ll be employing hash tags after each brilliant observation. Hash tags are the hipster’s way of connoting sarcasm, or implying irony, or providing context. All the Kool Kidz are doing it. #educatingn00bs I continue to be intrigued by the new image being cultivated by J.C. Penney. But I am a little puzzled by… Continue reading Random Thursday – The Weekend Edition
Book Review: “1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die”
Note: All songs mentioned below are linked to performances on YouTube, and the links will open in new browser tabs. A few weeks ago, during a post-dessert foray through Barnes & Noble, my eye lit upon a book resting on a table, notable for its thickness and heft, entitled 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before… Continue reading Book Review: “1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die”
Back Yard as a Terrarium
Last Wednesday, the high temperature in Midland was 104°, which was not only a record for April 25th, but the highest temperature ever recorded in the city in April. Couple that kind of heat with our outdoor watering restrictions, and our back yard is toast – literally. (OK, not literally literally, but blogger hyperbole literally,… Continue reading Back Yard as a Terrarium
You Ninja, Yu
Scott Chaffin is one of my blogger heroes; The Fat Guy would be on my list of Blogs I’d Pick If Stranded On A Farm-to-Market Road Between Quitaque and Turkey (that’s in Texas, ya’ll). He writes with a deceptive country-boy self-deprecation that completely fails to obscure a wicked wit, sharp intellect, and laser-focused insight. He… Continue reading You Ninja, Yu
My Excellent Podiatric Adventure
On Wednesday, for the first time in my life, I consulted with a podiatrist. I’ve had pain in my right foot for several weeks, and it’s not getting better on its own, despite my dancing three times a week and continuing to wear bad shoes. Go figure. I decided to consult an expert so that… Continue reading My Excellent Podiatric Adventure
Pebble: The future of watches?
Meet the next millionaire-making personal-electronics phenomenon: the Pebble smartwatch. This unassuming wristwatch is designed to interact with – control and/or be controlled by – your iPhone, iPod touch or Android smartphone, via Bluetooth. The face is so-called ePaper, a display that’s visible in bright sunlight, like a Kindle, and is also backlit for viewing in… Continue reading Pebble: The future of watches?
Scary Prairie
According to The Weather Channel, the temperature in Midland today will hit 105° In recognition of this dubious achievement, I offer the following. If my lawn is already looking like this, imagine what August is going to bring. OK, just kidding (sort of). This is an overly bleak perspective of the grass the developers planted… Continue reading Scary Prairie
Yellow-headed Blackbirds in Midland?
We went for a walk around the neighborhood yesterday afternoon, primarily to check out the new homes under construction. My usual practice is to stick my point-and-shoot camera in my pocket before leaving the house, just in case we encounter something out of the ordinary. I was glad I did. We’ve had multitudes of red-winged… Continue reading Yellow-headed Blackbirds in Midland?
Ballroom Dance Playlist
Last night’s Ballroom Dance Society dance was the annual event where we use prerecorded music. It’s sort of a fundraiser, since we save the cost of a live band, but it’s also a chance to try out some new music (and to dance to an entire evening’s worth of tunes that are never off-rhythm or… Continue reading Ballroom Dance Playlist