Sunday, October 25, 2009

Welcome [Unwelcome?] Neighbors

I appreciate skunks for their relentless search for grubs in the lawn. But I'm a bit uncomfortable with seeking one under my deck. There's really no way to warn the curious cats not to investigate.

[Editor's note: A few people have asked me what happened to the blog. Fact is, I don't know. But when I downloaded my Christmas pictures today, I found 120 pictures from as far back as mid-October. So, I'm going to start catching up today.]

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Sisyphus v.2

Maggy: "Really? This is how advisor Today chooses to portray corporate women?"




I doubt she'd like the photo on their website any better.






I fear this is just the rock tumbling back down the mountain. I can't see how Maggy can show anyone in her company how inappropriate this is.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Columbus Day?

Holidays seem to fall into two categories: ones we care about and ones for which we get a paid day off from work. I'm surprised how little overlap there is. The ones we care about have special customs for celebration - sometimes far removed from the original reason for the holiday.

New Year's Day is a paid day off. I'm unaware of any common celebration ritual tho' I imagine many people sleep late to recover from New Year's Eve celebrations. Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas are paid days off with important meals to celebrate. Where do Columbus Day and Washington's birthday fit in this pattern? No traditional meal. No parade (except in NY). No presents.

I don't know how much of my mental image of Columbus sailing for the New World is myth. Still I think setting off in a sailboat on a trip expected to take months is pretty admirable. So, Columbus is somewhere on my list of people about whom we should know enough to have a certain amount of respect. But couldn't we have the day after Thanksgiving off instead? Or Halloween? Or even Spring Equinox?

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Overheard On Twitter

From DM at the Farmers' Market:

'swiss chard is beautiful' ... 'twitter is stupid'