Last October my Grandmother (Grams) turned a whopping 80 years young, and one month later she finally retired.  With retirement came the cleaning out of her massive office.  It was like a second apartment where she kept and displayed many family photos, collectibles, plants, things people often brought her from their travels, and so. much. more.  I ( Read more... )

Okay, we did not actually, per say, pull this activity from The Date Box.  But!  It is in The Date Box to be pulled.  It was one of a few Date Box activities that we both knew about before hand.  Therefore we discussed it with people when explaining The Date Box in casual conversation.  And people (mainly, some of my favorite relatives) got excited ( Read more... )

Every year Rhonda and I have the week between Christmas and New Year's off from work.  We try to take advantage of that time to travel, but this year (for a number of reasons) we weren't feeling the whole traveling thing.  And if you know anything about me at all, you definitely know that I'd sooner cut off a limb than sit around the house on my ( Read more... )

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The morning after I was frantically driven through pitch black country gravel roads rushed to the Bellville Emergency Room*, Rhonda and I got to get all cute for a ranch wedding in Brenham, TX.  Where I absolutely detest shopping (I know... take away my girl card), I had a surprisingly good time hitting The Galleria with Rhonda, picking out the ( Read more... )

I had a very long chat with someone yesterday about... well... about a lot of things, but a great deal of it concerning specific types of human beings and our varied emotional reactions.  About the artists and creators and deeply rooted evaluators of the world.  About the everyman.  About the people that know us versus the people that understand us ( Read more... )

I very recently found this website belonging to photographer and documentarian, L. Weingarten (I have searched the Internet and for the life of me, cannot tell you what the 'L' stands for).  All of Weingarten's projects are stunning and you should absolutely sit down with them, perhaps accompanied by a glass of wine.  Or a nice aged brandy.  Or a ( Read more... )

I know I'm being redundant in saying so, but damn I've been busy.  It would seem that no matter how many things I'm able to clear from my plate, another five pile on.  And just like that I'm up to my ears in overflowing plates, what with starving children in Ethiopia forheavensakes, SO YOU HAD BETTER FINISH EVERYTHING ON THAT PLATTER.

Where was I?

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Rhonda and I stuck to family traditions this year for the holiday, in that we spent Labor Day weekend in a beach house in Surfside with 17 of my family members.  This was our 23rd year together.  Pretty neat, actually.  I look forward to it all year long, every year.  And I'm thrilled that Rhonda is finding enjoyment in the insanity as well.  ( Read more... )