• The American public’s anger at the banks certainly hasn’t decreased any in the last two years, but neither has their knowledge of what actually happened increased. And the journalists aren’t doing anything to correct this, quite the contrary…and it will never cease to amaze me how the myth that the bulk of the foreclosure “victims” are borderline ( Read more... )

This not so little guy, an orb weaver the size of one of the small crabs you sometimes see in kelp beds, decided to decorate the space between the pine boughs and the lamp on the walk beside our patio. I christened him the sky crab and Mortgaged took this great photo which, being a night shot, shows the hairs on his legs, but not his bright orange ( Read more... )

File this under T for Times I wish I had my camera ready. Mortgaged and I got a late start on this morning’s ride, so we cut it down to one lap around the dam and then a loop out to the Nature Center inside the dam and back. Better to ride hard for a little bit than not at all. Passing a clearing beside the trail, between a few large rocks some ( Read more... )

You know those overly cutesy, themed to match the restaurant restroom signs that occasionally require one to really think about which is the ladies’ room and which is the gents’?

Well, a local Montrose sushi restaurant has resolved to end all confusion on that front, and several other fronts regarding basic bathroom functions as well. I wasn’t ( Read more... )

Isn’t Ladyhawke wonderful? It’s always the perfect reminder for me of my earliest days of geek-dom, getting absolutely sucked into the tale of magically cursed lovers, a daring knight, a feisty lady and pick pocket con artist and his constant one sided conversations with God. Sucked in just as I was this evening…er…early morning when I stumbled ( Read more... )

Praise from mom and dad. There is nothing like it. I don’t care how old you are or how many other accolades you have received, hearing that wow, I’m proud of you from mom and dad will still make you grin from ear to ear for days. *beams*

As an adult, Mortgaged is the first person I want to contact with good news or show off my projects to, but Mom ( Read more... )

I love the way our voices sound together, Mortgaged's and mine, singing happily, occasionally - okay, often - really hamming it up. We sing to all kinds of music, while cooking together or riding in the car, especially on long trips like this afternoon's rain drenched trek up the coast for another weekend in Cambria ( Read more... )

Yeah, posting this on Facebook would break several of my Facebook rules, so I will entertain a lot less of you here. Mortgaged and I were at Target shopping for gift bags and birthday cards. Can I just say that no for dad from daughter birthday card should ever include the phrase "Thanks for letting me ride you like the pony I always wanted." ( Read more... )

...but today's sun was so delightful!

Most of you are local and know it rained cats and dogs for nearly a week here, beginning last Friday and ending Wednesday night. After all the howling and the pounding, last night was almost eerie in its relative silence, though the respite was welcome even so. I love the rain, adore it in fact. But in such ( Read more... )

When I shop or eat in a restaurant (or heck, when I pick up fast food), I say please and thank you to the store clerks/wait staff who help me. When they ask how I am doing, I ask after them as well and try to make polite conversation. When things are not going my way, especially when the customer service person I am dealing with is just the person ( Read more... )