Why Civilians Must Acknowledge the Individual Cost of War: War Letter Collector Andrew Carroll

Why Civilians Must Acknowledge the Individual Cost of War: War Letter Collector Andrew Carroll

I think for today's dinner, a sort of Louisiana-style Swiss steak with black beans and rice. Leftovers should freeze very well.

I did something spontaneous yesterday.

There's a nice park about 3-1/2 blocks from the duplex where I live in Monroe, LA. It has tennis courts and diamonds and bleachers and playground equipment for kiddos.

I stopped by on the way home from a trip for milk and took some time on a swing. Yes, an old-fashioned chain link swing.

Did it ever feel good. And the milk was still cold when I got home.

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing, 

Up in the air so blue? 

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing 

Ever a child can do! 

Up in the air and over the wall, 

Till I can see so wide, 

River and trees and cattle and all 

Over the countryside-- 

Till I look down on the garden green, 

Down on the roof so brown-- 

Up in the air I go flying again, 

Up in the air and down! 

Robert Louis Stevenson

She doesn't know it yet, but Lucy also likes Peggy Lee's I Am a Woman:

Lucy likes Santana:

Lucy likes Chicago's Make Me Smile:

I think Ariana is cute as punch:

Well, hellfire.

 I bought some new speakers for my desktop in May. I thought they'd gone out, so I bought some new ones -- cheaper and better. Turns out it was the sound card in my computer. Lyman's is fine.

The bipolar disorder is a little disconcerting, sometimes.

Economist cartoon

Post by Willy Foo - Photographer, Marketer, Technopreneur.

Lyman's cousin, Sharon, is coming to dine on lentil soup, homemade cornbread, and green salad this evening.

My very first dinner guest in my new home. Isn't that exciting?

Has a little something going for her, don't you think?

I guess you all need an update. I have chosen to take my master's in occupational therapy, and am signed in and paid for classes to begin Monday. I love my beautiful young woman adviser, and am happy in the town I'm in. Life couldn't be better, but it could be cooler. More later. Oh, for Lord's sake, not that way.

Oh, Lord. The scarlet lady is at it again. Lucy has a new admirer. He's the bartender at Enoch's, an Irish pub down on Louisville -- 10-12 blocks from home.

Lucy needs stimulation beyond me, and it's a good source for the rare gin-and-tonic. Today was Lucy's second visit. John gave her due admiration and another French fry. The handsome man knows how to go after a girl's heart.

She bitched all the way home.

I just read the word "kapok" for the first time in decades. It's in The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill.

Because I can, Yes I Can Can, I used a Pointer Sisters song in the discussion area for the psychology course (positive thinking). Then I ran across this great country song:

Happy Father's Day!



A good many people at Youtube have said these are baby goats. Look at 'em. I have to agree. Kids.
Some lambs there in the upper right. Regardless, how cute can a being get?

Lyman's cousin invited me to a workshop yesterday at her shop.  Had a great time with a small group of women.

Here is my result, using Annie Sloan paint and stencils:

And for something completely different:

A rose, my sweet:

A convocation of legends: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings (deceased), Johnny Cash (deceased), and Kris Kristofferson

"City of New Orleans" was written by Steve Goodman -- not Arlo Guthrie or Willie Nelson.

Since I failed to make it to Scott's memorial, let this stand as his funereal music. He was more progressive than I've ever been watching this stuff, but he couldn't object to a few outlaw writers.

Good Lord. I had a DNA analysis done by 23andme a year or two ago. It was a spit thing.

I encouraged my brother Charles, and my sister Patricia to do a comparable test.

Genetically, they're showing up 85-98 British Irish and I'm showing 62%. I always knew I was different, but who did Mama like that much? Damn sure wasn't any of us.

I have been preoccupied for the past several months for several reasons, not the least that my brother's Hodgkins has come back, so I've just discovered that my long-time blog friend Scott Chaffin died in February. RIP, buddy.

That we were both native Dallasites did much to cement our long-distance friendship. I am so sorry that I failed to comment on his blog after his death.

Look at how casually he plays that keyboard. What else he can play?

It's strange to tell these youngsters that my name is Janis spelled like Joplin, and have them look at me like I came from Missouri.

Joni Mitchell - The Circle Game

To be fair to myself, I need to change the blog.

I was kicked out of an English class this week for being too able ( It was an act of mercy by Dr. Adams.)  Taking introductory psychology online in place. ( How could I be so naive about the prices. We're talking $300 a credit hour.)

Yes, I'm a student. I told  you this is what I would do. And I like it.

Lucy is still with me . We'll be comfortable here, in an office/kitchen/bedroom/bathroom/outside spaces duplex in the garden district in Monroe, LA.

Charles Gore is still living with the vet. There is no great news about him except that he has learned how to belch.  Can that be so much worse than a hacking cough? We'll all see.

Lucy is becoming more expressive. It will be hard to tell how much she hated Charle Gore's guts. She certainly had no patience for his dominance.

Y'all nuts?

Sawhorse desks for $700? Where y'all come from?

Completely benign, the doc says. Benign my hiney -- I've been mutilated.

Where's that plastic surgeon's number?

Well now, the doc is going to nip my nips for a biopsy. The disease is called Paget of the nipple. Unfortunately for my physical integrity, the damage must be done for diagnosis.

Rats. As in dammit. Getting old sucks. Or does not, as it goes.

I have suspicious calcifications revealed through mammogram. There are no other anomalies.

Otherwise I am fine, if in limbo. Just bitchy.

Lucy is with me. Charles Gore has gone to live with the vet and her family for a while. A larger audience for a dedicated entertainer.