Time For An Upgrade...

...from this barbecue pit...

...to this mid century modern fireplace...

...and all it took was $11 worth of stove pipe and replacing the wheels with our old chiminea stand.

Still a practical heating solution for our bonus room, but now a little more in keeping with the mid century modern look and feel of the rest of our home.

Had some visitors the other day...

thinking about it...

...not bad...not bad at all...

...enough for two...

Strange thing about writing...

...seems like every time I go back and try to do the editor thing on what I've written, my mind often supplies what I meant to write and I don't always see what I actually wrote.

Today was probably the 5th or 6th time I've found yet another typo or three in what I thought was my "clean" manuscript.

Found two more occurrences of constructs like "I told here" instead of "I told her" and so once again I went through the process of correcting things and then resubmitting my book for publication.

And of course while I'm at it I decide to tweak this bit of dialogue or clarify that paragraph.

I used to wonder how in the world Walt Whitman's "Leaves Of Grass" could have been in a constant state of addition / revision for 50 years but it's far more understandable to me now.

Not that I'm a big fan of Whitman or his tome...I tend to fall into the Homer Simpson category when it comes to that...

Walt Freakin' Whitman!  "Leaves of Grass" my ass!

Recent sights and scenes...

sunny days have got the solar lights working again...

that was a delicious apple pie...

Mr. Squirrel contemplating his next move...

...and deciding to go for the bird seed...

unearthed at a recent archaeological dig, this T-Rex skull can be yours for the paltry sum of $130...

...and this mid century modern lamp can light up your life for only $650...

And finally, as Annette and company used to croon:

Now it's time to say goodbye to all our company...

A-T-O-M-I-C    C ya real soon!
M-O-N-S-T-E-R   Rn't you sorry you kept reading this swill?
C-A-F-E!

"Haven't they left yet?"

later, mcm fans...

* Crass Commercialism Corner *

In the "so convenient you can't stand it" department, you can purchase my books here and on Amazon.com!

Get your paperback books here:

Papa's Model T: The Genesis

Papa's Model T: The Rescue

Papa's Model T: The Long Count 

Papa's Model T: The Gray Ghost 

Papa's Model T: The Tin Goose 

Papa's Model T: The Amateur

Papa's Model T: The Dipper

Papa's Model T: The Bambino

Loved Of My Father

When A Cardinal Appears 

Red Train Christmas 

When A Cardinal Appears, vol 2 

TAT

Last Flight

A Stillwater Christmas

Crescent Moon Paradise

Time Slip Island

7 Fridays

Chrysalis

Get your ebooks here:

Papa's Model T: The Genesis 

Papa's Model T: The Rescue 

Papa's Model T: The Long Count 

Papa's Model T: The Gray Ghost

Papa's Model T: The Tin Goose

Papa's Model T: The Amateur

Papa's Model T: The Dipper

Papa's Model T: The Bambino

Loved Of My Father 

When A Cardinal Appears 

Red Train Christmas 

When A Cardinal Appears, vol 2 

TAT

Last Flight

A Stillwater Christmas 

Crescent Moon Paradise

Time Slip Island

7 Fridays

Chrysalis

Woe! Woe! Woe To You...

...if you forgot to get your Cupid on...it may be just a Hallmark Holiday, but it's still the better part of wisdom to tell 'em you love 'em.

A card, some roses, a bit o' the bubbly...do NOT be this guy:

Happy Valentines Day, ya'll.

You know what's doubly nice about the day after V-day?

...other than the obvious...it means we're on the backside of February which means it's legit to start thinking about March...

...which means it's almost Spring!

...well, almost...

Try to control your enthusiasm, because I have some really exciting news...

...no, I'm not Batman...but I have published...

...Chrysalis, and it's now available on Amazon !

It's a "coming of age" story, and I was going to put my usual schtick on here, including a tongue in cheek review by my favorite member of the literary intelligentsia, Biff Bifflemeyer...

...but decided against it, mostly due to the nature of this book.

It's different than others I've written, touching on subject matter some may consider sensitive or even taboo...

...but this isn't a rehash of Lolita in reverse, or The Graduate or even Summer of '42.

It's meant to be a little deeper than those, circumspect and more focused on the relationships rather than the physical temptations in the protagonist's life.

I'm happy with the end result...I hope you will be, too.

Recently purchased this very cool midcentury modern clock for our living room...

...and a closer view...

...gotta love the boomerang look.

Found it on ebay from seller snproducts339z who has a 100% rating...great clock at a good price, securely packed and quick ship...check them out if you're in the market for one of these clocks.

From time to time I find myself pondering serious questions of significant import, often revolving around man's eternal quest for understanding.

Por ejemplo...

...Why is there a cat on top of my refrigerator?

Why is there a cat on top of my roof?

Why is there a cat on top of my kitchen soffit?

Why is there a cat on top of my workspace?

Why is there a cat on top of my stone wall?

Why, I ask you...why??

And finally, on your way out the servants' entrance...

...what?  You thought you'd get to use the front door?  Piffle...

...we welcome back, however briefly, some scenes from (ahem)...winter...

I know it's not the same without my trenchant commentary, but sometimes you've just got to figger things out for yourself.

later, mcm fans...

* Crass Commercialism Corner *

In the "so convenient you can't stand it" department, you can purchase my books here and on Amazon.com!

Get your paperback books here:

Papa's Model T: The Genesis

Papa's Model T: The Rescue

Papa's Model T: The Long Count 

Papa's Model T: The Gray Ghost 

Papa's Model T: The Tin Goose 

Papa's Model T: The Amateur

Papa's Model T: The Dipper

Papa's Model T: The Bambino

Loved Of My Father

When A Cardinal Appears 

Red Train Christmas 

When A Cardinal Appears, vol 2 

TAT

Last Flight

A Stillwater Christmas

Crescent Moon Paradise

Time Slip Island

7 Fridays

Chrysalis

Get your ebooks here:

Papa's Model T: The Genesis 

Papa's Model T: The Rescue 

Papa's Model T: The Long Count 

Papa's Model T: The Gray Ghost

Papa's Model T: The Tin Goose

Papa's Model T: The Amateur

Papa's Model T: The Dipper

Papa's Model T: The Bambino

Loved Of My Father 

When A Cardinal Appears 

Red Train Christmas 

When A Cardinal Appears, vol 2 

TAT

Last Flight

A Stillwater Christmas 

Crescent Moon Paradise

Time Slip Island

7 Fridays

Chrysalis

It's Time For...

...Winter's Return...or so it seems this morning.

What a difference a day makes...yesterday we enjoyed delightful sunshine...

...which naturally inspired the artiste within! 

Ok, so it wasn't my idea; Karen pointed that out to me.

She: "Look, isn't that pretty?  You should get a shot of that for your blog."

Me: "What for?"

She: "It's beautiful!"

Me: "What is?"

She: "The tree of course!"

Me: "C'mon, it's just a tree..."

She: "So much more!

"See how the shadow of the trunk makes a path through the snow running up the wall illustrating the concept of perspective?

"Then all the branches spread out gracefully across the wall creating depth.

"And finally the real trees from the woods blend together with the shadow tree on the wall forming the top and signifying the illusory union of opposites."

Me: "I knew that."

She: "Then what are you waiting for?"

Me:  "Um...I'm waiting for the viscosity of the diffused light to segue more definitively from daytime to evening so the -"

She:  "Just do it!"

Me, mumbling:  "'Go do this, go do that!'  I'm telling you, one of these days..."

She: "What are you mumbling?"

Me: "Nothing, dear!  Just on my way to take a picture..."

Did something we don't normally do, and that's watch a movie by bona fide nut case Quentin Tarantino.

It's not only a political thing; I just don't find his subject matter nor his devotion to profanity and cartoon violence in prodigious proportion appealing.

But last night we broke with tradition and cued up...

...Once Upon A Time In Hollywood...and mostly because I was intrigued by his concept that the Manson family murders in August of 1969 were a line of demarcation...

currently burning in hell...

...a definitive event that ended one era and ushered in a new one.

There's some truth there I believe...the shocking barbarity and perverse evil of those crimes served as an exclamation point at the end of a decade filled to overflowing with rapid and often violent change on many fronts.

As society continued to devolve through the 70's and beyond, it's appropriate in many ways to see that seminal event as the kickoff to much of what followed.

And the movie itself is ok...high production values of course - with a budget of $95 million you oughta be able to pull off a few whizbangs here and there - and many tips o' the hat to iconic music, movies, people and events from that bygone era.

I thought Brad Pitt was especially good as the oxymoronic low key / adrenaline junkie drifting through life, existing simply amidst excess and welcoming danger with nary an uptick in heart rate...

...and apparently the wizards of smart at AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) agreed since he won the big O for best supporting actor...happy for him to get this honor, his ignorant acceptance speech notwithstanding.

Even DiCaprio -

(taking a much needed break from his climate change preaching tour where he flies around the world in his private jet, massive carbon footprint in tow, instructing the faithful in his "good for thee but not for me" gospel)

- gave a credible turn as a one time star descending into "has been" status at a pace that both befuddles and ages him far too quickly.

And the alternate ending for the Tate-LaBianca murders was a rewarding piece of fiction...it's what we all wished had happened to the despicable Tex Watson...

...who inexplicably has been supported by taxpayer dollars for 50 years now.

Watching the Tarantino version of his ending, being ripped to shreds by a pit bull and dispatched by an acid tripping Brad Pitt, is far preferable to the sad reality of the truth.

Why this scum sucking piece of scat - or any of the so called Manson family members for that matter - is still drawing breath today is incomprehensible.

One of the few times I've found myself in wholehearted agreement with QT.

So...final analysis...is this worth 2 hours and 41 minutes of your life?

Meh...probably not.

If you're a history buff and care about seeing Hollywood magic that substitutes DiCaprio in place of McQueen in a scene from "The Great Escape"...

...or seeing Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate watching herself on screen in "The Wrecking Crew" with Dean Martin...

...well then...maybe.

Otherwise, go outside, look all around you at God's creation, and give thanks for the precious, fleeting gift of life.

You'll be happier at the end of that exercise than you will be having spent almost 3 hours knocking around inside QT's skewed vision of the world.

Warning: if you do opt to watch this movie, try not to get any on you.  It's messy and it stains.

Currently tip toeing through the tulips as I try to put the final bow on...

...Chrysalis.

I'm at 31,000 words and probably going to bring it in at 35,000 when all the shouting's done.

A little mixed on this one...a lot of it I like...or at least I've enjoyed writing it...but since I've never attempted a coming of age story before I'm still trying to decide how I feel about it.

I think a lot will depend on the ending because in writing as in life, endings truly do matter.

More to come.

And speaking of endings, behold the time draweth nigh.

In fact, it's here:

later, mcm fans...

* Crass Commercialism Corner *

In the "so convenient you can't stand it" department, you can purchase my books here and on Amazon.com!

Get your paperback books here:

Papa's Model T: The Genesis

Papa's Model T: The Rescue

Papa's Model T: The Long Count 

Papa's Model T: The Gray Ghost 

Papa's Model T: The Tin Goose 

Papa's Model T: The Amateur

Papa's Model T: The Dipper

Papa's Model T: The Bambino

Loved Of My Father

When A Cardinal Appears 

Red Train Christmas 

When A Cardinal Appears, vol 2 

TAT

Last Flight

A Stillwater Christmas

Crescent Moon Paradise

Time Slip Island

7 Fridays

Get your ebooks here:

Papa's Model T: The Genesis 

Papa's Model T: The Rescue 

Papa's Model T: The Long Count 

Papa's Model T: The Gray Ghost

Papa's Model T: The Tin Goose

Papa's Model T: The Amateur

Papa's Model T: The Dipper

Papa's Model T: The Bambino

Loved Of My Father 

When A Cardinal Appears 

Red Train Christmas 

When A Cardinal Appears, vol 2 

TAT

Last Flight

A Stillwater Christmas 

Crescent Moon Paradise

Time Slip Island

7 Fridays