Saturday, July 25, 2026
In 1951, my sophomore year at MHS, our music teacher, Mr. Zee, got a job at a big school in Tacoma where he would teach only upper-level classes and direct the school's orchestra. Eleanor Grohoski was hired to replace him to teach chorus and band - freshman and sophomore level. I had signed up for... Sign in to see full entry.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
50% tariff on Canada because of smoke drift.
Smoke that drifted over north-eastern parts of the USA from Canada was caused by forest fires started by lightning strikes: i.e., an Act of God. Despite their best efforts to extinguish it, the forest burned, smoke filled the skies, and prevailing winds carried it eastward and southerly - into the... Sign in to see full entry.
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Note to myself:
Nobody really has it all figured out. Some are luckier than others. AI doesn't always have the next word figured out, although it can win the annual spelling bee at lumpfish middle school. Don't metaphorically kick your own butt around the bush because you made a mistake. It's how we learn. If... Sign in to see full entry.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
WE MUST, WE MUST...
Got to the girls' shower room at MHS at the end of gym class to find a few of the insider clique doing a kind of cheer, led by Billye W., who had always been catty toward me - claws at the ready. Don't know what I ever did to become a target, but that's how it was. She was standing in leadership... Sign in to see full entry.
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Don't Panic
When a honeybee stings you, it leaves its stinger behind and dies. So, the way I see it, it really isn't out to get you. Don't dance around and swat at it. That puts it in defensive mode, and the worst could happen. Let it be -- on its aerial path between hive and blossom -- and both of you can go... Sign in to see full entry.
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Elsewhere
For the past few nights I've awakened from somewhere other than my own little bed in my own little place in the world, from elsewhere, in another time, having another identity. I don't usually remember where or when, what was happening - only that it was not here and now. Sometimes I remember... Sign in to see full entry.
Monday, July 13, 2026
Work Buddies at SIUE
Sometimes office mates in the Office of Area Development became buddies. Jim R. was another member of the professional staff, doing research, making reports on population, business climate, etc., finding info for local govt. officials and some commercial businesses in the area. Most of us also took... Sign in to see full entry.
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Fight Song: 1953
"Mossyrock Vikings, fight on to victory; You do your best boys; we'll show our loyalty. Keep marching onward to glory and to fame. With your rep and our pep, we will win this game." That school year our team didn't lose a game in any sport. We had one of the top ten track teams in the state that... Sign in to see full entry.
Friday, July 10, 2026
Walt
When we were in the 8th grade at MHS, there was an earthquake that struck while our class was in the basement cafeteria for lunch. Some of the kids at our long table jumped up in alarm, which made the bench we sat on feel like a bucking bronco. There was pandemonium, lots of yelling, and Mr. Brewer... Sign in to see full entry.
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Not a Boy Scout
Just occurred to me that DJT was probably never a Boy Scout, never learned the values Scouts exemplify. I'd be willing to bet he never rowed a canoe, never waded a stream, never camped overnight or took on a project to help an elderly neighbor with their yard work. Did he ever pass a civics class in... Sign in to see full entry.