Brainspillage!

A Little Chicken Love

2012-02-29T10:30:00.005-08:00

A special post for my brother, Eric Deibler, who is considering having a flock of chickens. He is thinking about Buff Orpingtons, a heritage breed. "What's a heritage breed" you ask! Sometimes called "rare breeds" or even "antique breeds," these are agricultural animals that are so low in numbers they are considered endangered. They're genetically important, so raise some! A great resource for learning is the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy out of Pittsboro, North Carolina. Visit their website!

This beautiful rooster posed pretty well! Painted on site at Kelmscott Farm in Lincolnville, Maine, a haven for rare agricultural breeds.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

2012-01-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it's the simple things, like a USB port multipllier, that make life worth living. Another image created on the iPad using Sketchbook Pro.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-16T15:58:00.000-08:00

My Italian Cigar Menorah: I leave Florence, Italy, for the United States on Monday. Here is my last tribute to the Italian experience- at least from Italian soil. Happy Holidays, everyone! It's been great, and these little Italian cigars have been great as well...

To Market, To Market

2011-12-05T05:49:00.001-08:00

As my time in Florence winds down I realize I've been taking for granted (a little bit) the ability to shop "in season" at the Central Market. I'll miss this fanfare of the freshest, most delectable vegetables, cheeses, meats, pastas and baked goods (to mention just a few of the products available here). I'll miss the merchandise, for sure, but also the visual cacophony of so much being so available. Here's to Florence!

The BEST Kebab in Florence

2011-12-04T05:29:00.001-08:00

Though I've sampled quite a few kebabs, now, I think my favorite is from La Boheme, via dei Benci 15/R (though I confess to not yet patronizing Amon, which gets great reviews at TripAdvisor). Still, this is an excellent kebab, and, if you like the fixin's, get it with everything. Everything. The hot sauce is hot, so beware! Good stuff!

Boboli Gardens, Sketch Crawl

2011-11-30T08:37:00.001-08:00

On Saturday I took my University of Connecticut art students on a "sketch crawl" at the Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy. For the uninitiated, a sketch crawl is a group of artists getting together and drawing on location. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time. We even enjoyed lunch afterward, courtesy of Palazzo Rucellai (where the students are currently enrolled). What's better than a morning of drawing? A morning of drawing followed by as much pizza and salad as you can eat.

Pre-Holiday Dinner

2011-11-27T12:06:00.001-08:00

Just a little visual record of the recent pre-holiday dinner celebrated with friends (and artists) Patti Argoff and Deborah Dancy. Good food, good times, good friends. This is what the holidays are all about!

Merlot. A Bit of Sanity.

2011-11-25T11:39:00.001-08:00

When in doubt, a small glass of merlot seems helpful. Just a small glass, in all its ruby-red deliciousness.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T12:55:00.001-08:00

This Thanksgiving I celebrated in a non-traditional way... but it did include this fabulous CAO cigar! Well worth it. Hope your Thanksgiving was just as enjoyable.

The AMD Chronicles...

2011-11-17T14:01:00.001-08:00

Too good to pass by. A family gem from several years ago...

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Hello Anxiety Prone Friends,

This should be passed on to you- as AMD (Amateur Medical Doctorate) candidates yourselves- so you can staycurrent. This is from our family website and my sisters are in rare form. Ithought it worth some casual reading on your holiday “down-time.” If there isany. Or if you just want to appear to be working (i.e. Staring intently at acomputer screen with a concerned look on your face) while you try to mentallyescape relatives who are invading your home on Thursday.

Have a great Thanksgiving, complete with your own holiday worries anddiagnoses!

Love,

Kinny and Patti

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Dear AMD Candidates,

Please be advised that the following exchange is study material for yourresearch into health-obsessed, anxiety prone neurotics in pursuit of your ownAMD degree. You will need this helpful key to follow along with any sort ofclarity:

Andrea: my older sister

Aaron, Kiah and Noah: Andrea’s kids

Miss Cathy: Kinderfolk Day Care worker (Andrea is the supervisor there)

Shira: my younger sister

Selinsgrove: where Shira lives

Eric: my younger brother

Tamara: family friend, works with my younger sister

Evan: short for “Evangelical Hospital,” workplace of Shira (social worker),Tamara (infectious disease specialist- we’re so lucky!) and Mark/Mookie (brother-in-law and physician’s assistant)

Ok, you’re sufficiently prepared...

And I promise to never send you something quite so long ever, ever again, butthis is worth the investment. You do want to ace your board exams, right? Ithought so!

cl

Deibler/Cole/Herb Family Site

Now I've Gone andDone It...

Cora Lynn Deibler -Nov 2, 2004   View | Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Ok, so I'mwatching a National Geographic special about
the Arctic and the featured scientists are mentioning how
the sea ice is now only half as thick as it was just 30 years
ago.

Now I'll be up all night thinking about how it will possibly
be gone in my lifetime (along with elephants, gorillas, and
rhinos, of course) and how we can't stop it, or we could if
we don't re-elect Bush, but he wasn't really ELECTED in
the first place... well, my brain won't shut up once I get
going in that direction!

What should I do?! I've got school in 8 hours!

Read what others had to say:
Andrea Deibler-Gorman - Nov 2, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Once I start worrying about thePolar Ice Cap at 2am I usually
head for the medicine cabinet. I know that it will only be a matter
of time before I start to hyperventilate about Melissa Etheridge's
breast cancer, the stitches in Aaron's wrist looking a little red,
just what is Kiah typing online that she hides when I walk in the
room, oh no we're out of Coffee Mate and we only have skim
milk for coffee in the morning, what will happen to Miss Cathy's
broken foot, how are we going to afford Christmas this year, how
will Aaron juggle a job and lacrosse in the spring, $500 due in
January for car insurance, $10,000 due in January for Noah's
tuition..........

Nothing says oblivion like Ativan.
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Patti Argoff - Nov 2, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       I am in the company of worryingroyalty here.
Recently, I was laying in bed when I realized that just about all theillustrations of the flaps, in the "lift-the-flap" book I'm workingon were not done to the right size. I suddenly felt extremely hot and sweaty,and it was not due to the fact that 3 dogs were laying in very close proximityto me.
That pales in comparison to the polar ice caps, and now I'm worried about MissCathy's broken foot too.
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Cora Lynn Deibler - Nov 3, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Yes, Patti, worrying with theDeiblers is not for amateurs- not
by a longshot! Though your client-based worries are certainly valid, as theynot only worry you, but branch out to draw in others AND have the potential foreconomic impact. I believe they count double.

I've got to go; it is now past midnight and I've not begun
tonight's worry cycle.
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Patti Argoff - Nov 3, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Don't forget: "Today is thetomorrow we worried about yesterday."
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Cora Lynn Deibler - Nov 3, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Patti, do you have a link to theAtomic Clock? Because when
I really can't get a good worry cycle going quickly enough
referencing the Atomic Clock will usually do it for me.
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Andrea Deibler-Gorman - Nov 4, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       I may never sleep again...
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Patti Argoff - Nov 4, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       An Atomic clock is just a reallyprecise clock tuned to the Navy Observatory that people like me use, when youcan't stand not having the correct time, down to the second. It seemed tomatter more in the olden days when we had a VCR to set. Just the same, for atime check, go here: http://www.time.gov/
I think what you want is the "Doomsday Clock", which usedto have a web site with an actual clock. It doesn't seem to exist anymore, butthere is a lot of text about the Doomsday Clock online.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the minute hand of the"Doomsday Clock" forward two minutes to seven minutes tomidnight--the same position as when the clock made its debut in 1947. The newDoomsday time was based on growing concern about the security of nuclearweapons materials stockpiled around the world, a lack of U.S. support forseveral global disarmament pacts, and after recent deterioration ininternational relations.

The move marks the third time the hand has been advanced since the end of theCold War in 1991. The hand was last moved in June 1998, from 14 minutes to nineminutes to midnight. The clock has been reset 16 times previously in its55-year history.

Here are some other fun clocks to keep you up late:

The National Debt clock
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
World population clock
http://opr.princeton.edu/popclock/
"End Days" countdown clock
http://exodus2006.com/Clock.htm
Asteroid Doomsday Countdown
http://pw2.netcom.com/~speaker6/202mn.htm
Christmas countdown clock
http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/xmas_cnt.htm

Do you feel suddenly sleepy now?
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Shira Vergauwen - Nov 6, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Whenever a patient's familymember says, "I'm a worrier", I tell them, "I know exactly whatyou mean, I come from a family of worriers!" The last thing I needis some sort of countdown clock displayed anywhere in our house. How canI be expected to worry about species vanishing from the earth, all of the treesin Selinsgrove being cut down, polar ice caps, whether or not Mark and I willhave jobs next year (health care is not a good field for worriers, as I haveworried about this for the past 5 years), how will I pay for graduate school ifI/we don't have jobs...how can I be expected to worry about all of this andmuch, much more while I'm trying to will away my bone cancer?!
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Tamara Persing - Nov 6, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Ah, yes the wonderful world ofworriers. Until I met the Deibler family, I thought the Fetchina family had themarket cornered on worrying. My sister, Kyra, just might be queen, with me aworthy princess. Yes, it's cancer at 2 am, convinced that I have cervicalcancer and will have to fit in chemo between my semester breaks and theholidays. There's also Miss Johanna and her swimming to worry about,should we pay the money for a spot on the National team only to be lost if shedoesn't drop 3 seconds in time this season. Then there's Young Mr. William, Iworry that his out of the box thinking will be forever challenged. Oh enough,on to a glass of wine, which is easier to obtain than ativan.
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Cora Lynn Deibler - Nov 6, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Nonsense, Tamara! Easier toobtain than Ativan?! You're a
registered nurse and you've been at Evan for some time
now... don't you have a big ring of keys somewhere that let's you
into the back room where you folks must have piles and piles
of the really good stuff stored?!

If you snagged a bottle or two then you could also worry
about getting caught. Imagine, a worry situation with astronomically highstakes!  This could be so worth it!
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Cora Lynn Deibler - Nov 6, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       I sent a copy of this exchangeon worry to my friend Deborah (my best playground friend at UConn) because sheis cut from this same nervous, jittery, health-obsessed cloth. I knew she wouldhave a
genuine appreciation for the brain trust that's been unleashed on this thread.Here is what she wrote in response:

cl,

I love your family...thank you. I would have laughed out loud,
but I'm favoring my clicking jaw. (see below) I'm glad I'm not
the only one with excessive brain chatter in the wee hours
when the rest of the world is asleep; is there any better time
to worry--I ask you?

I was in the seat of HELL Tuesday--Friday...no, not Ohio,
Washington D.C. I didn't sleep a wink Tuesday night, and
looked like crap on Wednesday, pretty much everyone
looked the same. Do you think students thought that
registering to vote was actually all they had to do???!!!
One pleasant moment, after a night of drinking with an old
friend following a day long meeting, was noticing the next
morning that one of my cab drivers was listening to
Democracy Now. Oh, I left on Tuesday, after an emergency
dental visit on Monday; during which a diagnosis of TMJ was
made, and concluded with being fitted for an attractive mouth
guard (the kind defensive tackles wear) to sleep in. I suspect
there will be a national rise in nighttime teeth grinding and
medicine cabinet raiding.
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Andrea Deibler-Gorman - Nov 6, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Words of advice: Stayaway from Web MD! After I tripped over, ironically enough, thehandicapped dip in the curb on a downtown corner
in new shoes last spring and fell completely down on my side I spent
one whole month and a half worrying at 2AM that I had Multiple
Sclerosis. Or Lou Gehrig's Disease. I alternated between the two.
NOW I comfort myself by saying that if I had either of those two
neurological diseases, they'd be worse by now. Right? And if I hadLou
Gehrig's Disease I couldn't possibly have run/walked a marathon. Right?I can start worrying about breast cancer again. In 10 months it'll betime for my yearly mammogram.
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Eric Deibler - Nov 7, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Are you sure none of your kidsare secretly cross-dressers? Are you really, *really* sure?? (This from the man who just automatically assumes that his wife has beeninvolved in some kind of accident when she doesn't come home on schedule).
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Andrea Deibler-Gorman - Nov 7, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       ...And "Mad CowDisease." That's one that you can harbor for years
and never even know you have it until you suddenly fall down one
day stepping over the handicapped dip in the curb.....
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Patti Argoff - Nov 7, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       I still live in fear of"that flesh eating disease".
I saw on Amazon.com a book that everyone who visits this web site will begetting for Christmas. It's entitled:
"The New Killer Diseases : How the Alarming Evolution of Mutant GermsThreatens Us All", by Elinor Levy and Mark Fischetti (might they bedistant relatives somehow?)

Here's a review of the volume:

"I could not put this book down and found the information extremelyvaluable and frightening! Forget reading a Stephen King novel, pick up thisbook and you will be horrified at the number of killer viruses, bacteria, andeven prions (the substance responsible for Mad Cow Disease.) The authors havedone an excellent job of showing the path of the newest killer diseases!"

I don't know about you, but I may never leave the house again.
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Shira Vergauwen - Nov 8, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       I had MS once, but late onesleepless night it evolved into a spinal tumor that had weaved its fingersthrough my spinal column. At a more "rational" time, it wasmerely the spreading of a stomach tumor that has gone undetected by twoendoscopies, an ultrasound and a swallowing study (I really had all of thatdone). Daily access to surgicalreports (paying close attention to "Presenting Problem" - which iswhen the fun self-diagnosing can REALLY begin) is something I shouldn't have.
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Tamara Persing - Nov 8, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Jim's convinced that he has skincancer.... There was a small dry spot on his face, he immediately thought"melanoma" then it magically disappeared. Now it's back andhis reply was "Change in the shape of a wart or mole, I knew it!" I, too have the syndrome of Jim's not home by the time stated, Iimmediately think there's been an accident. As for the ring of keys,well I wish, but the Hospital has changed the keys to push button locks and myeye sight isn't good enough to pay attention when someone is opening the door! Probably a symptom of the Lupus, I was sure I had at least on oneoccasion. I'll have to check Web MD to see if the eyes are affected. The joy of worriers, someone has to do it, why not us?
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Tamara Persing - Nov 8, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Patti, I have articles on the"flesh eating disease", it's amazing (from a clinical standpoint),there are even pictures if you're interested.
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Patti Argoff - Nov 8, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       LOL!
Whatever did we do before the advent of the Web?

I correctly diagnosed that my stiff neck wasn't spinal meningitis.

I don't know if I should take you up on the pictures of that flesh eatingdisease. Tempting as it is.
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Cora Lynn Deibler - Nov 9, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Yes, the internet has clearlybeen a gift/curse for those of us
pursuing the AMD degree. It is true distance learning (though
my OCD does make it hard to stay on task when faced with
the dizzying array of options that come up when you Google
"drug interaction long-term complications" or the more
generic "liver disease.")
I'm thinking of giving Deborah a password to our site- what
she could add in terms of Raynaud's syndrome, memory loss
and TMJ alone is worth the price of admission.
And where is Mookie? Our brother-in-law Physician’s Assistant whoself-medicates at the drop of a hat? This is really a conversation
he ought to be part of!
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Tamara Persing - Nov 10, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item

   Have you ever heard of gas gangrene? It fitsinto one of the "flesh eating" disease categories. Caused byone of the Clostridium family, it produces toxins in the body that even a smallpuncture wound into the skin will cause erosion in an anerobic atmosphere. As William would say "Bad, really bad"...... I can alsoprovide pictures of that if you want to visualize it!
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Eric Deibler - Nov 10, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOHNASHCROFT ! That ought to keep everyone tossing and turning.
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Patti Argoff - Nov 10, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Gas gangrene sounds an awful lotlike what my mom had (she really did have gangrene, I don't know what kind itwas). If my mom had it, does that mean that I might be prone to it too?
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>Cora Lynn Deibler -Nov 15, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item<
       Patti, I think you might as wellbegin worrying about gas
gangrene now because:

1.) I’m reasonably sure you can inherit just about anything, and

2.) Even if you can’t inherit it, true mathematical randomness
does NOT spread things out, which means you have a
distressingly good chance to just develop it on your own.

I’m watching a National Geographic show about dinosaurs
and they are speculating about what the scene thousands of
years ago must’ve been like including, “... our distant relative,
a tiny, tense creature, lost among the powerful predators... ." I
said aloud, “Not so distant.”

Could any of this alarmingly vivid state of worry be linked to
the fact that lately I’ve been habitually eating half a bag of
post-Halloween Mary Janes for dinner each night followed
by a course of Hershey kisses and mediated in between by
pretzels as a palate cleanser? My new “all carbs” diet is
surely contributory. In case of a slowdown, though, I’ve
made, in advance, a “short list” of topics to keep nearby (in
my pocket, in the glove compartment, laminated for the
shower, etc.). After all, I’ve got high standards to meet and
feel I need to be ready to worry at a moment’s notice. I call it,
“High Anxiety Potpourri.” It’s a nice mix of large, small,
everyday, and completely irrational fears:

Mass extinction

Silverfish and/or centipedes- so many legs… all moving so quickly…

The Doomsday Clock (as previously established)

Tatum O’Neill may really be insane (inspired by watching “Larry
King Live” repeat)

Perimenopause

That sound of running in the attic- just mice?

The Bondo-patch on my front tooth coming loose again

Out-of-control mildew

Joint pain (could be so many things)

Condoleeza Rice

The Zodiac Killer, still at large

Cancer (any variety)

A most-hated student from five years ago asks for a
recommendation

Anything Blue Cross/Blue Shield

Upgrading technology (can encompass computer, stereo
components, name it!)

Tire pressure (so simple, could be so deadly)

>Cora Lynn Deibler -Nov 16, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item<
       I almost forgot...

Pulmonary embolism
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Eric Deibler - Nov 17, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       How about "heretoforeundetected aneurism"?
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Cora Lynn Deibler - Nov 17, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       THAT'S the spirit!!
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Hello, AMD hopefuls. The only code-breaker for thisnext episode is:

“INFECTION IN HEAD” is a family catchphrase. My grandmother, who is now 96 (or98?), signed off in a birthday card to my cousin with “Must go. INFECTION INHEAD” in an attempt to describe her sinus infection. But she writes like thatanyway. She’s the one who refers to “Internal Medicine” as “Eternal Medicine,” andthere’s a lot more where that comes from. She’s full of ‘em. You do, however,have to sit in her sweltering hot apartment to hear most of them.

And if you don’t know already, “Kinny” is my family nickname. Make that DR.Kinny!

Patti Argoff - Nov 17, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Since it's pretty much a giventhat I probably will
develop gangrene at some point, I should start
preparing myself. I can empower myself by
embracing my inner gangrenous self. I can
develop gangrene awareness for people
worldwide by wearing a black ribbon. My people
have been the victim of oppression for too long!
Gangrenous people are not going rot in silence
anymore!

Maybe I can get a handicapped parking sticker
even.
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Tamara Persing - Nov 19, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Good news, Patti you can'tinherit gas gangrene. Now the bad news is that you'll have to startworrying about something else. I always think tumor the size of agrapefruit, there just waiting to be found.
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Patti Argoff - Nov 19, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       I think it's funny how tumorsize is always
compared to fruit.

Here's something else to worry about....
While drinking red wine could protect against lung
cancer, white wine may actually increase the risk. A
recent Spanish study concluded the increased risk
stemmed from the ethanol it contained in white
wine. All wine contains the chemical, but in red
wine the anti-lung cancer benefits outweighed
possible damage from the ethanol, which is known
to mutate genes, according to the research team.
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Andrea Deibler-Gorman - Nov 20, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       And how about theantibiotics/breast cancer problem? In an effort to rid myself ofINFECTION IN HEAD all those years before I could afford an allergist and so itwouldn't travel to my brain and cause seizures like actor Scott Reeves, husbandof Missy Reeves (Jennifer on Days of Our Lives) I ate antibiotics like candy. Of course now that my monthly sinus infections are a thing of the past I learninstead that I've virtually assured myself a battle with breast cancersomewhere down the road thanks to all that medication.

Now a year or two ago I decided I'd drink a
glass of wine a day (or so) to reduce my risk of that breast cancer
and heart disease AND to cut my risk of developing diabetes in half
(although as that particular study pointed out the benefit can be
derived from any alcoholic drink -- something with which I remind
myself as I shake up a Cosmopolitan.)

Now I guess I'll have to worry about lung cancer too (and not just
from the particles of radon that are almost certainly filling my lungs
while I sleep -- I think that means I have double the risk.)
Kinny, in re-reading your earlier entry regarding gangrene and
numerical probabilities and mathematical randomness it reminded me
that I started reading Reader's Digest WAY too young. After reading
an article on lung cancer one night under the covers with my green
Girl Scout flashlight that held a battery charge for about 15 minutes I
found myself at the Girl Scout meeting in the basement at Sharon
Lutheran Church looking around our circle of about 30 young Girl
Scouts thinking "3 out of 10 of us will develop lung cancer. That
means 9 of us will die...." and got all depressed. Reader's Digestwill
do that to you.
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Patti Argoff - Nov 20, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       As bad as white wine is said tobe, red wine is supposed to be really good for you!
Red wine contains tannins and resveratrol, substances which could explain thedrink's anti-cancer properties. Tannins act as antioxidants and mop up freeradicals, which are particles that harm cells. Resveratrol is known to fightcancer tumor growth.

Consumption of red wine was associated with a slight but statisticallysignificant reduction in the development of lung cancer according to theSpanish study.
Drink up!
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Tamara Persing - Nov 22, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       ah, yes the dreaded ReadersDigest articles, I've never been the same since the articles about organs inthe body, like "I'm Joe's liver, I'm Joe's Gallbladder. That andCherry Ames books started my nursing career.
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Cora Lynn Deibler - Nov 23, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Wow- how could I forget aboutReader’s Digest?!
That’s WORRYING GOLD!!

My young, sponge-like mind with all of its still-developing,
tender synapses also fell prey to the melodramatic twists and
turns found deep within the dark heart of Reader’s Digest.
What a fertile breeding ground for young, neuroses-plagued
children with so much potential for a lifetime of crippling
“Drama in Real Life” flashbacks! Really, what were our
parents thinking, leaving that stuff just lying around the house like that?Since our choice of magazine reading material at the Deibler
house was either Trains Magazine (just black and
white photos of roundhouses and cabooses), Good
Housekeeping (the cryptic feminine hygiene ads confused
me) or Reader’s Digest, well... do I have to say more?! That’s like putting outa bowl of

For the Pulitzer Prize in “Most Visceral Effect in the Fewest
Words” who can ever forget the excerpt from the story abut
the soccer team that turned to cannibalism after their plane
slammed into the Andes (the Pope exonerated them later), or
the one about the two women who were swiped right out of
their sleeping bags in Yellowstone Park and eaten alive by a
rogue grizzly bear? Then there was the teen from the
Midwest who lost both arms in a potato picker (or some other
lethal farm machinery, suitable for operation by a fourteen-
year-old), crawled to his house and dialed the phone with his
toes to get help while laying in the bathtub to avoid getting
blood all over mom’s wall-to-wall. Or the concert pianist who,
in the midst of a head-on collision, lifted her hands off the
steering wheel milliseconds before impact to save her
career, only to drive her head into the dashboard and suffer a
traumatic head injury that made it impossible for her to
remember her music on stage. Oh, I could go on. I read most
of those in the summer, and then followed up on them by
ruminating over the stories while going around and around
on the riding mower. Those surely were glory days!

Of course the Reader’s Digest people know what they’re
doing. They’re well aware your imagination goes crazy when
you read- they count on it. That’s the “high mileage”
approach to literature they’re depending upon to make you a
repeat customer! It’s an awful lot of bang for your buck, you
must admit. Not unlike a steady crack habit.
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Andrea Deibler-Gorman - Nov 23, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Kinny, I remember only too wellall the tales you recount as I too
spent a good bit of time on the riding mower. The one about the
soccer team going down the Andes was particularly fascinating and
that was one I re-read two or three times. You did, however, leave
out two more that terrorized me fairly completely. One was the story
of the man in the forests of Minnesota (Montana? Idaho?
Wisconsin?...) whose powerful chainsaw hit a steely knot in the
gigantic pine tree he was cutting for timber. The saw jumped back
and severed his leg mid-thigh. He was forced to tie off the bleeding
stump with his own belt between episodes of unconsciousness, and
then, weak from loss of blood and encroaching hypothermia, was
forced to drag himself for miles (because the leg he'd cut off was his right
leg and his truck had a clutch) out to the logging road where, even
then, his rescue was uncertain. But the one "Drama in RealLife"
story which kept me fearfully awake, rigid on my back in bed for
weeks, was the tale of the little boy, caught in a house fire, who ran
screaming from the burning building, his little plaid cotton shirt ablaze.
You guessed it. He ended upspending months in the burn ward of a
major hospital enduring skin grafts and excruciating debreeding (if I
remember my Readers' Digest medical terminology correctly) of his
considerable wounds, complete with description of picking all the
cotton fibers out of his burned flesh. All described in agonizing detail
AND (big bonus!) accompanied by a photo of his post-fire burned
self. I was unable to sleep for weeks, sure that if I drifted off, one of
the candles we had lit for supper would surely ignite the pile of
magazines at the end of the table and we'd all be "running for our
lives". I envisioned myself running screaming out the front door ofthe house with my "flannel" (i.e. 60% polyester) nightgown melting tomy back (at best) OR (at worst) having to hurl myself off the front porch roofsince the stairs would surely be an impassible inferno. I managed two orthree months of third grade on about 2 hours of sleep a night.

(That was the year my beloved Miss Mitchell said to me with what I
now perceive was frustration "Andrea, you worry about everything,
don't you?" A prophesy for the future.)

Kinny, was your friend Deborah by any chance a youthful reader of
Readers' Digest? Perhaps we've found the common thread...
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eric Deibler - Nov 23, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       "If You Stop This Car, I'llKill You". Hippie hitch-hikers run amok.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Andrea Deibler-Gorman - Nov 23, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Oh yeah. Hippies goneberserk. "They threw her out the
second story window AFTER they burned her with cigarettes.
Remember, anyone with a beard could be a hippie. Except
your father, Andrea. He playsclassical music."
Thank you Anita Haine, 2nd grade teacher.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cora Lynn Deibler - Nov 23, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       Sis, I bow to the MASTER (or isthat mistress?)! Maybe you
are the EMPRESS of anxiety? Now that’s a term that gives you
the respect you deserve! Wow, Mrs. Haine. She did have a uniquely compellingway with hippie stories, didn’t she? By the time I was in her class she was a“hippies pass out drug-laced candy” propaganda machine that hit a feverishpitch around Halloween. Between that and the little“spin-the-wheel-to-see-what-drugs-your-no-good-kids-are-doing” reference guide wegot in church (remember that?!) it was enough to make you examine every lastTootsie Roll in your goodie bag.

Sis, that made me laugh so hard I cried all over the keyboard
(certain danger of severe electrical shock, with residual
memory loss problems and possible disfigurement).
I wouldn’t be surprised if Deborah knows (only too well) the
lasting impressions of The Reader’s Digest. She's probably
trying to block it now, just like the rest of us.

I remember the story about the guy and the chain saw now
that you mention it! That was certainly one of the all-time
greats. There’s no way any garden-variety “Rescue At Sea”
article could come close, no matter how many exclamation
points an ambitious junior editor decides to put behind the title.
Trapped in a submarine, ok, that has some potential (owing to theoverwhelmingly claustrophobic atmosphere), but not any old
“helicopter-me-out-of-a-dinghy-during-a-storm” rescue at sea.

I also recall another one in which a woman driving in one
direction had a dump truck pass her going the opposite way
and a large rock fell from the truck, smashing through her
windshield (with an incredible rate of force, naturally, due to
the physics-word-problem-like properties of the event), and-
you guessed it- traumatic head injury! Of course the rest of
the story was filled with the requisite horrors of the aftermath:
waking from a coma, re-learning to speak, re-learning to
walk, overcoming amnesia, plastic surgery, etc., etc. A little
something for everyone!

Don’t think I’m not thinking about THAT each and every time
I’m near a dump truck on a highway, or any type of heavy
equipment, really. You never know where a 35 pound rock is
jarring loose, moment by horrible, anticipatory moment.

Now, the story about the little girl having such terrible
seizures that the only way to stop them was to remove half of
her brain... Was that “Drama in Real Life” or would that have
been just a regular Reader’s Digest special feature? They do set the bar prettyhigh, after all.

I’m considering a subscription...
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Shira Vergauwen - Nov 23, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item
       I'm laughing so hard right now!You know, I was fairly young when you were all terrorizing yourselves withReaders Digest, but I do recall you talking to each other about a Drama in RealLife story about a boy who had gone downhill skiing and ran directly into atree. All other details areblurry. I do remember, however, joking about this when we all wentcross-country skiing up at the cemetery one night. That's about theextent to which Reader's Digest has scarred me - nowhere near as crippling asit was for all of you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

>Cora Lynn Deibler -Nov 24, 2004   Edit | Delete | Viewers | Reply to this item<
       Shira, you don't HAVE to readthe story to KNOW the rest of
the story. That's the genius here! Have two cups of coffee,
and maybe a Snickers, obsess on the details you CAN
remember, and then just let your imagination run away with
you! That's a sure recipe for "Mock Reader's Digest," anywhere,anytime… but mostly around 2 am.

You've worked in hospitals long enough; I'm sure you can
conjure up details we laypersons can't even dream of- a
nearly fatal reaction to a (supposedly) life-saving injection of
adrenaline? Ending up a quadriplegic who draws religious
pictures for greeting cards with a pencil held in his mouth
when, until that tragic day, he was a college gymnast on full
scholarship? Actually, that’s just stuff you can get from the
Discovery channel. I love the Discovery channel. Well, it’s more like I lovethe CEO’s at Discovery who realized early on there was a deep and wide vacuumto fill with programming targeted to obsessives!

Get in there champ! You can do it! It’s in your blood. Trust the worry gene,Shira, trust… the… worry… gene...

More Adventures in Gastronomia

2011-11-17T04:20:00.001-08:00

Recently I had the opportunity to try the "Selezione Salumi de Cinghiale" (Wild Boar Salami Selection) at Il Santino, a nice little wine bar on Via Santo Spirito, 60R, in Florence, Italy. My recommendation? Yes!

Chianti! Chianti! Chianti!

2011-11-15T12:54:00.001-08:00

Chianti Festival! What a time! Held at the Palazzo della Repubblica in Florence, there was no shortage of delicious chiantis and olive oils to taste and covet. Though it was hard to choose, I ended up with a great organic chianti for my very own. If you are ever in Italy, check out the Fattoria Sant'Andrea vintners. Good stuff!

Chestnuts, All Kinds of Ways

2011-11-15T04:29:00.001-08:00

It's truly fall- here in Florence and at home in the U.S., chestnuts roasting on the street smell great and taste even better. Here's a sketchbook page dedicated to the humble chestnut and the joy it brings!

Walking Along the Arno: Italy Sketchbook

2011-10-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

Walking along the Fiume Arno, in Florence, Italy, you don't know what you'll see. Though it's a city, wildlife is plentiful. In a way.

Fantasy Fishing

2011-10-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

Fish. Big fish, small fish, freshwater fish, deep sea fish, ancient fish, today's fish. Fish are just great shapes to work with. So here are some more fish, fantasy and otherwise, for my readers to enjoy.

Squash Hunt, 2011, Part Two: Resolution

2011-10-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

Well, it wasn't butternut (as per the recipe), but I did end up scoring two pieces of some sort of giant squash for this delicious squash curry soup (with apples and onions). The texture left a little something to be desired; the original recipe called for a food processor, which I don't have. Still, it was pretty yummy. Just goes to show you, any port, or squash, in a storm!

La Specola, Firenze, Italy

2011-10-08T10:56:00.000-07:00

La Specola is Florence's Natural History Museum. And, what a place! It's full of 18th and 19th century taxidermy and wax models of the human body. Definitely a "must-see" if you are in the area. Six euros well spent, I say. Weird, wonderful, and not to be missed.

A Gal's New Best Friend

2011-10-05T12:26:00.000-07:00

Meet my new best friend, "Gimi," a cart procured to tote groceries, my laptop, and other sundry items all over Florence. Gimi is a welcome addition to the family, especially in the heat here. Nothing says, "Let's buy some groceries" like a little two-wheeled help.

Can't Go Wrong With Cappuccino... And Jewelry

2011-10-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

I recently had a cappuccino with Naomi Muirhead, fabulous metal worker and jewelry maker. See more of her work here and be amazed: Naomi Muirhead's Work

Squash Hunt, 2011

2011-10-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, all a gal wants is a butternut squash. Alas, it was not to be. Perhaps this week? I have soup to make, damn it! Janet Pritchard's curry squash soup, to be exact. It promises to be excellent, depending upon whether or not I can find the key ingredient... when in doubt, though, you can always still enjoy an Italian cigar and some merlot.

Distance Learning

2011-09-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

I was scheduled to Skype with Carrie Patterson's class this week at Saint Mary's College of Maryland (in Saint Mary's, Maryland). They're talkin' with a real live illustrator. Technical glitches kept us apart, but we're looking to hook up this week instead. I love the 21st Century!

Chicken Soup

2011-09-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

Remember last week's "Pollo Piccolo?" It's a happy memory. This week he turned into stock, and then into soup. With fennel, carrots, onion, basil, rosemary, and a whole host of assorted herbs and vegetables, it's hard to go wrong.

So far the rental apartment is a lot like high-end camping, but absolutely making the best of it. Ciao!

Uno Pollo Piccolo

2011-09-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

Today was market day- Mercato Centrale in Florence, to be exact. I don't speak Italian, but did want a small chicken. "Uno pollo piccolo." Here he is, in all his glory. Goin' into the roaster this weekend. With everything in ºC, wish me luck! (I will use toothpicks and shoelaces to truss him up.)

Late Night Kebab

2011-09-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you're just hungry for a foreign version of Blimpie (or Subway). This seems to be it, in Florence. The kebab stand. It's not gonna be in Frommer's, but it surely was good. I have no idea what the meat was, but it tasted great. Thank god for dubious standards!

From Firenze!

2011-09-13T15:55:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I've temporarily relocated to Florence, Italy, to teach for a semester. I have no scanner, so I'm trying to figure out how to post my work. Here is a first attempt. Sketchbook page. It is about the beauty of having access to such great balsamic vinegar, as well as truffle infused salt. Mangia!

Back To School

2011-08-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year. The time when we put aside childish things, like sleep and eating sitting down, and return to the halls of academe. I know you don't want to go, but go you must. Take this with you- the perfect tattoo! It's all the fun of a tattoo with none of the pain or expense. Don't worry, December will be here before you know it. You can find this in my Zazzle shop or at CafePress, or, you can just think about it as you weep on your way to campus.

Summer Loves

2011-08-07T21:05:00.000-07:00

A little more in the series of iPad fun.

Boston South Station Faces

2011-08-03T18:00:00.000-07:00

Folks seen passing through South Station, Boston, MA

Killing time is always easy with a sketchbook, and there is no better place than at a transportation crossroads. South Station, Boston, MA, is one of those. Perfect for an afternoon of coffee and blank paper.

A (Very) Dry Martini

2011-07-31T15:39:00.000-07:00

Possibly perfect?

Eternal E-Mail

2011-07-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

Another in a series of reality-based tattoos. Though intended for academics, this image can be adopted by anyone seeking to express frustration with the overflowing "in-box."

Another Modern Living Exercise

2011-07-22T08:04:00.001-07:00

Your Call Is (Not Really) Important to Us...

2011-07-20T17:11:00.000-07:00

You've heard this before. Well, don't take it! Go ahead and just hang up!

Problem Solved

2011-07-18T15:30:00.000-07:00

Have you wondered how to make Communion more tolerable? Stop wondering. For the religious amongst us, this will be a lifesaver.

New Cocktail: the Pip-O-Matic!

2011-07-14T16:25:00.000-07:00

Cocktail culture deserves this. And so do you!

Balloon Head

2011-07-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a gal makes a giant balloon head, just because there was a paint splatter that looked like it on her drafting table. Kind of like clouds.

What Are You Waiting For?

2011-07-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

This appeared as a sketchbook entry a while ago. Thought I'd finish it up and offer it to my adoring, if unmotivated, public.

The Deadly Migraine

2011-07-07T19:31:00.000-07:00

My Favorite Bands!

2011-07-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

Everyone's got their favorite bands. Here are some of mine:

That's right, folks; it's "The Good Life" central over here.

Loose Talk

2011-07-06T13:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wished you could take back something you said?

Middle-Aged Loteria! Play Today!

2011-07-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

You're never too young to play Middle-Aged Loteria. Give it a try today!

Happy 4th?

2011-07-03T23:10:00.001-07:00

Mixology, and Life, Lesson

2011-07-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

Anatomy of a Thunderstorm

2011-07-02T12:58:00.000-07:00

A Little Something for the Teachers Out There

2011-07-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

Did you ever want that custom, bad-ass tattoo that really (REALLY) reflects how you feel about your job? You've come to the right place.

Another Tattoo for Marie Curie

2011-06-30T15:37:00.000-07:00

Because she deserved more than one.

A Sugar Skull for Marie Curie

2011-06-27T14:13:00.000-07:00

This gal deserved a nice tattoo. So I made one.

It's the Simple Things, Folks.

2011-06-20T08:05:00.000-07:00

Some drawing (and life) fun with the iPad.

Goats (and My Hatred of Goat Cheese)

2011-06-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

But it wasn't always this way...

I never liked goat cheese much. Well,... not at all. To me it tasted like male goats smell- you know, that goat-y smell/taste. Anyway, yuck. Make that yuckety-yuck-yuck.

I could agree that goats, themselves, were terrific in other ways. Just couldn't abide by the cheese.

But I kept trying it because both healthy and sophisticated people seemed to like goat cheese. Still, yuck. With dried cranberries? No good. With herbs? Nope. Black pepper? No. Even garlic? Still, no. It didn't matter.

Then, things changed...

My friends, Jane and Susan, kept goats and began to make cheese. Fresh, wonderful, non goat-y goat cheeses! Hard cheeses too! It's great stuff and I was a convert. You can visit them online here: Jane and Susan and their wonderful stuff

Buy their soaps and lotions and stop by to visit them so you can have some cheese!

Happy Goat Cheese Ending.

Fisherigible

2011-06-07T08:44:00.000-07:00

The shape of fish to come.

We Were Pasty Children

2011-05-18T17:53:00.000-07:00

When we were kids our orange juice had cod liver oil floating on it. I did my best, but to this day, I can't drink OJ.

You Always Hurt the One(s) You Love...

2011-05-17T18:10:00.000-07:00

A tattoo design for my marathonin' sister!

Large Man, Small Phone

2011-05-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

There is never a lack of sketchbook material in any public transportation venue. This one is from the airport in Charlotte, NC. And even after several phone calls, it appeared no one was willing to come pick him up. Especially not "Danny."

A Little iPad (Fish) Fun

2011-05-16T17:47:00.000-07:00

Some fun with Zen Brush for the iPad. Fish are such great shapes!

Fun With Stamps- And Vodka

2011-05-16T16:42:00.000-07:00

A Meditation on Honey Bees

2011-03-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

More on the current stress on honeybees... and us. Yikes!

Tej: Nectar of the Gods... and Tourists

2011-03-28T12:06:00.000-07:00

Ethiopian Sketchbook II

2011-03-28T12:02:00.001-07:00

Yellow Fever!

2011-03-27T18:57:00.000-07:00

Some sketchbook pages from a recent trip to Ethiopia.

A Sea of Corrugated Tin

2011-03-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

Ethiopian Sketchbook

2011-03-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

A recent trip to Ethiopia. Here are some sketchbook pages.

Because I'm Not Busy Enough...

2011-03-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

Because I don't have enough to do, I've begun making little things from that magic material, Fimo dough. While I've never been particularly "3-D," these are somehow attracting me in an inexplicable way. Some are charms and some are pins, but all are something I don't really have time for!

Anyone For Some Good Moroccan Food? I Thought So!

2011-03-10T09:50:00.000-08:00

Let's face it, when someone else makes the food that's always a good thing. But when it's this tasty it's worth mentioning. I was inspired to draw my dinner and that means "you should go there." So, if you're near Saugerties, NY, "Fez" is a good bet!

Asking the Eternal Question, "Why?"

2011-03-06T12:59:00.000-08:00

Educational... And Frightening!

2011-03-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

Proof that you can make an ABC primer about almost anything. But is it really a good idea?

A Map To Middle Age

2011-03-04T13:20:00.001-08:00

Are you confused by middle age? Say it ain't so! You'll find this handy. Or depressing. Or both.

#115: Jean Van Den Bogaert

2011-02-24T17:26:00.000-08:00

Presenting #115! I don't know what this fellow did- can't find it. But I have to say that I was attracted to his "I've got a secret" demeanor and rakish neckerchief. Hmm. NECKerchief. A prophetic choice?

If you're confused, click on the "Anatole Deibler" link to the right and read up!

The F Train, In Which the "F" Stands for "F*ck It!"

2011-02-24T16:44:00.000-08:00

Hello, Monday, My Old Friend...

2011-02-06T18:55:00.000-08:00

What That "Big Can of Worms" Really Looks Like

2011-02-05T16:07:00.000-08:00

In case you're wondering.

Smokey the Whitefish

2011-02-03T20:26:00.000-08:00

There is no trip to the city (THE city, New York City) worth taking without some sort of culinary adventure-treat included. And no place like the Lower East Side for deli. The sights, the sounds, the smells, the slush (ok, it was January, and following another record snow). When not sinking into the corner quagmires, we took in the pastrami and cole slaw.

#162: André Soudy

2011-02-01T17:47:00.000-08:00

You're thinking "Alfalfa," but you'd be way off base! This fellow was a member of the Bonnot Gang, French Anarchists who prided themselves on using new technology to commit crimes (automobiles and repeating rifles were favorites). So, the next time you watch "The Little Rascals," think twice...

Worried About Honey Bees? I Am!

2011-01-31T20:05:00.000-08:00

They're on the way out. And that's bad! Not bad-azz, just BAD.

Commuter Tales

2011-01-30T11:39:00.000-08:00

This guy read his magazine through everything. Including the two young women who struggled to put their large bag in the storage area over his head. ObliviousLand is an amazing, and convenient, place!

#358: Alphonse Lemaire

2011-01-28T18:47:00.000-08:00

This gent reminds me of the guy who feeds all the neighborhood feral cats and yells at kids to get off his lawn. But, well, he might've done a lot worse than that. He is one of Anatole Deibler's "clients." For the background story, click on the "Anatole Deibler" link to the right...

#173: François Prigent

2011-01-28T18:43:00.000-08:00

I don't know much about this guy either, but he has the eyes of a mesmerist, and that tells me he was up to no good!

#119: Canut Vromant

2011-01-27T14:56:00.000-08:00

This pointy-headed man was one of the "Bandits of Hazebrouck," though the details of their activities remain a mystery to me. He consorted with the Pollet Brothers.

Mr. Ant Farm: Milton Levine

2011-01-27T14:48:00.000-08:00

The co-inventor of that perennial childhood favorite, the Ant Farm, died yesterday at the age of 97.

#179: Louis Lefevre

2011-01-26T19:03:00.000-08:00

Another of Anatole Deibler's "clients." Not sure what he did, but he looks as though he could have used a sprucing up. Well, can't we all?

#363: Georges Sarrejani

2011-01-26T18:42:00.000-08:00

Though he resembles your old high school football coach, or possibly Perry White, Georges Sarrejani was actually a French serial killer.

#96: Joseph Vacher

2011-01-25T19:43:00.000-08:00

Now THAT'S a HAT! Interesting that he was drawing attention to his head with such an exotic chapeau.

For more information, click the "Anatole Deibler" link to the right...

#354: Paul Véteau

2011-01-25T19:37:00.000-08:00

The "Kramer" of his day, this gentleman caught my eye with his energetic 'do and pre-Hitler moustache. Makes me wonder what he was like in the day-to-day... or maybe not, considering I don't know what his crimes were.

For more information, click the "Anatole Deibler" link to the right...

#252: Alphonse Daubord

2011-01-24T15:58:00.000-08:00

In the ongoing saga of Anatole Deibler/Deibler Family Chronicles, I've decided to draw individual images of the 400 "clients" who struck me the most. I liked this fellow's defiant look. And, of course, as I draw I become incredibly aware of necks. His is long. Easy target.

If this reads like code to you, click on the link to the right for "Anatole Deibler" and you will be able to get all the background info you need.

Nobody Escapes!

2011-01-24T15:36:00.000-08:00

Goodbye Jack LaLanne, and thanks to Patti for the inspiration!

Class-Prep Checklist for Teachers. Handy!

2011-01-18T12:48:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday Animal

2011-01-18T08:57:00.000-08:00

Pink letters = pink animal.

Sometimes a little pink animal is just what you need. You know, after shoveling through three inches of sleet.

Nod To Nutrition

2011-01-14T07:06:00.000-08:00

"Ode On a Perfect Fruit," or something like that. My regular diet of Tootsie Pops and vodka does leave a little something to be desired, and that something is Clementines!

Eraser Sushi

2011-01-13T17:26:00.000-08:00

Today's workspace. My genius knows no bounds. But it does know food.

In a Moment of Panic: My Social Media Plan

2011-01-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

Well, it all started with such good intentions...

Do You Love Fish?! I Mean, Their Colors and Shapes and Stuff...

2011-01-10T09:46:00.000-08:00

Refrigeration- and the Lack of It

2011-01-09T19:35:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011! Warm food! Our loyal fridge, "Big Boy," lost his compressor. While we await the replacement fridge we are reduced to eating out of coolers. Like camping... without the fire.

Considering a Career Change? Easiest Jobs, Right Here!

2011-01-09T19:08:00.000-08:00

My Glorious Trip to Italy (In Pictures)

2011-01-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

No travel agents need apply! I had a great time and saw plenty of sights all by myself! Only the good stuff, folks, only the good stuff.

How do you say "Don't ask, don't tell" in Latin?

Any country that has pirate Chihuahua graffiti is doing something incredibly right!

No hanging around here. That's pretty clear.

Cuisine surprise, grocery store style.

The drama of nature.

F-Train: Totally True Photos

2011-01-07T16:33:00.000-08:00

Folks, this has to be just about the best train in the world. It appears to make people do amazing things. That is surely worth your $2.50 admission any day.

Just a guy tryin' to get a leg up in the world. Or, on the train.

The train is not just transportation, it's also a hibachi house!

This train originates in Coney Island. Really.

TwitterLICIOUS!

2011-01-07T12:50:00.001-08:00

Just testing. I want to be Twitterific in the new year. But only if I can post from this blog to Twitter simultaneously. There are only so many hours in a day I can devote to being Twitterific.

Too Much Holiday Indulgence? It Could Be Worse.

2011-01-03T12:26:00.000-08:00

In case you were wanting a "yardstick" for your post-holiday indulgence situation... Let's hope 2011 includes a return to both moderation and restaurant health codes!

Ivory Tower Fun!

2010-12-26T13:43:00.000-08:00

I love my job. No, really. But there are aspects that set my teeth on edge after a while. The upside? Good cartoon fodder.

E-Publishing Wants Your Soul

2010-12-22T19:00:00.000-08:00

With the rise of e-publishing, can e-editors be far behind? They may already be here...

Academic (Retreat) Poetry

2010-12-21T21:54:00.000-08:00

How many of us have been subject to the institutional "retreat?" Upon the occasion of our last retreat at UConn I offer you these poetic words:

Bylaws
Bylaws overlap
My brain becomes fuzz
Paying attention?
Not me.

Goals
"Deliverables" and "goals"
Many feign seriousness
Sleep comes
Where is the coffee?

Mission Statement
Mission statement
Everyone adds 2¢
A collective $2.46
Improvement?

Impossibly... More
Overhead projector shines
Certain headache begins
My life passes by
As air conditioners blast

He is the King! So Obviously.

2010-12-21T08:56:00.000-08:00

(Click on the RedBubble link to the right to purchase this image.)

So, I've published this image for a lotta years, but it never gets old.

Happy holiday season, from the King and I.

Make the King a part of your religious practice today. He can heal you.

Work is Good. Coffee is Better.

2010-12-21T08:34:00.000-08:00

And work and coffee together? GREAT! Just a little image drawn, undoubtedly, while I was supposed to be paying attention to something else.