In Treacherous Beauty
Yesterday’s storm has come and gone, leaving icy gems scattered across the ground, encasing the pines in sleek silver robes and the world in treacherous beauty. * * * Photo by Mark Olsen on Unsplash
Life Among the Possibilities
“You were born and with you endless possibilities, very few ever to be realized. It’s okay. Life was never about what you could do, but what you would do.” — Richelle E. Goodrich * * * Photo by Maël BALLAND on Unsplash
Neurochemistry In Real Time
Because it can sometimes be hard to keep a positive attitude with everything going on in the world, I thought I’d share this article. Also, books are just a good time. How reading books regulates your nervous system - Big Think Reading is relaxing, and many people do it…
On Art and Commerce
It’s Monday, which seems like a perfect time for a bit of wisdom on the intersection of art and commerce. This quote comes from sci-fi author John Scalzi, who has famously taken a stand on the importance of being paid for creative work, and knows a thing or two about building a…
There, There
“I don’t feel very much like Pooh today," said Pooh. "There there," said Piglet. "I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do.” ― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh * * * Photo by Shreevardhan Iyer on Unsplash
As Much As
“Your ambition should be to get as much life out of living as you possibly can, as much enjoyment, as much interest, as much experience, as much understanding. Not simply to be what is generally called “a success.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt * * * Photo by Maciej Karoń on Unsplash
Not Really, No
A critical writing question addressed by the good people over at xckd (home of "serious answers to absurd questions"): Can you power your computer by typing? I mean, the answer’s pretty obvious, but the details are interesting! * * * Photo by LS Whitmer on Unsplash
It’s Been a Day
“Cats don't drink cocktails,” I said. “Cats don't shoot lasers from their eyes, either, but here we are, Carl. Mama needs a night off.” ― Matt Dinniman, Carl's Doomsday Scenario * * * Mine will be a mocktail, but you (and Donut) do you! Photo by kimia kazemi on Unsplash
First Sign
Today I'm happy to report that I spotted the first sign of spring. Yes, we still have a couple feet of snow on our lawn and predictions call for another wave of cold soon, but I also saw my first outdoor insect of the year. It wasn't anything fun or even remotely photogenic, just a fly,…
Fish, Precious!
Yes, the world is a dangerous mess right now but not everything is terrible. Exhibit A: The Fish Doorbell is back! The Fish Doorbell — The Fish Doorbell Every spring, thousands of fish swim through the Oudegracht in Utrecht, searching for a place upstream to lay their eggs. But the…
Worm Moon, Eclipsed
Tomorrow morning very early, the last full moon of the winter season will coincide with a total lunar eclipse. When? Check the links below for precise times, but as an example, maximum eclipse in Ottawa will be at 6:33am ET. The result? A blood moon. We’ve talked about this…
Oh Look, My Parents Have Already Finished Their Taxes
“Buttercup's mother whirled on him. 'Did you forget to pay your taxes?' (This was after taxes. But everything is after taxes. Taxes were here even before stew.)” ― William Goldman, The Princess Bride I’d better get to it! * * * Photo…
Going Back? Plan Ahead!
This is fascinating, educational and fun. One of the things they may not tell you when they give you the keys to the time travel machine is that language is a living thing, and English is now very old. Colin Gorrie decided to illustrate how the English language has changed…
Can’t Compute
Like so many of you, I spend a lot of my life looking at screens. I try to keep my eyes healthy but you know how it is, you start the day at the writing computer and then move to the work computer, and then you're just about to take a break when an email comes in about an important…
Sad but Happy
Sadly, the Artemis II moon mission has been pushed back again, and the new launch window now won’t happen until April at the earliest. Pesky helium flow issues! Happily, this week we can entertain ourselves with a planetary conjunction! APOD: 2026 February 24 – Planet Parade over…
Infinite You
Creativity is infinite. Creativity is infinite. — Reese Witherspoon * * * Photo by G Creates on Unsplash
Four Years
That’s four years too long. Our thought, our song Will not die, will not perish… Oh there, people, is our glory, Glory of Ukraine! — Taras Shevchenko * * * Photo by Sylwia Bartyzel on Unsplash
Project Snow
As much of the Northeastern US hunkers down under many, many inches of snow, here’s a short condensation of winter-related happiness to get you through your day. Simon Beck's Snow Art - Banff National Park The maple leaf is a particular favorite:) If you’re in the path of the storm,…
And So…*
* Full post title: And so, for reasons completely and entirely related to the hockey game just played at a certain Italian ice rink, Mr Man and I are heading out into the woods in order to embrace the beauty that is inherent in Nature, and immerse ourselves in the glory and joy that is to…
People, Making a Difference
This story is so encouraging: The Ordinary People Who Saved the Bluebird There was a time when seeing a bluebird felt less like spotting a bird and more like witnessing a small miracle. But then, the Eastern bluebird population made a comeback. The hero? A lot of…
So Much Life!
This was a fun article to stumble upon: Tiny Memoir Contest Winners We challenged teenagers to write a story about a meaningful moment in their lives in just 100 words. These are the subjects of some of the 14,232 “tiny memoir” submissions we received. Teens do (nonfiction) drabbles.…
It Has Come To My Attention
It has come to my attention that my site’s subscriber emails sometimes arrive with only parts of the post included, particularly when there are quotes involved. Sorry! I’m not sure whether this is a Wordpress thing, a "my theme on Wordpress" thing, or what, but I do…
Can’t Stop Laughing, Though
An adventure: “Hey, Self, we haven’t made bread in a while. Maybe it’s time.” “Sure, sounds good. And while we’re at it, let’s play around with the rise. This sourdough levain looks great, let’s try using just that and a pinch of yeast and see where that takes us.”…
Happy Happy Holidays!
There are a lot of holidays happening today or starting this week, including some of the big ones: Lunar New Year and the Spring Festival, Mardi Gras (and Lent), and Ramadan. If I used AI casually I might ask it for an image of a fiery horse eating a beignet at an iftar meal,…
Rays of Ravishing Light
“Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means. And that posterity will triumph in that day's transaction...” ― John Adams * * * Photo by Mariana Maciel on Unsplash
Not Too Long & Not Too Short
Here’s a quick notification for anyone interested in writing and publication venues and supporting a fun Kickstarter: Missed-Fits: A Calendar of Fools Anthology by Storm Humbert The idea for Missed-Fits is born of two central motivations at Calendar of Fools: the…
Doing Things Badly For Fun, Not Profit
If there’s one thing I frequently excel at, it’s doing things badly. And I don’t mean this in a negative way. I find something really enjoyable about just muddling through low-stakes activities, because for me at least, it’s clear that it’s all about fun. If…
Tea And.
I’m working on a secret project and on deadline. Have a quote, a pretty picture, and hopefully an adventure! Do you want an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first? — J.M. Barrie * * * Photo by Caraianu Camelia on Unsplash
Hurry Hard!
Crazy day today, so in the spirit of the season, here’s a fun explainer about the fun sport of curling! How Curling Works The Winter Olympics are here, and that can only mean one thing: for the next few weeks, people who don't like to do housework and can't really tolerate the cold…
