A few months ago, Betsy Kerekes—a/k/a Parenting Is Funny—was eliciting suggestions for a new blog name. Sure, parenting is funny, but these days, she writes more about Jiu-Jitsu. I get a real kick out of that. / martial arts humor. In any case, my suggestion got the most votes, so I "won" the "contest." I … Continue reading Bring Your Betsy to Work Day
Tag: hail
If You Don’t Hear From Me, Check in with the Tin Man or Scarecrow
Have I mentioned the weather around here is nuts? OK, fine. But this is the first time I've mentioned it this week. One day it's summer, the next day it's winter. Case in point: Thursday, it was 85º and we had the A/C on. Friday afternoon the thermometer was stuck on 43º and we had … Continue reading If You Don’t Hear From Me, Check in with the Tin Man or Scarecrow
Sunny, My Ass!
I always find it interesting how everything feels like such a novelty for a few days after you’ve returned home. Even the most ordinary and mundane—the stuff you take for granted 99% of the time. Sunday, I found myself gazing so intently at the remote control in my hand you’d think I’d just unearthed some … Continue reading Sunny, My Ass!
Ventriloquist Cricket
Have you ever seen the Breaking Bad episode titled "Fly"? If so, you have a pretty good idea how my day went at work on Monday. To summarize briefly, "Fly" involves Walt White's failed attempt to catch a fly that is buzzing around the superlab. I should set the record straight and let you know … Continue reading Ventriloquist Cricket
Capturing Lightning
Tropical Storm Cristobal will make landfall today, and I don't know how to feel about that. I'm not referring to the high storm surge and possible destruction it will cause throughout the Gulf states. Of course those are bad; thanks again for yet another bitch slap, 2020. I'm on the fence about that name more … Continue reading Capturing Lightning
This Old Sardine Can
I hope you're enjoying your three-day weekend! Unless you're reading this in a country that doesn't celebrate Memorial Day. In which case...happy just-Monday. It's been a busy few days. Knowing we were tackling a major project, I wanted to ease into the weekend, so I settled in Friday night with a movie: Das Boot. Contrary … Continue reading This Old Sardine Can
And then all hail broke loose…
I've said it before, though never using a fruit analogy: the weather here is bananas. Take Tuesday, for instance. Our day started out quietly enough; we decided to go for a hike along the Sunday Gulch Trail in Custer State Park. Can I just say how different the trails are out here? No ferns or … Continue reading And then all hail broke loose…
I Don’t Give a Damn for the Same Old Played Out Scenes
I'm sitting in our apartment on a rainy, cool Saturday afternoon in Rapid City, listening to records and enjoying a Fernson tart ale. Our friend Heidi commented that it's funny we had to move to South Dakota in order to experience rain. No kidding! It's been a very wet month here, with over 6.00" of … Continue reading I Don’t Give a Damn for the Same Old Played Out Scenes
Getting My Griswold On – Day 5: Badlands
Miles traveled today: 178.8 Total miles traveled: 1726.0 Flash. Crash. Repeat. Have I mentioned the crazy weather we're having out here? For the third day in a row, I encountered thunderstorms. And not just any old thunderstorms - big, dangerous ones. With lots of lightning and thunder and - worst of all - hail. As … Continue reading Getting My Griswold On – Day 5: Badlands
You Can’t Take The Sky From Me
The weather around these parts lately has been - hmm, how to phrase this most optimistically? - less than stellar. Let's start with March. We had measurable rain in Portland 29 out of 31 days. Even for the notoriously soggy Pacific Northwest, that's a lot! It was also the 5th-wettest March on record, and the … Continue reading You Can’t Take The Sky From Me
Mark Petruska 