I can’t remember the last time I changed the oil in my car, but then again I haven’t driven it much lately. My biggest concern has been keeping the battery charged. A combination of Covid isolation, long winters, and increasing agoraphobia have meant that my car hasn’t been put through its paces for a very […]
We thought Roe v Wade was fixed in stone, but we were wrong. Clearly, it was only pencilled in. Today, though, I discovered something that does seem to be eternally fixed, and I doubt that even the US Supreme Court can change it. The Google logo and search bar are deliberately placed just slightly above […]
To this outsider, the recent decision by the US Supreme Court that makes it possible for states to declare abortions illegal does not appear to have been decided based on law. Instead, the majority opinion began from personal and religious convictions and then extended to legal justifications. I say “justifications” because that’s what happens when […]
Today, I went through a time warp. I was reminded of an event about fifty years ago and was suddenly thrust into a subservient role that did not sit well with me. To an outsider, it might not have seemed like much at all. I had hired a plumber to come to the house and […]
This video was created by James and Tiffany Duggar of Eleven Films for the children who have been killed by assault weapons in America. It is very moving. Source: The Independent.
Who would steal a Pride flag? And, why? I suppose some people steal things just because they can, or because they need something they can’t afford, or because they want something removed from sight. The last of these is probably the reason my Pride flag was stolen on Sunday night. Edmonton is quite supportive of […]
Any time that anyone mistreats, cheats, or defrauds one of my children, my momma bear claws come out. This week, Amazon turned me into a bear. My eldest son recently finished writing a novel. The work took over two years to complete and was created in the middle of the night on weekdays and during […]
As my plane flew into San Jose on Friday, we travelled over the south San Francisco Bay. Some of the geographic features and human constructions made some interesting shapes. I wondered what some of them were, but mostly I just enjoyed the unusual formations.
On the last day of my visit to Nanaimo I once again enjoyed the harbourfront walk. This time I made a point of having lunch at a floating restaurant called Trollers Fresh Fish and Chips where they served me some delicious fresh-caught halibut. I noted that they had both white and malt vinegar on each […]
One of the gardens associated with Butterfly World in Coombs is dedicated to the growth of a variety of orchids. Here are some that I enjoyed seeing when I was there this week. And here is the Japanese garden.
In Coombs, British Columbia, is a magical place. Butterfly World provides environments that replicate several natural habitats for butterflies, turtles, frogs, orchids, and insects. I tried to get as many pictures of the butterflies as I could, but they don’t sit still very much. When I was there, the beautiful Blue Morpho butterflies were mating. […]
Yesterday it rained relentlessly, but today the sun shone and I was once again able to enjoy the harbour in Nanaimo. With no apologies, here are more pictures of this lovely place. And, get ready for take-off.
A few days ago, some friends invited me along on a tour they were making of the studios of various artisans in the Duncan area. It was a delightful day meandering around the countryside, looking at some very interesting arts and crafts, and catching up with each other. I was presented with a lot of […]
Midnight Drive by Kenneth Price is available for pre-order at Amazon, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble, and will be released on June 1st. It is a gripping crime story that I would recommend even if I were not Ken’s mom.
I arrived in Nanaimo, British Columbia, yesterday and then had the best sleep I have had in many months. I think it must be the sea air. This morning I enjoyed a walk along the harbourfront. It was windy and cloudy, but very enjoyable even so. I saw a lot of people who look a […]
This week I have been trying, multiple times, to change the address and phone number on my Bank of America account. You’d think that would be fairly straightforward, wouldn’t you? First I tried to make the changes online, but could not enter any edited data. So, I tried the chat line. The chat person was […]
Fair Warning by Michael Connelly If you have ever had doubts about what happens to your DNA after you submit it to a genetic analytics company, this book will add to your concerns. It raises the fictional (I hope) possibility that DNA information might be sold on to multiple other companies to do with as […]
The major theme of this blog is “Living and Learning,” and this week I have been living with and learning more about Covid-19. I first started to feel under the weather on Wednesday afternoon. By Thursday morning I had a scratchy throat and brain fog. Later that day, the cough set in and continued for […]
Snowbird of Paradise 