Mark – Page 13 – Marked Up

Open Carry

I finally understand why the doors come off Jeeps. This was quite handy.

Also known as Dearest Creature in Creation. IMHO, it’s one of, if not the, most technically brilliant pieces of English poetry. I’m going to read the first page or so as Reader/Jokemaster at the tomorrow’s Toastmasters meeting. It must be read aloud. And you must read it yourself, as opposed to having it read toContinue reading “The Chaos”

Garden Progress

In addition to bringing the vanity replacement saga to a close, we continued the garden project, which isn’t really a “saga”; everything is proceeding as planned, just slowly. The next step is to work out from the far corner, because they compost will be in whatever space is left after a 2’x2′ corner and aContinue reading “Garden Progress”

Remodeling the Remodel

So far, this is the first. We wanted a floating vanity and I really liked the vessel sink that came with it. (See what I did there? I’m training you on the magic words.) Well, the floating vanity didn’t. It started as the precariously hanging vanity, segued through the barely-held-on-by-plumbing vanity, then ended its lifeContinue reading “Remodeling the Remodel”

Christmas in July

I bought a rifle for myself as a “Christmas” present. The scare quotes are because I didn’t buy it until February and did not receive it until March. I thought that finally mounting it would be a good Independence Day present. It seems very low, but it needs to be lifted up to get itContinue reading “Christmas in July”

Learning 2 Bake from Scratch – LII

Not Oreos I had two events (dance party and Toastmasters) to bring something to and I’d promised my dance instructor cookies, next time I made them. Hence, cookies. I like not-Oreos. Any resemblance to a trademarked cookie is purely coincidental. Because I make them softer than the cookie that shall not be named, I wasContinue reading “Learning 2 Bake from Scratch – LII”

French Dressing – and Moar!

This is an easy one I’ve been making for years. I don’t remember where it originally came from, but I consider it mine, now. 1 coarsely chopped onion⅔ cup vegetable oil½ cup sugar⅓ cup vinegar (red wine vinegar is good)1 ½ tsp Worcestershire1 ½ tsp salt1 tsp mustard1 tsp paprika (double it)½ tsp garlic powderContinue reading “French Dressing – and Moar!”

How do you talk to God?

I tripped over this question on Josh Slocum’s substack. His phrasing is Manichean (it’s a theological topic, I can use that word). How does one deal with the feeling of simultaneously talking to a being you don’t really believe in, but feeling like an entitled fraud at the same time? I’m not sure that IContinue reading “How do you talk to God?”

Digging Into Sensationalism

Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) has been a thing. Here’s the basic timeline: Meanwhile, we have headlines such as this one: Tractor Supply LOSES BILLIONS in Stock COLLAPSE As Woke Left Activism EXPOSED. Granted, it’s a Youtube channel, but still. I happen to have access to an excellent market data provider: CQG. The goofy, American dateContinue reading “Digging Into Sensationalism”

How to Rationalize Anything

Or “How I bought an insane thing and want to feel justified about it.” I would hope that anyone old enough to drink has at least heard the phrase, “humans are not rational, they rationalize.” We do things because we want to. We come up with the logical reasons, afterward. Not always, of course (notContinue reading “How to Rationalize Anything”