My street

Over half the houses for two blocks have the same wrought-iron fence seen on the left. In the 1920's when many were built there was a iron foundry and fence company that everyone seemed to have used. Apparently sections of the fence and particularly the gates are used for decoration of some sort, because 12 or so years ago one morning people woke up to find their gates gone. Some turned up as far away as LA in antique shops.

The depressing part of the picture to me is that the next two months, March and April, are historically our snowiest months. It's been snowing now for the last 6 days, yesterday it only stopped for 2 hours before resuming.

On the upside, it's warmer than a couple weeks ago, a balmy 18f on the back porch.

Valentine's Day Gone Awry

I think the year was 1986, we lived just north of Seattle in a waterfront town of Edmonds. I was at a large medical center in Seattle, my wife was just starting a position at UW.

Valentine's Day was an occasion I'd never thought of as a Serious Thing, The previous year I'd shrugged it off, with less-than-optimum results. So fine, this year I'd pay attention. Actually my department secretary had reminded me, but that's not important. I gave it some thought, and decided that Something Funny was in order.

On grand rounds I noticed a pallet of boxes, large boxes, bound for the basement where the service departments were located. They were 50 pound boxes of laundry detergent. The proverbial light bulb went off in my misdirected mind. After rounds I asked my secretary if she could find out where they came from, and if I could order one. I sort of remember her shaking her head and saying something about it being a bad idea. "Nah" I said, dismissing her worry "It'll be funny."

 

It came, I lugged it home and wrapped it with appropriate gift wrapping paper, put a big bow on it, and placed it on the dining room table, next to a dozen roses in a vase. 

Now, in my defense, I also had in reserve a real present, a necklace. But I figured it would just be an afterthought, one she'd open while still laughing about the huge wrapped box. 

I remember she got home, the oldest daughter, then 11, came out. The wife looked at the package with a big, wondering smile. "Wow! What is that??" She unwrapped it. I remember the disbelieving stares from her and the daughter. You know the kind, the one that says "what on god's earth were you thinking??"

The necklace was quickly presented, but didn't really mollify the situation. 

Recently the youngest daughter gave me one of those refrigerator magnets that says "It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time". 

There or Here, let's choose....

What I want to see from my front porch:

What I see from my front porch:

I looked at some posts on this blog and some emails sent from this computer, and can only conclude that somehow my laptop has been hacked. Some idiot wrote we haven't enough snow, and some vague worries about the summer water. Fool.

Right Now

-34°

 

 

Opinions and Things that go Bang

There was an article in the New York Times yesterday about a firearms writer/author being fired for some comments on assault rifles and their inappropriateness for hunting or civilian use. It was also covered in several national media sources, including Fox news. The writer, Dick Metcalf was fired from Guns&Ammo, perhaps the most popular of the gun magazines. He said, in brief, that the second amendment was no different than other amendments, that it is subject to regulation, interpretation and is not immune to change.

Mr. Metcalf has been a writer for the magazine for years, and was a popular shill for the gun industry right up to this article. It was rather startling to read it, given his past writing. The history of writing and opinions about guns is notable for the absence  of anyone changing their mind about it. This is the only one that comes to mind. You're either for gun control, or unalterably opposed, and never the twain shall meet. And rational discourse is out of the question.

It made me think about the writing I've seen in the past year or so about guns and hunting. I read several 'outdoors' blogs, most about fishing. Few of them will touch the subject of gun control with a long pole, knowing that even the most subtle inference that guns are for anything but worship and hoarding, and the government want to take them away, will meet with swift condemnation from some readers.

I was going to start this post with the same lead I've read by several writers of my liberal ilk:  "I've been a gun owner and/or hunter for decades, etc, etc." It seems to be a way to distance oneself from those 'knee-jerk socialists who want to take away our guns", and to establish one's street cred, so to speak. Then I thought what's that got to do with it? I also have an opinion about eating the Durian fruit, but I've never seen one.

Then I thought what the hell, why should one have to do that to state an opinion? About the only writers that need to have 'been there, done that' are travel writers, and one can even pull that off if you've got google and the internet.

If anyone can explain to me why the 2nd amendment should not be regulated, as the rest of them are? It even has the words "well-regulated" right in the damn thing. Try standing outside a federal building and shouting death threats, then citing the 1st amendment as your defense.

The NRA with their attachment at the hip to the gun industry has been more effective than any other lobby in influencing legislation. Name one congressperson or senator who would advocate gun control who has any influence. In either party.

So here we are, and here we'll stay.

Back to the Future

I've now seen over 50 new years mornings as an adult, and am finally willing to admit I may never make it to the Bigs. I am/was a decent fielder, but my curve is not impressive to most little league hitters. And the NBA is probably out too, while I have/had a good jump shot, as my college coach said "You don't have the speed to make it in the (then) PAC8, and you're too short".

That really hurt to finally say.

Anyway, had a great Christmas with the fam. The 3 year old granddaughter got to play in the smattering of snow Seattle got before it melted.

She even built a snowman. 

Now it's the Rose Bowl, in which my beloved Ducks are not playing, but I'll manage to root for Stanford. 

Hope you all have a interesting New Year. 

Updated picture

Remember the other day, I posted a picture of the Big Hole starting to ice over? Yesterday I started the truck around 3pm and wanted to drive it a bit to charge the battery. It had warmed up to a balmy 2 above. So I drove to the same spot and took another pic, slightly different angle.

The next 4 days are supposed to be sub-zero, down to -33 on Sunday. The ice will continue to thicken on the surface, but underneath it's flowing water, and has no place to go except downstream and upward, pushing the ice surface, causing fractures in the ice, and ice heaves. 

In a month or so, it could look like this (taken a previous winter).