Dandelion

The dandelion, a gentle flower
Not suited to funeral or wedding bower
Yet a reminder of our halcyon days
First sunshine youth, then wispy greys
Searches, springs up, makes a home
Sends future hopes off to roam
No thorny rose, nor snob crocus
But a cheery bloom a little like us.

Macy's Beware!

Oh sure, around Thanksgiving you can watch those other parades, but where else can you really find a match for the Castleton-on-Hudson Memorial Day Parade? Where else can you hear a high school marching band version of "Play That Funky Music White Boy"? Where else will the marchers come right up onto your porch to hand you a free Flavor-Ice Pop? New York City? I don't think so! We've got it all right here, my friends! So be green with envy! And Macy's - don't feel bad! There's always next year . . . .

So am I a hotshot photographer now or what?

So okay, I'm not making Peter Parker lose any sleep at night - but I'd rather take photos of flowers than supervillains any day. Unless, of course, they're really cute naked supervillains, but let's not go there! At left is my favorite photo so far - the marigolds at Devoe's Rainbow Orchards on Rt. 9 in Halfmoon, New York. It's a start. Soon I hope to have my own regular travel blog in which readers will be subjected to many, many more pictures. For now, I feel I am making progress - yes?

By the way, any of you who are reading this, if you know of any "hidden" tourist attractions or sites of historical significance in the Northeast, please respond - I'm looking for input! Thanks!

Revived From The Land Of The Lost!

My router is working again - who knew?? Of course, it pulled the little stunt I expected - waited until someone else was looking, then came back to life just fine to make a fool out of me. Like a car refusing to make a funny noise when the mechanic is listening. Oy!

Acquitted of Jury Duty!

Yes, folks, it was a narrow call today as I almost wound up getting selected as an alternate juror in a felony case! Yours truly, also known in some quarters of Rensselaer County as #162, has now had the experience of sitting in an actual jury box in a courtroom, being questioned by a defense attorney in the pre-trial phase. I don't feel at all slighted for not being chosen though! Turns out my fondness for cars - MY cars, to be precise - might have made me a less-than-optimal choice in a car theft judgement. I would do my duty fairly and as required by this great nation of ours if necessary, but frankly I am glad at the moment it isn't necessary. My continuing job search is taking enough of my time and attention as is! I'm more a fan of cozies than true crime anyway . . . .

That is, if there was a crime . . . .

Well, that's for twelve other people (and two alternates who aren't me) to decide. I, meanwhile, am free of this particular call to civic responsibility for another six years. So let me state unequivocally:

NYAH HAA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, but I just HAD to get that out of my system!

My apologies, by the way, to anyone who was hoping for more literary brilliance (and recipes) from my blog. The aforementioned job hunt really is driving me to distraction. I hope to make up for any deficiencies soon!

Yours, nonjurisdictionally . . . .

Can it be the madness is spreading?

Already I have induced one friend to start blogging in earnest, soon my legions shall grow! Bwaa ha ha! Although I have all too little energy to put my thoughts here onto my own blog. But wait, for I hope to have a lot more to say soon!

5/8/2006 - Warning to all would-be butterscotch-colored cat owners! They are nothing but trouble!!!! I'm not really sure if it's the fur color or not, but my cat Colum's malfeasance just has to be gene linked somehow! Anyone out there interested in forming a support group for butterscotch cat owners??

J's Journal

J's Journal This is soooo Samuel Becket!

The New Martian Menace Blog!

Actually, I don't think I'm that much of a menace - but I am at least moderately sanity-threatening and inclined to make chilis that are very threatening - so I tell my soon-to-be-hoped-for audience "be afraid - be somewhat afraid!" Because I have a blog of my own now, and I might even learn how to use it!