Monthly Archives: August 2011

There comes a time during the first few weeks of having a puppy that the owner may consider calling an exorcist instead of a vet. The energy of the pup seems infinitely wild, and wearing him out in hopes of … Continue reading →

 My story first, then John’s:    A few weeks ago, my dog Scout, an 8 year old 20-pound bichon poodle, (a politically-correct rescue, I might add) swallowed a dog toy squeaker. I’m an overprotective, hysterical type…anxiously called Friendship, Washington, DC’s … Continue reading →

John’s friend Karen, a multi-talented northwest Indiana math teacher — high school by day, university-level math by night, loves Edward Gorey’s art so much, that she created Gorey-esque garden decorations.  A few years ago, Karen, never one for less-is-more, decided … Continue reading →

I was just remembering in some detail about the autumn that I decided to retire.  The decision came all at once, it seemed. I taught in a junior college for several years at night but also taught full time for … Continue reading →

This recipe is much easier, than it sounds.  Most pickling ingredients, including jars, can be found in grocery stores. Large cucumbers, peeled, sliced into rings and cored.  They may also be sliced into spears if you prefer. Soak 24 hours … Continue reading →

…Musings about an old acquaintance…Charles Tidler… is a Canadian poet and playwright, who grew up in Tipton Indiana, attended Sharpsville High School, and graduated from Purdue in 1968; with 11 plays, produced all over Canada, tons of awards, he is … Continue reading →

If you’re hankering for a 1960s jello dessert comfort food, as you batten down the hatches, for Hurricane Irene, John’s Aunt Mabel’s Pear Mold hits the spot.  See recipe below.                                Annie CRUSHED PEAR JELLO MOLD 1 regular size package … Continue reading →

In 2010, the late Conn McAuliffe, Indiana writer, educator, and textbook writer, published a hefty 788-page novel on the young Shakespeare, a fast, fun, and imaginitive read, mostly in dialog, between the young Shakespeare and a character named Malachi. I’m still … Continue reading →

From Tom Brokaw’s Boom:  “If you thought something good came out of the Sixties, you’re probably a Democrat; if you thought the Sixties were bad, you are probably a Republican.” — Former President Bill Clinton Thought you might enjoy reading another … Continue reading →

Today is the first day of school for public school students in Washington, DC, and probably everywhere. In the introduction to his book, Boom! Voices of the Sixties, Tom Brokaw quotes John Lennon: “The thing the sixties did was to … Continue reading →