Category Archives: nothing special

This post is really just for me.  I am under the probably delusional belief that if I actually say I am going to write about something, I will. There is plenty of evidence to the contrary. I have written about … Continue reading →

I have often proclaimed that I am not a Californian.  That said, I know that I would be loathe to leave the Bay Area.  It’s the weather, it’s the politics, it’s the tolerance of the odd and unusual, it’s the … Continue reading →

I am watching Animal Planet’s Cats 101 with Penwiper.  They are showing a piece on “klepto-cats.” I wonder if I should change the channel.  I don’t want her to get any ideas.

Do you know where your towel is?

I have had one singing lesson in my life, and enjoyed it immensely.  I often regret not having taken more, since I do enjoy singing, but the commute to see my voice teacher would have required a trip completely across … Continue reading →

In 2005, in the wake of Katrina, writer John Scalzi wrote a piece called “Being Poor” on his blog.  It hit a resounding chord in a lot of folks — even people who have never been truly poor, like myself. … Continue reading →

This has not been a good year, on a lot of different fronts, and I keep thinking about how completely self-indulgent all of this blogging … stuff… strikes me as being. It takes up too much of my time, and … Continue reading →

On my Facebook page, I passed along a link to The Pubic Domain Review that a friend had posted, commenting “[Red-Headed Menace], this is the chance you have been waiting for to see The Battleship Potemkin.”  He responded, “This is … Continue reading →

I was watching Stardust, one of my very favorite movies, and thinking about how it passes the Bechdel Test.  I was wondering how many of my movies (as opposed to those which really belong to the whole household*) do so. … Continue reading →

It’s been a while since I did a long, substantive post, let alone one that breathes fire.  I plan to get back to seriousness soon, but in the meantime, this picture needs to be disseminated among intelligent cinemaphiles and science … Continue reading →

I am in an irrationally good mood.  All in all, the world could be a worse place. The cats are back home safe and sound.  We will need to get blood work done tomorrow as a precaution, but they seem … Continue reading →

I have just returned from the emergency vet’s office.  Some time ago, I had spilled a bottle of Excedrin Migraine in my backpack.  I had thought I had gotten all of pills out of there, but apparently not. I found … Continue reading →

I had  planned to spend the day in San Francisco looking at pretty pictures of beautiful women.  I had dressed, not up, exactly, but certainly more respectably than my regular schlubby self does.  Black corduroy slacks, a black v-neck sweater … Continue reading →

Along with (spurious statistic alert!) probably 75% of the other mothers in America, I received flowers for Mother’s Day.  The florist did a superb job of creating a bouquet to last for days, mixing roses which were in full bloom … Continue reading →

“If you want it — take it!” Maybe I should try that sometimes.*Da Sichuan Bistro, 3781 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, California,  roughly halfway between Oregon/Page Mill and Charleston/Arastradero.**  Comfy if pedestrian atmosphere, friendly waitstaff, good food. The General’s Chicken … Continue reading →