"I love You"

What does it mean?

Three simple words. Eight letters, two spaces. Punctuation optional or variable, which affects meaning. And, no question, the meaning is variable.

When we are children, and use the words with parents, it means one thing. No, at least two things- the meaning the… Read full post »

"What's Super Moon Saturday?" you ask?

The moon orbits the Earth in an elliptical orbit, so sometimes it is closer than others. Once every lunar month (28 days), there is a full moon. Sometimes the full moon occurs when the moon is closest to the Earth (at it's perigee). 

 This is… Read full post »

Ever since I took Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in grade 9, this phrase has stuck with me - for indeed, Caesar was murdered on the 15th of march.

"Ides" in the Roman calendar related to lunar cycles - their calendar was more of a true lunar calendar than our modern version, which… Read full post »

My son who I call Mid-sized B is a Math guy...in fact, he carved Pi as the design on our halloween pumpkin... pumpkin pi(e) , get it?

 He's excited that his university Math dept. is serving pie today. And holding a contest to see who can recount the most digits… Read full post »

I've not figured out why Daylight Savings Time follows after we "Spring Ahead" and "lose an hour".

 First thing, let's all check our dryers. That's a lot of hours to lose, they must all be hiding somewhere. 

Under the couch? The bed? That drawer in the kitchen? Maybe the cats dragged… Read full post »

Just learned, courtesy of the son I call mid-sized B that today is in fact International Women's Day. I have not seen any coverage either on Big Salon or Open Salon... though I might have missed it.

Even if I missed the coverage, this is shocking. Sure, the date this year… Read full post »

 Back in September, I blogged It's Sunday: Do you know where your soul is?, a typical (for me) self-involved rumination on religion, spirituality and indecisiveness - the inner tug of war between rationality and ...well, that's the question- was that inner sense merely a remnant of childhood ind… Read full post »

Wintery wisps

blown by wind

into corners

by doorways

Belying spring temps

Sending children scurrying

searching for hats

and scarves carelessly tossed

and mostly for mitts, misplaced

one just won't do.

Frantic engery expended

but inner calm preserved

safely knowing 

that this too shall p… Read full post »

Sun slowly rising unseen

Cloud turns the dawn grey

and the mood blue

Puddles form run off

from snowbanks shrinking

Shrunk, more like

False spring teasing

Unless, perhaps,

Groundhog was right

Which would chase the blues away

Puddles to play in

Childlike joy

Memories awaken

With the dawn.

 … Read full post »

It is also:

 Ferris Wheel Day

National Creme-Filled Chocolates Day

Read to Your Child Day

 and more seriously:

 National Organ Donor Day

(source: http://www.jokesandtrivia.com/ ) 

 So, if you can't be with the one you love, follow the links to learn more about February 14. I… Read full post »

As I type this, the most read article on the website of the Toronto Globe and Mail is Michael Valpy's excellent tribute to the anniversary of the King James Version of The Bible.

Valpy is a superb writer, and a thoughtful man. I could not do the subject as much… Read full post »

Forgive me while I indulge in the sincerest form of flattery (plagiarism). I know there have been storms of posts about plagiarism on OS lately.  Normally, I think I bring value added to the table- even if I find inspiration elsewhere, I attribute it, and bring my own spin.

 A bit… Read full post »

Couldn't be. Except Lil B advanced the calendar chez B yesterday already to mark in his next work schedule, and I did not bother turning it back the one day. We use the Milk Calendar which helpfully has nice rectangles for notes like payments, dentists, and work. Also great recipes. February… Read full post »

Because Bacon really DOES make everything better:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. While preheating, place 4 strips of bacon in a shallow pan, place in heating oven. This will allow bacon drippings to coat the pan (note : “drippings”, not “fat”...which is a three letter fou… Read full post »

demons inside me lie awake at night
thinking of you
demons inside me dance
wanting to dip you
demons inside me, hungrily
wanting to eat you
demons inside me whisper
on one shoulder
angels on the other
about to have halos tarnished

(inspired by a line in Tinkertink69's latest epic post ... but it's NOT… Read full post »

Joe Gores died last week, and with him, I fear, the hard boiled detective.

I hope somebody will provide the information to prove me wrong.

 When I saw the death notice, I must admit that I was shocked he was still alive - I had not thought of Gores in a… Read full post »

They took his life away...

 We  Canadians do not observe Martin Luther King Day . We get no holiday in January, excepting New Year's Day.

I can not help but wonder though, what Dr. King would think about America today. I doubt that it resembles his dreams.

Class divisions are wider.… Read full post »

Things sometimes go sort of sideways when it comes to meals chez B, so I have learned to be flexible. Both my sons are now young adults, with, frankly, busier lives than mine, but also heartier appetites. So, we try to communicate and plan about who is home to eat when,… Read full post »

1. Two Years ago I joined Open Salon to comment on a post by Gracielou.

2. Since I don't join without participating, I posted 25 Things About Me, in answer to an Open Call.

3. I still love numbered lists.

… Read full post »

Having trashed snooze alarms, today I am reacting to a post with "Hump Day" in the title.

 This time it isn't that I don't "get" the feeling. I do, but I react with a mixture of pity and revulsion.

Pity because I feel sad about people who hate their… Read full post »

Who first thought of equipping a clock with a handy way to lie to yourself about when you get up in the morning?

 I remember alarm clocks before they came equipped with a "snooze" button, and now even the alarms on my Blackberry and Outlook have them. The Outlook one… Read full post »

John Lennon was assassinated thirty years ago today (yes, a paraphrase of the opening of Sgt. Pepper, even if Paul is credited with being the primary writer). He's been going in and out of style, as predicted, but remains sure to raise a smile.

 How tragic that John was killed… Read full post »

Tonight, 8 p.m. Eastern, ABC: A Charlie Brown Christmas. The one special worth watching, year after year.

 By then, you should be finished recogning the sacrifice brought to you by Pearl Harbor Day, and ready for a different sort of inspiration.

Despite the Biblical story at the heart of… Read full post »

Flying to Toronto (or, as we in the hinterland call it "The Center of the Known Universe") this afternoon, so won't be here to post friday Grooves (not taking a laptop *gasp*)

So thought I'd get a head start with the most suitable tune:

Read full post »

I commented somewhere yesterday that I don't understand the appeal of lining up or even camping out just to stampede for "bargains".

 And I'm a rare guy who, at the right moment, can enjoy shopping.  That may be why I have too many clothes. (though i think that's more about… Read full post »