tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190974882024-03-13T21:01:39.065-04:00zimdog's chew toyThis is where I boost my writing skillz with most rambling about the intricacies of my zimdog-ness.zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-21779683099089610082012-06-08T22:15:00.001-04:002012-06-17T21:13:40.684-04:00Dorothy June Zimmerman<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Dorothy June
Zimmerman</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">(June 07, 1928 --
December 29, 2011)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Dorothy June
Zimmerman was the 7<sup>th</sup> of 8 children---(... 4 boys & 4
girls...). Yesterday---(June 7<sup>th</sup>,
2012)---was the anniversary of her birthday....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">To me, the
stereotypical grandmother is the grandmother that embodies laughter &
smiles. This is how I remember my
father's mother (... Grandma Z...).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Ahhh, Grandma
Z. When I was a kid, she kept the
best-tasting grape juice in her fridge.
There will never be corn chowder that can top hers, and -- for some
mysterious reason -- no one can make pickled eggs better than hers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Like da zimdog, she
was a human of simple taste & natural intelligence. When I asked my dad
what level of education she completed, he told me she had no official education
beyond the 8<sup>th</sup> grade. She was
raised on a farm in Carsonville, PA, and couldn't find transportation to
Halifax (... the nearest town with a high school...).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">So, instead of learning from the structure curriculum of a high school, she
learned about existence from Nature. The family farm included many animals that
she would've known on a personal basis (... in addition to being familiar with the apple orchard
& the plot of Christmas trees...).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Last June 7<sup>th</sup>
(... on her 83<sup>rd</sup> birthday...), I spoke with Grandma Z. on the phone. That conversation came just two weeks after
<a href="http://zimdog.blogspot.com/2011/05/russell-lee-zimmerman-july-04-1922-may.html" target="_blank">my grandfather died</a>. At the time, she was also recovering from
cancer treatment (... not to mention, the trauma of the cancer itself...).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">As I paced around
my backyard -- phone in hand (... asking her about her birthday dinner, and
waiting for the right time to ask her about the various other things that might
be on her mind...) -- I couldn't mistake hearing the bright side of life resonating in her responses. Despite being beat
down by the recent threat of her own death---(... & the very-real death of
her soul mate...)---she still put forth the effort of speaking with positive
consideration....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Yep. That was Grandma Z. She was a woman of simple love. She loved my grandfather; she loved my
father; she loved my uncles & aunt. She loved spouses; she loved my brother, my
cousins, & me (... which isn't even to mention all the great-grandchildren
she knew and loved...).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">In other words, she
loved the Zimmermans (... even those that did something unkind...). When an aunt-in-law would divorce from the family, Grandma Z. would cover that aunt-in-law's face in family
photos (... with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Yuk" target="_blank">Mr. Yuk</a> sticker...). Even her most vindictive actions were expressed with the humor
of love (... which only made her easier to love...).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">In doing so,
Grandma Z. was living proof that people can establish mutual respect. The Golden Rule was neither mantra nor catch
phrase to her....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">(The Golden Rule
was a life lived well....)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">When she met
Russell Lloyd Zimmerman at a party one evening, they connected over the
coincidence of sharing the Zimmerman surname.
The way my mom puts it, my grandparents then <i>researched</i> <i>to
make sure there would be no mutant Zimmermans</i>. When it was decided
that genetic abnormalities would not be an issue, the Zimmerman-Zimmerman union
proceeded from there....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">. . . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Yesterday---(...
conversing with my father...)---I learned all sorts of things about Grandma Z.
that I never knew while she was alive (... i.e. her admiration for the poetry
of Robert Frost, her musical ability on piano, etc...). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Immediately, I had no trouble connecting with
these previously unknown aspects of her reality. I could easily
imagine her helping my dad with his homework... (... a cosmic connection I
share as a tutor...). </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Likewise, my dad spoke of her wise ways with such
profound remembrance that it </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">wasn't difficult for me to remember her anew in similar ways. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Regardless
of any neurosis or cynicism I develop in this life, I can easily say -- w</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">ithout hesitation or regret </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">-- that I will always remember Grandma Z. as an angel.... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">. . . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">In figuring out how
to end this eulogy, I reached for the book she & Pop sent me for Christmas
one year. It's an awesome hardcover copy
of <i>The Wizard of Oz (... </i>with gilded pages, an attached ribbon bookmark,
& excellent glossy color illustrations...).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">All she wrote
facing the title page was:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">To Cory </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">From Grandma</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";"> and</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";"> Grandpa
Zimmerman</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">For her, what
counted was the thought of giving a special gift. (Did I mention she
was humble...?) For example, I
don't ever remember her asking me if I wanted a quilt. Instead, she just made me one & gave it to me
(... with simple, unconditional love...).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">(I sleep under that quilt every night....)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">I suppose that's
the difference between the psyches of our respective generations. Whereas my generation just knows to expect gifts at certain times of the year, her generation was a kindhearted generation that asked
for very little in return. As a result, Grandma Z. sought to encounter life's rewards by giving
gifts....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">(... Christmas presents...,)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">(... laughter...,)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">(... love...,)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">(... etc....)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Because of her
selfless giving, I never quite knew what to get her in return. That's why I usually just gave her my love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">So---(now)---the last gift
I will give her is a simple one (... by modern standards...). I will hope (... for her sake...) that her death released the peaceful spirit of her
heart... (... back to the
stars... (... from which she came...)).
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">She was truly a cosmic woman, and </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">I will miss her kind spirit for the rest of my
life (... until that point in time when our spirits are reunited...).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">I love you, Grandma Z...! </span></div>zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-10253444198594327702012-01-19T05:11:00.009-05:002012-01-19T05:48:03.535-05:00a year of Morgan FreemanEm & I have decided to embark on a yearly tradition; we will watch the filmography for each year's recipient of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Globe_Cecil_B._DeMille_Award">Cecil B. DeMille Award</a>....<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.imdb.com/news/ni17890889/">2012 recipient</a> is Morgan Freeman, whose movies I generally love; however, we are off to a surprisingly rocky start:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164212/">Under Suspicion (2000)<br /></a><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115857/">Chain Reaction (1996)</a><br /><br />On a three-tier scale of "up, sideways, or down," Em & I gave both movies a rating of sideways....<br /><br />Currently, we are watching:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1112782/">Thick As Thieves (a.k.a. The Code; 2009)</a><br /><br />Here's hoping for an "up"-swing!zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-23706720759401871552011-12-23T04:50:00.003-05:002011-12-23T04:55:56.064-05:00Crater Lake pics'Tis only a cell-phone camera, but 'tis not bad....<br /><br />I have tons more pics of Crater Lake to look at, but these two stood out right away....<br /><br />Crater Lake & Wizard Island (left)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEz6DhaACD3LK4_cjGNfvKOxn66g03-QqdZDXD3KVg8_aJTvJqxxWfh6uJ4EIf5BPhH9q2B2xu30tUxM0etuecnAs_tsuqnVDD5jJX4xeLMYLELsnVqRcCJ-749vekDJPP8gJ0Ag/s1600/Crater-Lake-left.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEz6DhaACD3LK4_cjGNfvKOxn66g03-QqdZDXD3KVg8_aJTvJqxxWfh6uJ4EIf5BPhH9q2B2xu30tUxM0etuecnAs_tsuqnVDD5jJX4xeLMYLELsnVqRcCJ-749vekDJPP8gJ0Ag/s400/Crater-Lake-left.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689259964378880162" /></a><br /><br />Crater Lake & Wizard Island (right)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rGXHv3-J4K4pcyN-LO-vFJKITfXUyKoFwJ9YDdDpq_xhddNFECfI2dijSgYDIDjRld5R_F-PFnQ8RQN3yZqsw-UwO_QmoWgTM1mQggiGBPb5u590flKOtiGICM1yxBDZs03SqQ/s1600/Crater-Lake-right.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rGXHv3-J4K4pcyN-LO-vFJKITfXUyKoFwJ9YDdDpq_xhddNFECfI2dijSgYDIDjRld5R_F-PFnQ8RQN3yZqsw-UwO_QmoWgTM1mQggiGBPb5u590flKOtiGICM1yxBDZs03SqQ/s400/Crater-Lake-right.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689260101420717698" /></a><br /><br />More once the Holidays calm down...?zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-80518289723187271552011-12-10T13:59:00.009-05:002011-12-10T14:35:23.157-05:00A Morning... (... For Remembrance!!!)!When I decided the title of this post, I imagined my wife---(dr. e-z)---singing "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning...."<br /><br />(And, it was definitely that...!)<br /><br />I woke up before dawn & watched the end of a total lunar eclipse....<br /><br />(The intent of waking was---(eventually)---to write....)<br /><br />But---(first)---I made breakfast & grabbed my laptop; up in the studio, I got the heater running....<br /><br />When I opened the studio window to check on the eclipse---(from a higher vantage point than the yard, where I'd previously been watching)---dawn was presenting more... (... as was light cloud-cover...,)... all along the Western horizon...).<br /><br />(...(... but...,)... still visible was the mostly red, partially-eclipsed Moon... (... so, I put Disc I of <span style="font-style:italic;">Pulse</span> into the CD player...).)<br /><br />... one more magical experience with that album... (... like Carlsonian Residue* on the disc...).<br /><br />(For more on Carlsonian Residue, open the <a href="http://zimdog.blogspot.com/2011/12/post-notes-morning-for-remembrance.html">Post-Notes</a> in a New Tab/Window....)<br /><br />And, then...?<br />The eclipse became spotty in the clouds... (... which were now slightly more front-lit by sunlight...).<br /><br />(In the gathering clouds, "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" took shape... (... & a slice of Moon shone through the clouds...).)<br /><br />When the section of Moon-sliver burst through the edge of the clouds, a distant sea bird appeared... (... as if from the Moon jewel...).<br /><br />(... or... (... rather...,)... the bird came to My more immediate attention... (... like those first few stars of dusk that suddenly become visible... (... despite having been there all along!!!))!)<br /><br />As a few more---(or the same)---birds (re-)appeared in that spot, I was compelled to study the moment....<br /><br />(... birds circling... (... between Me & the lunar eclipse...).)<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Come on---(you target for faraway laughter)---& shine!!!**</span><br /><br />(If necessary, re-open the <a href="http://zimdog.blogspot.com/2011/12/post-notes-morning-for-remembrance.html">Post-Notes</a>....)<br /><br />The clouds did some more eclipsing of the still-red Moon... (... & I doubted if this lunar eclipse would remain visible for much longer... (... before the Sun would dilute its power... (... & the eventual turn of the Earth would wash it from view...))).<br /><br />. . . .<br /><br />I have been wanting to post an update on the book... (... which I <a href="http://zimdog.blogspot.com/2010/06/zimdogs-reason-for-not-blogging.html">first mentioned</a> so long ago now...).<br /><br />The author---(c.d.zim)---is still writing... (... & developing the first draft...). But---(now)---the book has so-much-more shape than it did before....<br /><br />(For this, the author is deeply grateful to a writerly friend, Ian McCarthy... (... who came up with the idea of starting a writer's group...).)<br /><br />Thus---(in trading chapters with a writer)---the author received constructive comments on the first half of <span style="font-style:italic;">The (Eventual) Case</span>...!<br /><br />(In exchange, I offered comments on chapters from Ian's work-in-progress... (... a pulp-fiction novel called <span style="font-style:italic;">Bloody Money</span>...).)<br /><br />The only problem is---(since August)---the author's fellow workshopper has been absent from Tacoma....<br /><br />(In August, Ian moved halfway across the country; nevertheless, the author solaces in this absence....)<br /><br />Luckily, we live in a technological age that permits collaboration via e-mail....<br /><br />(Also of note: I am currently on holiday break from tutoring... (... which means the author is hard at work, prepping chapters for Ian to read... (... in 2012!!!)).)<br /><br />My hope is that a full draft of the book exists by March... (... & My dream-of-dreams is that it will then quickly be revised... (... & published!!!)?)<br /><br />We---(Me included)---are forced to wait-&-see what true cases will be....<br /><br />(In the meantime...,)<br />(<span style="font-style:italic;">Pulse</span> is there... (... coating me like a warm blanket...).)<br /><br />Happy surfin', y'all!!!zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-47924528279092979392011-12-10T13:33:00.005-05:002011-12-10T14:21:29.649-05:00Post-Notes: "A Morning...(... For Remembrance!!!)!"*---{Carlsonian Residue....}---{(... a concept brought to my attention by Su Carlson... [... & written down---(for further review)---in her master's thesis: <span style="font-style:italic;">Residue</span>...])}---{[... but, paraphrased here as: the natural residue of sentiment & experience that we apply to the objects in our lives....]}<br /><br />**---{Pink Floyd}---{("Shine On You Crazy Diamond" [written by: Waters/Wright/Gilmour])}---{[<span style="font-style:italic;">Pulse</span> (Disc I)]}---{(1995 [Pink Floyd Music (1987) Ltd.])}zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-39436962225684857462011-11-05T02:06:00.004-04:002011-11-05T02:18:37.710-04:00Jesus-as-CommodityI couldn't believe what I saw in Ross today: the Lord-&-Savior Jesus Christ in the form of a talking action figure....<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw4ETbx6sTq_4tr9_QuCCgcZRInoisZpbcs5fmvqVLMaF8MV9PA1kxm2WB1R5MCQbRKKblAh58xdhY' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />That is the Lord's Prayer you hear (en Espan~ol)!<br /><br />In other news---(regarding shameless capitalizms)---I checked every pair of shoes at Ross -- to see where they were made. Of course, every pair was made in China. So, I bought the pair that I saw as being "Most Ironically Made-in-China...."<br /><br />(Perry Ellis: America....)<br /><br />Happy shopping, y'all!zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-28405674416936621212011-10-31T01:27:00.003-04:002011-10-31T02:05:16.666-04:00Hemp for Liberty (a petition)(in case it gets pulled from the site, I'm posting it here:)<br /><br />This petition pertains to so many issues---(most of them, in fact)---but the main issue seems to be the right of self-sustenance that is being denied by the unconstitutional Federal prohibition of one of Nature's most versatile industrial resource: hemp....<br /><br />The prohibition of hemp began in 1937, when marijuana was outlawed (after years & years of bad press). The common misconception about this Federal prohibition is that We, the People, were somehow being protected by these laws. This drug prohibition was, however, just a cover for the "dirty" business being done behind the scenes....<br /><br />As we continue seeing today, the will of the People was "decided" by special interests that did not wish to continue competing with the very competitive, very versatile hemp plant. Thus---(via its close relationship with its propagandized cousin plant, marijuana)---hemp ceased to be a viable option for the People of the United States of America to use in their endeavors of making paper, textiles, diesel fuels, etc....<br /><br />Before the People's trade in hemp was unnecessarily outlawed, major U.S. companies---(i.e. Ford Motor Company)---began researching & developing technologies that would utilize byproducts of the readily available, versatile plant: Cannabis sativa (hence the need for competitors of hemp to squash the competition in any way they could).<br /><br />There is no easy way around it: if We wish to continue reducing Our dependence on foreign oil & foreign goods, We need to find Our own ways of producing energy & goods made here in the U.S.A. <br /><br />This nation once shared a valuable relationship with hemp & marijuana. While the People may not be ready to reconsider marijuana, We can safely consider hemp as We once did: a vegetable with many, many uses!<br /><br />With so much talk in recent years about stimulating the economy, it seems only logical for the People of this nation to begin investing in resources that will localize Our nation's ability to create sustainable energy. This is why the re-legalization of hemp as an industrial resource seems primarily to be an issue of civil rights. Initially, the prohibition of the plant was done not in the interests of the People, but in the interests of corporations that stood to lose out to a plant that had proven its worth in so many ways.zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-72457282999071049722011-09-06T00:24:00.004-04:002011-09-06T00:35:41.769-04:00behold the Breakfast Beast (Redux)!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTs64K5wmK0VmszB-KnQFZUAVUQuFkcbGgfD48ns3PMAMr6icQ8wN15lOBAkmxN6aSKLoN8fI2oDicdIhGorr3JbPPeesEOCtIpSWEukwAiw_2Bj6AaisNLlFaIn59CQ1mLT6bw/s1600/Breakfast-Beast-Redux.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTs64K5wmK0VmszB-KnQFZUAVUQuFkcbGgfD48ns3PMAMr6icQ8wN15lOBAkmxN6aSKLoN8fI2oDicdIhGorr3JbPPeesEOCtIpSWEukwAiw_2Bj6AaisNLlFaIn59CQ1mLT6bw/s320/Breakfast-Beast-Redux.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649098928952861442" /></a><br /><br />Folks, that's three kinds of animal on one sandwich....<br /><br />(But, this ain't no club sandwich, fool...!)<br /><br />The Breakfast Beast (Redux) is:<br /><br />grilled slices of roast beef (3);<br />sliced Swiss cheese (melted on the roast beef, after flipping);<br />two strips of bacon (pan-fried);<br />one egg (pan-fried in bacon juice);<br />grilled slices of tomato (3);<br />on toasted dark sourdough rye;<br /><br />(The Original Breakfast Beast excludes the bacon, swaps Monty Jack for the Swiss, & comes on toasted white sourdough....)zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-1884426528252187762011-08-21T16:22:00.007-04:002011-09-23T04:47:20.840-04:00a yummy scrap for the zimdog's bowl---<br />{futuristic thoughts about Kennedy Space Center}<br />---<br /><br />Before space travel became widespread, there was only one U.S. port to the cosmos....<br /><br />(Kennedy Space Center....)<br /><br />Located on Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center was established in 1962....<br /><br />(A year later, the spaceport was named for President John F. Kennedy....)<br /><br />---<br />{from NASA, <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/history/index.html">"Kennedy Space Center"</a>}<br />---<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Kennedy Space Center has served as the departure gate for every American manned mission and hundreds of advanced scientific spacecraft....<br /><br />Project Mercury....<br /><br />The space shuttle & International Space Station....<br /><br />The Hubble Space Telescope....<br /><br />The Mars Exploration Rovers...</span><br /><br />---<br />{author's note}<br />---<br /><br />I just couldn't find room for this information in the latest planetarium script....<br /><br />(But...,)<br />(That's a good thing... (... right???)!)zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-75430495221278877862011-07-05T13:08:00.000-04:002011-07-05T13:08:19.905-04:00Mother''s Forgotten Garden, 978-3-639-18199-9, 3639181999 ,9783639181999 by C.D. Zim<a href="https://www.morebooks.de/store/gb/book/mother-s-forgotten-garden/isbn/978-3-639-18199-9#.ThNE95ZseVQ.blogger">Mother''s Forgotten Garden, 978-3-639-18199-9, 3639181999 ,9783639181999 by C.D. Zim</a>zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-49774404533930825752011-05-27T17:21:00.007-04:002012-06-17T21:07:01.437-04:00Russell Lloyd Zimmerman(July 04, 1922 - May 27, 2011)<br />
<br />
I felt strangely calm after reading Ryan's text that Pop had collapsed while doing yard-work....<br />
<br />
(Wasn't I supposed to feel more shock than I felt; wasn't I supposed to cry...?)<br />
(...(... you know...,) those sorts of thoughts....)<br />
<br />
After all, Pop was my grandfather... (... my own kin!!!).<br />
... someone I've known since I grew old enough to recognize the importance of people other than myself....<br />
<br />
Growing up, I always thought it was so neat to celebrate my grandfather's birthday & the 4th of July together....<br />
<br />
But---(as I grew older)---my 4th-of-July plans didn't always include Pop....<br />
<br />
In later years, I attached other experiences to the holiday... (... & to Pop...).<br />
<br />
For example...,<br />
... the life of Henry David Thoreau....<br />
<br />
In 2002, I celebrated our nation's independence at Walden Pond... (... where Thoreau moved on July 4th, 1845...).<br />
<br />
So, even though I didn't always celebrate the 4th directly with Pop, but---(because of his birthday)---he was with me in spirit... (... wherever I was, or whatever I was doing...).<br />
... & then---(whenever I did get back to PA)---he was there....<br />
<br />
(Same-old house; same-old Pop....)<br />
<br />
... like Thoreau, a man who shared some connection with a plot of land... (... &, by proxy, the Earth...).<br />
<br />
On the day of Pop's death, my dad told me Pop had recently done some work on the mower & was back to mowing the yard himself....<br />
<br />
He loved taking care of that yard... (... something I always remember about him...).<br />
<br />
Also like Thoreau, Pop was a man of his own....<br />
... a man of deep rational thought....<br />
... an inventor....<br />
... a hard worker....<br />
... & a man who enjoyed Life's simple pleasures....<br />
<br />
In Pop, I also recognize a military man....<br />
... a soldier born on the Fourth of July....<br />
<br />
He was someone who served his nation in a time of darkness...,<br />
... & who---(afterward)---enjoyed living peacefully in the post-World War II era....<br />
<br />
However, it's the earlier recognitions of Pop that I miss the most now....<br />
<br />
For me, Pop was always the gentle giant standing quietly at family functions....<br />
<br />
(... that is, until I joined him up there in the stratosphere....)<br />
<br />
... but, that's another topic altogether....<br />
<br />
(... an essay about the genetic inheritance of lanky legs....)<br />
<br />
... & big ears....<br />
<br />
(... relevant here only as cosmic connections shared between the two of us....)<br />
<br />
... physical reasons for receiving the cosmic news of his death....<br />
<br />
For me, this happened as I climbed the steps to go in my front door....<br />
<br />
The strange Pacific-Northwestern weather had issued one of its occasional sun-showers....<br />
For some reason, the meteorological moment reminded me of Pop....<br />
... understandably so, considering the text Ryan sent about his collapse earlier that morning....<br />
<br />
That day, I had already thought about Pop more often than I might have on any other day....<br />
<br />
But, something felt different about this thought... (... a moment of realization in the mist & sunshine...).<br />
<br />
As I opened the front door, my cell-phone began ringing... (... Ryan calling...).<br />
<br />
I stepped inside to answer it... (... & entered a world in which my grandfather had ceased to live...).<br />
<br />
Immediately, the calmness of earlier began cracking....<br />
<br />
I began considering how everyone else would take the news....<br />
... Pop's children....<br />
... his other grandchildren....<br />
... even his great-grandchildren....<br />
<br />
I cried as I told Emily... (... something akin to Grandma's sadness of a missed mate...).<br />
<br />
I cried later when my dad answered Grandma & Pop's phone... (... & he told me about the heart attack that struck Pop to the ground...).<br />
<br />
A day or so later, I cried some more while writing in a sympathy card... (... to mail to Grandma...).<br />
<br />
A few more days later, I called Grandma to wish her a Happy-as-could-be Birthday... (... & had one more cry for the spirit of her missing soul-mate...).<br />
<br />
Really, the only consolation I have taken along the way is...,<br />
Pop died doing something he loved... (... tending to his own patch of the Earth...).<br />
<br />
He died trimming the grass along the edge of the driveway... (... one aspect of his death that I had no problem accepting...).<br />
<br />
The coroner said Pop probably died quickly too... (... another acceptable aspect of his death, considering the long, good life he lived before that death...).<br />
<br />
And now---(pretending to cram scattered thoughts into one simple piece of writing)---I find myself strangely compelled to talk about Pop in elemental ways....<br />
<br />
In his frequent silence, he often seemed like a wise man... (... his wisdom broken only by the occasional moment of clumsiness...).<br />
<br />
(... another quality we share through genetic inheritance....)<br />
<br />
However, Pop's clumsiness was of the innocent kind....<br />
... underestimated words... (... the intelligent thoughts of simple man living in a complicated world...).<br />
... or, the occasional moment of physical entropy... (... like the memory I have of him leaning his back against a wall, only to knock some decorative kitchen gadget from its perch...).<br />
<br />
I am usually young in my memories of Pop...,<br />
... but---(despite being youthful memories)---I still manage to recognize the honest innocence of those clumsy moments....<br />
<br />
... which is why---(now that I'm older & mentally more like Pop than I was in my early years)---I understand more fully the power of his ways....<br />
<br />
(... & how that mental power must've eased his return to a silent state of wisdom....)<br />
<br />
... yet one more reason why Russell Lloyd Zimmerman is, was, & will continue to be the grandfather I remember so dearly....<br />
<br />
(May you rest in peace, Pop!!!!)zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-7904405948548695382011-05-19T03:39:00.003-04:002011-05-19T03:43:57.109-04:00cunctipotenceFor years, I've been wanting to read this article again....<br /><br />Well---(tonight)---I finally did the 5 seconds of work necessary to find it....<span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.triviavoices.net/archives/issue4/caputi.html">Cunctipotence: Elemental Female Potency</a></span></span><br /><br />Enjoy!zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-70975698054104328462011-05-14T15:05:00.003-04:002011-05-14T17:40:31.443-04:00Saturday the 14th <meta equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <title></title> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="StarOffice 8 ASUS Edition (Linux)"> <style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --></style>Yesterday the 13th was not particularly un-lucky for me.... <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Sure, I encountered some forces that were stacked against me---(forces which did spark strong feelings of frustration)---but because it happened on a Friday the 13th, I was eventually able to overcome the negativity of a "holiday" (& consider the situation from a rational, self-respecting point of view).</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">... nor do I wish to promote the omnipresence of rational thought....</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">(In fact, quite often, I consider the ways We---(as a nation )---realize the lasting effects of Our emotional ignorance....</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">(... Us having the wires crossed in many, many ways....)</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">... rationalized bullets-&-bombs when We want to be positive... (... & territoriality when We want to be negative...).</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">What's wrong with emotions when We want to be positive... (... & rationality when We want to be negative...)?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Creativity seems like better company for positivity... (... & solitude for negativity...).</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">(... as opposed to thoughtless obedience....)</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> (... on both counts....)</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">But, that's beside the point....</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">(... or is it...?)</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Dun...,</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">... dun...,</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">... daaahhhh!!!!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-75846878480297612732011-05-03T03:19:00.010-04:002011-05-03T05:43:55.366-04:00r.i.f. osama bin laden (1957-2011)After hearing Jon Stewart's commentary, I agree that---(if there's a Hell)---Osama Bin Laden is roasting in it....<br /><br />(Doesn't mean I have to agree with how he was sent there....)<br /><br />I simply don't understand life in an uber-militarized nation....<br />(I grew up in England... (... where people choose to be polite...).)<br /><br />As Stewart moved from the funny first five minutes into the emotion-laden material, I even found myself beginning to justify the personal nature of the killing....<br />(... that the U.S. government had---(at least)---killed Bin Laden with a personal touch....)<br />(... with a bullet instead of a bomb....)<br /><br />By the end of the show, Jon Stewart's demeanor had fully embodied itself in two of his closing words: "Pure id."<br />(I wasn't disappointed or surprised though....)<br /><br />... because, I'm sure---(without experiencing the same)---that the human id is gravely affected by skyscrapers collapsing in a nearby neighborhood....<br />(... not that I can relate....)<br /><br />When the events of September 11, 2001 reached me in Australia, I had just gone to bed....<br />(... having already lived most of my September 11th....)<br /><br />Em & I were near sleep when her mom called to tell us what was---(at that very moment)---happening on the other side of the world....<br /><br />(Thus, my id cannot properly relate to that of a contemporary New Yorker....)<br />(... nor the People who lost loved-ones on that day....)<br /><br />Having said that, I can't seem to get past the point that Our own militarized nation was partly responsible for creating Osama Bin Laden... (... to commit systematic murder...).<br /><br />... & that Our own militarized nation has now destroyed Osama Bin Laden... (... with more systematic murder...).<br /><br />...which means the People should share in the blame... (... for permitting a government that creates monsters...).<br /><br />(But, hey....)<br />(If it helps to pretend....)<br />(Go on & pretend that Bin Laden wasn't once human....)<br /><br />I see the murder of Osama Bin Laden---(& the resulting celebration)---as confirmation of what Jon Stewart admitted to:<br /><br />Pure id....<br />... proof that U.S. Americans have officially known the id-rattling effects of terrorism....<br />(...giving them reason to forget the destruction that their own nation has created elsewhere....)<br /><br />(... & maybe now---(with the eventual closure of 9/11 in motion)---We can begin to reconsider some of those bombs we drop on other Peoples...?)<br /><br />Stewart's wise-crack about the erect State of Florida was more accurate than he realized....<br />(... the unconscious, sexual nature of Our nation's military phallus....)<br /><br />After tonight's <span style="font-style: italic;">Daily Show</span>, I wonder---(even more than before)---if the killing of Bin Laden will offer any more closure than an unsatisfactory prison execution....<br /><br />(Or...,)<br />(Maybe We'll continue thinking with our erect inventions...?)<br /><br />I do not wish to imply that Jon Stewart was off his game tonight....<br />(... nor that he was unjustified....)<br /><br />In fact, his thoughtful interview with the guest would suggest surprising rational function....<br />(... despite his id-charged emotional state...).<br /><br />I only wish to admit that---(having been disappointed last night by Obama's predictable victory speech)---I merely wanted Jon Stewart to give me some hope tonight....<br /><br />I wanted him to ponder the life & death of Osama Bin Laden as I do....<br />(... namely, one more reason to reconsider the military-industrial complex....)<br /><br />(Then again...,)<br />(I wasn't even in the country for 9/11....)<br /><br />Luckily---(for my sake)---I had underestimated the fool that remained....<br /><br />(Thank you, Mr. Colbert....)<br /><br />... which leaves only the matter of Osama Bin Laden's remains....<br /><br />...<br /><br />And so---(to you)---Osama Bin Laden... (... currently roasting in flames...),<br />I say this:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">May you soon be cleansed of your human nonsense....</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(... & the human nonsense inflicted upon you & your neighbors....</span>)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />... so that the U.S. American People may sooner move on....</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(... & discover the errors in Our own practices....)<br /><br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />da zimdog<br /><br /><br /></span>zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-28711611233002866362011-04-29T04:28:00.003-04:002011-04-29T04:44:26.209-04:00da zimdog goes (... flies kite...)The other day, I did something I haven't done in years & years... (... more than a decade...).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NSCeVBlog2SGHVXJNmIM3By9b5Efv0OMnhVTfFhw0EqU9EfaXnf2QGZWbWSwNTdHjWdGgjWP93R-mMurA5cPFmWldoP4Rj4GglbY3bTLXmLL9Vb9BZEy7Ij8dw2-_uTUFyzcOA/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NSCeVBlog2SGHVXJNmIM3By9b5Efv0OMnhVTfFhw0EqU9EfaXnf2QGZWbWSwNTdHjWdGgjWP93R-mMurA5cPFmWldoP4Rj4GglbY3bTLXmLL9Vb9BZEy7Ij8dw2-_uTUFyzcOA/s320/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600922433218402418" border="0" /></a><br />If you can't see it in detail, it's Griffin's Lightning McQueen kite. (I think I enjoyed it more than he did.) I must've flown it for nearly two hours....<br /><br />Today, it wasn't windy enough to fly a kite, so Griffin just jumped in a puddle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqYtpZkhz2KQWTCcBLwvf9z9bld_E3oypDPuiuK2B3xJWjf5XG5cK5Qmln0dTm28sgDgu8zRps3eYX-Mbx93lZlJ-QjYbGP3UBbzs_Gqr5157LE66h6wJpnF2dwsRtGAoNVSgDw/s1600/photo%25283%2529.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqYtpZkhz2KQWTCcBLwvf9z9bld_E3oypDPuiuK2B3xJWjf5XG5cK5Qmln0dTm28sgDgu8zRps3eYX-Mbx93lZlJ-QjYbGP3UBbzs_Gqr5157LE66h6wJpnF2dwsRtGAoNVSgDw/s320/photo%25283%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600922439415958002" border="0" /></a><br />I'm so proud of his dadaist nature....zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-41271923196084818752011-04-26T02:33:00.003-04:002011-04-26T02:39:05.864-04:00the last medical update...?<div style="text-align: left;">So...,</div><div>Patricia Tison's CT scan came back with results normal....</div><div><br /></div><div>In other medical news...,</div><div>I've been eating the prescribed breakfast cereal each morning & like the flavor... (... so I decided to share the recipe...).</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqFurDyXq8PqetGcUj_fvcaEjyh7gYhEWq074PtG6lk6mGvEPPW-b6TFileD3tIRZTvQZSuvN6q1L48ZHvKG9XxJQwwtfgnMc_nK84npZ4_OrfnU93igeDHGKqhfu6-bY-ool5Q/s1600/ISB-handout002.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqFurDyXq8PqetGcUj_fvcaEjyh7gYhEWq074PtG6lk6mGvEPPW-b6TFileD3tIRZTvQZSuvN6q1L48ZHvKG9XxJQwwtfgnMc_nK84npZ4_OrfnU93igeDHGKqhfu6-bY-ool5Q/s400/ISB-handout002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599777541256505074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>... & another interesting <i>doc</i>-ument... (... hyuck, hyuck...).</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXuls-ewwi1Ij8QHwQJtQOGVqC60FIz8HYD84IiBkLvbazWOQ3ekf8w-oAOWsj3b6VayJa-_Q3QGWER1JZijaU-yrnYs1n-Ec7m792hH-qQ0EjOK3WSeUBPEJv1t68eIKBHn7Fg/s1600/milk-handout002.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXuls-ewwi1Ij8QHwQJtQOGVqC60FIz8HYD84IiBkLvbazWOQ3ekf8w-oAOWsj3b6VayJa-_Q3QGWER1JZijaU-yrnYs1n-Ec7m792hH-qQ0EjOK3WSeUBPEJv1t68eIKBHn7Fg/s400/milk-handout002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599777547315438018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Bon voyage!</div><div><br /></div>zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-49852015369781993672011-04-21T01:52:00.002-04:002011-04-21T02:14:16.164-04:00another day of medicineToday, I ventured farther into the world of modern medicine....<div><br /></div><div>I established a relationship with a naturopathic doctor. His suspicion is that my GI tract is asking for more fiber... (... so he prescribed me some probiotics & a particular cereal recipe for my breakfasts...).</div><div><br /></div><div>After leaving the doctor's office, I went down the road for a CAT scan. (What a strange sensation... (... feeling the warmth of that contrast solution in my body...)!)</div><div><br /></div><div>When the CT was finished, the male nurse said I could remove the wristband from my wrist. I didn't think much of it at the time... (... replying that I thought I was going to get blood drawn as well...). </div><div><br /></div><div>Later in the day---(while washing my hands)---I decided I didn't need to wear the wristband any longer, so I ripped it off... (... & by chance, checked the name on it...).</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I say to you, Patricia Tison---(wherever you are out there)---may the results of your CAT scan show a healthy GI tract....</div>zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-25999665687943828312011-04-16T02:51:00.004-04:002011-04-16T03:28:02.517-04:00this blog post is so meta-<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br />I went to see multiple doctors today. Lately, I've been having a weird, warm pressure in the left-side of my gut (& more recently, some nausea & closed sinuses). Today, I finally mustered the courage to go to Urgent Care... (... & begin the process of finding out what's goin' on inside me...).<div><br /></div><div>Nothing conclusive from that visit yet... (... except for finally finishing Orwell's <i>1984</i> while waiting for the doctor... (... & the nurse... (... & then the doctor again...))).</div><div><br /></div><div>After two hours at home (hangin' wit da G-dawg), I skated to an eye doctor appointment & got my eyes checked.... (That's right; 20/15 vision, suckas!!!!) Woot woot...!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm3Tijm2Td5eq1DE5vsvgyUlBpUWy9AkHwhwZL6bpxK-5ReA9SBKsZ__BWzkeOBGAQaLVUEQapyVg8Co907FmPRQMnLK36Ro18ncs6u_gYYGeAhsdqdoHw2LnDeKLQWODhDOskg/s1600/photo-31.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm3Tijm2Td5eq1DE5vsvgyUlBpUWy9AkHwhwZL6bpxK-5ReA9SBKsZ__BWzkeOBGAQaLVUEQapyVg8Co907FmPRQMnLK36Ro18ncs6u_gYYGeAhsdqdoHw2LnDeKLQWODhDOskg/s320/photo-31.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596079662123507522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Then---(later in the day)---I decided to blog about it....</div><div><br /></div><div>(This blog post is so meta-!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-24709275001589248462010-11-23T22:12:00.005-05:002010-11-23T22:32:50.557-05:00The Wacky Wizard's New Lunch Sandwich: The Spotted Monte....<div style="text-align: left;">The Spotted Monte is a variation on the Monte Cristo (... inspired by the English dessert dish, Spotted Dick...).</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuRB8nK5NFZuhPjzTdv_Is8FCBUVdqUoqOJhGSqTF4XJT4Vm5ZHes29yI6nfenMZTxcgy5VIahHh3sg-IYMdvn1sBBKm-hXmm86aeCTxyu7C980v5RXJYMbiadzHMYXYSEJRIDQ/s320/Spotted-Monte.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542950027600445906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div><br /></div>Start with two pieces of Freedom Toast.<div>(The Wacky Wizard used croissants....)</div><div><br /></div><div>Broil slab of ham with cheese & raisins on it....</div><div><br /></div><div>Once the meat, etc. is nice & hot... get the Freedom Toast in there to warm up....</div><div><br /></div><div>When the Freedom Toast is warm... spread grape jelly on & assemble the sandwich....</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, chew & enjoy!!!</div><div>(But only if you're wacky enough....)</div>zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-33027051276730326972010-06-27T01:53:00.000-04:002010-06-27T01:54:56.970-04:00why the chew toy is no longer dead<div>(a repeat post to show facebook & A.J. who's boss)</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been telling people here & there, but this is the first mention in full-on, press-release style.<div><br /></div><div>Since early this year, I've been working on a novel-length project. What originated as a 25-page story for a summer workshop later evolved into an 80-page screenplay-story hybrid that played a role in my master's thesis. The tale now continues advancing the full distance by becoming a book-length work of fiction devoted to various themes (mostly U.S. Liberty & wildness [including my main man, Thoreau]).</div><div><br /></div><div>The tentative (but quite certain) title for this project is <i>The Eventual Case of the Nacirema v. Joe Q. Patriot (& the Walden Fella)</i>... similar to its earlier title as part of my thesis. But while the title remains similar, the word count will change drastically. I published my thesis with a German company called VDM Verlag. The contract with them allows me to re-publish those materials elsewhere as long as I alter at least 20% of the word count. I'd say I'm safely altering far more than that. More like global overhaul... being performed very gradually. (No more rushed deadlines. No more half-assed submissions. When I submit this latest version for publication, it'll be done right, dammit.)<div><br /></div><div>My hope is that I can recover the chew toy as an outlet for updates, realizations, etc. If that happens, I also hope to post some other stories to <a href="http://zimdog-pnaws.blogspot.com/">zimdog pnaws</a>... stories that influenced the sudden onset of <i>The Eventual Case</i>.... (But I'm not gonna post those until I "finish" touching them up, which means taking time away from the bigger picture... and right now, my brain prefers focusing on <i>The Eventual Case</i>....)</div><div><br /></div><div>In revising from thesis version to book-length version, I'm revamping not only the narrative structure of the tale, but also much of the content. Eventually, I'll be posting sample sections... but only once I have a complete first draft. So for now, I'll just restate what I recently told a friend. One primary goal of the project is to fracture the narrative psyche (... whatever that means).</div></div></div>zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-67855630098156594432010-06-27T00:47:00.009-04:002010-06-27T01:53:42.418-04:00zimdog's reason for not bloggingwhy the chew toy is no longer dead<div><br /></div><div>I've been telling people here & there, but this is the first mention in full-on, press-release style.<div><br /></div><div>Since early this year, I've been working on a novel-length project. What originated as a 25-page story for a summer workshop later evolved into an 80-page screenplay-story hybrid that played a role in my master's thesis. The tale now continues advancing the full distance by becoming a book-length work of fiction devoted to various themes (mostly U.S. Liberty & wildness [including my main man, Thoreau]).</div><div><br /></div><div>The tentative (but quite certain) title for this project is <i>The Eventual Case of the Nacirema v. Joe Q. Patriot (& the Walden Fella)</i>... similar to its earlier title as part of my thesis. But while the title remains similar, the word count will change drastically. I published my thesis with a German company called VDM Verlag. The contract with them allows me to re-publish those materials elsewhere as long as I alter at least 20% of the word count. I'd say I'm safely altering far more than that. More like global overhaul... being performed very gradually. (No more rushed deadlines. No more half-assed submissions. When I submit this latest version for publication, it'll be done right, dammit.)<div><br /></div><div>My hope is that I can recover the chew toy as an outlet for updates, realizations, etc. If that happens, I also hope to post some other stories to <a href="http://zimdog-pnaws.blogspot.com/">zimdog pnaws</a>... stories that influenced the sudden onset of <i>The Eventual Case</i>.... (But I'm not gonna post those until I "finish" touching them up, which means taking time away from the bigger picture... and right now, my brain prefers focusing on <i>The Eventual Case</i>....)</div><div><br /></div><div>In revising from thesis version to book-length version, I'm revamping not only the narrative structure of the tale, but also much of the content. Eventually, I'll be posting sample sections... but only once I have a complete first draft. So for now, I'll just restate what I recently told a friend. One primary goal of the project is to fracture the narrative psyche (... whatever that means).</div></div></div>zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-9878859505865901722009-11-30T16:03:00.002-05:002009-11-30T16:14:50.488-05:00Reactions to a question on the u.s. censusQuestion 8 on "The American Community Survey":<br /><br />Does this house, apartment, or mobile home have -<br /><br />a. hot and cold running water?<br /><br />b. a flush toilet?<br /><br />c. a bathtub or shower?<br /><br />d. a sink with a faucet?<br /><br />e. a stove or range?<br /><br />f. a refrigerator?<br /><br />g. telephone service from which you can both make and receive calls? <span style="font-style: italic;">Include cell phones.</span><br /><br />Reaction #1:<br />Wow. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that this question is on here. There must be some primitive American homes on the postal grid. But still, it's the 21st century. Why shouldn't everyone be able to answer yes to all of them like I did?<br /><br />Reaction #2:<br />Not only am I lucky to have been born in America, I'm lucky to have been born into the lucky America that takes running water and food storage for granted.<br /><br />Reaction #3:<br />This doesn't make me love America more. It makes me more ashamed of economic inequality. Spoiled brats get their Sweet Sixteens boasted on MTV, but the "have-nots" only get to watch, that is if they're lucky enough to experience the luxury of cable television... or "a sink with a faucet" for that matter.zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-14655040973507424842009-11-19T18:55:00.003-05:002009-11-19T19:04:38.776-05:00zimdog's quote of the fortnightI'm sad because I'm happy,<br />I'm happy because I'm mad,<br />And I'm mad cuz it's so sappy...<br />to be happy when you're sad.<br /><br />-- Oscar the Grouch, <span style="font-style: italic;">Sesame Street</span>zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-75055918524630308842009-10-29T03:50:00.009-04:002009-10-29T05:09:25.955-04:00zimdog is top chef 4eva<i>Top Chef</i> was just coming on when I started making dinner earlier. Sounded like a challenge to me.<br /><br />I can't believe I've never blogged about my cooking before. I'm terrible at cooking, as you can imagine. I'm such a left-overs cooker too. Those who have seen the sorts of things I eat can probably imagine the sorts of things I cook. I mean:<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">- I once made dessert burgers, which might've been salvageable up until the point where I dumped half a jar of molasses in with the half-frozen ground beef;</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">- if I had a restaurant, my signature sandwich would be The Pregnant Lady: grilled sourdough with cheese, pickles, french fries, tomatoes, onions, and a variety of sauces that make the ending plate representative of the afterbirth;</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">- in college, I would race others through plastic cafeteria cups full of table-made slop. And I rarely lost.<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So you can imagine how much Tom Chode-Lickio from <i>Top Chef </i><span style="font-style: normal;">would enjoy having me ram my fucking cooking down his toad throat.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Music helps when I cook, so I threw on some Mason Jennings (discovering the beauty of “How Deep Is That River,” a song from his last album). </span><span style="font-style: normal;">The cardboard box holding t</span><span style="font-style: normal;">he </span><span style="font-style: normal;">plastic pouch of </span><span style="font-style: normal;">ready-made </span><span style="font-style: normal;"></span><span style="font-style: normal;">guacamole was cast aside next to the Mason Jennings paper CD case. </span><i>Dun't wurry, Mason. I wun't thro' yur c-d-buklet uh'way thunkin' it's a gwack-uh-molay bux.</i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Here's an accoutrement I developed tonight:</span><i><u><br /></u></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><br /></u></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><u>The Wacky Wizard's Scientifically Speedy Garlic Butter</u><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">- one used Trader Joe's frozen crème brulee dish</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">- one reasonable-sized pat of refrigerated butter</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">- one chopped, pressed garlic clove</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Use microwave to melt butter in crème brulee dish. Melt butter only halfway. Add crushed garlic. Melt butter the rest of the way.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;">I spooned this Scientifically Speedy Garlic Butter onto oat bran toast. Now that's some wacky garlic bread to go with an even more wacky meal.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;">But first things first.<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43qcAdLnKYvmR6GM9rQRV89RpgiCpp9es0eMxgXo_13mcAWBD-c5beQZTfAs1Cnd__UHjlVhepVEVq_OVAN68D8RxCUmTcocIkTVNwXHfqITt6IipDfguboOxsu7RlIeVJEzfog/s1600-h/first-course.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43qcAdLnKYvmR6GM9rQRV89RpgiCpp9es0eMxgXo_13mcAWBD-c5beQZTfAs1Cnd__UHjlVhepVEVq_OVAN68D8RxCUmTcocIkTVNwXHfqITt6IipDfguboOxsu7RlIeVJEzfog/s320/first-course.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397942128631142610" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;">The appetizer (or “First Course” as the professionals call it) was an apple & cheese plate. I decided to serve the apple <i>en apple slicer</i> alongside a variety of cheeses: walnut gouda, hand-broken triangles of provolone, and Cambazola (a very-bleu cheese with mushrooms). Thanks also to my sponsor, Babybel, for the featured cheese of the plate for their Babybel Light semi-soft cheese. Babybel Light. The lite Babybel.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;">Em seemed to be enjoying “First Course” so I away'd myself back to the kitchen to finish the Main Course. I don't have a name for it per se, except maybe...</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><u>The Wacky Wizard's Turkey Burger Stir-fry with Pesto-Cream Soy Sauce Reduction</u><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: italic;">- <span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">four Trader Joe's pesto-parmesan turkey burgers</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">- the remainder of a bag of frozen stir-fry carrots</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">- the remainder of a bag of frozen peas</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">- the remainder of a bag of frozen green beans<br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">- a handful of raw broccoli</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">- one ramakin of soy sauce paste (made by leaving soy sauce uncovered in the fridge for several days)</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">- one package of stay-fresh guacamole (or fresh if you have it)</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">- a couple tablespoons of plain nonfat yogurt</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">- some pesto paste (not too much)</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">- a short pour of heavy whipping cream</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">- some butter</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">- a small handful of salted pumpkin seeds</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: italic;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Grill really frozen burgers & wax paper dividers on medium heat. Scrape already-processed turkey meat away from the wrappers as they defrost enough to do so. Remove wrappers from the skillet as they become available. Mash turkey meat up too as it becomes freed. When all turkey meat has cooked away from the wrappers, and all wrappers have been removed from the skillet, wash hands thoroughly.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Hopefully the turkey meat isn't char by now. (If it is, turn the skillet down. It's still good.) Add some butter to the skillet. Begin adding vegetables in an order than makes sense to you. Cover the skillet to facilitate steaming of said vegetables. If cooking in Cleveland, try not to laugh while steaming your meat and vegetables.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Well, you've made it this far. You might as well finish the dish, right? After a few good minutes of steaming, remove cover. Stir guacamole & yogurt together. Add to meat and vegetables. Stir soy sauce, pesto paste, and heavy cream together. Add to the rest of it (cuz at this point it can't hurt).</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Turn heat down to low. Re-cover skillet, and let simmer while you prepare The Wacky Wizard's Scientifically Speedy Oat Bran Garlic Bread.When the garlic bread is done, plate everything like this...</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3Lkt1S3alrdzNq6BxqSpKVE3pYE1NmkDADSLqKh0i6PgN3cOLsoWTEOtuPQP2Oh0PtPG3W-GDbqqpk2jFtx34mamlZcAUm-An3l9b8yh3qb6MiG6qcqYCNcC5i9s3VNNbPlnkA/s1600-h/main-course-uno.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3Lkt1S3alrdzNq6BxqSpKVE3pYE1NmkDADSLqKh0i6PgN3cOLsoWTEOtuPQP2Oh0PtPG3W-GDbqqpk2jFtx34mamlZcAUm-An3l9b8yh3qb6MiG6qcqYCNcC5i9s3VNNbPlnkA/s320/main-course-uno.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397944481144407730" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">... because other arrangements are not officially endorsed by the Wacky Wizard.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">But wait! I forgot the finishing touch. Supply all brave eaters with a small cup of salted pumpkin seeds to sprinkle on top for added crunch.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-UNswwy6FLwEv4znNJRwXz8JmRI4aCvZmETg6rHRtr7uOvgaPblTZDl6V9Puc1_QAywTjdan9hEsB5Gw327FV2Aa2ccBgrHfh-a9yvDbO9vB9LBv8EuOW3uPqq20gyN2_bfZkQ/s1600-h/main-course-dos.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-UNswwy6FLwEv4znNJRwXz8JmRI4aCvZmETg6rHRtr7uOvgaPblTZDl6V9Puc1_QAywTjdan9hEsB5Gw327FV2Aa2ccBgrHfh-a9yvDbO9vB9LBv8EuOW3uPqq20gyN2_bfZkQ/s320/main-course-dos.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397943938922632354" border="0" /></a><br /><main-course-dos></main-course-dos></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;"><main-course-dos>There. Just look at that flavor hiding in there. I had to use the flash to find it. Does flavor</main-course-dos><main-course-dos> think it can hide from me or something? </main-course-dos></p>zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19097488.post-83699821512985593462009-10-28T00:11:00.008-04:002009-10-29T05:15:16.633-04:00A Thoreau SaturdayI realize the chew toy has been a bit of a bitch fest in past months. I think I'm finally decompressing from the negative self I became in Florida. This is to be expected, but that doesn't mean the chew toy's gotta suffer all of that anguish. It's time to turn the corner, at least for a little while.<br /><br />Did you get that? And by "you," I'm addressing the 0.33-repeating people who still read the chew toy. It's time for a lighter side of the zimdog.<br /><br />I had quite a Thoreau-esque Saturday. Em, G-Riff, and I saw a pumpkin patch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEHa6zhxHfaK-H9CVuNO183qjPcXSMJIufSJhvIYDvThNOUH8ZcOqofsZVvHVkG-45XIFS-2vR4m0hT1E6H_XcGdIIt-L75_S0dPY8CCuZwefsvVqh_zID_RLoIL8d3L60oiSdQ/s1600-h/1+Em-n-G.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEHa6zhxHfaK-H9CVuNO183qjPcXSMJIufSJhvIYDvThNOUH8ZcOqofsZVvHVkG-45XIFS-2vR4m0hT1E6H_XcGdIIt-L75_S0dPY8CCuZwefsvVqh_zID_RLoIL8d3L60oiSdQ/s320/1+Em-n-G.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397947268212948018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0yoZ1NX_tnLx1eVdAM0c5fakjWqXeWn6W3CDVrALE5tIAHn_kB8VhZDebrKYd4zZ9_A37dtOpUa64Y7Gt_s6IF5dq7nwqht1FyyXV-h8vpzIr6-BrwV4TOTdwRYbyuVByumhAQ/s1600-h/2+G-pumpkin-frown.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0yoZ1NX_tnLx1eVdAM0c5fakjWqXeWn6W3CDVrALE5tIAHn_kB8VhZDebrKYd4zZ9_A37dtOpUa64Y7Gt_s6IF5dq7nwqht1FyyXV-h8vpzIr6-BrwV4TOTdwRYbyuVByumhAQ/s320/2+G-pumpkin-frown.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397947272904068818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuxZRgme_3O7iqlcNb46o7QN2AkgCNNcIWRH1n8s7IuIFbTNjZo-WQuTvo09XUlEQPrqnYqx4z0kpMzp0DSpIssCY6ZmiJCkXMbqTwdZK6kKaWmLqnTlNkh1aBjt11VXoskO20w/s1600-h/3+G-pumpkin-pose.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuxZRgme_3O7iqlcNb46o7QN2AkgCNNcIWRH1n8s7IuIFbTNjZo-WQuTvo09XUlEQPrqnYqx4z0kpMzp0DSpIssCY6ZmiJCkXMbqTwdZK6kKaWmLqnTlNkh1aBjt11VXoskO20w/s320/3+G-pumpkin-pose.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397947276969227586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_fMqf7CKQs5DgB7XwI6649LoiYjHEBn0XeF16cpidvDQeNNBL2FJYOx4QnS8L1vpFo9lfVkg_dU-FT4_8nLf7d6J71PGiP8xkbPdvR9WSeGnveFOzGxzKP6u08e7RZud8eBKig/s1600-h/4+G-straw-uno.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_fMqf7CKQs5DgB7XwI6649LoiYjHEBn0XeF16cpidvDQeNNBL2FJYOx4QnS8L1vpFo9lfVkg_dU-FT4_8nLf7d6J71PGiP8xkbPdvR9WSeGnveFOzGxzKP6u08e7RZud8eBKig/s320/4+G-straw-uno.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397947278629782594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwf2HjRMz6SW4YURnBlEtl7lxX-0fcJqWpswqjRACChfntWPgxI80sAU-4YNZR9ZSyMHrhi3eQexBGkBh78r90ZOuNlaOWM9QQrIEGASZxTxZAwUVCg17OqhpIKjzqIb7Mf6mMA/s1600-h/5+G-straw-dos.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwf2HjRMz6SW4YURnBlEtl7lxX-0fcJqWpswqjRACChfntWPgxI80sAU-4YNZR9ZSyMHrhi3eQexBGkBh78r90ZOuNlaOWM9QQrIEGASZxTxZAwUVCg17OqhpIKjzqIb7Mf6mMA/s320/5+G-straw-dos.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397947278638877618" border="0" /></a><br />On the way home, we stopped at Terry's Berries, where we picked a bucket of apples which we then washed and pressed into cider. It was fun, except for the mean-spirited jackass ordering us around on the cider press. And the cider is the best I've ever tasted.<br /><br />After we got home with our jug o' cider, I decided to cut some wood in the green-belt running behind our apartment. (As Thoreau probably would, here I note that we've even come up with industrialized names for Nature; oh, we are a sad society.) I came across a felled tree while walking Murphy down there a few days earlier. My goal was to go chop a few large logs off and bring them up to chop for firewood. So down the hill I slid with a bag over my shoulder. The bag was to collect wood chips for kindling, and also for transporting my hatchet, ax, and water bottle.<br /><br />Here's the tree (after I chopped off a 2.5-foot section):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhD1S5wd9zbPkIPWubVQLvP3Scq_IPRQDEriPGrisGeBo9Dptu1GzVl32xiIZ8MGZ_49pZbE8HVz9jSEyi9feSExSSjtscMjhPw1hpIEIHxT3ukMY5baEzQzQUYmZqJ6HihLD4A/s1600-h/tree-n-tracks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhD1S5wd9zbPkIPWubVQLvP3Scq_IPRQDEriPGrisGeBo9Dptu1GzVl32xiIZ8MGZ_49pZbE8HVz9jSEyi9feSExSSjtscMjhPw1hpIEIHxT3ukMY5baEzQzQUYmZqJ6HihLD4A/s320/tree-n-tracks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397505725587162562" border="0" /></a><br />In the far distance, you may be able to see the train tracks that run along the far edge of the green-belt. When a train would come by, I'd take a break to watch it, wondering if at some point during Thoreau's stay at Walden, he too was chopping wood as a train clunked by. It was a fine moment for me.<br /><br />I didn't have much area to work with, so chopping even that one section off took quite some time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAI8Pf4cp5zqNKCnToYfbHHaqjBVhNdg7JqbOvU6hX442wFF9dsHSZ4GXR9fsKYyWm00fTQkSHCQvoyD8TKbzzqByksjWOyGeivU7cYRqe8B6t1-RJQMffw-1CWzPnSf5QjRpdgA/s1600-h/chop-area.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAI8Pf4cp5zqNKCnToYfbHHaqjBVhNdg7JqbOvU6hX442wFF9dsHSZ4GXR9fsKYyWm00fTQkSHCQvoyD8TKbzzqByksjWOyGeivU7cYRqe8B6t1-RJQMffw-1CWzPnSf5QjRpdgA/s320/chop-area.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397505473366489218" border="0" /></a><br />The wood was also pretty spongy, not the easiest to chop or burn, so as I chopped, I knew my work wasn't going to amount to a whole lot. I didn't care though. I kept working, just to see if I could finish.<br /><br />When that piece finally broke over, I was satisfied with the work I had done. I took all these pictures the next day, so I don't have any pictures to document the section I cut off, but you can see the end left behind. I beaver'd it pretty good, eh?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhk5SoQnbStDHgb4l4BdUR67PaXv0kGZDvklortQYkY_woWB3O3mdL8mQ2uuvuvZJ-6OZR5aCZrLMuktNAZKWag74AyBvmZd1MbSG7Mcj4xAL1HIh51puRyXtd_77k0mfG55Bxw/s1600-h/beaver-end.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhk5SoQnbStDHgb4l4BdUR67PaXv0kGZDvklortQYkY_woWB3O3mdL8mQ2uuvuvZJ-6OZR5aCZrLMuktNAZKWag74AyBvmZd1MbSG7Mcj4xAL1HIh51puRyXtd_77k0mfG55Bxw/s320/beaver-end.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397505462310211234" border="0" /></a><br />Cutting a section off was one thing. Dragging it up the hill was what followed. So I whacked at it long-ways a dozen or so times until it split down the center. That way if I lost hold of the wood dragging it up the hill, instead of rolling on and on, it would hit the flat side and eventually stop sliding.<br /><br />No matter. It was still difficult enough getting that wood up the hill. As you can see, it's a steep hill...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8pFSu9JzV_5zBjGB9ab8qz3z_-sJ_gZ_umY9xUmqk-qFklXGAkFopoLKsQOgeUfC5oNTLit1xR3ikIoXqGoRGwuaJVDMETRsLu0NK4PMf4-UidLoGEQ2uSv7dCWZTkvyQoo9HQ/s1600-h/up1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8pFSu9JzV_5zBjGB9ab8qz3z_-sJ_gZ_umY9xUmqk-qFklXGAkFopoLKsQOgeUfC5oNTLit1xR3ikIoXqGoRGwuaJVDMETRsLu0NK4PMf4-UidLoGEQ2uSv7dCWZTkvyQoo9HQ/s320/up1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397505730085149202" border="0" /></a><br />... that just keeps going up...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzFn8x4mSdovqhay8hSNN8cR7iMdpI5eIUsF_pcl4A-JeOueb9WOLY_BmsTAqC2vK61FiK0POELQBDZeS3ABiEkXgRiIcoGkvmXKjfiwMhpP5arYBAoRDgo-Qvg01mAe8uAYdvw/s1600-h/up2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzFn8x4mSdovqhay8hSNN8cR7iMdpI5eIUsF_pcl4A-JeOueb9WOLY_BmsTAqC2vK61FiK0POELQBDZeS3ABiEkXgRiIcoGkvmXKjfiwMhpP5arYBAoRDgo-Qvg01mAe8uAYdvw/s320/up2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397505739245656210" border="0" /></a><br />... and up...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCv8M_DTKc4TE4DJ4oqOyGSr-2XzWlDqSD0sz_N3rxUBtMSrB5aMwxTdWWpYCxq4ZHjVflyeHbto9lBLINhzQMorAAtDUVCXvSyKMtow_g4Nhcwte1k2XSOi_I2fLKZaFOd_oag/s1600-h/up3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCv8M_DTKc4TE4DJ4oqOyGSr-2XzWlDqSD0sz_N3rxUBtMSrB5aMwxTdWWpYCxq4ZHjVflyeHbto9lBLINhzQMorAAtDUVCXvSyKMtow_g4Nhcwte1k2XSOi_I2fLKZaFOd_oag/s320/up3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397505744487615874" border="0" /></a><br />I got both halves up in a trip each. Well, for the first piece, it was more like one-and-a-half trips, because I slipped and bashed my knee pretty good on a rock, and had to go halfway back down the hill to get the slide-a-way wood. But otherwise, I only ran myself out of breath and shook my muscles weak from the exertion of it all.<br /><br />After lugging the bag of wood chips, cutting tools, and water bottle back up, my final rest was a moment of great satisfaction, spent listening to one more train go by--after which I pulled the ax from the bag once more, much nearer the top, to cut this smaller diameter log (left foreground).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxD2jUB_CS0FU8fV9uVgnMX_5AQZ029_o1TJQ99GsLxHqS3BJlyMey3e8Dd09QsZpAnuiaRI-LH3F39NFlZYTU1dTwJzm0bF916TR87jxK9vy6Czq9q3OqhAgmOhyUQAGj3c36qA/s1600-h/up4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxD2jUB_CS0FU8fV9uVgnMX_5AQZ029_o1TJQ99GsLxHqS3BJlyMey3e8Dd09QsZpAnuiaRI-LH3F39NFlZYTU1dTwJzm0bF916TR87jxK9vy6Czq9q3OqhAgmOhyUQAGj3c36qA/s320/up4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397505746358931810" border="0" /></a>It turned out to be a much harder wood that chipped into pieces much faster; later in the day, it also proved itself a better burn than the monster for which I worked much harder. Lesson learned.<br /><br />And what further evidence do I have documenting this Thoreau-esque endeavor of self-reliance?<br /><br />Here's my ax...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5c49riqVh2PTqkQebPFm1R5WPphPS2VTBiUwMS8gBemK3BLm1OhU0Xt5M8K_NeVXqMUj3yVgnOaBnGaSb3DXJVsR8j5SzJ4bZFlhe7YIHfO_ITKXV4Pv0GYmgZsJdvmwKMLNCQ/s1600-h/ax.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5c49riqVh2PTqkQebPFm1R5WPphPS2VTBiUwMS8gBemK3BLm1OhU0Xt5M8K_NeVXqMUj3yVgnOaBnGaSb3DXJVsR8j5SzJ4bZFlhe7YIHfO_ITKXV4Pv0GYmgZsJdvmwKMLNCQ/s320/ax.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397505456834199762" border="0" /></a><br />... and proof that I was fool enough to cut through a tree using only an ax... and no gloves...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8lRKpLSozveONI-q8ALN9g6nWKqbh3aRLXfruwzCJtRnfeVxQlHsTXxqo5LapkyEa3a3XJ3amRur5x8rstq3fbXZA5Hse9G5IO6zpxSdC5imwK1xa4mAmm6Iug2W-ileQV-mfA/s1600-h/blisters2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8lRKpLSozveONI-q8ALN9g6nWKqbh3aRLXfruwzCJtRnfeVxQlHsTXxqo5LapkyEa3a3XJ3amRur5x8rstq3fbXZA5Hse9G5IO6zpxSdC5imwK1xa4mAmm6Iug2W-ileQV-mfA/s320/blisters2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397505469308271202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVrmPQ8CHok3GJoQxOhDsfTdF3ch6cqaRiHvRys468XVjpPyiZUIFOIZu3CLMJlOXikgKWJiuj0orZ1sjuZkjlgCweTJf0QR2WAfAFddI8gxNWkq6-bEXa-Z-3N5PPa48WElMFw/s1600-h/blisters1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVrmPQ8CHok3GJoQxOhDsfTdF3ch6cqaRiHvRys468XVjpPyiZUIFOIZu3CLMJlOXikgKWJiuj0orZ1sjuZkjlgCweTJf0QR2WAfAFddI8gxNWkq6-bEXa-Z-3N5PPa48WElMFw/s320/blisters1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397505465997542530" border="0" /></a><br />The blisters are healing nicely.zimdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11405758712496038259noreply@blogger.com0