I’m not cheap. But I don’t shop much. I don’t bargain hunt much either. It’s hard to find things I need besides necessities. What I love are do-it-yourself lifehacks, Foxfire tips and tricks, how-tos, home remedies, unique solutions, and utility gadgets. If I can make something myself or fix it cheap, I’m in. I’m a […]
A Different Drummer: Searching for doubt in a technological kaleidoscope
It’s difficult to write 800 words of new and unique insight regarding gun laws, school shootings, and our warped society. It’s all been said and I agree with the majority. To me, there is no mystery. Water is thicker than blood. Easy access to military-grade weaponry by every consumer in America is profitable and protected […]
A Different Drummer: I’m feeling backed up
There are too many cars out there. Grumble, grumble. I can’t get to the tire store, or the canned-goods outlet, or the movie theater without having to fall in line with a string of cars. Then there is no parking. It used to be only during rush hour that local traffic was jammed. Now it’s […]
A Different Drummer: The pinball remake
Seven months ago I wrote about pinball. It’s a lifelong hobby of mine that I stepped away from for 40 years. I wrote about my history, pinball history, and brought them both up to date. I hinted that I was building up, saving up, to purchase my third pinball machine. Then I dropped the topic. […]
A Different Drummer: Cancer sucks
Chad, my son-in-law, the life of the party, the Dude, got rectal cancer. They spotted it in the fall and he just had his surgery two weeks ago. His first lab results were clean, but there is still a lot of waiting and testing ahead. He is permanently sewn up in the back and adjusting […]
A Different Drummer: Too much too often
It’s unfortunate that all these cool geeky music intercom internet-of-things voice-activated intelligent assistant wireless integrated home gewgaw gadgets have come along just about the time that I don’t give a rat’s patootie. After 30 years as a computer teacher on top of budding trends, I’m now retired and putting puzzles together on a felt table. […]
A Different Drummer: Short excursions
Living here on the upper lip of the Bay Area, like a beauty mark, it’s easy to take one-day excursions around the rim without a lot of planning. Susan and I wake up sometimes with the urge to go do, but we can’t do new stuff all the darn time. “I gotta get my steps,” […]
A Different Drummer: And the story continues
I’d like to continue writing about creative writing. The sheer notion of it is like sitting in a room walled in mirrors with a lightbulb swinging on a cord. Everywhere you look, there you are, while there you be. People ask me, “Steve, how is it that you knock out column a week for over […]
A Different Drummer: One-paragraph story starters
I feel like writing about creative writing. Ironically, perhaps, I’ve seldom written to this topic. I didn’t teach creative writing either in 30 years at the high school, at least not directly. I taught journalism and literature. Objectivity was the creative mainstay. I’ve shared a few fictional stories here over the years, usually around the […]
A Different Drummer: The garage papers
I don’t know how much you know about me. My life is a bit of a mystery. Ahem. Cough. So let me tell you. I feel the same way, not in an Alzheimer’s way, but in rediscovery. Yesterday I completed the Chore of Chores, the Mother of All Chores, the Chore that builds up and […]