OTHER COOL THINGS is the blog page where I go off topic. In other words, this is a page where I ramble about a wide variety of subjects which have nothing to do with the Cross House restoration or Emporia.

OTHER COOL THINGS is where I might suggest a great new restaurant. Or a movie I enjoyed, or book. Or a favored blog.

OTHER COOL THINGS may — fasten your seat belt — open discussions about dangerous subjects such politics or religion.

OTHER COOL THINGS will, in short, be a page where I ramble about anything which captures my special attention. Like, perhaps, a nice moment I had with my favorite cat Gilda.

I love comments, so please do not hesitate to toss your two cents in, even if you disagree with me.

My blog posts are below. Enjoy!

 

Gilda. My favorite ever cat.

Gilda. My favorite ever cat.

Violet Kenny

              As stated previously, in the 1890s home owners were more adventurous with their color selections than is commonly thought today. In looking through 1890s color catalogs one is struck by the unexpected color combinations and variety of colors. For example, it was common for green houses to have…

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Reality Really Should Matter

This is a political post. Scroll down if interested.                                 I keep saying this: I am a proud Democrat. Why? Because my party works hard to make life better for most Americans. The Republican party though has now devolved to…

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Kenny Prepping

          Worry not, dear readers! My doctor wants me to be active. “Your body will heal quicker and better if you keep moving. Just don’t overdo it.” A lack of energy, of course, will assure that I do not overdodo.      

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THE THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM?

I have tried two colors now on the main porch ceiling of the Cross House. The first color was just not right. And nor…as I have known for several years now…was the second color. Indeed, I have long thought: WTF was I thinking? While I am currently mostly off-line, our wonderful Kenny wants to spend…

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You Have a Choice In November

This is a political post. Scroll down if interested.                         Recently, here in conservative Kansas, voters stunned the nation by resoundingly voting NO to deny women the right to control their own bodies. The Republican party though is determined to nonetheless control women. This…

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HEALTH UPDATE: My Wild & Crazy Adventure

This past Friday was…intense, man. Intense. And scary. When I got out of bed in the morning I looked down to my legs. Eek!!!!!!!! My right calve, ankle, and foot were hugely bloated. I kept glancing between the right leg and left leg. It did not seem possible that these two legs belonged to the…

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The House Is Falling Apart

       

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Baby Steppin’

        I am quite grateful to have these very small projects to attend to. The idea of, say, reshingling much of the south facade…as I did not long ago…fills me with wonderment. Did I really once have such energy? The very idea also fills me with terror. For, at the moment, having…

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Spook

My lovely Spook moved to Florida a few hours ago. He was part of three litters I saved, back-to-back, in 2008 (I think). 14 kittens, total. Spook was, above all, an enormously gentle soul. Never aggressive to me, my friends, or all the other kitties. He was also gorgeous. Regal, too, and…no doubt…part lion. He…

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Health Update

I have previously posted about getting a blood clot in March, 2020. And I have posted about the huge reduction in my energy since. It is now normal for me to take 3 naps a day. I feel exhausted all the time. This ain’t right.   On August 13, 2022…for the first time in my…

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Excited About A Bump-Out

Way back in 2017 I wrote a mind-bending post, here. If you are sober you might enjoy reading this ancient post. If you are a bit drunk your mind may not recover. Caveat emptor!               Once all this is mudded and painted, I can then re-attach the 1894 gold…

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Get Ready. And SHOUT!

Y’all know Kenny. He’s been very generous to the Cross House. Today is his birthday. So, I invite y’all to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our birthday boy. But, we need to shout so he can hear us.      

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Before. After.

    My online vintage lighting store.                   My online vintage lighting store.    

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A Sad Story About A Waiter

When I purchased the Cross House in 2014 I had no idea it originally had a dumbwaiter going from the kitchen to the basement. Bit by bit though, clues revealed its former existence. I speculate that it was removed circa-1929 during the conversion of the house into apartments on the second-floor, and an owner’s suite…

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A Brilliant Surprise in the Library

      The island looks better in the image than it does in person. In person, it looks cheap. It IS cheap! I had intended to top it with marble matching the marble-topped Saarinen Tulip table in the adjacent parlor. But, the quotes I received stopped this idea from proceeding. With the library now….at…

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A Zen Cat

   

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A Furry Box. Of Love.

   

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The Vital Value of Sparkle

  I plan to install a hose bibb on the porch so the whole can be easily scrubbed. I should have done this years ago.    

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Baby steppin’. And a message from Bat Girl.

               

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A Moment Captured

     

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