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.
CAN THIS HOUSE BE SAVED? 402 E Jefferson St, Mount Pulaski, IL
The incomparable Kelly, of Old House Dreams, regularly features houses for less than the price of a new car. Such houses are, obviously, not in mint condition. Or normally in an ideal neighborhood. But almost all such houses are, to me, well worth it as they could be beauties once again. Magnificent and remarkable and…
Continue ReadingA Tiny Rescue
Yesterday morning, I opened my side door. And received a shock. Then the next two hours of my life took an unexpected, and all-consuming turn. On the porch was a sorta stray cat I call Tiny. She is small, and with long fur. I say sorta stray because she, I think, actually belongs to…
Continue ReadingLucky Ross
Today, I pulled into the Chrysler dealer. The key fob for my 2010 mini-van was just not working. A week previous, I had a new battery installed. This was after having a new battery installed just a month previous. It was obvious that my key fob was experiencing its death throes. The woman at the…
Continue ReadingDo You Want to be on the Right Side of History?
WARNING: This is a political post. The above image is famous. It depicts a moment in time when nine African-American students, escorted by the National Guard, were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The nine students were surrounded by an angry mob of white people who did not want to share…
Continue ReadingA Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
This is a political post. If you hate politics and current events, don’t scroll down.
Continue ReadingThe Loss of Valuable Things
In the fall of 1978, I moved from Florida to New York City. I was twenty-one, and had $200 to my name. How insane was that? My first apartment was on East 12th Street, a one bedroom. It was $650 a month, which is today laughable but which was scary $$$$ at the time as…
Continue ReadingLies About Your Health Care PART II
Warning: This is a political post. You may not be interested in politics, but your life may depend on the following words. Five days ago I wrote this: “Around the country, Republicans are on the campaign trail. And a lot of them are, bizarrely for Republicans, defending Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Even Trump…
Continue ReadingWanna Meet Sid?
Sid belonged to my neighbor. Then she moved. And left him. Then another neighbor took him in. Then she moved. And left him. It took a while, but I managed to coax him over to my house, where he has lived outside for the almost four years. He is one of “front porch kitties”, about…
Continue ReadingLies About Your Health Care
Warning: This is a political post. You may not be interested in politics, but your life may depend on the following words. Around the country, Republicans are on the campaign trail. And a lot of them are, bizarrely for Republicans, defending Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Even Trump is stating, vigorously, that he supports…
Continue ReadingRemembering Tom Payne
Memory is a peculiar thing. Old memories can arrive unbidden after decades, and yet still seem fresh and alive. Today, I was sanding a basement window at the Cross House when Tom Payne reentered my mind. I have not thought about Tom in many years. But, I have never forgotten him. In 1973, I was…
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