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!
Wanna Meet JC?
JC blogs about his 1923 Foursquare. He also blogs about fixing clocks. And upholstering fixture. And making fine cabinetry. And other cool old houses. And renovating houses for friends. He is young, too. Disturbingly so for someone with so many talents and so much friggin’ experience. After I read his every post I felt like…
Continue ReadingA Furry Blur
For a long time, I thought I saw him before I knew I saw him. Just before going to bed each night I would look out through the front window – the nightly ritual. How many species of creatures might be nibbling up the last remnants of food left earlier on the porch for the…
Continue ReadingWanna Freak Out?
Kelly has a lot more images. Be prepared to weep. And rage.
Continue ReadingA Palm Springs SHOCK!
Are you sitting down? Do you have sunglasses on? Are you drunk? All three are required to view the following. Scroll down… Kelly just posted on her blog, Old House Dreams, the MOST over-the-top, meticulously preserved, eye-popping,…
Continue ReadingAn Unexpected Visitor
Last night I stepped into my bathroom to take a pee. As I finished this vital task, I stepped away. Then a bit of movement caught my eye. The room was dark, only lighted from the adjacent room. I stared at the wall. What was that? High up on the wall is the toilet tissue…
Continue ReadingDestroying Something Rare & Special
The new owners who did this stated that they loved the house. “We didn’t want to mess with it.” Huh???????? They messed with every inch. They willfully took every distinctive original feature and threw it away or…
Continue ReadingA Global Apology
Today I feel shattered. The last time I felt shattered was on 11/8/16. The time before that? 9/11/01. What happened today? Donald Trump announced the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. This is a big deal. This is a huge fucking deal. So, as of today America sides with but a…
Continue ReadingFurry Babies!
The other day I was sitting at my desk. It was late in the day but still daytime. Then something caught my eye out the window. Oh. Oh! OH! Scampering past was a mother raccoon and SIX babies! SIX! It is unusual seeing them during daylight hours but with SIX babies to nurse I assumed…
Continue ReadingSpot and Fine and…
Last night Spot and Fine were on my desk. I suddenly realized how they framed my computer…
Continue ReadingA Furry Visitor
As he/she ate, I was able to pet the newcomer who growled and grumbled nonstop at the surrounding crowd. So, New Cat did not seem afraid of me but sure did not intend on mingling with the other beasts. After dinner, New Cat lounged well away from everybody…and then…
Continue ReadingCruelly Tossing History Into The Dumpster
I have done numerous posts about FABULOUS houses being brutalized by new owners. Original kitchens, for example, which I would kill for have been torn out and replaced with Home Depot crap. Varnished trim has been painted white. Gorgeous mantels have been replaced with plain slabs of marble. You know what I mean. Yet, this…
Continue ReadingAnd So It Begins…
Last year I joined the Strong City Preservation Alliance. Strong City is a small town (very small, population 455) in Kansas. I have lived here since 1996. The Alliance has been focused on restoring the devastated 1900 Auditorium, and I suggested, of course, a blog. The blog went live today with its first post. …
Continue ReadingNew Kitty Goes To Work With Daddy!
While feeding the stray “front porch” kitties one morning, I saw a pair of eyes looking at me between the deck boards. The eyes were under the deck. As I continued sprinkling dry food on the deck, a small gray paw reached through the boards and clawed at some food, which disappeared between the crack….
Continue ReadingA NEW THEATER POST!
I posted cool news on the 1900 Theater blog! Enjoy!
Continue ReadingSee-through Brilliance
My friend Eric, and his partner, Jim, have an old barn-like structure on their property. The siding on the structure was ancient, full of holes, and with missing pieces. But Eric loved the look of the structure, its patina, and its only-time-can-create aesthetic. So, how to make the structure weather-tight while preserving all this? Scroll…
Continue ReadingNEW THEATER POSTS!
I posted two new 1900 Theater posts! Here! Here! Enjoy!
Continue Reading