UMTravels

1 out of every 100 adult American is in prison? True. That would be 2,319,258 Americans in prison — two of them being friends of mine (but that’s another story).

What can I say, I’m embarrassed that this great country is so vindictive that they take discretion away from Judges and jury and try and cram [...]

When I finished the 1st draft of my white paper for Shirts of Bamboo, I got that RUSH of WOW — like when you got a college term paper from thought to paper. No — it still doesn’t make me want to go back to college to get a master’s degree, even if I am [...]

I love being a Libra — we are so sane and balanced, except when we aren’t.
Today’s horoscope:
Libra
The primary motivator for you right now might be money, but is that really what you need most in life? This is a good day for you to take stock of your goals. Ask yourself what will really make [...]

An item on my To-Do list that isn’t terribly important, other than amusing me…

The Museum of Flight is actually within walking distance from my house. And you all know what an airline nut I am. Only seems natural to check this out. I even how two passes left over from when I had a membership. [...]

Update from the island.
Forward: the water heater now has it’s own circuit (which is currently turned off).
Forward: I’ve identified which wires are which coming in from the poo pump (that would be the pressurized leach field up the hill that was put in two years ago to meet current code).
Back: the diagram as to where [...]

Off to the island today to finish up the wiring for the hot water heater and the poo pump. Josh is supposed to be by before  leave to pick up the blower from the old furnace — maybe I can talk him into the gas clothes dryer as well! Trying to get things cleared out [...]

What is happening with our weather? Another sunny day? Gee’s — is this a hint that I should get the rest of the lawn work done rather than work on global hemp and cotton production numbers? And shopping at Safeway and Home Depot with the top down. Cruel world to tempt me with these things.
At [...]

No — we aren’t talking about the diet — we are talking the “travel drought” — I’m going to Kentucky with Swanda — made me a “mob” deal — an offer I couldn’t refuse. And then I round round-trip on Northwest (not my first choice) for $206. At that price it isn’t even worth using [...]

Well — if I’m underemployed at the moment, I might as well go on a diet and shed some pounds. That should make me cuter for those job interviews, should they ever call.
Method? Alli and WII. And some left over ephedrine pills from 2004 (pre-FDA ban since they are like then-legal herbal speed).
So, lots of [...]

So — this wasn’t today’s topic — but I was coming in the back door from a dinner with Swanda — and looked up to find the sky clear, and a stunning view of the lunar eclipse. WOW. And I’m not even a moon worshiper!

How Cool Is That! And in my own backyard. Finished watching [...]

How was that Breitenbush Gathering you might ask (or not)?
Well — it was great even with my bit of a blue funk.
 
Here is a lovely shot of me in front of my newest favorite cabin (G-1) decorated withe the Argentine flag courtesy of roommate Tusk. His bed mate showed up but changed cabins, and our [...]

On Valentines Day, what gifts are the merging airlines going to give us? Flowers, or just frequent flyer bonus miles for sending flowers from FTD.com through their respective sites.
Confused? Today’s topic is what happens to mileage redemption awards if/when Delta and Northwest merge, which will cause Continental and United to merge. I guess this means [...]

The comment from one of my dear clients is:
You know I swear I have put on weight reading about your cooking. No kidding. It makes me hungry and then I go eat something that doesn’t taste nearly as good as your description sounds.
The background was a meal I described in email: two different kinds of [...]

Dateline 1968 - In Haleyville, Alabama the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone system goes into service.
So let’s all remember that line from some bad movie, “What’s the number for 9 1 1?”
Or, we could wish Kim Jong-il, North Korean leader, a happy birthday (born in 1942).
Your choice? Helping or Hurting People?
Helping. Guess it would be better [...]

This picture should say it all. Winter at Breitenbush Hot Springs. Since 1981 or 82 I have spent each President’s Day weekend here. It is the immovable object of my life. This weekend is the time that I spend thinking about the last year, and thinking ahead to the next — it is truly my [...]

A perfect theme for Valentine’s Day — failed love.
Names are changed to protect the innocent, should there be any on Valentine’s Day.
Mormon Boy: It is a toss up as to who has failed who, I think it is mutual. He gave me the best “piss off” line of, “If I stayed with you, it would [...]

Yes, I know. Brokeback Mountain came out years ago. And I read the Annie Proulx story in the New Yorker when the movie came out — the full story was still posted on the website then. But with all the hoopla, I’d never seen the movie.
And then Heath Ledger died — from too many meds from [...]

As the “Legs of Christ” saga continues… I decide to sell the lovely church on Lopez and all the artwork has to be taken down for the “staging”. It is around this time that Wonderful (whom I bought my Seattle house from) is organizing The Great Art Party to endow Floating Bridge Press – a [...]

So, here we are with the second installment of the saga of “The Legs of Christ“.
So, Alicia buys piece of art. Art is too big for her apartment. Alicia gives piece of work to me, storing under a friends house in Benecia until a pickup truck brings it north. More pieces fall off, crack, fracture. [...]

Today’s digression is all about a piece of art — a piece of art that I own. Who cares that I spent the day on Vashon for a brunch with friends.
My collection of art runs to the works of artist friends of mine. It is not a collection meant for profit, it is a collection [...]