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Once upon a time, I lived on the sea. Years later, another sort of sailor leaves the deck of CVN-71 for the last time... job well done. update: here is another link I ran across

Yesterday couldn't have been a better time to buy my bike back from Ted with today's weather as beautiful as it is outside. My phone would not stop ringing this morning. Everytime I would try to snooze away some of my headspin from the ridiculous amount of alcohol Ted and I had last night at "dinner", the phone would ring again. I eventually gave up and got ready for work. Regarding last night, we headed out for supper together since Jenny is out of town and Ted was wanting to get out of the house for a bit. We both had a late lunch, so we decided to start with happy hour somewhere and eat later. I think we drank more together last night than we ever have before and there was no occasion, rhyme, or reason. The liquor was cheap and tasty. I ended up eating fast food to quiet my stomach after we called it a night. I ran into an ex-girlfriend from a much darker and decadent time in my life... we caught up and parted ways... nothing else really happened over the course of the evening worth mentioning other than Ted falling asleep and me having to pick up the tab because he was snoring away. LOL. I rode "The Mare" into the office. It was gorgeous outside and she's even more of a running since Ted had her re-ported and tuned while in his care. I may have to adjust the front suspension for my body weight, but other than that, it was so sweet to be out on the road. I want to look into getting a trailer so I can haul the HTFO somewhere for a weekend ride (Texas hill country, the coast, etc). The idea of me wrangling a 600 pound bike into the back of my truck is less than appealing. My grandmother goes in for the surgical procedure on Friday to remove the malignant lump in her breast. She's in my prayers for all to go well with her recovery. I think the actual lumpectomy is fairly straightforward, but the radiation post-op is what I'm concerned about. My mother tells me my Aunt is flying down for the weekend to be close at hand. It will be great to see her again since I've not seen any of her slice of the clan since Erin and I were last in Denver together. Time passes so quickly when we don't pay attention to it. I loves me some Johnny Cash. /respect

I forgot to mention the hummingbirds. I love hummers. I wish I was in the hummingbird chair right now. *achoo* Excuse me.

Like every weekend for a couple of months now, this weekend flew by entirely too quickly. I drove my puppies to my mother's house on Friday evening before going to Corpus for "Champaign Thursday" that had unfortunately been postponed. I really wanted to bring Henry and Éclair, but I'm scared Henry will get hurt. I just need to get a grip and stop being such a worried dad. Saturday night was really the only scheduled "event" of the weekend. We all met at the Corpus Christi Town Club for Beth's birthday dinner. Everyone had a good time and the food was tasty. I had blackened redfish and grilled gulf shrimp, but the food that really stood out for me was the spicy chicken tortilla soup. I really liked that recipe. I'm not really a suit and tie sorta guy, but I managed to make it through the evening with the help of some hearty spirits. Yesterday seemed to slip through my fingers. I wasn't ready to leave to go back to work and I can't seem to pick the winning lotto numbers each week, so I reluctantly drove home late last night to prepare for Monday. I was so tired I had to pull off and nap for a few minutes before continuing home. The sky was very active with lightning and it stormed through the night. I've only been out this morning to clean up some debris from the yard, but I can tell the ground is saturated. Rainy days should be justifiable sleep days to employers worldwide. Weather dictated siestas. I'm working from home this morning, but I've been super busy and have to go. Here are some snapshots from the weekend. I didn't have enough battery life to shoot the way I wanted and I forgot my charger. I'll have to plan better next trip.

Buddy says hello

soft and sweet

grey hair galore

prehistoric

tree climbing for the masochistic brave

inside a night blooming cactis

Larry, Curly, and Moe

Brutus the Destroyer of Balls

red passion flower

red passion flower

random shots around Beth's yard

I've been procrastinating doing stuff around the house that I really need to do... like wash the dirty panes in the french door illustrated so clearly to be not clear in this photo. I've done so much laundry this week that's yet to be put away. I've eaten everything quick and easy out of my fridge. I've been dodging. I have spiraled into two modes of operation during the week. I work and I kill time between work. These are basically the go-betweens that tie my weekends to each other where I can smile. I got my hair cut yesterday at lunch. It went quickly as my current style of coiffure is less than low maintenance, so I stopped at the salon next door and got a deluxe spa pedicure. It was the best part of my workday. I can assure you. Client conflict resolution is low on my Fun Stuff To-Do list. I got a huge kick out of reading about Alex the African Grey via Lisa's link. African Grey's have been my favorite ever since my grade school friend's Grey would tell me to "Eat a burrito!" every time I came over to visit. I watched the most touching video I've seen in a long, long time yesterday. Memories of Sean's father, my own childhood reflected in those scenes, how time slips away from us and loved ones are sometimes lost, my own paternal emotions... whatever it was, it moved me. The closest thing I had to something like this was a tape my mother had of me around 2 years old at my grandmother's house. The milk back then was delivered to the front step in glass bottles held in plastic milk cartons. Most kids now don't even realize milk ever was in anything else but recycled plastic jugs, much less *gasp* a mammal. In the tape, I was saying clearly to my mother, "Hey Mr. Milkman... keep those bottles quiet." It kills me that I don't know what happened to that tape. I haven't seen it in almost 20 years. It certainly gives you appreciation for parents that turn into documentarian freaks at conception. Wisdom in forethought.

"maggie and milly and molly and may" - e.e. cummings
maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)
and maggie discovered a shell that sang so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,and milly befriended a stranded star whose rays five languid fingers were; and molly was chased by a horrible thing which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and may came home with a smooth round stone as small as a world and as large as alone. For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) it's always ourselves we find in the sea

May your day be filled with all good things...

happy birthday

110 At The Equator (won' ten at the ek way' tawr) - n. Any burning sensation experienced directly below the navel when putting on a pair of jeans straight from the dryer.
Accordionated (ah kor' de on ay tid) - adj. Being able to drive and refold a road map at the same time.
Aeroma (ayr oh' ma) - n. The odor emanating from an exercise room after an aerobics workout.
Aeropalmics (ayr o palm' iks) - n. The study of wind resistance conducted by holding a cupped hand out the car window.
Agonosis (ah uh no' sis) - n. The syndrome of tuning into "Wide World of Sports" every Saturday just to watch the skier rack himself.
Airdirt (ayr' dirt) - n. A hanging plant that's been ignored for three weeks or more.
Anaception (an a sep' shun) - n. The body's ability to actually affect television reception by moving about the room.
Animalanche: When you kick your stuffed animals in your sleep and they fall all over you or the floor. (from Kaffit, age 9)
Anticiparcellate (an ti si par' sel ate) - v. Waiting until the mailman is several houses down the street before picking up the mail, so as not too appear too anxious.
Aquadextrous - adj. Possessing the ability to turn the bathtub faucet on and off with your toes.
Aqualibrium (ak wa lib' re um) - n. The point where the stream of drinking fountain water is at its perfect height, thus relieving the drinker from (a) having to suck the nozzle, or (b) squirting himself in the eye.
Arachnidiot (ar ak ni' di ot) - n. A person, who, having wandered into an "invisible" spider web, begins gyrating and flailing about wildly.
Attrinyl (a try' nil) - n. (chemical symbol: At) A black, bulletproof, totally inflexible type of plastic, used primarily in covers of pay phone directories.
B+ Stampede (bee' plus stam peed) - n. The attempt by half the classroom to claim the paper with no name on it.
Backspackle (bak' spak uhl) - n. Markings on the back of one's shirt from riding a fenderless bicycle.
Baldage (bald' aj) - n. The accumulation of hair in the drain after showering.
Bargue (bar' gyoo) - v. To whine, fuss, and complain a great deal while at the same time trying to get someone to see your point of view. Ex: The young child bargued with his father until his father gave in and let him stay up past his bedtime.
Bazookacidal Tendencies (bah zew' kuh sy dal ten' den seez) - n. The overwhelming desire of most individuals to reach out and pop the gigantic gum bubble billowing from someone's mouth.
Beavo (bee' vo) - n. A pencil with teeth marks all over it.
Begathon - n. A multi-day event on public television, used to raise money so you won't have to watch commercials.
Bimp (bimp) - n. A blurry or "double-edged" felt-tip marker
Bixplex (biks' pleks) - n. Psychological block in which a person cannot choose which color of disposable lighter to purchase.
Bleemus (blee' mus) - n. The disgusting film on the top of soups and cocoa that sit out for too long.
Blithwapping - v. Using anything BUT a hammer to hammer a nail into the wall, such as shoes, lamp bases, doorstops, etc.
Blivett (blih' vit) - v. To turn one's pillow over and over, looking for the cool spot.
Blooage (blew' ij) - n. The residue left on fingers after using an S.O.S pad.
Blossor - n. The hair style one has after removing a baseball cap.
Blurfle (bler' ful) - v. To be caught talking at the top of one's lungs when the music at the bar or disco suddenly stops.
Bomca (bahm' ka) - n. A lubricant derived from the salivary gland used for turning book pages.
Bovilexia (bo vil eks' e uh) - n. The uncontrollable urge to lean out the car window and yell "Moo!" every time you pass a cow.
Bowlikinetics (boh lih kih neh' tiks) - n. The act of trying to control a released bowling ball by twisting one's body in the direction one wants it to go.
Brattled (brat' uld) - adj. The unsettling feeling, at a stoplight, that the busload of kids that just pulled up beside you is making fun of you.
Brazel (brah' zul) - n. The scratch plate on a matchbook.
Brimplet (brim' plit) - n. A frayed shoelace that must be moistened to pass through a shoe eyelet.
Brumby - n. The fake antique plastic seal on a pretentious whiskey bottle.
Bugpedal (bug' ped uhl) - v. To accelerate or decelerate rapidly in an attempt to remove a clinging insect from a car's windshield.
Bumperglints (bump' ur glintz) - n. The small reflective obstacles in the middle of interstate highways which supposedly keep drivers awake and on track.
Burbulation - n. The obsessive act of opening and closing a refrigerator door in an attempt to catch it before the automatic light comes on.
Burgacide - n. What you call the desperate action of a hamburger leaping to its death through the holes in the Bar-B-Q grill.
Bursploot (ber' sploot) - v. To position one's thumb at the end of a garden hose to increase the pressure.
Busblender (bus' blend dur) - n. The device at the front of the bus that tosses your fare around for a while, then swallows it.
Cabnicreep (kab' nih kreep) - n. The structural condition in which the closing of one kitchen cabinet causes another to open.
Caffidget (ka fij' it) - v. To break up a Styrofoam coffee cup into several hundred pieces after consuming its contents.
Carbonicles - the tiny drops of soda thrown into the air above your glass after you pour it
Carcreak - n. Those crackling, tinkling, creaky noises your car makes after you park and turn it off.
Careena (ka reen' uh) - n. Any mangled or missing piece of highway guard rail.
Carperpetuation (kar' pur pet u a shun) - n. The act, when vacuuming, of running over a string at least a dozen times, reaching over and picking it up, examining it, then putting it back down to give the vacuum one more chance.
Cereoallocative (ser r o al' o ka tuv) - adj. Describes the ability of a seasoned breakfast eater to establish a perfect cereal/banana ratio, assuring there will be at least one slice of banana left for the final spoonful of cereal.
Chalktrauma (chawk' traw ma) - n. The body's reaction to someone running his fingernails down a chalkboard.
Charp (charp) - n. The green, mutant potato chip found in every bag.
Cheedle (chee' dul) - n. The residue left on one's fingertips after consuming a bag of Cheetos.
Chipfault (chip' fawlt) - n. The stress point on a potato chip where it breaks off and stays behind in the dip.
Choconiverous - adj. Biting off the head of the chocolate Easter bunny first.
Chwads (chwadz) - n. The small, disgusting wads of chewed gum commonly found beneath table and counter tops.
Cigadent (sig' a dent) - n. Any accident involving a cigarette: for instance when it sticks to your lips while your fingers slide off and get burned.
Cinemuck - n. The combination of popcorn, soda, and melted chocolate which covers the floors of movie theaters.
Circuloin Technique (sur' kew loyn tek neek') - n. The popular approach to steak dining in which one eats around the edges first, then works his way toward the middle.
Circumpopulate (sur kum pop' yew layt') - v. To finish off a Popsicle "laterally" because the "frontal" approach causes one to gag.
Clunes - n., pl. People who just won't go.
Combiloops (kom' bih lewps) - n. The two or three unsuccessful passes before finally opening a combination locker.
Conagraphs (kohn' a grafs) - n. The raised relief squares on an ice cream cone.
The Cranial Stomp (the kray' nee uhl stomp) - n. A somewhat primitive dance performed by youngsters trying to step on the heads of their shadows.
Crayolla (kray oh' lee uh) - n. The area on the refrigerator where kindergarten drawings are displayed.
Creedles (kre' dulz) - n. The colony of microscopic indentations on a golf ball.
Crinks (krinks) - n. Crevices and junctions where car wax gets in but doesn't get out.
Crummox (noun): The amount of cereal leftover in the box that is too little to eat and too much to throw away
Cubelo (kyew' beh lo) - n. The one cube left by the person too lazy to refill the ice tray.
Cushup (kush' up) - v. To sit down on a couch somehow causing the cushion next to you to rise.
Darf (darf) - n. The least attractive side of a Christmas tree that ends up facing the wall.
Deodorend - n. The last 1/2 inch of stick deodorant that won't turn up out of the tube, and thus cannot be used without inducing lacerations.
Detruncus (de trunk' us) - n. The embarrassing phenomenon of losing one's bathing shorts while diving into a swimming pool.
Digitritus (dij ih tree' tus) - n. Deposits found between the links of a watchband.
Dillrelict (dil rel' ikt) - n. The last pickle in the jar that avoids all attempts to be captured.
Dipwavers (dip' way vurz) - n. People who raise their hands when riding on roller coasters.
Doork (dawrk) - n. A person who always pushes on a door marked "pull" or vice versa.
Droot (drewt) - n. A Dorito with an unnatural fold in it.
Eddihate - v. To turn off the stereo or television set when a Crazy Eddie commercial appears.
Efforex - n., v. Substitute.
Eiffelites (eye' ful eyetz) - n. Gangly people sitting in front of you at the movies who, no matter what direction you lean in, follow suit.
Elbonics - n. The actions of two people maneuvering for one armrest in a movie theater.
Elmerdermis (el mur durm' is) - n. The white sheath that surrounds the nozzle of a glue dispenser.
Erdu (uhr' dew) - n. The leftover accumulation of rubber particles after erasing a mistake on a test paper.
Eufirstics (yew fur' stiks) - n. Two people waiting on the phone for the other to hang up first.
Exaspirin (eks as' prin) - n. Any bottle of pain reliever with an impossible-to-remove cotton wad at the top.
Execuglide (eks ek' yew glyd)- v. To propel oneself about an office without getting up from the chair.
Famamage (fa mam' aj) - v. To eliminate any annoying engine noise by simply turning up the volume of the radio.
Fenderberg - n. The large glacial deposits that form on the insides of car fenders during snowstorms.
Ferroles (fer' olz) - n. The holes in the bottom of a steam iron.
Fetchplex (fech' pleks) - n. State of momentary confusion in a dog whose owner has faked throwing the ball and palmed it behind his back.
Fictate (fik' tayt) - v. To inform a television or screen character of impending danger under the assumption they can hear you.
Finnage (fin' aj) - n. The act of watching your money swallowed up as your groceries ride the conveyor belt at the supermarket.
Flammabyte - n. That ever changing address in memory which always causes programs to blow up.
Flannister - n. The plastic yoke that holds a six-pack of beer together.
Flarpswitch (flarp' switch) - n. The one light switch in every house with no function whatsoever.
Flen (flen) - n. (chemical symbol: Fl) The black crusty residue that accumulates on the necks of old catsup bottles.
Flimps (flimps) - n. People (usually observed in waiting rooms) who have advanced the Evelyn Wood technique to the point where they can flip through a magazine without ever looking down from the clock.
Flintstep (flint' step) - v. To wind up one's feet before running away in fear. Common among cartoon characters.
Floles (flolz) - n. The extra (fourth and fifth) holes in notebook paper. Created in the hopes that one day mankind will perfect a "five ring binder".
Flopcorn (flop' korn) - n. The unpopped kernels at the bottom of the cooker.
Flotion (flo' shun) - n. The tendency when sharing a waterbed to undulate for five minutes every time the other person moves.
Flotta Factor (flah' ta fak' tur) - n. The proven scientific fact that at a self-service pump, the last ten cents take longer to reach the tank than the first twelve dollars' worth.
Flurrant (fluhr' uhnt) - n. The one leaf that always clings to the end of the rake.
Fods (fahdz) - n. Couples at amusement parks who wear identical T-shirts, presumably to keep from getting lost.
Foys (foyz) - n. Missing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that you later find stuck to the underside of your arm.
Frankfluid (frank flew' id) - n. The liquid at the bottom of hot dog packages.
Fraznit (frahs' nit) - n. Any string hanging from an article of clothing which when pulled causes the article to completely unravel.
Frust (n): The line of dust that accumulates when sweeping dust into a dust pan and frustratingly backs you up because you can never get it into the pan.
Frustra (frus' trah) - n. The special plastic used in the manufacture of fast-food ketchup packets.
Fuffle (fuh' ful) - v. To assume, when dining out, that you are making things easier on the waitress by using the phrase "when you get a chance..."
Furbling - v. Having to wander through a maze of ropes at an airport or bank even when you are the only person in line.
Furbula (fer' byew luh) - n. The designated chewing area on a dog's back.
Furterus Zone (fer ter' us zohn) - n. The empty stretches of bun on either end of a hot dog.
Gapiana (ga pee ah' nah) - n. The unclaimed strip of land between the "you are now leaving" and "welcome to" signs when crossing state lines.
Gazinta (gah zin' tuh) - n. Mathematical symbol for division; also the sound uttered when dividing out loud. (Example: "Four gazinta eight twice.")
Genderplex - n. The predicament of a person in a restaurant who is unable to determine his or her designated restroom (e.g. turtles and tortoises).
Gertatious (gur tay' shus) - adj. Having the adolescent fear that hanging one's arm over the bed at night will mean being dragged under.
Gibble (jib' buhl) - n. The sliding keyhole cover on a car trunk.
Gimplexus (gim plek' sis) - n. Rear area of thighs, which must be peeled from car seat on hot summer days.
Gizzledipplers (gih' zul dip lurz) - n. Those annoying waving hands seen on the back of Winnebagos (placed there by people too lazy to be friendly on their own).
Glackett (glak' it) - n. The noisy ball inside a spray-paint can.
Gladhandling (glad' han dling) - n. To attempt, with frustrating results, to find and separate the ends of a plastic sandwich or trash bag.
Glamp (glamp) - n. The telescopic device used to retrieve golf balls from ponds.
glassable - n. anything that a parent tells a child not to go near because it can be broken (especially something made of glass)
Gleemites - n. Petrified deposits of toothpaste found in sinks.
Gleemule (glee' mule) - n. (a unit of measure) One unit of toothpaste, measured from bristle to bristle. (Not to be confused with GLEEMITES, which are petrified deposits of toothpaste found in sinks.)
Grackles (grak' elz) - n. The wrinkles that appear on the body after staying in water too long.
Grantnap (grant' nap) - n. The extra five minutes of sleep you allow yourself that somehow makes all the difference in the world.
Greelite (gree' lite) - n. The eerie glow that emanates from beneath escalator steps.
Grintiger (grin' tuh jer) - n. The numbered code on the back of a greeting card that, when deciphered, reveals the price.
Gription (grip' shun) - n. The sound of sneakers squeaking against the floor during basketball games.
Grisknob (grisd' nahb) - n. The end of a chicken drumstick which always gives the appearance of having more chicken on it.
Gromaxes (grom' ack sis) - n. Inside area of knees used to grip steering wheel when holding a map.
Gummerator (gum' uhr ay ter) - n. The pointed rubber object on the end of some toothbrushes.
Gurmlish - n. The red warning flag at the top of a club sandwich which prevents the person from biting into it and puncturing the roof of his mouth.
Gweek - n. A coat hanger recycled as a car aerial.
Gyroped (jy'roh ped) - n. A kid who cannot resist spinning around on a diner stool.
Hacula (hak' yew luh) - n. The last few inches of tape measure or lawn mower cord that refuses to rewind automatically.
Hangle (hang' ul) - n. A cluster of coat hangers.
Hempennant (hem' pen ent) - n. Any coattail, cuff, or dress hem dangling outside the door of a moving vehicle.
Hoaraxiomist - n. A Person who reasons about the meaning of programs.
Hozone (ho' zohn) - n. The place where one sock in every laundry load disappears to.
Hudnut (hud' nuht) - n. The leftover bolt or screw in any "some assembly required" project.
Hydralation (hi dra lay' shun) - n. Acclimating oneself to a cold swimming pool by bodily regions: toe-to-knee, knee-to-waist, waist-to-elbow, elbow-to-neck.
Hystioblogination (his' te o blahg in ay' shun) - n. The act of trying to identify a gift by holding it to your ear and shaking it.
Icision (ih sih' zhun) - n. Delicate operation performed on Neapolitan-flavored ice cream in which one entire flavor is precisely and systematically removed.
Idiolocator - n. The symbol on a mall or amusement park map representing "You Are Here"
Idiot Box - n. The part of the envelope that tells a person where to place the stamp when they can't quite figure it out for themselves.
Inkslick (ink' slik) - n. A greasy spot on a piece of stationery or test paper.
Irant (eye' rant) - n. A seamless pistachio; a pistachio nut afraid to come out in public.
Jiffylust (ji' phee lust) - n. The inability to be the first person to carve into a brand-new beautiful jar of peanut butter.
Joes of Arc (johz' uhv ark) - n. Tiny drops of Mr. Coffee that die on the burner after the pot is removed.
Jukejitters (jook' jit erz) - n. Fear that everyone thinks that you picked the awful tune emanating from the jukebox when it was actually the person before you.
Kawashock (kah wah shahk') - n. Pulling into the last remaining parking spot only to discover a motorcycle there.
Kedophobia (ked oh fo' be uh) - n. The fear of having one's sneakers eaten by the teeth on the escalator.
Keyfruit (kee' froot) - n. The one apple, pear, or tomato in the stand that, when removed, causes all the others to tumble forward.
Knuck (nuk) - n. Ice cream collected on the back of the hand when scraping the last portions from the box.
Krogling (kroh' gling) - n. The nibbling of small items of fruit and produce at the supermarket, which the customer considers "free sampling" and the owner considers "shoplifting".
Krogt - n. The metallic silver coating found on fast-food game cards.
Lactomangulation - n. Manhandling the "open here" spout on a milk carton so badly that one has to resort to using the "illegal" side.
Laminites (lam' in itz) - n. Those strange people who show up in the photo section of brand-new wallets.
Limalope (ly' muh lohp) - n. The disgusting foreskin on a lima bean.
Linenee (lih nen ee') - n. The member of a two-person folding team at the laundromat who takes the sheet and completes the fold.
Lodgecombing (loj' coh ming) - n. Final reconnaissance before vacating a motel room.
Loggium (log' yum) - n. Water that drips from one's nose hours after swimming.
Lorp (lawrp) - n. The part of the shoe that collapses when you try to pull it on without a shoehorn.
Lotshock (laht' shahk) - n. The act of parking your car, walking away, and then watching it roll past you.
Lub (lub) - n. The small deposit of spinach that lodges itself between one's teeth.
Luposlipaphobia - n. The fear of being pursued by timber wolves around a kitchen table while wearing socks on a newly waxed floor.
Maggit (mag' it) - n. Any of the hundreds of subscription cards that fall from the pages of a magazine. (pl. MAGGREGATE)
Magnocartic - n. Any automobile that, when left unattended, attracts shopping carts.
Malibugaloo (mal ih boo' guh lew) - n. A dance that affects barefoot beachgoers on hot summer days.
Manillium (mah nil' ee yum) - n. The lifespan of the clasp on a manila envelope before it breaks off and dies.
Marp (marp) - n. The impossible-to-find beginning of a roll of cellophane tape.
Mastacambulistophile - n. Someone who walks while eating, as from the local coffee and donut stand back to his office.
Mattrescotting (mat' res kot ing) - n. The pattern of gray and white lines on an institutional mattress.
Maypop (may' pop) - n. A bald tire.
Methylphobia (meth il fo' be uh) - n. The fear that you are going to have to pay for the one cent you over-pumped at the self-service station.
Microtrek (my' kro trek) - n. Any nervous trip to the microwave oven to make sure the food hasn't incinerated.
Microts (my' krotz) - n. The two thumbnail-sized pieces you end up with when trying to remove a paper towel in a public washroom.
Mimoids (mim' oydz) - n. People addicted to the smell of newly mimeographed test papers.
Mittsquinter - n. A ballplayer who looks into his glove after missing the ball, as if, somehow, the cause of the error lies there.
Mopeeps (moh' peeps) - n. People compelled to look through the curtain opening of your motel room as they pass by.
Mophenes (mo' feenz) - n. The semi-truck headlights that invade your motel room at three in the morning.
Motspur (mot' sper) - n. The pesky fourth wheel on a shopping cart that refuses to cooperate with the other three.
Mowmuffins (mo' muh finz) - n. The dried accumulation of grass on the underside of lawn mowers.
Mozzalastics (maht suh las' tiks) - n. Large deposits of cheese that stick to the top of the pizza box.
Multipochoholes (mul ti po' cho holz) - n. Wounds left in the test papers from overerasing.
Mummabolic chorus (mum uh bah' lik ko' rus) - n. When three or more people are singing along to a tune and suddenly discover they are all faking their way through the unintelligible lyrics.
Mumphreys (mum' freez) - n. (a useless sniglet) Those strange extra digits you find on push-button phones.
Musquirt (mus' kwirt) - n. The water that comes out of the initial squirts of a squeeze mustard bottle.
Mustgo - n. Any item of food that has been sitting in the refrigerator so long it has become a science project.
Napression Marks (n): Those indentation lines on your face created by your bedding when you when you wake up.
Narcolepulacy (nar ko lep' ul ah see) - n. The contagious action of yawning, causing everyone in sight to also yawn.
Negatile (neh' guh tyl) - n. An area of the bathroom floor where, somehow, the scale registers you five pounds lighter.
Neoice (nee oh ice') - n. Any ice cube removed before its time that upon close examination, resembles a carpenter's level.
Nerb - n. a noun used as a verb. For example: They didn't language the proclamation very well. nerb, nerbing, nerbed v. the act of using nouns as verbs in a sentence.
Netsec - n. A Unit of time used in indicating work time lost due to reading net.jokes
Neutron Peas (new' tron peez) - n. Tiny green objects in TV dinners that remain frozen even when the rest of the food has been microwaved beyond recognition.
Nevitts (nev' itz) - n. The sandpaper-like deposits on a cat's tongue.
Nicometer (nik oh mee' tee awr) - n. A cigarette that exits though a car's front window and reenters through the back.
Nifleck (nih' flek) - n. The unmarked domino in the set.
Niz (niz) - n. An annoying hair at the top of a movie screen.
Nizzlebrill (nih' zuhl bril) - n. The "night-day" switch on a rearview mirror.
Nocturnuggets (nok' ter nuh gitz) - n. Deposits found in one's eye upon awakening in the morning, also called: GOZZAGAREENA, OPTIGOOK, EYEHOCKEY, etc.
Nugloo (nug' lew) - n. Single continuous eyebrow that covers the entire forehead. Also known as a Unibrow.
Omnibiblious - adj. Indifferent to type of drink. "Oh, you can get me anything. I'm omnibiblious."
Oopzama (ewp' za muh) - n. Sudden scratching of scalp or face upon realization that the person you were waving at isn't who you thought it was.
Opling (op' pling) - n. The act, when feeding a baby, of opening and closing one's mouth, smacking one's lips and making "yummy" noises, in the hope that baby will do the same.
Optortionist (op tor' shun ist) - n. The kid in school who can turn his eyelids inside out.
Oreosis (awr ee oh' sis) - n. The practice of eating the cream center of an Oreo before eating the cookie outsides.
Orogami (or oh ga' mee) - n. The miraculous folding process that allows Kleenexes to methodically emerge from the box one ate a time.
Orosuctuous (or oh suk' chew us) - adj. Being able to hold a glass to one's face by sheer lung power.
Otisosis (oh tis oh' sis) - n. The inability to meet anyone else's eyes in an elevator.
P-spot (pee' spaht) - n. The area directly above the urinal in public restrooms that men stare at, knowing a glance in any other direction would arouse suspicion.
Pajangle (pah jan' gul) - n. Condition of waking up with your pajamas turned 180 degrees.
Pediddel - n. A car with only one working headlight.
Pelutho - n. A South American ball game. The balls are whacked against a brick wall with a stout wooden bat until the prisoner confesses.
Penciventilation (pen si ven ti lay' shun) - n. The act of blowing on the tip of a pencil after sharpening it.
Pepperlonely - the piece of pepperoni left on the cardboard when you pick up a piece of pizza.
Perkuburp - n. the burb that a percolator (now archaic) makes when it's finished.
Permapression (pur' muh preh shun) - n. The discovery that there is no real difference in the various cycles of your washing machine.
Petonic (peh ton' ik) - adj. One who is embarrassed to undress in front of a household pet.
Petribar - n. Any sun-bleached prehistoric candy that has been sitting in the window of a vending machine too long.
Petrool (pet' rul) - n. The slow, seemingly endless strand of motor oil at the end of the can.
Pewtone (pyu tone') - n. (chemical symbol: Pu) A major atmospheric component of towns with paper mills.
Philopologist (fil ah pahl' ah jist) - n. A specialist who loads people onto amusement rides.
Phistel (fis' tul) - n. The brake pedal on the passenger side of the car that you wish existed when you're riding with a lunatic.
Phonesia (fo nee' zhuh) - n. The affliction of dialing a phone number and forgetting whom you were calling just as they answer.
Phosflink - v. To flick a bulb on and off when it burns out (as if, somehow, that will bring it back to life).
Photoyokel (fo to yo' kul) - n. A person who presses the wrong button on a film camera causing it to dismantle.
Phozzle (fo' zul) - n. The buildup of dust on a record needle.
Picklettulance (pik ul et' yu lans) - n. The ability to remember the entire family's order at a fast-food restaurant.
Pielibrium (pu lih' bree uhm) - n. The point at which the crust on a wedge of pie outweighs the filling and tips it over. -Rick Bamford
Piepushers (py' puh shurz) - n. Attendants at fast-food restaurants who, no matter what you order, try to unload apple or cherry turnovers on you.
Piewagon (py' wa gun) - n. The small vehicle that carries games pieces around a Trivial Pursuit board.
Pifflesquit (pif' ul skwit) - n. The wire net surrounding the cork of a champagne bottle.
Pigslice (pig' slys) - n. The last unclaimed piece of pizza that everyone is secretly dying for.
Pillsburglar (pilz' berg ler) - n. Person able to sample the icing on a new cake without leaving a fingerprint.
PIYAN (pi' an) - n. (acronym: "Plus If You Act Now") Any miscellaneous item thrown in on a late night television ad.
Polarind (poh' luh rynd) - n. The peeling on a polaroid snapshot.
Postalports (poh' stul pawrtz) - n. The annoying windows in envelopes that never line up with the address.
Prema-cheerio or Toodle-oops - n. The uncomfortable silence shared by two people after they've said good-bye to each other and continue to walk together out of necessity.
Premail (pree' mayl) - n. Mail that is placed behind the visor in the car and left for several months before it is finally sent.
Pretzaline (pret sah leen') - n. The salt deposit at the bottom of a bag of pretzels.
Primpo (prim' po) - n. A person who passes a mirror then has to step back, presumably to reassure himself he still exists.
Pulpid (puhl' pid) - n. A kid who enjoys the carton more than the item that came in it.
Puntificate (puhn tih' fih kayt) - v. To try to predict in what direction a football will bounce.
Pupkus (pup' kus) - n. The moist residue left on a window after a dog presses its nose to it.
Purpitation - v. To take something off the grocery shelf, decide you don't want it, and then put it in another section.
Reled (ree led') - v. To reset all the digital clocks in the household following a power failure.
Retrocarbonic (ret ro kar bon' ik) - n. Any drink machine that dispenses the soda before the cup.
Rignition (rig ni' shun) - n. The embarrassing action of trying to start one's car with the engine already running.
Roebinks (roh' binks) - n. Those mysterious chimes you always hear in department stores.
Rovalert (ro' val urt) - n. The system whereby one dog can quickly establish an entire neighborhood network of barking.
Sark (sark) - n. The marks left on one's ankle after wearing tube socks all day.
Scribblics (skrih' bliks) - n. Warm-up exercises designed to get the ink in a pen flowing.
Scribline - n. The blank area on the back of credit cards where one's signature goes.
Shirmers - n., pl. Tall young men who stand around smiling at weddings as if to suggest that they know the bride rather well.
SHMIDDLE: noun The hole in the center of a bagel. "The cream cheese was oozing out from the shmiddle."
Shocklet (shahk' lit) - n. The seldom-used third hole on an electrical outlet.
Shoefly (shew' fliy) - n. The aeronautical terminology for a football player who misses the punt and launches his shoe instead.
Shuzma (shuhz' muh) - n. The portion of window cleaner that the spray tube can no longer reach.
Sirlines (sir' lines) - n. The lines on a grilled steak.
Slackjam (slak' jam) - n. The condition of being trapped in one's own trousers while trying to pull them on without first removing shoes.
Slopweaver (lsahp' wee vuhr) - n. Someone who has mastered the art of repositioning the food on his plate to give the appearance of having consumed a good portion of it.
Slottery and Vendication (slot' er ee and ven' di kay shun) - n. A public misdemeanor in which a person gambles on a vending machine, loses, and tries to exact revenge by kicking it.
Slurch (slerch) - n. The combination "ouch" and slurping noise one makes when eyeing someone else's bad sunburn.
Slurm - n. The slime that accumulates on the underside of a soap bar when it sits in the dish too long.
Snackmosphere (snak' moh sfeer) - n. The empty but explosive layer of air at the top of a potato chip bag.
Snacktrek - n. The peculiar habit, when searching for a snack, of constantly returning to the refrigerator in hopes that something new will have materialized.
Snargle (snar' gul) - v. To lessen the visual impact of a horror movie by filtering it through one's fingers.
Sniglet (snig'lit) - n. Any word that doesn't appear in the dictionary, but should.
Snigletologists - people who have nothing better to do than sit around thinking up sniglets
Snuggage (snuh 'gaj) - n. The act of retying both shoestrings when only one needed it.
Somnambapologist (som nam ba pol' uh jist) - n. Person too polite to admit he was sleeping even when awakened at three in the morning.
Spagellum (spa gel' um) - n. The loose strand on each forkful of spaghetti that beats one about the chin and whiskers.
Spagmumps - n. Any of the millions of Styrofoam wads that accompany mail-order items.
Speclums (spek' lums) - n. The miniscule bumps on a strawberry.
Speraws (sper' awz) - n. The pinched marks on the ends of hot dogs.
Spirobits - n. The frayed bits of left-behind paper in a spiral notebook.
Spirtle - n. The fine stream from a grapefruit that always lands right in your eye.
Spood (spewd) - n. Flat wooden "spoon" that accompanies ice cream cups.
Sprout Lines (sprowt lynz) - n. Visible lines at the bottom of trouser legs where the hems have been let down.
Spudrubble (spud' rubb uhl) - n. Unclaimed french fries at the bottom of a fastfood bag.
Squaffles (skwa' felz) - n. The individual squares comprising a waffle.
Squalkeenus (skwal ke' nus) - n. The shock syndrome that comes from biting into a popsicle with one's front teeth.
Squanderprint (skwan' duhr print) - n. Directions that try to make you use up a product faster than you normally would. (Ex.: Apply shampoo. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.)
Squatcho (skwatch' oh) - n. (another useless sniglet) The button at the top of a baseball cap.
Squatic Diversion (skwa' tik dy vur' zhun) - n. Any pretended activity that commands a dog owner's attention while the dog relieves itself on a neighbor's lawn.
Squigger (skiwg' uhr) - n. A cherry tomato that explodes upon contact with a fork.
Stroodle (stru' dul) - n. The annoying strand of cheese stretching from a slice of hot pizza to one's mouth.
Subnougate (sub new' get) - v. To eat the bottom caramels in a candy box and carefully replace the top level, hoping no one will notice.
Swaznia (swaz' nuh) - n. The thin, disgusting membrane that connects the bottom of the tongue to the top of the jaw, presumably to hold it in place.
Table Snorkeling (tay' bul snawrk' ling) - n. Frantic gesticulations when one bites into hot food and has to take in air to cool it off.
Telecrastination (tel e kras tin ay' shun) - n. The act of always letting the phone ring at least twice before you pick it up, even when you're only six inches away.
Telepression - n. The deep-seated guilt which stems from knowing that you did not try hard enough to "look up the number on your own" and instead put the burden on the directory assistant.
Telletiquette (tel et' ih ket) - n. The polite distance kept by one person behind another at an automatic teller machine (so as not to be suspected of trying to glimpse that person's secret code).
Testlice (test' lys) - n. Those tiny bugs that invade your hair when you're taking an exam.
Thermalophobia (thur muh lo fo' be uh) - n. The fear when showering that someone will sneak in, flush the toilet, and scald you to death.
Thrickle (thri' kel) - n. The itch in the back of the throat which can't be scratched without making disgusting barnyard-type noises.
Tidnab - n. The opposite of a bandit; one who surreptitiously leaves items, as a neighbor who leaves some of his bumper crop of summer squash on your doorstep.
Tilecomet (n): the piece of tolietpaper that clings to your foot after you've left a public restroom
Tricklemicrochips - n. Those little tiny broken pieces of Doritos that seem to trickle to the bottom of the bag or bowl no matter what.
Turfigee and Pedigee (ter' fih jee and ped' ih jee) - n. The two extreme target points of a rotary lawn sprinkler, TURFIGEE being the safest point at which to walk past, PEDIGEE being the most dangerous.
Twinch (twinch) - n. The movement a dog makes with its head when it hears a high-pitched noise.
Uclipse (yew' klips) - n. The dangerous arc into another lane made by drivers just before executing a turn.
Ufluation (yu flu ay' shun) - n. The peculiar habit, when searching for a snack, of constantly returning to the refigerator in hopes that something new will have materialized.
Uhfage (uff' aj) - n. The unit for determining a television's age, that is, the amount of time it takes for the picture to appear once the set has been turned on.
Umbrace (uhm' brays) - n. The small strap that holds an umbrella in place.
Upuls (yu' puls) - n. The blank pages at the beginning and end of books, presumably placed there so you can rewrite the ending.
Vacation Elbow (vay kay' shun el' bo) - n. A condition that suddenly develops in a father's arm during a vacation trip that allowed him to reach out and slap you from incredible distances.
Vegiludes - n. Individual peas or kernels of corn that you end up chasing all over the plate with your fork.
Voitlock (voyt' lok) - n. When the basketball gets lodged between the rim and the backboard.
Waftic (wahf' tik) - adj. Describes any person in whose direction campfire or barbeque smoke always blows.
Warbloid (war' bloyd) - n. The tiny device in cassette players that eats tapes.
Wattbobble (wat' bah bul) - v. To remove a hot light bulb by turning it several seconds, letting your fingers cool, then repeating the process. This is generally followed by the glorious revelation of using your shirttail.
Werxilation (wurks ul ay' shun) - n. The property of some screen doors to start to slam shut only to catch themselves at the last moment and "float" to a gentle close.
Woowad (wew' wad) - n. Giant clumps of stuck-together rice served at Chinese restaurants.
Yardribbons (yard rib' onz) - n. The unmowed patches of grass discovered after one has put away the mower.
Yinkel - n. A person who combs his hair over his bald spot, hoping no one will notice.
Yotate (yoh' tayt) - v. To allow a yo-yo to unwind itself.
Zeept (zeept) - n. The accumulation of dead insects around an electric bug fryer.
Zerblot (zur' blaht) - n. The last kid picked in any neighborhood sporting event.
Zipcuffed (zip' cuft) - v. To be trapped in one's trousers by a faulty zipper.

Presidential address on mute. If you were to dig through the archives of this blog, you'd find that I've mentioned before my deep sense of patriotism to my state and country. My service in the military was the least I could do for this nation that has unfortunately and so often disappointed me in my adult life. You can't point the finger at one man or short term action. Our folly is self inflicted as a social machine... greedy, arrogant, and wasteful. My eyes well and I struggle back tears when I see the United States of America's flag waving in majestic representation of the founding principles of this nation. The state of the union in world affairs is nothing less than bittersweet for me however... the ideal in shadows. Today was probably a hard day for many, but it was just another day. It is what we do with the time we have that really matters. Maybe tomorrow will be different. Maybe.

faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love

God be with those who survive the lost of September 11, 2001. May they find some peace today.

"i love to see the sun in spite of all it's done i pray for shade and rain i pray to live again i come from the water" I drove down to the coast this weekend to deliver Beth's birthday present and see my sister on her day off. It was a nice weekend overall... lazy days and pleasant weather. I feel like I shield myself from certain emotions to regulate the flowrate. Too much too fast is more pain than I can handle. I stepped into Beth's pool for about 2 minutes on Saturday. It was the first time I'd been in any water other than a shower since Erin's death. It was so hard for me, but I knew it would have to happen eventually. I thought it better I tried it alone. I remember my grandfather teaching me with the sink or swim method as a toddler. I was a fish in the water ever since then... you rarely could find me as a young boy without pruned fingers and toes. I grew up near the ocean. I lettered in swimming, competed all 4 years of high school, and was team captain my senior year. I was in the Navy for nearly eight and a half years. There has always been something between my life, oxygen, and the hydrogen twins. It was strikingly awkward to feel so uncomfortable in something that used to provide me with such comfort. I have to continue to try. Erin's mother left me a heartfelt voicemail last night and I spoke with her father today. I could not help but weep as I felt every pain I know they are experiencing. I received news of her family's status and wellbeing. I know she is looking upon them with a smile and waits to see them again. I can't seem to stop the tears that roll down my cheeks. All evening I have been extremely emotional. I turned on the television and saw a few minutes of the documentary marking the eve of the 5 year anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center towers. In no state to handle that, I changed the station and it happened to be a show about children with a rare genetic abnormality and their struggle with trying to fit into our cruel and superficial society. It may as well have been a show about torturing puppies. I ate a few bites of a poor excuse of dinner to confirm my lack of appetite. The tele stayed off. I can't seem to remember what else I was going to say when I sat down to type this, so I'll fill in a few details re: the weekend. I met up with my sister out at my mother's the night I arrived. She and I stayed up late and watched a movie together over pizza. We chatted and caught up a little. As much as I knew her as a girl, I know little of her as a woman. I hope we can change that as I try to be around more in the future. I had to work Friday, so my schedule was a little restricted, but we managed to fit in a nice Small Planet Deli lunch with Beth in Corpus Christi. Friday night was the early opening of Beth's birthday gift as well as an unexpected invite to my alma mater's first home game of the season. I am not a sports fan, but I can enjoy sporting events when I am actually present. When I was in high school, out team was not very successful. Apparently, the team now, who went to the State competition last year, is so good as a 3A team that they are playing 4A schools this season for a portion of the games. The first game of the year was against a 4A school and my little hometown 3A team won 52 to 7. Friday night light's game was also as large margin win, but we didn't see it because after an injury in the 3rd quarter requiring an ambulance to remove one of the opposing players from the field, we drove to Port Aransas via the ferry for sushi. Saturday flew by incredibly fast. Rob, Tammy, Beth, and I had dinner and some really fabulous wine early in the evening. We listened to music, played games, burned woodchips in the chiminea on the patio, and shared jokes and conversation. It was a wonderful night. I'd given Rob a nice single malt from his favorite distillery and between that and the many bottles of wine (including an excellent 2003 Chataneuf du Pape), a good time was had by all. We planned on getting taquitos from The City Tortilla Factory this morning, but didn't catch them before close, so we cooked the homemade equivalent at my mom's house substituting whole wheat tortillas and fresh ingredients. The mango I'd planned on eating a few days ago was begging to be eaten before it got too ripe and it made a nice side. The trip home went pretty smooth other than the emotional distress that I've been learning to cope with quite well despite the discomfort it causes. I'm probably not ok, but I'm definitely surviving. I was thumbing through my calendar of appointments this evening for the coming week. Busy. I am already longing for next weekend.

OMG it is freezing in my office. Popsicle. Last night I was thinking of the drink Beth and I invented last weekend but didn't have the ingredients on hand to recreate it. You take your vodka of choice and get it to crawl into a martini shaker with cranberry, mango, and pomegranate juice (100% juice, no cocktail) and jiggle around with some ice like you know it's supposed to be done. Pour and garnish with fresh blueberries (more is better than less). We're still trying to come up with a name for it. My mother is on the road to New Mexico today me thinks. Safe travels and all that, Mom. It's a gorgeous day outside. My dreary and cold office is driving me out again. I left early yesterday to work from home because I couldn't take it anymore regardless of the risk of hypothermia. I have to go to Gunspoint at lunch to pick up a package (that is Greenspoint, but if you know Houston, you know why they call it Gunspoint). Maybe I'll stop by Fry's and window shop. My monitor is about to konk out at the house. It has been slowly failing with sporadic patterns and flickers. It's time to consider the upgrade option. /sigh I'm going to find something hot to drink with caffeine in it. Oh, and look for Kevlar. Ciao.

I love this weather. This combination of temperature and humidity is what makes sitting on the porch listening to grass grow desirable.

I thought in my insomnia I'd mention that I got sucked into the reality show Supernova. Storm Large was my fav by a wide margin and she got voted off tonight. There is just no justice in the world, eh? I think I drank a bottle of wine while I fiddled around the house with this and that... sleep should be coming soon. No? pee ess... she really says "what the fuck" when not on public television, but you get the idea... It's just scandalous. No? Gawd, I'm tired.

I missed his birthday yesterday. I'm sorry for not calling you.

in loving memory...

"no matter where i am and every tear i've cried You hold in your hand You never left my side and though my heart is torn i will praise You in this storm" The weather in Houston has been wonderful. It is cool in the morning and persists through the day. Tingly feelings of anticipation abound as I know even cooler weather is just ahead. So exciting! On the way in to work this morning, I was listening to NPR like I do most days. Garrison Keillor recited Sonia Gernes's poem entitled "Little Sisters" during The Writer's Almanac. It was one of the most powerful pieces I've heard in some time. I'll try to direct link his reading here, but if that doesn't work, I'll ninja-post the text in the extended section of this entry. Strong work. Henry gets little beef tendons instead of processed rawhide because of his size and the danger of unsoftened (via saliva) swallowed pieces causing intestinal blockage during post consumption expansion. He uses his little paws like hands to hold and position the direction of the treat using opposing pressure... like a small child holding a sippy cup. Last night, during House, he got tired of squeezing the chewy, so he stuck one end between two couch cushions to use the pressure as a tool for accessing the end of the chewy while giving his paws and forearms a rest. Problem solving is what makes him so mischievous. I think the descriptor used on the phone with Beth last night was "cute little smarty-pants". Regardless of who said it, that he is. Speaking of Beth, which I don't think I have much here, she is someone I've known most of my life... probably somewhere between 25 and 30 years in some capacity. We have always been friends and kept in touch intermittently while RealLife™ happened. Since EL's death, I've been spending more time with family and friends. As time passes and I deal with the gambit of emotions that come with becoming a widower in the blink of an eye, I have found comfort in those relationships with those around me. There was a time in my life where most of my friends were women. These days, mostly due to professional affiliation and coincidence, most of my friends are men. Beth is my longest standing female friend and companion that is not related to me. She and I have history that spans all my relationships, schools, job selections to career paths, etc. In some times we were disconnected due to geographic distance or current personal status, but she's always been and will be someone special in my life. I've been spending more time with her recently and in those moments I see some sunshine through my cloudy sky. I know she's not there to save me from my pain, but she does do well in reminding me of the man I was before Erin died and perhaps she'll be there someday when I am that man again. Someday. Shifting gears... I just found out that my progressive thinking corporation that is currently running most of our goodies on Linux systems is being baby-seal beaten into using Micro$oft Exchange for our email delivery in the coming weeks. I am filled with disgust. Further, I'll need to replace my phone in order to receive any efficient email while on the road since my current PPTP VPN for POP3 delivery will no longer be supported. Grrrr! The man is rubbing me the wrong way. It looks like it will have to be the 8125. Not happy. I am off to lunch. "Little Sisters" - Sonia Gernes This birthday I have reached the age where my mother bore the last of her dead daughters— one that was whisked away before its first clean cry could scour the naked room, the later two a blue that refused to brighten. "Baby Girl, Infant Daughter of ..." the little markers said and I listened from behind the stove in her last pregnancy, watched her body swell and sag, knew from the shape of those whispered words that something was amiss— she was weighted already with two small stones. Summer mornings I called them forth— the little sisters I had never seen— made them faces from the old ache in the air above the garden, hair like mine from the grassy space where root crops should have been. I learned of blood tests, transfusions, the factor called Rh, my little sisters dreaming their aquatic days on lethal ropes, my mother almost dead. Now at the kitchen table lighting candles on a cake, I am empty-handed, empty-wombed, no daughters to give her as she counts again my miraculous birth, fourth and forceps-born, her last survivor in that war of blood with family blood. I reach for her hand and hold it, but there are spaces here, tender lacunae we cannot fold away. Still somewhere the hand-stitched garments, the gingham quilts, the counting game. Still the soot-smudged corner where I crouched beneath the stovepipe and fingered like a rosary the small pebbles of their names.