Category: Everyday Stories

  • Probably one of the only parts of a dream I'll post here

    This is probably one of the only parts of a dream I’ll ever post here, and I’m only posting it because it was so stupid. I had it a couple of weeks ago when I’d caught some bug and was very nauseous for a few days but not throwing up. I wished I would throw…

  • Notes on portrait of a boy and his robot

    Click on the image to view larger at Flickr. Portrait of a boy and his robot Digital photo with post production Copyright J Kearns 2006 We had a children’s science museum down the street when we first moved to this building. H.o.p. loved going there despite the weariness of the exhibits, The weariness of the…

  • And so we’ve joined the growing ranks of dyslexic Kindlers

    And so we’ve joined the growing ranks of dyslexic Kindlers

    I wrote the following to post in the comment area of a home educator who had recently gone Kindle. But then I couldn’t get the board to accept my comment so I decided to just post it here. Why couldn’t I get my comment to post? Because I got caught up talking with H.o.p. about…

  • Unexpected Conversation

    Unexpected Conversation

    “Hey, hey, hey, happy birthday!” I look down to see a quarter moon sliver thrust at my face, and it’s not even my birthday but that escapes my notice as the fingernail is so unexpected. And I take it, assuming the intent is that I throw it away. Of course. “No, no, no, wait! That’s…

  • 2011 Dragoncon – Aaron with Owly’s Creator Andy Runton

    2011 Dragoncon – Aaron with Owly’s Creator Andy Runton

    Here’s H.o.p. with Owly’s creator, Andy Runton, who was extremely nice to H.o.p. and gave him all kinds of helpful advice. Dragoncon ended yesterday and Aaron’s floating on Cloud 9 today. It was a great year with everything he learned from Bakshi and Runton. Plus he got to hear Wil Wheaton and Slyvester McCoy yesterday…

  • DragonCon 2011 Costume/Parade Pics (27 photos)

    DragonCon 2011 Costume/Parade Pics (27 photos)

    Not the best quality of iPhone pics but here are some Dragoncon costume photos that Marty took over the past few days. Thanks to Thaddaeus for taking the time to comment and giving IDs on the characters!

  • Special Moments at 2011 DragonCon

    Special Moments at 2011 DragonCon

    Long before H.o.p. was born I was taping those Ralph Bakshi episodes of “The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse” to make sure I had them when they were no longer airing. Then here was H.o.p. and it was obvious he was on the art track. I pulled out those Bakshi tapes and made them a…

  • H.o.p.’s 2011 DragonCon Costume

    H.o.p.’s 2011 DragonCon Costume

    H.o.p.’s 2011 Dragoncon Costume View On Black Yes, it may look like a cape/cloak and a felt top hat, but to H.o.p.’s mind, even at thirteen, it is so much more, and he spent at least a couple of months contemplating and planning his outfit, abandoning here and there an elaboration which he realized he…

  • Dragoncon and Andy Runton

    Dragoncon and Andy Runton

    Owly Toy This is H.o.p.’s third year at Dragoncon. This year, as well as the past two, he has sought out the booth of Andy Runton, the creator of Owly. Andy remembered him from last year and spent a good bit of his time speaking with him, listening to his planned projects–and I’d like to…

  • The Dali Exhibit was Crowded

    The Dali Exhibit was Crowded

    At the Museum Series: The Dali Exhibit Light box link We went to the Dali exhibit at the High. It was crowded but we had reservations and moved through the outer queue fairly quickly. I’m not a big Dali fan now–enjoyed his work in high school. But I wouldn’t mind visiting again. The exhibit was…

  • The Pomegranate as a Canteen

    “Bruising” a pomegranate and sucking the juice out through a little hole is a lot harder than it sounds (or a video I saw). I should have whacked it several times with a bat first. Got a little juice but not much. I need to go ahead and take it apart. But it is a…

  • A Real Live Film in Our Back Yard

    Some people from the university are shooting a film out back of the building for a couple of days. We asked if it was all right for H.o.p. to watch. So, that’s what H.o.p. did all day. Tonight he asked for a clapboard. I thought it would be good experience for him to watch and…