Lately, when people ask me what I’ve been up to, I’m a bit puzzled myself how to respond.  My wife says I should say “fine” and leave it at that, but it always causes me to think back and answer the question, at least in my own mind. I’ve been somewhat busy, and I know [...]

This morning, we had our Shih-Tzu put to sleep. We had her for 12 years; she was just shy of 20-1/2 years old. She wasn’t really a dog, but a person that expected to be treated like a princess. So we did. Last weekend, we had decided it was her time, and it hit me [...]

I was just thinking about how awesome my daughter is. But then I realized that maybe I was doing a disservice by telling her too often how proud I am of all the things she does or writes or says. I’ve always been a cheerleader type for the people around me. I show my love [...]

She bumps into things, makes us get up early, pees on the floor, and is as demanding as any Chinese Dowager Princess could be expected. But we love her, and give her whatever she wants and needs. AKC certified as “Lady Flower II”, our shihtzu turns 20 years old today. Yes, that’s probably a record [...]

I heard rumors that my Philosophy Professor, Robert Nielsen, was retiring, and felt a great desire to hear his traditional end-of-year recitation of Beckets Last Sermon, of which here is an excerpt … I have spoken to you today, dear children of God, of the martyrs of the past, asking you to remember especially our [...]

I was at St. Hedwig’s cemetery the other day.  A beer can sat on a momument next to that of my grandparents.  I thought it was litter at first, but it was unopened.  Maybe funny for some, but meaningful to them.  Reminded me of stuffed animals left on the graves of children. Followed some turkets into [...]

I have no way to describe it, really.  It was so full of life.  First, we visited Christina at her dorm on Saturday as she was moving in.  Mer put together a care package of food and stuff, and I grabbed an extension cord she needed from Big Lots on the way.  We only stayed [...]

I didn’t write about this months ago when it happened, as I wanted everything to settle down and then had other matters to attend to among the living.  Bob Kell, Jr., my friend (and accountant / networking associate) passed away earlier this year.  (On an odd note, he was just putting together the taxes that [...]

It never amazes me how deep the roots are of our personal values.  But unlike those who would rather be totally self-deterministic in some false sense of empowerment for its own sake, I would rather embrace them as consistent personality strengths and weaknesses I can make the best of. Why bring this up?  I asked [...]

I just read an alumni newsletter article – or rather tried to read it in its entirety — about the new statue of Saint Marguerite D’Youville at my Alma Mater.  It’s a long-winded litany of interpretive assumptions about the artist’s intentions linked to vague ideals, right down to the significance of how far apart the saint’s [...]

Finally went to Dunkirk and planted flowers on graves (a yearly ritual).  Then we strolled at the pier shops, the beach, and cooked hot dogs on the grill.  Just a perfect day, started by sleeping in a bit and organzing the keepsakes from my daughter’s high school life (she’s at Bonaroo right now).  Life is [...]

http://vimeo.com/4825838 I finally got to this.  I wish the people I love could have known him.  He can be seen on video at http://weblogs.hollanddoc.nl/magikdood/2009/03/28/moge-de-zon-je-paraplu-zijn/.