Monthly Archives: August 2021

I’m normally a patient guy, but when my stomach starts grumbling or I can see the light at the end of the work day I start to feel like Spanky here.  This GIF reflects my feelings right before lunch or quitting time.  I usually post this image in a chat when another co-worker asks “is it 5:00 yet?”  Nope.  We’re stuck here with Spanky until the whistle blows.

This is Bill Haverchuck, a character portrayed by Martin Starr on one of my all time favorite shows, Freaks and Geeks.  I post this GIF with his image a lot when I’m in a group chat and reveal my nerdiness or geekdom on any given subject like how many “wee-ma-wey’s” are in The Lion Sleeps Tonight (64).  GIFs are a peek into my soul, they are the scenes that go with certain dialogues, and they are the images that I’m going to share with you over the next few days.  Consider this the first installment of The GIFs That Keep on Giving (TGTKOG).

Warren and Andrew came over for the second Sunday in a row yesterday.  Last Sunday we all walked to Pop Culture and got popcorn and ice cream.  This week I played a few songs with Andrew (pictured above) for the first time since he first started learning guitar.  He plays bass now.  When we were done, Jenny sat next to him and they both ate Boom-Chicka-Pop popcorn out of coffee filters.

John Davidson, Richard Burton, Steve Austin, and a bunch of other patients with famous names have showed up to the clinic where I work.  When I was checking in John Davidson I jokingly asked “Didn’t you use to be a host on ‘That’s Incredible’ with Fran Tarkenton and Cathy Lee Crosby?” Fortunately he laughed.  I wanted to ask him about the time he posed nude for Playgirl, but there were other patients waiting to check in.

Somebody left a coloring book in the break room.  It was like a lighthouse in the fog calling to me and yet telling me to stay away.  Anytime something has the word adult on the cover I internally brace myself for nudity or obscenity– but since this discovery was at work I figured it was sort of safe.  If it was real raunchy somebody else would have taken it home.  This is what I saw inside:

I was changing strings and replacing the battery in my acoustic guitar when a snap ring broke off of my 9-volt assembly.  Fortunately I am a resourceful guy who is used to figuring out “work arounds.”  I found another 9-volt assembly kit at Micro Center for $2, cut the old assembly off, and spliced the wires together.  I put one string on the guitar so I could test it on an amp.  The first time I ever spliced wires was when Hoovie showed me how to hook up a Sparkomatic stereo in the Dodge Swinger.

We came across this discarded pull tab on a walk last week.  “Who still has drinks with disposable pull tabs??”  I wondered.  Then I came to the logical conclusion that it must have a time traveler from the late 60′s or early 70′s.  He or she probably set their dials for a future date within their lifespan so they could get data and statistics to take back to their own time.  They probably took a break from their financial planning while they were here.  I imagine they went for a walk in the woods, pulled the tab off a Mr. Pibb, and carelessly tossed it in the grass.  They littered quite a bit back then.

I saw a new face in my formica table recently.  After a quick sketch I realized he looked like a distant cousin to a Star Wars character, Jabba the Hutt.  I’m not sure what this guy’s name should be but he may also be related to the Elephant Man.

Dear Mom, Dad, Hoovie, Chris, and the silent minority:
I know that my blog posts have become something of a rarity in the last few months. My new job requires a LOT of time on a keyboard and my hands aren’t as young as they used to be BUT they finally feel up to the task today.   Thanks to pain killers and my new ambidextrous abilities I can report that all is well and sunny here on the midwestern front.  Recent developments around here include a new roof on our new carport (cue the crowd cheer), a fresh coat of paint on the east exterior wall of our house (thanks Chris), weed and undergrowth removal from the backyard and west side of the house (thanks again Chris).  Jenny and I have not been sipping cocktails by the pool while all of this work gets done, our day jobs and labors of love are keeping us busy.