Siftings
Dec
26
Baubles
I take it all back. Every bad thing I’ve ever said. At least, all the bad things about cable tv. Comcast is replaying all the Cubs post-season victories. So, safe in the knowledge that Ralphie will indeed get his gun, we’ll leave TBS to their annual Christmas Story marathon. This North-side...
Dec
22
Piles
They’ve stopped asking if I’m trying to kill myself. I take it as a good sign. The folks at Seaside City Hall have grown accustomed to the weekend expeditions to the top of something slippery and cold. Most recently Eagle Peak. How do you make Yosemite better? Just add winter.
The roar of...
Dec
18
Craig’s Friday(ish) Countdown - Trail ?s
Questions you shouldn’t and / or would rather not ask on a trail, from essentially ok to its gone to heck quickly. Most (but not all) are easily avoided by hiking solo.
#10 – Can I borrow some sunscreen? This one’s actually ok, except I’m not sure how someone “borrows” sunscreen.
#9 –...
Dec
09
Craig’s Friday Countdown - Christmas Albums
The Twelve Days of Christmas (albums).
12. The Border Brass “Tijuana Christmas” – The cover suggests it would be fun. Judging albums by covers not an exact science.
11. Christmas Day With Colonel Sanders – Not making this up.
10. Willie Nelson “Pretty Paper”
9. Phil...
Dec
02
Craig’s Friday Countdown - Peak Crayon
As we all try to figure out exactly what year we are going back to as America becomes great again, maybe it will be easier to start with something tangible, like the best year for Crayola crayons.
#10) tie 1903 – 8 colors in a box. Not quite enough colors.
#10) tie 1998 – 120 colors in...
Nov
25
Craig’s Friday Countdown - Xmas List
The Christmas List:
2. 1973 Lancia Stratos HF
1. 1" radius round nose router bit
Oct
30
Vista,Cruiser
The Caddy canters up the 101. North of Santa Barbara in the rain, the windshield wipers serve as metronome to Brian Fallon’s “Nobody Wins”. A love’s lost / fond remembrance song two notches closer to Springsteen’s “Bobby Jean” than the Replacements’ “Left of the Dial”, it also ponders...
Oct
28
Craig’s Friday Countdown - Buddha Wanna
Things Buddhists want:
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5. No, seriously, detachment from want, and all that …
4.
3. Ok, a nice little spot by a gently flowing river wouldn’t be the worst thing, ever.
2.
1. (tie) China out of Tibet. Cubs, in...
Oct
16
Jetsam & Jetways
It was a ritual. Each Friday bout 5:45 pm I’d fill an empty copier paper box with the week’s desk flotsam and bring it home. Sometime Saturday or Sunday, I’d sit on the floor in the family room and sift through it all. Such was the work-life balance as Davenport City Administrator.
I had...
Oct
09
Trespassing
Go to the problem. It’s basic leadership. You can read about the problem, look at a picture of the problem, and have the problem described to you. But there’s nothing like going to the problem to understand it. See it, hear it, feel it. Smell and taste it if you have to. Except if the problem...
