I was going to flee the capital late yesterday, after the Admiral’s retirement. It was great to be part of it. Norm racked up a series of “firsts” in his 31-year career, which he enumerated. He was the first African American to be selected for a host of key Naval Intelligence jobs- Detailer, Number Fleet […]

(I was still teetering on crutches when Bill made his remarks at Raven and Big Mama’s funeral. His remarks were inspirational.) I got the word when I arrived at the office. My cousin Bill- we knew him as Billie when we were growing up- had passed peacefully the morning before. We had a sense that […]

(Famed director Quentin Tarantino whose hyper-violent comic book movies have inspired a generation. Photo AP). There is cold weather coming this way. It is snowing in Mississippi, they tell me, and in between, the Ninjas may take advantage of the drying air mass to slap more paint on the balcony at Big Pink. It will […]

(I opened up the door on the left side of the media cabinet to stow more junk before the maids arrived and found this. WTF? Photo Socotra). I wasn’t worried that much about whatever it is they are going to do at the White House later this morning. I was prepared for this contingency long […]

(Old Jim’s long suffering bride Mary with a special birthday cake. Photo by the pretty Jamie.) The good thing about Tuesdays are that the morning normally follows a decent night’s sleep, because of Monday, Monday evening at Willow. I was ready for it. The Monday wonderful world of Work was weird. Anyone who depends on […]

Or women, for that matter. Or the poor kids. The Flu gets us all, sooner or later. Mostly it is just a rough spot with fatigue, dehydration, soar throat and congested lungs and that delirious in-and-out chills and fever thing best ridden out in bed. (A ward at Camp Funston, Kan. showing the many ill […]

(Natasha’s tin-foil hat sports a nautical theme. It is very useful for avoiding the rays projected by black helicopters and other useful Government programs. Photo Socotra). Sorry, Gentle Readers. This is going to be late and not filled with passion, except of the lesser sort. Not my fault, or at least not completely. The Russians […]

(Willow Group at the Amen Corner in the Heart of Winter. Photo by The Lovely Bea.) Can’t and won’t do the rant again today. I took my aluminum helmet off when I got back from Willow, exhausted from the week. Things have been both busy and slow as the artificial crisis continues. Certainly stressful. It […]

I have to insert the caveat here, up front: “I am no member of the GOP; I am opposed to a long litany of things, to include murder, particularly the murder of children; exploitation of same; gender and orientation bias; littering; pollution, generally speaking; crime; lies and the oppression of minorities. Further, I am in […]

(When published in 1775, this little pamphlet was the biggest best seller of the day. Photo Wikipedia). Well, the holidays are thankfully in the wake behind us. I may still have the Christmas lights up, but I will turn them off one of these days soon. It is only common sense to save the electricity. […]