Cameron is a reader. He likes history and philosophy and he retains a lot of he reads. He also can pull a quote out of his head for humor’s sake: When Shane was being somewhat stubborn, Cameron expressed Shane’s attitude with “You can go to Hell; I’m going to Texas.” It sounded familiar to me and Der Bingle reminded me it was what Davy Crockett said to Congress.

Cameron needs a push when it comes to novels, however. I have told him good writing and English usage seeps into your mind and subtly improves your ability to say something well. I have also pointed out that in novels, you are exposed to the universal emotions and worries that you might think are something unique to you. You learn about people and you learn about yourself. Good memoirs can do that as well.

(Since I updated WordPress, a large space is appearing beneath posting of an image.)

I came across my copy of The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer yesterday. I found it an exceptional book. I thought of handing it to him, but I have learned. So I called him over and asked him to log into his Kindle account – which is unfunded. I typed it in and paid for it and it downloaded to his computer/Kindle . . . whatever.

Sooner or later, he may take a look at it and find a sentence that will link his heart and mind, a sentence that will stay with him, not because of the drama but because it hits that “sweet spot” of thought and emotion and language.

So, it is a new tech age now. From Grandma to Cameron . . .  Start reading The Tender Bar on your Kindle in under a minute. (Courtesy of Amazon.com)

Here is about ten minutes ago:

And here is what is coming in the next hours:

We are hoping Der Bingle doesn’t have too much trouble, but the storm is moving east and he is moving west and WAIT! I here hear (see, relief caused a homophonic moment) his voice.

So I will tell you the story of a 62- year- old AmeliaJake figuring out how to do a partial screen shot of a map in motion on weather.com. Felt like I was back doing geometry proofs. As it is, on a Mac using Snow Leopard you have to go to applications and get the grab thingie. And save as a jpeg and not a jpeg-2000.

Yes. Well, that’s why they call it whether.

Okay, I was on the phone with Quentin just a little while ago and he asked about the winter storm coming. It was a three-way-call and Der Bingle and I both uttered a “huh?” Turns out there is an advisory out. Here I thought we were just coming out of an icing/snowing spell. But there it is, tomorrow we are to have another icy mixture turning to snow. And, as luck would have it, Der Bingle is driving up tomorrow night instead of Friday.

We must be snow magnets.

I suppose Mother cut this out when I was writing some articles for a little paper – The Kendallville Mall – here.

We talk about physics and the things we don’t know – the God discussion, for one. The Hereafter discussion, for another. Oh, a lot a things. A lot of time I go with what comforts me and what I think should be, as I guess the closing line of this article indicates.

UPDATE . . . for information and for fixing my errors.

Sydney is quiet today but getting around and even stuck his head in the treat box. Given the icy conditions, I am going to call the vet rather than take Sydney out into the cold and  maybe ultimately, a ditch. Thanks for the good wishes.

I  am thinking Sydney is having small strokes because he seems so out of it and weak and then over the course of several hours recovers significantly. I don’t know, though. I will be taking him tomorrow at 9:15 am so the vet can have a look see. Last night he spent over five hours in the same position under the table and it appeared to take him some time to figure out how to maneuver his body out, even with help from Der Bingle. He sleep slept deeply until one, and then, according to Der Bingle” looked out of it. Then the former latter stood up and the latter former stole his big ole leather chair and we started thinking, “He’s coming back.”

Raggedy Anns are lining up to be his pillow.

I’ve got to get some app to block me from watching SyFy in real life. I was just sitting here earlier this afternoon and information came in the sound wave of Der Bingle’s voice: “There’s a snake marathon on SyFy. Auuuuggggghhhhh. Why, why, why do i watch these movies?

These three images have been sitting around on my desktop for a couple of weeks now and if I don’t do something they are probably going to get a lawyer and claim an easement or, worse yet, file for homestead status. I can hear the argument now: Look at this disorganized desktop; we can improve our area in two years, maybe even start to grow virtual corn and build a virtual log cabin.

I am nipping that in the bud and reassigning them to a mission on this particular post. They will even have their own permalink. What more can they ask? Oh, never mind, let’s not go down that path.

Interesting book, heh? Just makes you want to find an easy chair in Barnes & Noble. No, I really don’t want to be disrespectful about this book. My Great Great Aunt Sara sent it to me from London when I was two. I know that’s too young for me to read, but she knew my daddy would read it to me. She was at our house during my first summer and it was her second husband that kept saying he guessed he’d have some more of “that salty ice cream.” If you really want to reference this, it’s in the post about her first husband, Sherman Malcolm.

Another mention is in this POST that also includes a picture of the Christmas card that looks like bloomers, which No. 2 gave Sara.

But back to the book.

And here’s the inscription in the penmanship she learned in the 19th century.

I don’t think I ever realized how lucky I was. I took so many things for granted.

If you haven’t read the post below, nevermind.

If you have, I went ahead and looked for more information on Raz’s snakebit dogs and found it here at this LINK.

Here are a few excerpts: