Fife and Drum

Posted Sat May 10, 2008 in

T3 Icon For this week (although I’m late — excused absence!) we have Fife and Drum so let’s see where it takes me!

Onesome: Fife— Barney? …a musical instrument? …the number after ‘four’? What came to mind when you saw this week’s title?

I thought in terms of a patriotic march of three wounded soldiers carrying a tattered flag.

Twosome: and— do you recall a painting of a fife and drum set with a flag? No? Maybe one of our American History majors can link it in…

I do and it brings somber memories for me.

Threesome: Drum— lines? Do you love them? …or do you even know they exist? I’m wondering if this is an “Eastern” thing…

I dunno if I’ve ever seen a drum line in the flesh. It would be interesting, but is not in my experience.

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Clean Air Act

Posted Thu Sep 28, 2006 in

From The Back Porch, the Thursday Threesome.

Onesome: Clean—as a whistle? Can you whistle? When did you learn? ...and with pursed lips or with that finger thing?

I whistle and have for a very long time. I remember learning when I was a kid. I heard my dad whistling, and watched and watched… Then I started trying myself. Remember those cartoons of someone trying to whistle with crackers in their mouth? Pfft… Pfft… Yep, that was me.

Oh yeah, I’m the pursed-lip kind of whistler. I don’t do the finger-thing.

But, I never have been one to give up easily. After I made my first sound, I kept after it until I could whistle too. Then my folks thought I’d never stop…

Twosome: Air—quality: an issue where you live or not? ...enough to move?

No problem with air quality here, unless it’s in the spring with the winds kick up the dust. Seriously, this is wind-country and wind power is substantial. There is not much to block the movement of air, so it moves.

Threesome: Act—Hey, do you ‘act your age’? Sure, that’s subjective, but what do you think? ...or better yet: what do your friends think ?

Me? Act my age? Probably not, but I’ll leave that to others to address…

This talk of whistling makes me think about a time last spring. We were visiting folks in Missouri and a bunch of the kids (well, young adults now) were sitting out in front of the house. I picked up a piece of grass and started whistling it. Then the kids all started trying to whistle a blade of grass.

I also got them started whistling across their cupped hands. I used to imitate mourning doves using my cupped hands… _Woo-OO, ooo, ooo, ooo…

It was a good time.

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Fluffy Bunny Slippers

Posted Thu Aug 31, 2006 in

From the Back Porch, the Thursday Threesome…

Onesome: Fluffy—is as fluffy does! It’s almost lemon meringue season at that pie shop. Do you do fluffy pies? ...or is it fruit all the way for you? (Okay, Southerners: go ahead and expound on rhubarb…)

Fluffy pies are OK in my book, but my absolute favorite is MiL’s strawberry pie. With a little Cool Whip and coffee… It just rocks!

Twosome: Bunny—slippers? Yes? No? Barefoot? Shoes? What do you schlep around the house in when it’s cold outside?

No bunny slippers for this old man, but I do have a set of lined house shoes I really like, especially when the weather turns cooler and my feet tend to get cold.

Threesome: Rabbits—Have you ever had little furry pets? What varieties? Are there any in your future?

Well, there is Jack, our cat. He’s fuzzy/furry. Does he count?

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Certainly Worth the Drive

Posted Sat Jan 28, 2006 in

I haven’t done a Thursday Threesome in forever. While I’m late, I decided to post anyway. Call it a belated Thursday Threesome...

Onesome: “Certainly—is there anything in life you are “certain” about? Firm in your beliefs? Strong in your convictions? Tell us…

I’m certain of very little any more. However, I have both strong convictions and firm beliefs. How’s that for a contradiction?

Twosome: Worth—what do you value? What people or projects are “worth your time”?

Interesting… I value my relationships. My family is particularly important to me. My friends and students come next. Those individuals and projects associated with them receive much of my time.

Threesome: the Drive—and from where you live, can you “get” to places easily? Is it an event to drive to the store? Do you live in a metropolis where everything is close?

Movement around Lubbock is pretty easy. However, we aren’t close enough to any of our regular haunts that walking is really practical. It might be interesting, one day, to live somewhere that offers amenities close to home. I suspect we’ll either do that, or live far out. We’ve never been able to compromise.

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Death and Taxes

Posted Thu Feb 10, 2005 in

Via the Backporch, the Thursday Threesome:

Nothing is certain but death and taxes—Benjamin Franklin

Onesome: Nothing is certain- Have you ever thought you had “Sure Thing?” Did it pay off or not?

I’m not really a betting man. So, a “sure thing” doesn’t really apply to me. I guess what that really means is that I don’t generally undertake projects that I’m uncertain that I can complete.

Twosome: But death- Do you belive in life after death?

Absolutely.

Threesome: and taxes- Have you got all your tax documents squared away and ready to work on? Or are you one of the people at the post office on April 15th?

Snort! For a lot of reasons, I still haven’t filed my taxes for the last two years. The IRS has a lot of my money, but I haven’t filed for my refunds yet. So, it will probably be another year when we file an extension.

But, Lord willing, we’ll get them done (all of them) and be caught up this year. I really want them done.

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The Blustery Day

Posted Thu Nov 4, 2004 in

You know, there are many days here in Lubbock when the weather is quite blustery. In fact, on the plains, we have a lot of windy days.

From the Back Porch comes the Thursday Threesome.

Onesome: Winnie the Pooh—What was your favorite book series as a kid? Was there one you tried to find the complete set to read? ...or maybe just one book you remember well?

My favorites have to be the Tom Swift, Jr. series. I think my grandmother purchased the first of them for me, then my folks helped me to get them as they came out. I read them all and reread most of them multiple times. They were my introduction to science fiction.

Twosome: and the—holidays are just around the corner? Are you ready for things? ...or are you too immersed in life to even think about it?

In the sense of being prepared for the holidays, no, I’m not prepared. In the sense of Am I ready for the holidays? you betcha! I’m ready for the semester to be over and the holidays to come. I want to work on some of my projects that have been put on hold because of the class workload this semester. (I know, whine, whine…)

Threesome: Blustery Day—Hey, what do you like to do on a stormy day when you’re not working or in school? Do you curl up with a book? Watch TV? Bake? How do you pass the time when you don’t feel like going “out in it”?

I tend to curl up with my computer and either read or write, or some of both. I’m in the process of retraining myself to spend some time with books instead of reading online so much. I’m learning to enjoy books again and read non-fiction widely, or at least I think so. At the very least, my reading list is eclectic.

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Lights! Camera! Action!

Posted Thu Oct 21, 2004 in

It’s been forever since I did a Thursday Threesome. I think I’ll do one this week just for fun!

Onesome: Lights!- What do you think of the trend to light up houses for every holiday? It used to be just Christmas and maybe Halloween, but lately the stores have been full of Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day lights. Oh, and Thanksgiving/Autumn and…

Why not just leave them up all the time like some people do? I’m not really into the lighting thing and we do just a little bit for Christmas, just enough to make the kids happy. I think that will be enough.

Twosome: Camera! What’s your preference? Digital or film, black and white or color, portraits, candids, or just whatever catches your eye?

I’m totally digital now. I sold off all my analog equipment and bought a digital SLR and a few lenses so that I could make images. I love the workflow that digital gives, even if it means some sacrifice of image quality. (Which doesn’t show up until you get to big enlargements.)

Threesome: Action!- Do you have a favorite sport? Do you follow the local high school or college team, trek to the kids’ games each weekend or are you all about the pros?

Nope. I used to follow pro footbal with Dad, but I really don’t follow any sports now. I might watch the Cards play tonight, or at least listen to the game on the radio while I’m doing something else.

That’s it for me!

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