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Writing is Dope
I learned a new slang word from Houston White, the guy who makes that specialty coffee in Minneapolis I blogged about yesterday: Brown Sugar Banana (I’m not a fan, but I admire him just the same). The word is “dope.” That used to be an insult or an illicit drug when I was growing up.…
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Grandma’s Hands Inspired Coffee and Slippery Playing Cards!
We got new stuff! We really needed new, durable playing cards and so we have a brand-new set of plastic playing cards. They’re really slippery and I dropped them on the floor right away. They float and glide on every surface. They fit in our automatic card shuffler, though. I haven’t yet tried to shuffle…
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The Waltzing Geese
Today I trekked down to Clear Creek and again saw the geese pair. As always, I heard them before I saw them. I swear I can hear them honking from a mile off. They almost seemed like they were dancing together. They were the waltzing geese.
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Smile at a Stranger for Make It OK Calendar
So, I’m not strictly following the Make It OK Calendar per day for May Mental Health Awareness Month, at least according to the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative. Sometimes the goals on the calendar may not feel natural on a particular day or the opportunity might not appear. Today, I’m a few days late on the…
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FDA VRBPAC Meeting to Discuss Covid-19 Vaccines
The FDA VRBPAC meeting to discuss Covid–19 vaccines is scheduled for May 22, 2025, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET. The committee will meet in open session to discuss and make recommendations on the selection of the 2025-2026 Formula for COVID-19 vaccines for use in the United States. The meeting presentations will be heard, viewed,…
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Hearing an Old Song
I have to admit that I’ve been mis-hearing some of the lyrics of one of my favorite songs, “Lean on Me” for the past fifty-odd years since Bill Withers wrote it. It stayed on the top of the charts for more than 3 weeks back in 1972. That was a special time in my life;…
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Further Thoughts on Ray Bradbury’s Short Story, “I See You Never”
This is an update to my post from lasts night on Ray Bradbury’s short story, “I See You Never.” My wife, Sena, happened to mention the naturalization process in the U.S. today. In fact, we both saw the televised naturalization ceremony at the Iowa State Fair of 2024. During that ceremony, 47 children became citizens.…
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Attack of the Killer Gnats!
A couple of days ago we made our usual spring trip out to the Terry Trueblood trail. The phlox and grasses waved in the breeze and we saw quite a few birds. There was also a swarm of killer midges or gnats that attacked us. They ambushed us when we got close to the trees…
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Do We See Each Other?
I know that what I’m writing here this evening is going to sound foolishly sentimental and maybe even a little spooky, but I was struck by this weird experience I had tonight. It was just a little odd and too fortuitous. I’m not going to talk at any length about the politics of it, just…
Go Retire Psychiatrist 