Author Archives: fustianist

Pets are a man’s best friend . . . and now they require nothing from you except money

Once again I’m compelled to write because of something I read in The New York Times.  The Sunday Magazine has a long article about “designer dogs.”  This paragraph in particular caught my attention: “Over the last decade, the industry has … Continue reading

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Variations on a theme

“When I talk, it’s deliberate. When you talk, I wonder if it isn’t like birds, where they make sounds all day long in order to keep track of their group.  When you make sounds I generally think it’s good, you’re … Continue reading

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Conversations in our house

“When you’re frittering away time on the computer, is that a time when I can occasionally read a sentence aloud to you or ask you a question or something?” “My reluctance comes from . . . well, forget delicacy: you … Continue reading

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More illusions

Check out the rotating snakes. (You might want to read the warning first.)

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Yes, I checked, and I do obey the laws of gravity

Walking down the hall just before teaching the other day I suddenly ended up on my knees on the floor, bag, scarf, and coat flying everywhere. Slippery floors and morning traffic tracking in snow meant that I wiped out in … Continue reading

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now that we’ve had winter …

Alright, now that we’ve had a bit of winter, can we have spring? Actually, I’m quite happy with the snow and cold. What triggered the desire for springtime is receiving my seed catalogues and paging through them. I now have … Continue reading

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The sweet, sleepy things of life

Many good things in life seem designed to make you sleepy. A good, full cup of tea that you can feel creeping down and warming your stomach. A cat who has finally settled in on your lap and warms away … Continue reading

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A full stomach helps the reading go on

This is Week 2, meaning we’re finally starting to see a shape to this semester’s schedule. As in, Sydney answers my probing (and incessant) questions about his classes and meetings for about two weeks early on, and then is astonished … Continue reading

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Books

Did you notice that I married somebody who rambles even more than I do? So I thought that we needed a few pictures to provide some relief. This is the south wall of our living room, which is where most … Continue reading

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Children are miracles, in more ways than one

I still consider us quite newly-married, and I don’t anticipate us having kids just yet. So don’t get your hopes up or start to worry, depending on your disposition. But I am a planner, so I have spent some time … Continue reading

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