This came up when I was making dinner.
“Pasta primavera?” I asked.
“I think that jumped the shark in about 1972,” Uncle Fishy replied.
Category Archives: Passing thoughts
Like sugar packets in a diner.
The Free-Ride family enjoyed a late breakfast (although you better believe that if either of the Free-Ride offspring claims to be hungry in the next two hours, I’m calling it an early lunch) at a local diner.
While there, the elder Free-Ride offspring struggled to eat an omelette off an unstable plate. Any attempt at cutting, spearing, or spooning sent the plate a-spinning.
Death is not an option (the return from sabbatical edition).
You’re coming to the close of your sabbatical year. Probably you didn’t make quite as much progress on your research or writing project as you had hoped to, but you have enjoyed a much-needed break from the demands of teaching (and especially grading) and committee work. Whenever they see you, your colleagues comment on how well-rested you look.
And now, it’s time to reestablish contact with reality.
You’re on the phone with your department chair about your duties for the fall semester. Do you choose:
What readers who find this blog were looking for.
Every now and then, I have a look at the logs of incoming traffic to see how people are getting here. A bunch of people arrive via search engines, and here’s some of what they’ve been searching for in the last couple days:
Snail eradication (day 2).
This was another early morning out in the garden picking snails. It was, however, markedly yuckier than yesterday’s foray.
One way to tell that your colleagues are awesome.
At least, if you’re a member of a philosophy department:
Snail eradication (day 1).
The most troublesome invasive species in my backyard garden is the snail.
Yesterday morning, when I took out the buckets of shower-warning-up and vegetable-rinsing water to feed to my plants, I was horrified to find snails on my carrots, snails on my chard, snails on my potatoes, snails on my garlic, and especially snails on my tender pea plants.
The strawberries that were starting to get nice and red? Shot through with slugs (which are basically snails without the convenient handles).
On top of our wee little lime tree? Snails copulating.
This is not a situation conducive to effective gardening. Thus, the sprogs and I mounted an early (for a Saturday) morning raid on their dewy, shady stomping (sliding?) grounds.
Today’s take: in excess of 500. (We lost count.)
Update from the department retreat.
We have just stopped for lunch.
Out of ten agenda items, we have covered three.
Kids today.
It is not easy to be a tremendous Luddite parenting 21st century kids.
Currently, the Free-Ride offspring are learning the intricacies of Photoshop.
Maybe she misses her old glasses.
I’ve been poky about getting my eyes checked regularly.
I got my first pair of reading glasses in the last year or so of my time as a chemistry graduate student. About nine years later, shortly before the eldest Free-Ride offspring was born and in the midst of an intensive stretch of writing, I managed to go in for another exam and got my prescription updated. Last month, after a stretch of about ten years, I got my eyes checked again and got another pair of reading glasses.