Redactor

Spring is here.

So it snowed a bunch.

The grumpy robins aside, spring is springing all over.

The bulbs I planted last fall have started to come up.

And I found a brick walkway in the backyard.

So I'll be excavating the yard soon!

The plan is to uncover what I can, then probably dig the bricks up

and try to reuse them and recreate a walkway to my car just outside

the fence.

The plans for Operation Africa is on track.

Second appointment is on the calendar to get my vaccinations.

Then just need to get flights booked and work out any smaller details.

And then, of course, pay for the whole thing.

Which I am also in the midst of.

Lots of rice and veggie meals in my future.

Experimenting with the Portrait mode on my phone camera.

Went out for a fancy lunch with a friend.

A wedge salad and one of the March specials, shrimp scampi.

Tasty! I've not tried shrimp scampi before.

I read The Disaster Artist, by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell.

It's the story of the making of the movie The Room.

Of course, I've seen The Room, several times in fact, and I saw the film

that this book is based on (and actually put it on my Netflix queue to re-watch)

Tommy Wiseau, the auteur, is simultaneously an infuriating and wildly

interesting person. 

I can see what Wiseau was trying to do with his wonky movie, but the

execution wound up being so awful and weird, that it was

doomed to miss the mark. (oh, hi Mark!) Wanting to have creative control

is nothing to be faulted for, but when that urge for control clouds good

judgment and shuts out all well-meaning advice from others involved,

it can only be a hindrance.

Wiseau pulling himself up from nothing as an immigrant is

admirable though.

I attended a talk given by Gregory Rasmussen, a biologist with the

Painted Dog Research Trust in Zimbabwe. It was held at the local zoo,

which will soon have its own pack of Painted Dogs (who aren't

true dogs, incidentally, but share a common ancestor with modern dogs).

I love their big rounded ears and colourful spots.

And they have wonderfully sophisticated social systems.

And they are endangered.

If you feel like contributing to their cause, or maybe to just learn more, clicka da link!

If you find yourself driving along the roads in Southern Africa, slow down, eh?

Not only for the painted dogs, but for the impalas and elephants and snakes

that can be killed by cars while trying to cross the roads.

Some more podcasts I've been binging:

Overdue

These guys talk about all the books you should have read by now.

Some great episodes about books I have read, and of course, some books that have

been on my radar, but I just haven't picked up yet.

I recently listened to a very funny episode involving a Choose Your Own Adventure

book. The hosts are capable of being serious and will go down the philosophical

rabbit holes when needed, but they can also be very silly.

City of the Rails

I found this one by hearing the author on a short interview on Iowa Public Radio.

I was so intrigued, that I immediately looked it up and listened to the entirety of the

first season. It's fabulous.

Danelle Morton asks great questions and uses her journalistic talents to 

get interviews with people directly involved with railroads and, more

specifically, the people who travel by rail. Hobos!

Hobos, Tramps, and Bums.

People who have rejected the conventions of our society and instead

live on the fringes of it. They hop the freight cars and go wherever the train will take them.

Some people ride the trains for a short time, and some travel for years.

Many are just young people, teenagers; and some travel on well into middle-age.

It's dangerous and dirty, and it's very possible to be killed while trying to 

ride a freight train, so it's probably not an old man's game.

She also delves into the history of how the railroads have shaped the country,

for better or for worse. There is, indeed, a dark side to the railroads.

Worker mistreatment and abuse, disregard for environmental impacts, 

and cutting corners, all to satisfy the never-ending hunger for profit.

Watch the roaches scatter in the light.

Sawbones

I didn't want to like this one as much as I do, and I can't describe why.

It's presented by a doctor and her husband, who acts as the comic foil.

They talk about medical history. But it's more than that.

Our physical well-being is influenced by so much more than just

eating well and getting some exercise. 

I was pulled in with the episodes about medicine on pirate ships, 

but their topics reach further than that.

They discuss current topics, such as gender and sexuality, and vaccinations,

but generally look into topics that are weird or gross or the kinds of

questions you've always wanted to ask about your body.

Another book. The Buddha of Suburbia is a novel from 1990.

It's about a teenage boy and his life in southern London in the 1970s.

His father is the titular Buddha.

It was made into a TV series, which I've tracked down and added to 

my Netflix queue. And yes, I fell into this one by suddenly deciding

to listen to the David Bowie album by the same name. He composed some

music for the series, and until recently, I didn't give it much attention.

It's a great album though.

Speaking of great albums, I've also listened to the new Iggy Pop album, Every Loser,

and it's really good. Lots of solid tunes and Iggy doesn't hold himself back.

Coming up on the last week to reach my mileage goal.

40 miles for March, and I'm nearly there!

These shoes are already a bit worn out, but I definitely need to

get a new pair soon.

A spring snow.

I returned to the new sushi place for a second chance.

Dragonfuit mojito.

Not bad, but a bit syrupy for my taste.

I chose a couple of maki rolls this time.

Spicy tuna and something called the Big Chicago Roll

yumm!

Dug out the microphone and brushed off the Audacity program.

I'm working on a new project.

More complicated than my last few projects.

Hope I can make it work. And that my computer can handle it.