Grading.

Done.  Bam.

Read Full Post »

I win this barter

Remember the desk Craig was taunting me about?  I bartered a bike for it.
I suppose it’s not technically bartering when I sell a bike to one guy on Craigslist, then use that cash to buy the desk from some other guy on Craigslist.  But you know what?  I’m the writer and I’ll call it whatever [...]

Read Full Post »

So beautiful I may cry

Seriously – who owns this many cords?   Based on the back of Old Sad TV, not anyone in our house, clearly.

I can’t fault Old Sad TV too much – it’s a weary soldier.  Missy bought it in 1996 – nineteen ninety-six! – for her dorm room.  In TV years, a 1996 TV might as well [...]

Read Full Post »

I’m blue

Yer lookin’ at my whole weekend, right here – stacks and stacks of blue books to be graded.  Why, why, why, why, why don’t I just write multiple-choice final exams?

At least I’m not facing them alone.

Read Full Post »

Do a little jig

I dream of having tools to cut mortises and tenons.  Think of all the stuff I could make!  Mortises!  And tenons!
Then, ten minutes into my dream, Woodcraft has the nerve to send me an e-mail titled Cut Easy Mortises!  JessEm Mortise Mill at Woodcraft! Look at all those exclamation points!!!  Jerks.
Then, while I’m calculating how [...]

Read Full Post »

Managing a Home

I’m giving a three-hour-long final exam (yeah – right now.  As I type this.  And my students think I’m up here, at the front of the room, typing something insightful.  Probably something related to my career.  Ha, students.) and making my way through the whole Shmick Schmack ouevre.  I’m double-jealous – they have a brick [...]

Read Full Post »

A Gift from the Basement, Part III

In Part I, the desk was discovered.  In Part II, it was uncovered.  Finally, in Part III, it is transformed into something Missy isn’t grossed out by.   Without further ado, I present the big finish to the saga of an ugly, metal workbench which was none of those things.
Or, should I say, the big RE-finish.  [...]

Read Full Post »

A Stickley Christmas

Josie says that if you and all your friends want to chip in on The Most Perfect Christmas Present Ever for her, she would love to be put to sleep in this Stickley Rocker.  Only $400 on the Omaha Craigslist, and with its original seat, from what I can tell.

Read Full Post »

A Gift from the Basement, Part II

Previously, I discovered that “metal workbench” in our basement was not metal, not ugly, and not destined for Craigslist.  In Chapter II of this three-part saga, the hero’s eyes adjust to the darkness and a mission-style library desk emerges.
But first, there was a lot of digging to be done -

This entire pile was attached in [...]

Read Full Post »

Dirty, Rotten Cheater

There’s no official report yet, but our area was set to get anywhere between 9 and 14 inches of snow early this morning, and my rough guess is that we’re on the high side of that.  I have no objection to scooping (it’s the only exercise I get lately), but the layout of our driveway [...]

Read Full Post »