Petr Novák, Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper in many areas of “age-related” health issues, and today is the day when the keeper’s treatment of AMD–Age-related Macular Degeneration, is scheduled. This translates to a trip to the VA eye clinic for a routine shot in the …
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Month:January 2023
Kickass and Repub January
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper on a frigid morning with the inside info that the Repubs are claiming credit for January and will attempt to have the month extended to eliminate Ground Hogs Day. Under the Repub plan, February …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: Film Review of “Women Talking”
Photo by Justin Campbell on Unsplash Strong Words: Film Review of Women Talking By Geoff Carter Language not only defines reality; it constructs reality, forming the narratives that are the lanes through which we navigate our world. Finding names for subtleties of emotions, relationships, and belief helps in the understanding of the concepts underlying the words. Language also …
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Kickass and Loving White Pine
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper’s life-long affair with white pine was most recently exercised in his construction of desk shelves from white pine left over from his house building back in 2000. Other than being caught foolishly standing on a folding chair with a can of …
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Kickass Goes Political
Photo by Elliott Stallion on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, failing in his efforts to keep the keeper out of politics, turns it over to the Jan. 26, NYT and the front-page story under the headline: “Judicial Race May Alter Tilt Of Wisconsin,” and the subhead: “Abortion Rights and Voter Maps at Stake.” The article’s …
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Kickass on a Chair in the Dark
Gebrüder Thonet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper’s involvement in one of those incidents that demonstrates why women live longer than men. The keeper is in the Vista West woodworking shop varnishing shelving that he cannot reach the top of so he lines up three folding chairs …
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Kickass Winter Survival
NOAA Photo Library, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, is working with the keeper in revising the system for not only surviving yet one more gray, middle-of-the-winter day, but actually deriving some pleasure from it. Heretofore, the keeper’s plan recommended prolonged napping, staying inside the house, warm soup, an …
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Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock
Artwork by Michael DiMilo By Geoff Carter The boomer generation has hung onto the remnants of their youth like a terrier shaking a rat. They just won’t let go, unlike members of the Greatest Generation who accepted aging with dignity and aplomb. They didn’t mind sporting beer bellies or fret if their hair was thinning. …
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Kickass and High School Students
Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper each weekday morning in watching the kids stroll across the parking lot on their way over to Memorial High School. They seem taller and more purposeful than the high school crowd the keeper remembers being a part …
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Kickass and Tying Shoes With Mom
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, has been of little help to the keeper in explaining the mental quirk whereby he–the keeper, thinks of his mother every morning when he ties his shoes, obviously because she is the one who taught him how to do it many decades ago. His …
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Kickass Watches The Sting
Attribution: English: Illustrator unknown; presumably a work-for-hire for distributor Universal Pictures., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joined the keeper and Phyllis in watching the old movie “The Sting,” and shared their conclusion that it was a good thing to do: great acting by old favorites, remembering Paul Newman …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: Film Review of Elvis
Photo by Justin Campbell on Unsplash Soul Man: Film Review of Elvis by Geoff Carter Years ago, I went to an Elvis impersonator contest—yes, Virginia, there is such a thing—and was fascinated, although not surprised, that there were two categories for the performers: young Elvis and Vegas Elvis. Of course, to nearly every American, these categories speak for …
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