Photo by Bill Stokes Photo by Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, observed the 4th of July action from under the bed as the keeper and Phyllis joined the multitudes in a symbolic return to the water from whence their species came. That water attraction, in its identity as a living and recreational cultural prize, has …
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Category:Family
Kickass and Libraries
Attribution: Photo by Pauline Loroy on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper wallowing one more time in the wonderful world of librarians as word comes that grandson Bud is in the librarian ranks with an official certifying document that says as much as he works at his library job in the Fox River …
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Kickass and Father’s Day
Attribution: Photo by Steve DiMatteo on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, passes on a few Father’s Day words to the keeper and all human fathers: “You know how you qualified for the “father” title with all of its perks and pleasures, and how you were not really tallying such things up at that precise moment. …
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Kickass and Generational Communication
Photo courtesy of Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports on a meeting of the keeper’s granddaughter Sarah, with Phyllis and the keeper to brainstorm how to improve communication between the generations. After the obvious agreement that banning all phone use unless you are alone, the discussion went in a number of …
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Kickass and Grandpa’s Long Underwear
Attribution: Photo by Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper making the switch from winter to summer shirts, which means short sleeves and bare arms for the next four months or so. The move equates to the critters shedding their winter coats and the birds showing …
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Kickass and Old Friend Roger
Photo courtesy of Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper received a 95th birthday notice from OLD friend Roger Locke, a fellow member of the Barron WI. High School class of 1949. The class was close to 100 in 1949 and may now be represented only by Roger and the …
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Kickass and Sarah’s Morels
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper has never been on the first team of morel mushroom hunters, and now in his retirement status he hears the reports from granddaughter Sarah that this would not be a good year to try to come out of retirement. Sarah, who …
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Kickass and Gravity
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joined the keeper and Phyllis and the rest of the clan in cheering on the newest member—Auggie, as he mastered the simple act of walking and quickly moved on to running, with occasional falls that were of no more consequence than a hiccup. “Those …
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Kickass and the Family Fixers
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper and Phyllis participating as observers in one of those family gatherings called to fix something that needs fixing where the potential contractor cost would approach the price of a good used car. It is always best to stage these “fix” events …
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Kickass and Older Cousins
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper and Phyllis were on hand when 16-month-old Augie experienced one of the greatest days of his life at four-year-old Blaize’s birthday party. It happened at one of the clan’s river-rat haunts and it was the day Augie met a passel …
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Kickass and Canadian Visitors
Attribution: Photo by Phyllis Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper and Phyllis in welcoming Phyllis’s sister and brother-in-law Joan and Bill from Saskatchewan where Phyllis was born and raised and where, from time to time she has expressed a desire to return to. The visit talk has not yet dealt …
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Kickass and Great-Grandson’s Letter
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, looks over the keeper’s shoulder to see that he finally received a piece of mail that was a refreshing departure from the advertising junk that normally clogs up his and Phyllis’s mailbox. The meaningful mail was a personally printed letter from great grandson Trevor, …
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