The Pen in Hand Blog
Illustration by Michael DiMilo
The Pen in Hand Blog
Illustration by Michael DiMilo
Illustration by Michael DiMilo By Geoff Carter The American Southeast has recently been ravaged by not one, but two, monstrous hurricanes. Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia were first slammed by Helene which brought record storm surges and rainfall to the area. Up to twenty-four and thirty inches of rain fell in …
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Attribution: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, under the impression that the keeper had a memory for all occasions, is disappointed that he has no specific recall of Oct. 11, 1940, a day that began with warm shirtsleeve weather and turned into a vicious blizzard across the upper …
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Attribution: Balise42, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, passes along the keeper’s observation that it is the misfortune of the human race to have the ability to know what is coming, weatherwise, war wise and behaviorally by humans; and to try to plan and act accordingly. Here is how …
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Attribution: Photo by Kevin Schmid on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper and Phyllis were awakened by the pre-dawn thunderstorm that came grumbling in like a love-hunting tomcat, hissing at the windows, rattling thunder at the darkness and moving on to new territory with the magnificent indifference of thunderstorms and tomcats. Photo …
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Attribution: Geralt, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper and Phyllis in preparing for the dangerous heat wave about to descend on the Midwest, their main strategy being the “Stationary Excessive Hydration Exercise Program”—SEHEP, whereby they occupy recliners in air conditioned quarters while taking in large amounts of liquid …
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Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass the doorstop dog joins the keeper in noting that everyone bonds with the emerging summer in their own way. With Phyllis it is through her raised garden plot that has already produced little radishes and kale for adding to refreshing salads. In the keeper’s case, the summer …
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Attribution: A farm track after rain by Stanley Howe, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, notes the keeper’s observation that only a former farm boy of his obsolete vintage can remember how to appreciate a summer day that dawns wet and rainy and with the kind of overcast that is …
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Attribution: Photo by Tasos Mansour on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper in wondering what the effect might be on an elderly man—real elderly, if he should get seriously rained on due to several highly questionable decisions as one of those booming thunderstorms put its act together with unusual abruptness? Since he likes …
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Attribution: Mathias Krumbholz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, notes that the keeper is among those who enjoys the flash and crash of summer thunderstorms, and so was richly entertained Tuesday night at the outstanding demonstration of Nature’s whims, whams, whooshes and WOWS! Our reaction to storms is apparently …
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Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, was proud to attend the official “changing-of-the-hat” ceremony conducted recently on behalf of the keeper as he transitioned from his winter to summer headgear. In keeping with the long-standing identification of accurately labeling so many elements of the keeper’s life, the long serving appropriate …
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Attribution: Paul Berzinn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper and Phyllis in thankfulness and appreciation for once more being present with everyone else in the great dressing room as the magnificent cast of trees costumes up for yet one more sensational performance. Having endured a long …
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