NASA Ames, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Mark Mamerow NASA’s new telescope is an amazing scientific and engineering accomplishment, but a groundswell of opposition has arisen to the naming of the telescope after James Webb. He directed NASA in the 1960s and led the agency in its successful quest to mount manned missions to the …
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Kickass and Returns and Exchanges
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, assists the keeper in this season of grand holiday returns and exchanges, and suggests the following for Wisconsin: Though he is far beyond the warranty date, Ron Johnson–due to manufacturing flaws, is to be …
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Kickass and the Day After Christmas
Lulu Hoeller from Pittsburgh, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, was again unable to stop the keeper from expressing his seasonal impressions: “Twas the day after Christmas and all through the place, not a creature was stirring–nobody showed face. “Phyllis in her robe and me in my rags …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to Defining the Holiday Genre: The “Die Hard” Question
Photo by Justin Campbell on Unsplash By Geoff Carter At this festive time of year, many of us observe the holiday traditions of Christmas like trimming the tree, singing carols, buying the presents, visiting Santa, and on and on and on. Part of our celebration of the holiday includes seeing the myriads of Christmas movies and television specials, …
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Kickass and Jim Hoyt’s Tuba
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper and Phyllis on this grand package-opening morning that features kids by the millions, to note that there was a recent adult package-opening that would have been fun to see: it was Jim Hoyt opening the package that contained his new tuba. …
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Happy Holidays from The Pen in Hand Blog!!
Have a beautiful and Festive Holiday… Artwork by Michael DiMilo From Geoff Carter, Bill Stokes, Michael DiMilo, the Fabulous Dadbots, and all the other contributors to The Pen in Hand Blog!! Merry Christmas!! Happy Hannukah!! Happy Kwanzaa!! Happy Yule!! Merry Festivus!!
Kickass Plays in the Snow
Photo by Tessa Rampersad on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, will be spending the day with the keeper playing out in the snow and so the post for the day will be the Xmas card as shared with Phyllis. Happy Holly! Phyllis and Bill wish the very best for everyone, except, oh, you know who …
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Kickass and the Walk to School
Photo by Sara Codair on Unsplash Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper braves the risk of ridicule in bringing up the FACT that he and his sister and brother walked a mile and a half on a country road to a one-room country school, even on mornings like this one when they were wrapped in coats …
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The Pen in Hand Presents a Michael DiMilo Production…
Babs and Knuckles in their Holiday Special Deck the Halls Artwork by Michael DiMilo Video and Story by Michael DiMilo In memory of Dave Bolyard The holiday season is all about family tradition. Whether it’s about going to Midnight Mass, carving the Christmas ham, avoiding the mother-in-law’s homemade eggnog, or sampling Grandma’s oyster stew, traditions …
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Birds-Eye View
Artwork by Michael DiMilo By Geoff Carter I received a somewhat surprising gift for my birthday recently. My wife gave me a bird feeder fitted with a digital camera that streams images of our backyard friends directly onto our handheld devices. The pictures are brilliant, sharp, and completely engaging. It’s as if the birds are …
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Kickass and Shortest Day
Herb Roe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the shortest day of the year produced for the keeper, the longest appreciation for being around to be a part of it–in a warm, safe place in the company of his love, Phyllis. In the interests of science, the …
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Kickass and Wisconsin Weather Adjustment
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, tries to stay out of the way as the keeper and Phyllis–well, mostly Phyllis, do the final adjusting necessary to get their book “Treeson” into the hands of clamoring readers–at least the keeper claims that there is clamoring. What he hears may be friends …
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