Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash By Geoff Carter We’re almost there. We only have one more day of 2025 to endure. Thank God. It’s been a year of firsts. There’s a few we would like to celebrate, others not so much. But New Year’s Eve is a time to look forward to fresh starts and renewed aspirations. It’s …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: Film Review of “Queer”
Illustration by Michael DiMilo A Man in Need : Film Review of Queer ★★★1/2 By Geoff Carter William S. Burroughs was one of the giants of the Beat Generation, helping to define the disaffection of an entire generation. This alienation was reflected in his body of literary work as well as the recent film adaptation …
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Kickass and Grandchildren
Attribution: Eric Ward, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, notes the keeper’s inability to deal with the fact that his first grandchild was born 50 years ago when Katie came into the world as a flawless “19-incher,” the keeper at the time being heavily into trout fishing and its …
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Kickass and Dead Butt
Attribution: Missouri State Archives, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, passes along the keeper’s delight in finally getting a diagnosis for the troublesome malady that has obviously plagued him throughout his life–“The dead butt syndrome,” or “gluteal amnesia” to the physical therapists. The dead butt syndrome is brought on …
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Kickass and Bird Talk
Attribution: Alan D. Wilson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper calling up his special abilities to communicate with all creatures and passing along comments from some of the birds regarding the recent presidential proclamation making the Bald Eagle the official national bird. *Turkey–“We have Thanksgiving nailed …
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Kickass and Kevin’s Game
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that as part of Xmas entertainment at the keeper and Phyllis’s Vista West place there was a “game” introduced by Phyllis’s son Kevin in which each player antes up $10 with the kitty then triple wrapped and taped and retaped in a cardboard …
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Fear of Flying
Attribution: Suikotei, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter The Christmas holidays are here. Millions of people will be taking to the air, the roads, and even the rail to get home for Christmas, and they will be dealing with all the frustrations, vagaries, and disappointments of travel. Things are changing at the airport—and …
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Kickass and Christmas Memories
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, pauses on this Christmas Day to paw through a few memories with the keeper. The keeper goes first: A cold backseat ride in a rattling old Model A Ford through a brittle, star-lite night from Grandma and Grandma Helgeland’s farmhouse, after lutefisk and lefse …
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Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah from The Pen in Hand Blog!!
Attribution: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Happy Holidays and a Safe and Prosperous New Year to All!!
Kickass and Santa’s Note
Attribution: Jon Sullivan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper finding the following note in the chimney ashes: “Dear Bill and Phyllis: As you already know I will not be coming down your chimney this year as I have put my name on the transfer portal and …
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The Pen in Hand’s Collection of Unconventional Christmas Moments: Auggie Wren’s Christmas Story
Attribution: Marek Slusarczyk, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter 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 are what makes our holidays special. We are lucky to be able to celebrate …
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Christmas Card
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Phyllis and Bill pass along their Christmas list to aid family and friends in their gift selection: *TIME! Though they have accumulated generous individual supplies they would still like more. And if you can fill any of it with a visit, they are at Vista West on Madison’s …
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