I’ve yet to find a gel pen that doesn’t misbehave in some way on the paper I like to use. Sticking with ballpoints (uni jetstream, pilot acroball) for travel; fountain pens (pilot, kaweco) for home and office use.🖋

Planning a photo trip to Lisbon. Wishing I could afford this, but taking this.

I got back to the gym today after a five week break. My exercise during that time has been moving snow from the uphill side of the driveway to the downhill side so that it melts with without flowing into the basement. It’s one of the joys of living in Minnesota.

I finally got a lap desk for my favorite chair. Nothing fancy. No lights. No wrist rests. No mouse pad thingee off to the side. Nice and flat. Writing in my two journals (long-form and bullet) should be much easier now.

TIL Always check the white balance setting before a photo tour. 📷🙄

We’ve had a temperature swing last week from -36ºC to 5ºC. It’s played havoc with my driveway, which is now a sheet of ice 1cm thick. It will likely stay that way until the Ides of March.

By the way, that John Gorka concert at Crossings in Zumbrota was great. If you don’t know his music, you should check him out. I love the slightly quirky style of his shows. Crossings was the perfect venue, slightly larger than a house concert. He’s played there many times. You folks in Minnesota should check it out as well.

I haven’t posted much for Micro Monday, but it you like journally stuff (among many other things) you should follow @sproutlight.

I didn’t watch the Super Bowl. I haven’t for years. I just don’t get off on this annual paean to American excess. I found it more interesting to do my taxes instead.

At Crossings in Zumbrota getting ready to hear John Gorka.

Not all the music I listen to is 50 years old. Some is 300 years old. It’s interesting that the distance from now to Bach is only 6 times the distance from now to the Beatles. 🎵

Taking a bit of time for myself and iTunes. I can’t help but smile when I hear The Band playing. 🎸🎹🥁

Need to learn python. Converting some ruby scripts to python, learning as I go. First impressions are not favorable.

I am thoroughly enjoying Le Guin’s So Far So Good. I’m dipping into it, reading a poem every couple of days. I’m normally not a poetry reader and I am selecting poems at random. There do appear to be two sections of poems that are meant to be read in order: So Far and The Night Journey; I haven’t touched those yet. 📚

Haiku #47 Sultans of Swing has the best combination of guitars and vocals Fight me. :)

Just about to dip into Ursula K. LeGuin’s So Far So Good. I’m wondering if writing poetry is a craft you can learn or if it is a talent you nurture mostly on your own. Enlighten me, you poets out there. 📚

No presents under our tree today. We decided to just enjoy each other’s presence. It is indeed a very Merry Christmas!

A interesting first game of Ticket to Ride tonight with Ann and daughter Laura. Will play again. 👍🚂

Since the snow to this point has been somewhat disappointing I’ve decided to post a picture of our yard taken after a snowstorm last April. Yep, last April.

Off in a bit to see Ann Reed and Joan Griffith at Crossings in Zumbrota.

Got a bit of time to start tinkering more with @blot and found that I couldn’t log in. Anyone else having issues?

blot.im is just too damn easy.

I’ve been busy. That’s why.

New server hardware day!

I’ve taken a short break. Now I’m back. Just in time for the end of the world.