A Sour Note

2015 is ending on a sour note with our son CJ in the hospital. Read about it (here).

 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone! Read about it (here).

Trojan Christmas

 

I was going through photographs looking for something suitable for a Christmas post and I landed on these two pictures, taken on our trip to Troy several years back. Check them out (here).

Mrs. Gonsalves' Last Christmas

When I was a kid I remember one Christmas when I was upset by something said to me by the senior member of my family. Read about it (here).

Am I Barking Up the Wrong Tree?

 

Mrs. Chatterbox has been quite supportive of my blog over the years and I can’t recall posting anything she disagreed with. Today’s post is an exception—Mrs. C. does not agree with me on this issue. Read about it (here).

Peculiar Pictures 39, 40, 41

 

I’ve mentioned the Business Fundamentals CD I created for Artville back in the 90’s when I was a professional illustrator, and here are a few images from that CD. Check them out (here).

All Too Familiar

A woman approached us in the parking lot of our grocery store asking for money. It's hard to turn away someone in need at this time of year, but is giving them money a good thing? Read about it (here).

Tilikum Crossing

With a series of storms heading our way, Mrs. Chatterbox and I decided to visit the new Tilikum Crossing last week. Read about it (here).

 

A Mystery in the Desert

In the Egyptian desert a massive obelisk was abandoned thousands of years ago because of a defect in the stone. But how could the Egyptians have hoped to move anything so massive? Read about it (here).

The War on Christmas

My mother called last week upset because she received a card that wished her Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Read about it (here).

What's So Funny?

 I’ve been hearing strange sounds at Casa Chatterbox, the sounds of babies laughing. I’ve yet to make a thorough check, but to my knowledge no babies currently reside under our roof. To learn the source of these sounds, read (here).

 

Chubby and the Haberdasher

I've always liked hats but never found one that looked good on me, until I paid a visit to our local haberdasher. Read about it (here).

Puerto Vallarta Scrapbook III

 

On our last evening in Puerto Vallarta we enjoyed a sunset cruise. We arrived at the marina as the sun started its descent. Check it out (here).

Puerto Vallarta Scrapbook II

I hope everyone had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. I made merry yesterday and didn’t have an opportunity to write anything, but here are a few photographs from a trip we made to El Edén Eco Park near Puerto Vallarta. Check it out (here).

 

Puerto Vallarta Scrapbook

Our hotel was old but close to the sea and far from fleets of buses filled with tourists. Check out some of the sights (here). 

 

We're Home!

When word reached me that Paris had suffered a series of terrorist attacks I was lying on a beach in Puerto Vallarta with a drink in my hand. Read about an act of kindness we experienced on our trip home (here). 

 

A Few Announcements

 

This is my seven hundredth post. I still have a lot of stories to share and I look forward to doing so until my creative well runs dry—which Mrs. Chatterbox claims won’t ever happen. Check out a few more announcements (here).

"Happy Little Trees"

While convalescing from surgery, I struggled during the day to find something on TV to watch. I landed on PBS, where a soft-spoken man with a funny afro was showing viewers how to paint. The program was called The Joy of Painting. Read about it (here).

Pure Joy

I had special candy treats for two children knocking on our door this Halloween. Read about it (here).

Silent Screams

 I’ve been dabbling in fiction, and this piece just won honorable mention in a short story contest. I’m posting it in honor of Halloween. If you find spiders terrifying, you might want to pass on this; if not, check it out (here).

 

Commercial Angst

Is there one type of TV commercial that bothers you the most? To find out which one bothers me, check (here).

The Connoisseur

In 1961, judges for the Coopertown Art Association in New York awarded first prize to an abstract painting signed by an unknown Italian artist. They probably regretted their decision. Read about it (here). 

 

Honesty

Children are often painfully honest, as I learned when son CJ commented on my self-portrait. Read about it (here).

Are You Lucky?

My mother received a call that upset her. Read about it (here).

When Fantasies Come True

Fantasies don't usually come true, but this weekend one did. Read about it (here).

Free Is A Terrible Price

Do you share Bernie Sanders' belief that college tuition should be free? Read about it (here).

Grandpa

My gruff Grandpa had no idea I was painting his portrait. When he learned about it, his reaction surprised me. Read about it (here).

Clotilde

She was old and vain, but I'll never forget seeing her portrait. Read about it (here).

The Good Old Days

A popular mantra tells us that you’re only as old as you feel, but how do you know if you’ve actually begun the downward slide into old age? Read more (here). 

 

A Beautiful Woman Has Come

The Internet is buzzing with the possibility of a great discovery. Is the tomb of Nefertiti about to be discovered? Read about it (here).

 

Best Meal Ever

I've enjoyed many fine meals, but one dining experience stands out among all the others. Read about it (here).

Someone Had to be First

 

We know so many important names in history, but who was the first person to have their picture taken? Read about it (here).

Peculiar Picture #38

After all this time, I'd wished pictures like this were no longer relevant. Check it out (here).

The Cult of Cuteness

My wife often describes things as "cute," but do I like things that are cute? Read about it (here).

Close Encounters

I've had two recent encounters with spiders. Read about them (here).

The Fallacy of Fairness

I was raised on the concept of “fairness,” but lately I’ve wondered if fairness is a notion that should be lumped together with the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny. Read about it (here). 

 

Passivity

Growing up, I decided that being passive wasn't going to get me the future I imagined. Read about it (here).

Fish Heads

It won’t come as a surprise to anyone that I have a robust appetite and don’t turn down much when it comes to food, but there is one notable exception. Read about it (here). 

 

A Princess and Stolen Gold

She had been a princess of Spain and I'd come to pay her homage, but things didn't go as planned. Read about it (here).

Peculiar Picture #37

  It’s been a while since I opened my illustration file and posted a Peculiar Picture. Check this one out (here).

 

Fourteen Years

A few words on the anniversary of 9/11. Very few. Read them (here).

Standing On Ceremony

I’m sure you’ve heard that Pope Francis is coming to America. He won’t be visiting Oregon so I won’t have an opportunity to see him, but there was a time when I did see a pope. Read about it (here).       

    

Piano Guy

He showed up at flea markets, parks, but mostly on the street when I was grabbing a bite or headed to a movie. I never knew his name but he was one of the greatest musicians I ever heard. Read about him (here).

 

Protest Update

 

While I’m happy with the progress I’ve made, my second version of The Protest is taking longer than expected. I’d hoped to be done by September, but I still have a month left to go, maybe more. Read about it (here).

The Scam Artist: Conclusion

I needed to shake the scam artist trying to separate me from my money, but could I do it? Read about it (here).

The Scam Artist

 I consider myself an astute fellow, someone not likely to buy swampland or send money to Nigerian princes, but there was a time when my resolve not to be victimized by my own ego was put to the test. Read about it (here).

Requiem for a Plant

It's good being back after solving my computer woes, I hope. Today I'm committing planticide. Read about it (here).

Computer Troubles

You might have noticed that I didn't post this morning. I'm having an issue with my server, which won't let me access my Owner Log-in, so I can't add new material. Paying someone to monitor my blog should have prevented this, but alas....

I'll be posting as soon as this glitch is fixed. Until then, I'm still reading your blogs and leaving comments.

Take care.

The Cranky Club

Cranky at The Cranky Old Man has suggested I might be on my way to becoming a cranky old man myself. Is he right. Read about it (here).

Heating Up With Mother

My ninety year old mother is sharp about most things, except when it comes to operating her air-conditioner. Read about it (here).