Birthday Gifts

Robin and I have a deal. For our birthdays we tell each other what we want and don't make the other person guess when selecting gifts. This ensures receiving items that are desired and not wasteful.

I just got two wonderful presents. Not expensive but precisely what I want: a bold casual watch and a well-designed film camera.

The watch (Movado Bold Verso S) fills a hole in my life. I have fancier watches for special occasions but need a timepiece for normal life. I like this watch's vibrant blue color and sporty style.

The camera (Kodak Snapic A1) is a *new* device that uses film and is made by the historic company. (Remember Kodak from your youth?) Well-designed, the camera is easy to use and does what I want it to. My other film cameras are over 30 years old so having a newly manufactured product is good for reliability. I recommend this item for anyone interested in exploring film photography. Try it!

The Big Day

10, 9, 8... 3, 2, 1!

!!! Birthday !!!

Happy Halloween!

The Winning Streak

After last night's victory over Dallas, we're up to five wins. Five wins with the bun!

Devils Juju

This is funny. Have you heard how some athletes and sports fans get superstitious about winning? Like, when their team is doing well, they don't change their underwear?

Well... the NJ Devils' television announcer is a bright attractive woman named Rachel Herzog. Rachel understands hockey better than most fans and is delightful to listen to for sports insight.

Recently, bucking convention, Rachel started wearing her hair up in a bun while announcing. That's a controversial look in the sports world. Since that time the Devils have won four straight games. Rachel (and I) attribute the winning streak to her hair-style. Neither of us believe she should change it until the streak ends. 🤣

Sands Point Preserve (Long Island, NY)

New photos from a blind guy.

I'm back in the saddle, swinging an old piece of plastic in every direction. The machinery was cheap when birthed 55 years ago and, unlike me, has gotten no better with age. No electronics, electricity or other modern aid, just chemicals and creativity.

Words

The English language is quirky. There are rules but often exceptions. That can be confusing.

Here's an example. Usually the prefix "un-" indicates a word means the opposite of the same word without the prefix. Common/uncommon; usual/unusual. But that isn't always the case.

There are words we see frequently but don't really know their meaning. "Uncanny" is a good example. If you don't know what uncanny means and guess at it from context, you're likely wrong. Also, "uncanny" does not mean the opposite of "canny". Their meanings are wholly unrelated. Do you know what the two words mean?

"Uncanny" describes something strange or mysterious, often extraordinary or supernatural. "Canny" refers to a person who's smart or shrewd and profits from the trait.

Now you know. 👻