stories

People, places, and and the uncommonplace telling stories as they travel with Morganica (Cynthia Morgan) in mind and memory; neighbors, friends, and findings

13 11, 2018

Gender bent

2020-11-24T08:56:39-08:00

  The Resident Carpenter tried to break it to me gently. "William has a, well, er, uhm...a vagina," he said. "Beg pardon?" "William," he tried again, "Is a girl squirrel. Not a boy." I gave him The Look. "Clearly, that is impossible." "You and I both massaged his little...appendage to help him go to the bathroom when he was a [...]

Gender bent2020-11-24T08:56:39-08:00
10 11, 2018

William from the pantry perspective

2020-11-24T09:01:10-08:00

Please, sir: May I have another nut?!! A squirrel is a rat with (much) better PR. There. I've said it. Doesn't mean I don't adore William the Conqueror-Squirrel, or that I love rats (although I've kept much-loved pet rats and hamsters). Or that I haven't cussed at the occasional dammit-get-OUT-of-my-attic squirrel. If you'd like to read other stories about [...]

William from the pantry perspective2020-11-24T09:01:10-08:00
17 10, 2018

William the Conqueror-squirrel comes a-fostering

2020-11-24T09:02:19-08:00

William the Conqueror-squirrel is now part of a household already enriched by Lola, Nikki, The Resident Carpenter, about a million saltwater denizens of the deep, assorted garden vegetables, and a number of wild critters living (only, I hope) in the backyard. This is the story of a squirrel orphan being rehabbed to the wilderness.

William the Conqueror-squirrel comes a-fostering2020-11-24T09:02:19-08:00
3 07, 2018

Driving out niggling nags

2018-07-03T14:27:10-07:00

Snuck out of the house early Sunday morning, hobbling downstairs to the garage and deserting the Resident Carpenter, snoring peacefully at the other end of the hall. I slipped into Chiquitita the Porsche, dropped her top, and just ... drove, the niggling nags jacketing me like a cement overcoat: The backyard slugs and moles and coyotes and birds and squirrels [...]

Driving out niggling nags2018-07-03T14:27:10-07:00
7 05, 2018

End goals and impossible things

2024-01-24T11:26:07-08:00

We saved Elmo. Now to do some impossible things. (such as say "thank you") Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said: “one can’t believe impossible things.” “I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things [...]

End goals and impossible things2024-01-24T11:26:07-08:00
30 04, 2018

Getting rid of granny(walker)

2020-10-05T16:48:02-07:00

"Excuse me," says the little girl, shyly, fingering the rails of my grannywalker, "Are you really old? My great-grandma has a cage like that too, and she's REALLY old." Don't kids--the ones who survive the next five minutes, anyway--say the darnedest things?  It's take-your-kid-to-work day, and my new mini-coworkers are endlessly fascinated with my mobility assist tools. Wherever I go [...]

Getting rid of granny(walker)2020-10-05T16:48:02-07:00
26 04, 2018

Jury booty

2020-10-06T07:22:40-07:00

A month ago, traversing this sandy path down to the river would have been unthinkable. Yet here I am. "SHE," said the guard, pointing to me, "is what we call S.T.U.B.B.O.R.N." "Absolutely," I grinned, and continued to climb the courthouse steps with my grannywalker. "Ma'am, we HAVE a wheelchair lift," the guard repeated, patiently, "Wouldn't you feel...safer...not climbing [...]

Jury booty2020-10-06T07:22:40-07:00
23 04, 2018

Beachwalking and the denizens of the deep

2020-10-06T07:24:14-07:00

My very first in-person tidepool since falling. It was glorious. Here's what they don't tell you about recovery from a catastrophic injury: It's only gradual from the 10,000-foot view. Up close, it's fits, starts, and frustration, punctuated by euphoria. Two and a half-steps forward, one step back. One step forward, three steps back. My body retreats to near-immobility [...]

Beachwalking and the denizens of the deep2020-10-06T07:24:14-07:00
18 04, 2018

Walking and the well-grounded non-gardener

2020-10-06T07:25:04-07:00

"Do you have a cane?" Brenda-the-PT asked, and I nodded, "Good. Bring it next time. I want you to graduate from your walker to a cane." Heady stuff. Me, not lugging around walkers and wheelchairs? Wow. "No long walks on a cane yet, only short trips," she warned, "And no carrying heavier stuff when you're on the cane, at least [...]

Walking and the well-grounded non-gardener2020-10-06T07:25:04-07:00
11 04, 2018

Batting cleanup (tanks a lot, Fred)

2018-04-12T13:04:14-07:00

Frank Sinatra, the blue-eyed hermit crab Starting a marine reef tank is a lot like adopting a demanding, finicky child that eats its playmates and spends money like, well, seawater. Fred Mertz* the reef tank has been alive for a bit more than a week, and definitely has taken over our lives. I wake to find the the [...]

Batting cleanup (tanks a lot, Fred)2018-04-12T13:04:14-07:00
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Or, to put it in plain English, folks: Ask first. This blog is first and foremost a personal journal, a chronicle of my work with a fairly difficult technical medium. I'm happy (thrilled, even) to share what I know, and I'll help you with your own journey all I can... as long as you respect my groundrules.

I don't sell ads, products or services, and unless disclosed I buy all products/services mentioned in this blog, with my own money. I don't claim to have invented processes, tools, new artforms, or techniques (unless I specifically say so). HOWEVER, my writing and art (and any errors of fact or fiction) are my very own, original work. Don't blame anyone but me if I get it wrong.
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