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Old Swatches Bring Back Memories

Monday, January 11th, 2010

Jane Q. Public sent me a link to some classic Swatch watches.  Looking at these brought back a lot of memories. Also, I now know what I spent a big portion of my time in middle and high school doing: Staring at my watch.

We had a facebook reminiscing session about Swatches after my best friend from middle school posted a photo of me wearing one. I remember having a bunch of these–but we think we may have just traded them around. Somehow I don’t see Bob & Carolyn Milam indulging me in fashion wristwatches in 1988. I wore a Swatch well into college as I recall.

I think this was one I bought myself. Special Halley’s comet edition, celebrating the comet’s return in 1986, which was also the first time I genuinely contemplated my mortality–wondering if I’d be around in 75 years to see it again. Pretty heavy stuff for a 13/14-year-old.

I had this one for a long time. I was fascinated by it, being able to see the inner workings.

I hung onto this one for a while after I got bitten by the flying/airplane bug.

This was the one I wore into college. Boring, but still a Swatch.

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Clark Gets Skunked…Again!

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

I know, I know….way too long since I’ve updated here. Blame twitter and facebook, I guess. Anyway, a quick update just on tonight’s events:

  1. Mom is away in Israel, so I’m kind of taking care of Dad, making sure he’s eating real food and stuff.
  2. I made my “sweet heat” chicken wings and helped Dad get on facebook. Yes, my seventy-something-year-old father is now on facebook.
  3. Clark decided to chase a skunk. Yes, he got sprayed. This did not deter him. He got sprayed again. Twice. Good dog for not giving up? Attaboy? I’m conflicted.
  4. Gave Clark a bath, which is not good—as he’s had too many baths this month already. Irritated, itchy dog skin kind of becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
  5. Took a shot from one of my grumpy fraternity brothers on facebook who thinks anyone who updates status with anything less than life-altering news has “too much time on their hands.”

I’m currently trying to decide whether the bath helped or if I’m just tapping my experience as a trapper and getting used to the skunk smell in here.

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The Case for Working With Your Hands

Sunday, July 19th, 2009

This article by Mathew B. Crawford in the NY Times Magazine stuck a note with me as Dad and I have been discussing the subject of “College For All” lately.

The Case for Working With Your Hands – NYTimes.com.

It’s a great (and long) read, and oh-so-true. Simply put:  Skilled, hands-on-trades should have just as much value in our society as those that require “college learnin’.”

I remember when I first got down to the farm here after leaving the big corporate job.  I enjoyed mowing 30+ acres of grass, a job that took almost two weeks with the equipment we had available.  In some cases, it almost seemed when the job was finished, it was time to start again.

Someone asked me why I liked such a mundane task.

I responded, “At the end of the day, I can look behind me at all the mowed grass and be satisfied at the sight of a job I completed.  I know ‘I did that.’  No manager is going to come along and invalidate the work.  It’s done, and it’s mine.  No one can take it from me.”

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