I love these comics because I know most of the words, and I don’t have to look up the ones I don’t know. (Click on the comics for higher resolution.)
I can identify with these:
As I’ve said, I don’t spend much time each day on Spanish, but I’m still learning a little bit more. I’m also honoring all the work I put into it the first couple of years.
February 19, 2026
In the modern world, it is easy to feel like a passenger: reacting to notifications, responding to demands, consuming whatever you happen to drive past on your screen.
But joy is found in being the driver. It’s the act of looking at the raw material of your circumstances — your time, your energy, your relationships, your skills — and seeing what you can make from it.
It is the act of creating the life you want (in big and small ways) that makes you feel alive and imbues life with extra meaning. The fact that you can hold a vision in your mind and then, however imperfectly, bend reality a few degrees in that direction.
—James Clear
Yes! That works for me. It doesn’t have to be much, and it doesn’t have to be perfect — small steps count.
But one size doesn’t fit all — I’m guessing it wouldn’t appeal to a lot of people. Does any of what he writes resonate with you?
February 18, 2026
Click on the comic for higher resolution:
This reminds me of Marlo Thomas’s Free to Be… You and Me album from 1972. One of the songs was based on the poem “Helping” by Shel Silverstein, and it ended with,
Some kind of help is the kind of help that helping’s all about.
And some kind of help is the kind of help we all can do without.
We’ve used those lines more than once over the years.
I also remember two more sentences from the album, again based on a
Shel Silverstein piece. This one was about a bossy little lady who always insisted on going first, including when a hungry tiger was choosing whom to eat. It ended with,
And so she was. And mighty tasty too.
That one doesn’t come up as often, but I still laugh every time I think of it.
Do you have any memories like that?
February 17, 2026
When I saw this comic I immediately thought of a quote I read almost 40 years ago:
I’ve never been lost, but I was mighty turned around for three days once.
–Daniel Boone
Why did I think of it so quickly after all these years? Has your memory every surprised and delighted you?
February 16, 2026
Both the bean plant
Almost 4 months old
and the balloon
8 weeks old
are still struggling. I’m amazed they haven’t given up yet.
I’m going to keep them until they do.
I can’t imagine why I identify with them so much. 😀
February 15, 2026
Happy Valentine’s Day, but this isn’t about romantic love, it’s about people countering all the cruelty and destruction going on in the world by focusing on love and connection.
I haven’t watched the Super Bowl in years, and when I did in the past I never watched the half time shows. But I was touched by this image of the billboard, so I read more about the Bad Bunny program afterwards. It makes me happy that it was an outstanding success — it gives me hope that maybe the hatred and destruction won’t win in the end.
And, of course, there was the quiet Buddhist Walk for Peace with its little dog Aloka. As the leader said, it wasn’t a protest… “just a reminder that hope still exists.”
So hurray for love, and for kindness and compassion. All is not lost.
February 14, 2026
I’m not like Calvin, I usually try avoid physical risks — and I don’t think the alternative is “stupefying security.” However….
For the first time in my life I bought a really sharp chef’s knife. I’ve wanted one for years.
It cuts vegetables like a dream and I love it. On the other hand….
I’ll let you know if I cut myself — feel free to say “I told you so.”
February 13, 2026
I went to Natural Grocers today to get some yogurt and fresh vegetables. As I was getting my cart I noticed the sign,
Registers are down, cash only.
Oops! I started pushing my cart back and noticed a women who works there. I said,
So, no credit cards.
She said,
Credit cards are all right, cash and credit cards. No debit cards.
I’m glad I said something!
February 13, 2026
Do you have your birth certificate or passport? Andy has his birth certifcate in our safe deposit box, but I have only a baptism certificate. When I first applied for a passport 66 years ago that’s all my folks had for me — I can’t remember why we couldn’t get my birth certificate from the county where I was born, but proof of baptism was all I needed at the time. Then in 1964 I married Andy and we immediately went to France for 13 months. There I went to the American embassy with my marriage license and had the name on my passport changed.
Ever since then Andy and I have renewed our passports before they expired. We were impressed this last December how easy the renewal process is now — we could do it online and received our new ones in about a month.
We have no intention of traveling, especially out of the country, but we do think it prudent in this day and age to have proof of citizenship.
What about you? Do you have your birth certificate or a passport? Do you think it’s a wise thing to have?
February 11, 2026
My latest doggie fix:
Our lease says that huskies are one of the restricted breeds — we couldn’t have a pup that had 50% or more of their genes. We agree — they are not made to live in apartments.
Things your husky knows about you:
Hurray for the internet and my doggie fixes.
Jury Update:. Andy received this email yesterday:
Your request to be excused from jury service has been reviewed and granted. You have been excused from the term of service for which you were summoned.
Thank you
We expected it, but it’s still a good feeling to get it.
February 10, 2026
