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Calvin and Hobbes

I explore a lot — on the internet. I poke around until something catches my fancy, then I save it for the future or look into it more deeply.

James Clear says,

To learn, wander. To achieve, focus.

For me there’s a middle step. Once I’m gathered enough bits and pieces, my mind gets cluttered and I need moodling time.

So you see, imagination needs moodling — long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering.
–Brenda Ueland

It’s time to let my subconscious mind process things, see connections, come up with insights and blog ideas. There’s no hurry, I’m not doing this for external validation or a deadline. When the beginning of a blog post starts to form, I play with the best way to express what I’m trying to say. It doesn’t have to be perfect — the joy of doing it is the important thing.

As I’ve said, I spend a lot of time reading about what’s going on in the world and supporting people and organizations that share my values. I don’t ignore the cruelty and destruction —- but I refuse to let them eclipse the magic and joy of exploring, playing with ideas, and sharing what I discover.

January 2, 2026

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Calvin and Hobbes

I agree with Calvin about not setting goals for the new year. But I don’t exactly wing it, my resolution is always to keep doing what I’ve been doing — pulling the weeds, nurturing the flowers.

Pulling the weeds, nurturing the flowers, delighting in watching things grow.

What does that mean? It means noticing some of the automatic habits that shape my life. Most of our lives runs on autopilot. Some of our habits—our reactions, routines, and choices— make our lives happier, healthier, and more meaningful, and some don’t. Some are neutral and others get in the way. The gardener metaphor means gently standing back, noticing, and strengthening some habits and replacing others.

I will no doubt write more about that in future posts, but in the meantime….

My last three plants are still hanging in there. The old leaves are starting to develop dark spots,

but the two plants on the right of the pot are still putting out new leaves.

And the upright plant on the left is putting out a couple of flowers.

A last gasp before it dies? I will let you know.

Anyway, Happy New Year everyone!

January 1, 2026

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Calvin and Hobbes en Español

Calvin and Hobbes

As I’ve said before, Andy and I don’t have to go looking for challenges to keep us on our toes and learning new things. They keep coming to us. What about you? Too little challenges/excitement, too much, or about the right amount?

Since it’s New Year’s Eve — a time to look back– I thought I’d look to see what I’ve done so far in blogging. This is my 5222nd post. I started posting twice a week in May, 2007, and switched to daily in August, 2013. Like plugging along with baby steps in Spanish, it adds up.

Happy New’s Year Eve!

December 31, 2025

Speedbump

The other night Kaitlin was cooking dinner, including some green beans, and had to step into another room. Tempi and Torben were in the kitchen, so she asked Torben to watch Tempi, make sure she didn’t get into the food. Zoe was outside, so no problem there.

Tempi went into the living room to sit down—with Torben dutifully following—and they waited until Kaitlin returned. Then they all went back to the kitchen.

Zoe was there.

The green beans were not.

December 30, 2025

Kaitlin said she was curious to see what Google’s AI would say about Zoe and Chateaubriand:

How cool is that?

Also Sandra K. Czosek pointed out chocolate is toxic for dogs. Yes, Zoe has been rushed to the vet for that. Another time, it wasn’t even chocolate—-she ended up there after eating a whole pan of cinnamon buns. Nothing in them was especially toxic on its own, but the sheer amount of rich, sugary food was enough to upset her stomach and raise concerns about pancreatitis.

The vet tech said, “she is a pro at throwing up!”

December 29, 2025

When I was writing yesterday’s post I wondered if Chateaubriand should be capitalized, so I typed “Zoe was looking at a piece of Chateaubriand” into Perplexity AI. It promptly came back with (click on picture for higher resolution):

It’s a line from a Cheerful Monk blog post; the author captioned a photo “Zoe was looking at a piece of chateaubriand,” referring to their dog Zoe eyeing a fancy beef tenderloin steak.

I did not expect that. I still wasn’t sure about the capitalization, so I typed,

is chateaubriand capitalized

It said,

“Chateaubriand” is usually capitalized when it clearly refers to the classic French dish or the cut named after François-René de Chateaubriand, because it originates from a proper name.

Many modern dictionaries note that it is “often capitalized,” which means you will also see it in lowercase, especially in general food writing or menus.

Apparently I was correct to capitalize it in yesterday’s post, but it was also acceptable not to capitalize it in the November 2020 post.

I’m amazed that Perplexity went into my Monthly Archives and found the reference. And I’m glad I phrased my first prompt the way I did.

December 28, 2025

Misty-the-Dog and Friends

This was Zoe looking at a piece of Chateaubriand:

She’s a sweet pup, but she is definitely food oriented. Kaitlin’s comment on the Christmas post was:

Merry Christmas!! Our pups are more interested in what is on the counter. Before giving our dinner guests a tour of our construction last night, I hid all the leftover food (in the microwave, ovens, on top of the upper cabinets). The pups were passed out on the floor so Peter kept looking at me as if I were crazy. The only thing left out were the brownies for our upcoming dessert, but I built a metal barricade around them – and pushed them far back on the counter. We started the tour and the pups came with us but Peter lagged behind to see. Sure enough he said, as soon as we were out of sight Zoe whipped back and ran her nose along the entire counter to see if there was anything. He caught up to me and said “she is so intelligent!” And explained what she did. Uh huh. As soon as HE was out of sight guess who started working on the barricade? Of course I got there before she got anything, but it cracked me up.

December 27, 2025

Angus in Scotland wrote,

And so a Merry Christmas to one and all. May you find comfort in the company of those you love, warmth in the memory of those who’ve gone before and confidence in the capacity of human beings to see the world as it should be.

This sentiment was echoed in an article by one of the Substack authors I follow:

We can live in a world of hope and love and moral clarity someday.

I spend a lot of time reading about what is going on in the world, and like most of us I’m saddened by the cruelty and destruction going on. I try not to get angry or depressed by it — instead I do what I can to support people and organizations that share my values. It’s back to the old,

It’s better to light one candle than curse the darkness.

The other message, from a friend, warmed my heart and made me laugh.

I wish for you and Andy, a Happy New Year that is wonderful, safe, healthy, still standing and still living in your apartment. Love you.

She nailed that one! Thank you, friend. I love you too!

Happy post-Christmas, everyone.

December 26, 2025

wallpaperaccess.com

Moderately Confused

And if you are interested, here is last year’s video from the North Yuki Husky.

The pups seem to be more interested in the treats than the toys or the idea of Christmas.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas day.

December 25, 2025

Misty-the-Dog and Friends

Merry Christmas Eve!

December 24, 2025