Month: April 2017

All Points Bulletin

I stumbled into the middle of a manhunt in Tallahassee today. I’d gone to eat lunch at Firehouse Subs on Capital Circle having become slightly addicted to their New York Streamer sandwich. The small size is only 360 calories and it tastes so darned good. But back to the manhunt.

As I walked out of the restaurant I heard the distinct sounds of a helicopter directly above me. I waved, for what it’s worth, and went on to my car. 

When I turned into a side street I saw a police cruiser, lights flashing, partially blocking the road. An officer standing by her patrol car waved me through. I still hadn’t connected her presence with the hovering helicopter, but when I turned the next corner and saw three cruisers and a police van, I realized I was probably in the middle of something big. 

I was just trying to get back to Capital Circle so I could go home, so I kept driving and turned right again. There, coming down the sidewalk toward my car was a police canine and his cop. That dog had the scent and was pulling hard on his leash. 

Hurriedly I found a way out of the area and drove to Home Depot a few blocks away. As soon as I was parked I googled breaking news in Tallahassee. Two possibilities popped up.

Now, I’m not sure which of these headlines is pertinent to the manhunt. One would certainly be more interesting than the other.

Was it this person they were using dogs to search for?


Or this one?


You know which one I’m rooting for, right?

Peace, people. And for goodness sake, put on some clothes!

Snapshot #151 and a Song

I call this one, “Not-So Long and Winding Road, with Apologies to The Hollies.”


https://youtu.be/EYzfTdIZoP0

Secret, Secret Agent

For this day I’ve decided to be a secret agent. I will be unobtrusive, nondescript, a silhouette of my usual self.

My cavalier demeanor will bely my purpose: to spy, observe, and report on my fellow citizens.

So far, I have noted one woman pushing a baby stroller. What nefarious plan might she be hatching?

I will hide in plain sight in hopes that her motives are revealed. Oh! Look! Starbucks on the right. Maybe another day.

Snapshot #150

These tiny little wildflowers are popping up in the yard across the road from Doright Manor. I call them, “Tiny Little Wildflowers Across the Road.”

She’s a What?

Studly Doright and I were cruising around Tallahassee on Saturday afternoon in his now almost un-smelly car. Out of the blue  Studly had a hankering for Kentucky Fried Chicken, so we drove through the drive up and then sat in their parking lot while he nibbled on a breast and a wing. I’m dieting, so I just watched. Willpower is my middle name. Ok, maybe it’s “Biscuit with Honey” since I had a bite of his. 

We were listening to the 60’s channel on Sirius/XM when the song Must to Avoid by Herman’s Hermits started playing. Studly put down his chicken and sang, “She’s a muscular boy.” 

I snorted. “That’s not how it goes! It’s “she’s a must to avoid,” and pointed to the radio’s dashboard display where the correct title was clearly spelled out.

“Oh,” he shrugged. “I always thought it was a strange song.”

And now? Now I can’t help but sing it his way.

https://youtu.be/icEUzyyL88A

Peace, people.

Snapshot #149

Another photo taken at the Chain of Parks Art Walk in Tallahassee on Saturday. I call this one, “Be Advised.” I need one of these tshirts. Seriously. 

Lost in Time

Lost in Time

by Leslie Noyes

We scarcely notice the low-flying pterodactyls skimming inches above the trees nowadays.

Likewise, the roar of Tyrannosaurus Rex barely registers in our collective consciousness.

But we’ve begun to feel a change in the climate, colder winters, hotter summers, raging storms year ’round,

And the drums of war are heard pounding across oceans, and from our own great shores destruction rains down.

What have we lost in time? Our connections were severed when we fell through this warp in the universe.

Survival first, right? Despite the despot in the tree fort, we will carry on, only later to discover what we’ve lost.

Snapshot #147

I bought myself some flowers for Easter. This one should be called, “They Smell Even Prettier Than They Look.” 

Happy Easter, friends.

The Flip Side of “You People”

Thank you, Jan Wilberg, for thinking great thoughts and putting them into words. Read more at redswrap.wordpress.com.

Jan Wilberg's avatarRed's Wrap

It was one of the first things I learned as a grown-up person in a multi-cultural world. The term “you people” was bad as in “You people always think everything bad that happens is because of racism.”

“You people.”

After the initial looks of intense scorn from black colleagues, I wondered to myself: what’s so wrong about saying “you people?” I had to piece it together over the next several years. Yes, that’s how long it took.

“You people” is, by its tone, accusatory. “You people” generalizes, assumes that everyone in the “people” group thinks and acts alike. “You people” is derogatory and marginalizing. “You people” is a separating device. There is “us” and then there is “you people.”

I don’t ever say “you people” anymore. And though it took a very long time, longer than I’d like to admit, I don’t even think “you people” anymore.

So it stings…

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