A Reflexology Session To End The Week

A reflexology session might seem extravagant, but it is the cheapest trip to a tropical island in the South Pacific that I know of.

Relaxation stoke!

Sign Of Our Times

Impeachment graffiti.

Parental Must-have: Glue Gun

One piece of gear for parents I would never hesitate to plug is the hot glue gun.

When the kids were small, we used it to make models of houses of worship/discos, bridges, and the like.

Recently one former child used it to bedazzle a garment purchased in a thrift store.

One can also use it for a variety of household repairs that may or may not be related to children.

Not particularly expensive, a really useful tool.

Kid Sings Chinese Communist Song Through Closed Door

The kid learned to sing a song in Chinese praising communism and Mao Zedong thought. He randomly stood outside my door to serenade me.

Life is good! Stoke!

My Son the Anti-Zionist

This is the graphic from my Medium.com piece. The op-ed was the result of several lively dinnertime conversations – enjoy!

https://medium.com/@wackotter42/my-son-the-anti-zionist-e4b19ba99259

Friend Shares Photos From 1992

The painting was by my then-roommate and friend Hsieh Chun-yen. 

These photos are a surprise glimpse at my life in Taiwan in 1992. A surprise because usually I was the one taking the pictures and these snaps are not mine -- shared with me only recently. A good memory of a moment when my life was open to random possibilities.

Artwork Done When Waiting For A Plane

My partner has given permission that this be made public.

Signature Graphic That Was Rejected

Looking through some old photos I came upon this from 2012. I was trying to create a signature graphic and thought that Menachem Begin, dental floss, Shifu from Kung Fu Panda, and a toy car were good -- I obviously came to my senses.

Stoke!

Need to Up the Game With Preparedness

These are snaps from the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management's presentation.

Audit of Food-storage Containers

Reorganization comes to this drawer.

The audit resulted in some containers deemed unnecessary. These containers were generally very small and purchased for the kids' lunches when they were young.  

Teenager Looking At Plantains While Drinking Kombucha

I Love Oregon

It's all about the sastrugi. Yet another great Italian word.

Invented Italian Word: Grotissimo

Worst pizza in tri-state area purchased in Newark airport in United terminal. This qualifies as grotissimo.

The pseudo-Italian word I made up is grotissimo -- meaning extremely grotty.

What does grotty mean? I give you the Slang Dictionary definition:

Extremely distasteful, low, twisted, monstrous. from the word 'grotesque'. used by George Harrison in the Beatles movie "A Hard Day's Night."

Feel free to use at your own discretion.

You're welcome!

Doing Stuff In NYC

Can't explain our weird fascination with wax likenesses of famous people.

Here's the NYC video:

Bad Parenting Continued In NYC

I will regret this later I'm sure. I was thinking at the time I needed to show the kid how articulate, nuanced resistance will win the day. This is a suitable response to a president who takes the rule of law so lightly.

What I Do In NYC

Jewish Museum:

• ·    Rachel Feinstein Maiden, Mother, Crone
• ·         Edith Halpert and the Rise of American Art

The Whitney

The Guggenheim

• ·         Artistic License: Six Takes on the Guggenheim Collection

Madame Tussaud’s

9/11 Museum and Memorial

MOMA

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

Images From The Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

This is a tapestry of an aerial view of a landscape. It is made from discarded material from a carpet factory.

Bionic insect.