• "There is no way of writing well and also of writing easily."
  -- Anthony Trollope, Barchester Towers
  

  "When I am king, they shall not have bread and shelter only, but also teachings out of books; for a full belly is little worth where the mind is starved . . . "
  -- Mark Twain, The Prince and the Pauper
  

  "You must fear the monkey!"
  -- Bucky Katt, Get Fuzzy
  

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It’s been so long since I posted — I’ve got a bunch of stuff, including this Thanksgiving acrostic I composed for friends and family.

Turkey day

Have more mashed potatoes and

Apple pie.

No boiled onions please. You

Know I hate them.

Smashed turnips and carrots –

Good stuff.

I‘m going to waddle out of here.

Viewing family photo albums,

I remember

November with

Grammy.

Here’s a series of poems — mostly haiku and tanka — I composed while watching my sister-in-law play beach volleyball in Southern California 2 days after Christmas. Read more

I’m not sure if this should be filed under Teaching or Writing, but needless to say, it wasn’t a good day.

When I’m sick, I get cranky

I want to reach for a hanky,

Or maybe a whip

Instead of a quip

To deal with unruly students.

My tolerance it’s waning.

I know I’m complaining.

But please tell me why –

Or I’ll start to cry –

Why I’m still dealing with unruly students?

Tell me quick ‘fore I snap.

Why I can’t whap

The side of the heads

(God, I want to go back to bed)

Of my bothersome unruly students?

Leaves wafting

from blushing branches

Skitterings in the leaf piles

Delighted peals

Frustrated groans

Rakes once again at the ready

Honks headed south

Burrowing deep

Crunchy white at dawn

Smoky scent

Bus stop drones

Bemoaning

Silent nights

Flakes forthcoming

Three chipmunks and a mouse walk into a dryer vent.

It sounds like a joke, right? Like a Henny Youngman or Rodney Dangerfield politically incorrect tale that will make you laugh, but also cringe. This story is definitely cringe-worthy. Read more

I have to admit, despite the positive buzz surrounding Tropic Thunder, I didn’t have high expectations. Read more

Rattle, rattle.

Frank twitched.

Rattle, rattle. Click.

He cracked an eyelid and noted with great annoyance that the sun had moved. That would explain the rattling at the door, however. Betsy was home from work. His roommate bustled into the compact, four-room apartment, far too cheerful for someone who had spent the day chained to a cubicle desk (as she was so fond of whining). Read more

It’s been out for more than a month, I know, but — wow. Still, the first word that comes to mind is — wow. Read more

I like to read books. I like to watch movies (and some TV, but there’s little on these days that garners my loyal following). Here’s where I’ll tell you what I think of what I read and watch.

By Kristine A. Harger

Special to The Star-Herald

PRESQUE ISLE - The SAD 1 board of directors approved bids for fuel and refuse collection at its Aug. 6 meeting.

Only one bid for each type of fuel was received. Read more

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