Slightly Off KIlter

Normal is overrated

  • Hello WordPress!

    My original blog was on a platform called “Graymatter”. Then I used Movable Type for many years and its companion, TypePad. When MT shut down, I moved those posts to TypePad. Then TypePad shut down. I saved all of my posts and imported them into WordPress. Hello, again. Continue reading

  • My Miniature World

    When I was quite young (5? maybe) I had a metal dollhouse. I don't recall anymore exactly what it looked like, but this is close. All I remember with any detail is the bathtub, which was exactly like one I found recently on eBay (and didn't buy). We eventually "sold" the house for peanuts (literally)… Continue reading

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  • Festive

    We're a lot more festive this year.   Last year, we had the net lights on the hedge and the tree in the upstairs window.   This year, I've hung jumbo ornaments and fat lights on the porch (along with a Santa that was packed away). We got out our "faux Xmas tree" (three 1×1… Continue reading

  • Mobile Handheld Computers

    I've been watching a discussion of cell phones in Facebook.   I've had a cell phone since 1986. I used it to call home when I left work (a 40-min drive) or in emergencies. Spouse got one in the early 2000s. Before we moved states, (last November) we usually had them turned off unless we… Continue reading

  • Fruitcake

    I had to go to three different stores today to find candied fruitcake fruit.   The first two stores only had individual packaging. I could get a half-pint of red cherries, or of green cherries, or yellow citron, or… but no mixed packs of, you know, Fruitcake Fruit.   I finally found some at Central… Continue reading

  • We’re Almost Moved In

    One year in this house (and we've unpacked most of the boxes). Continue reading

  • Chim Chim Cheree

    The chimney crew is here to fix the chimney, plumb new gas lines, and remove the old wood stove. The cats are in the back room.   Rich said they weren't singing "Chim Chim Cherree" and the lead guy told him that some Europeans do want to touch him for luck. Continue reading

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  • Chim Chiminy

    Our house came with an "alcove", a chimney, and small wood stove. The "alcove" is the wrong shape for a true fireplace.   Inspection showed that the wood stove is not in good shape and neither is the chimney, quote: "There was a chimney fire at one time; you should get the tiles and pipe… Continue reading

  • Cat Barricades

    We have cats. I have miniature houses. I want to display the houses without the cats trying to get inside.   I don't have an easy way, in our human-scale home, to have a room I can close off.   I'm using two 6-panel folding screens, made by Costway and available at Home Depot. The… Continue reading

  • Turn the Turkey

    For many years now, we've been using Rich's SIL's mother's recommendation of starting the turkey with the breast down, then turning it over halfway through. But turning over a (HOT) 20-lb turkey is… somewhat difficult. We've always used a couple of carving forks and other implements. This year, Rich had a bright (orange) Idea: Silicone… Continue reading