The wind

Today is one of those windy days on the Front Range, with air rushing down from the side of the mountains and pushing trucks off the road. The feed corn has been harvested, all that's left in the fields is stubble and dried husks. Tumbleweeds roam freely, and the sound of skittering leaves is everywhere.

There was wind like this when I drove cross-country from New York. It would catch in the wheel-wells and hum. Wind makes me restless, but I love the way it clears the air.

Vikings vs. Pirates

Question: If Vikings and Pirates got in a fight, who would win? My brother and I love having these kind of arguments. I won't tell you our conclusion until I've heard your point-of-view.

Bolshevik!

My brother left a funny story on my answering machine. He's doing time at Barnes & Noble these days. He was at the checkout when an irrate customer went into a rant saying, "I was in the card section, and you know we can hear every word you say!"

Apparently she thought he'd said something was, "Bullshit!"

My brother, who is NOT a potty-mouth (especially compared to me,) couldn't figure out why she would think such a thing, as it's not his habit to say "bullshit" unless he's playing the card game.

Talking it over with a co-worker, he realized he'd said something about, "Bolshevik" and she'd interpreted it as something else. By then she was long gone.

I thought it was funny, and think "Bolshevik" would make a very nice alternative (and appropriate) swear word.