Lisa Davis

Kitten vs. Christmas What if I wrapped all the decorations in bubble wrap?

Kitten vs. Christmas (What if I wrapped all the decorations in bubble wrap?) lisadavis.substack.com/p/kitten-vs-...

That’s no lady bug … That’s a rude, mean, stinky bug

These bugs are considered voracious predators. Not demure. Not ladylike. lisadavis.substack.com/p/thats-no-l...

The numbers game If 7 is lucky and 13 is unlucky, then what's a googolplex?

Why is 7 lucky? Why is 13 unlucky? Your questions answered here lisadavis.substack.com/p/the-number...

For the birds In which I attempt to draw a duck

The last time I attempted to draw a bird was in a high-school art class. I was trying to draw a white bird flying against a black background. I titled it “UFO,” because it really wasn’t identifiable as a bird. lisadavis.substack.com/p/for-the-bi...

What evil lurks in the minds of kids? Clowns. Serial killers. Strangers in vans. Brainrots.

Every year, I run a Halloween story contest for kids for our local newspaper. It’s called Ghostwriters, and every year I get to read through hundreds of entries. It’s a fascinating glimpse into what Generation Alpha is scared of, or obsessed with. lisadavis.substack.com/p/what-evil-...

Horrors! A trivia quiz! Oooo, this is gonna be scary, kids

What is Jason’s full name in the Friday the 13th movies?

A. Jason Statham

B. Jason Momoa

C. Jason Vorhees

D. Jason Aldean

Take the rest of my horror movie quiz here: lisadavis.substack.com/p/horrors-a-...

Boo who? In this year's Halloween news: Skeleton mermaids, glowing candies, slasher sodas

This year’s most popular costumes, according to Spirit Halloween, are the pop stars from “KPop Demon Hunters,” the witches from “Wicked” and the superheroes from “Fantastic Four.” I’m very curious to see how they’ve made an Invisible Woman costume.
lisadavis.substack.com/p/boo-who

The name game Geez Louise, there are a lot of weird sayings about names

Who is McCoy and why is he the real one? Let's play the Name Game

lisadavis.substack.com/p/the-name-g...

Eye of the beholder I found folk-art heaven at Paradise Garden

If you’re the sort who can appreciate the artistry involved in weaving old hubcaps into a sculpture that reaches toward heaven, Paradise Garden is awe-inspiring. This place radiates with the energy of the spirit who made it. lisadavis.substack.com/p/eye-of-the...

Put a string on it Need to remember something? Use your finger ... no, not that finger.

People have been using their fingers to remember things for thousands of years. A drawing from 8th-century China illustrated how to use one’s fingers to remember the 10 virtues of Buddhism. lisadavis.substack.com/p/put-a-stri...

Hold me closer, Tony Danza At least I think that’s what Elton John was singing about

A “mondegreen” is a misheard version of a song lyric — misheard in a way that sort of makes sense and is usually more entertaining. lisadavis.substack.com/p/hold-me-cl...

Grape balls of fire It's not easy to eat a muscadine.

#Muscadines, for those unfamiliar with the fruit, are barely domesticated grapes, with tough, rubbery skins and unpleasant, spiky little seeds. lisadavis.substack.com/p/grape-ball...

Old age vs. new tech Another in my continuing conversation with Old Age

Me: Why is there Halloween stuff in the stores already? Why are there scary movies in the theaters in the summer? It’s too early for spooky season!

Old age: Want to see something really scary?

Me: No. But yes.

Old age: It’s me!

lisadavis.substack.com/p/old-age-vs... #oldage #elders

Did I say that right? It’s hard to pass mustard in a doggy-dog world

It’s pass muster, not mustard. “Muster” is an old word meaning an assembling of troops for inspection, so if you “pass muster” you pass inspection. “Pass mustard” would be something you do at a cook-out, or perhaps while playing Clue. lisadavis.substack.com/p/did-i-say-...

Sticky situation What's small and yellow and keeps me sane?

Credit for the sticky note goes to Spencer Silver, a scientist at 3M who in 1968 was trying to make a super-strong adhesive but instead accidentally invented a “low-tack, reusable, pressure-sensitive adhesive.” lisadavis.substack.com/p/sticky-sit...

Reading the room The internet ate my brain and now I can't remember how books work

The internet ate my brain and now I can't remember how books work lisadavis.substack.com/p/reading-th...

Cat got the mother tongue Why are there so many proverbs about kitties?

Humans have always talked about cats in colorful ways. You can be a copy cat or a fat cat, a scaredy cat or a cat burglar. lisadavis.substack.com/p/cat-got-th...

Misfortune cookies Fortune cookies aren’t the smart cookies they once were

There are only four ingredients in a basic fortune cookie: flour, sugar, vanilla and oil. Well, I guess it’s five ingredients if you count the little slip of paper. lisadavis.substack.com/p/misfortune...

Free of charge The battery of problems I went through to fix my phone

The battery of problems I went through to fix my phone

lisadavis.substack.com/p/free-of-ch...

Kitten kaboodle The cat distribution system works in mysterious ways

Meet Juno, mother of goddesses, destroyer of charger cords

lisadavis.substack.com/p/kitten-kab...

All fired up Bang! bang! bang! went the volley

322.7 million: Pounds of fireworks bought by consumers in 2024, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association. lisadavis.substack.com/p/all-fired-up

Old Age comes a'calling I am so sorry, but I can't remember your name

#ConversationsWithOldAge

Me: I remember when I used to run into my friends out to eat at restaurants, or going to shows.

Old age: And now?

Me: I run into my friends at physical therapy.

lisadavis.substack.com/p/old-age-co...

Fungus among us I signed up for a farm box, and now I'm having to eat mushrooms every day.

Fungus among us. I signed up for a farm box, and now I'm having to eat mushrooms every day. lisadavis.substack.com/p/fungus-amo...

Forever in blue genes I have how much Neanderthal DNA?

I didn’t want my genetic material to fall into the hands of a possibly nefarious corporation — I’ve seen enough dystopian science-fiction movies to know what happens if you leave your DNA unguarded — so I opted to delete my 23andMe account. lisadavis.substack.com/p/forever-in...

Bee in my bonnet In my profession, we’re serious about spelling

Why spelling bees? What do buzzy, yellow-and-black insects have to do with this? lisadavis.substack.com/p/bee-in-my-...

The littlest grads Meet the PreSchool Friends Class of 2025 — your future doctors, teachers, policemen, artists, scientists and pilots.

Every year, I volunteer with the PreSchool Friends program at Grace Episcopal Church in Anniston. I don’t do the hard things like teach the 4-year-olds to count or sit still. I go once a week and teach music. lisadavis.substack.com/p/the-little...

The jury’s still out Am I the only one who actually likes jury duty?

Unlike local and state courts, district courts hear civil and criminal cases that violate federal law — like tax evasion, counterfeiting or mail fraud (boring) or hijacking, bank robbery or art thefts from museums (juicy!)
lisadavis.substack.com/p/the-jurys-...

You never call! You never write!!
The least you can do is take this Mother's Day quiz.
If American mothers were paid for their work around the house, how much would they earn this year? lisadavis.substack.com/p/a-mothers-...

The merry olde songbook Ever wondered what people were singing about 150 years ago? Hint: Love, war and a lotta drinking.

A 19th century songbook is a fascinating way to peer into the past. There are hundreds of tunes in the pages that have survived. What were people singing back in the 1800s? Love songs, to start with. Some things never change. lisadavis.substack.com/p/the-merry-...

The new hip thing In which I have joint replacement surgery and learn to use a walker. Sadly, not one of the giant ones from 'Star Wars.'

The new hip thing: In which I have joint replacement surgery and learn to use a walker. Sadly, not one of the giant ones from 'Star Wars.' lisadavis.substack.com/p/the-new-hi...