J.R. Johnson

First Sign Today I'm happy to report that I spotted the first sign of spring. Yes, we still have a couple feet of snow on our lawn and predictions call for another wave of cold soon, but I also saw my first outdoor insect of the year. It wasn't anything fun or even remotely photogenic, just a fly, dull except for the fact that it arrived on a breath of spring. And that is good news! * * * Now this is photogenic. Photo by MAK on Unsplash

First Sign

Today I'm happy to report that I spotted the first sign of spring. Yes, we still have a couple feet of snow on our lawn and predictions call for another wave of cold soon, but I also saw my first outdoor insect of the year. It wasn't anything fun or even remotely photogenic, just a fly,…

Fish, Precious! Yes, the world is a dangerous mess right now but not everything is terrible. Exhibit A: The Fish Doorbell is back! The Fish Doorbell — The Fish Doorbell Every spring, thousands of fish swim through the Oudegracht in Utrecht, searching for a place upstream to lay their eggs. But the Weerdsluis is often closed. You can help the fish continue their journey!

Fish, Precious!

Yes, the world is a dangerous mess right now but not everything is terrible. Exhibit A: The Fish Doorbell is back! The Fish Doorbell — The Fish Doorbell Every spring, thousands of fish swim through the Oudegracht in Utrecht, searching for a place upstream to lay their eggs. But the…

Worm Moon, Eclipsed Tomorrow morning very early, the last full moon of the winter season will coincide with a total lunar eclipse. When? Check the links below for precise times, but as an example, maximum eclipse in Ottawa will be at 6:33am ET. The result? A blood moon. We’ve talked about this phenomenon before, but this will be the last one for a couple of years.

Worm Moon, Eclipsed

Tomorrow morning very early, the last full moon of the winter season will coincide with a total lunar eclipse. When? Check the links below for precise times, but as an example, maximum eclipse in Ottawa will be at 6:33am ET. The result? A blood moon. We’ve talked about this…

Oh Look, My Parents Have Already Finished Their Taxes “Buttercup's mother whirled on him. 'Did you forget to pay your taxes?' (This was after taxes. But everything is after taxes. Taxes were here even before stew.)” ― William Goldman, The Princess Bride I’d better get to it! * * * Photo by Supannee U-prapruit on Unsplash

Oh Look, My Parents Have Already Finished Their Taxes

“Buttercup's mother whirled on him. 'Did you forget to pay your taxes?' (This was after taxes. But everything is after taxes. Taxes were here even before stew.)” ― William Goldman, The Princess Bride I’d better get to it! * * * Photo…

Going Back? Plan Ahead! This is fascinating, educational and fun. One of the things they may not tell you when they give you the keys to the time travel machine is that language is a living thing, and English is now very old. Colin Gorrie decided to illustrate how the English language has changed over the last 1000 years by writing a post that slowly transitions from the modern day, in hundred year increments.

Going Back? Plan Ahead!

This is fascinating, educational and fun. One of the things they may not tell you when they give you the keys to the time travel machine is that language is a living thing, and English is now very old. Colin Gorrie decided to illustrate how the English language has changed…

Can’t Compute Like so many of you, I spend a lot of my life looking at screens. I try to keep my eyes healthy but you know how it is, you start the day at the writing computer and then move to the work computer, and then you're just about to take a break when an email comes in about an important work project, or family thing, or taxes.

Can’t Compute

Like so many of you, I spend a lot of my life looking at screens. I try to keep my eyes healthy but you know how it is, you start the day at the writing computer and then move to the work computer, and then you're just about to take a break when an email comes in about an important…

Sad but Happy Sadly, the Artemis II moon mission has been pushed back again, and the new launch window now won’t happen until April at the earliest. Pesky helium flow issues! Happily, this week we can entertain ourselves with a planetary conjunction! APOD: 2026 February 24 – Planet Parade over Sydney Opera House Look up this week and see a whole bunch of planets.

Sad but Happy

Sadly, the Artemis II moon mission has been pushed back again, and the new launch window now won’t happen until April at the earliest. Pesky helium flow issues! Happily, this week we can entertain ourselves with a planetary conjunction! APOD: 2026 February 24 – Planet Parade over…

Infinite You Creativity is infinite. Creativity is infinite. — Reese Witherspoon * * * Photo by G Creates on Unsplash

Infinite You

Creativity is infinite. Creativity is infinite. — Reese Witherspoon * * * Photo by G Creates on Unsplash

Four Years That’s four years too long. Our thought, our song Will not die, will not perish… Oh there, people, is our glory, Glory of Ukraine! — Taras Shevchenko * * * Photo by Sylwia Bartyzel on Unsplash

Four Years

That’s four years too long. Our thought, our song Will not die, will not perish… Oh there, people, is our glory, Glory of Ukraine! — Taras Shevchenko * * * Photo by Sylwia Bartyzel on Unsplash

Project Snow As much of the Northeastern US hunkers down under many, many inches of snow, here’s a short condensation of winter-related happiness to get you through your day. Simon Beck's Snow Art - Banff National Park The maple leaf is a particular favorite:) If you’re in the path of the storm, stay warm, stay safe! * * * Photo by Ashley Ross on Unsplash

Project Snow

As much of the Northeastern US hunkers down under many, many inches of snow, here’s a short condensation of winter-related happiness to get you through your day. Simon Beck's Snow Art - Banff National Park The maple leaf is a particular favorite:) If you’re in the path of the storm,…

And So…* * Full post title: And so, for reasons completely and entirely related to the hockey game just played at a certain Italian ice rink, Mr Man and I are heading out into the woods in order to embrace the beauty that is inherent in Nature, and immerse ourselves in the glory and joy that is to be found in this great nation.

And So…*

* Full post title: And so, for reasons completely and entirely related to the hockey game just played at a certain Italian ice rink, Mr Man and I are heading out into the woods in order to embrace the beauty that is inherent in Nature, and immerse ourselves in the glory and joy that is to…

People, Making a Difference This story is so encouraging: The Ordinary People Who Saved the Bluebird There was a time when seeing a bluebird felt less like spotting a bird and more like witnessing a small miracle. But then, the Eastern bluebird population made a comeback. The hero? A lot of volunteers — and an ordinary box. Photo by Sharon Sivertsen on Unsplash Sure, we broke it. But now we’re fixing it, and that’s a story I think we all could use. * * * Photo by Skyler Ewing on Unsplash

People, Making a Difference

This story is so encouraging: The Ordinary People Who Saved the Bluebird There was a time when seeing a bluebird felt less like spotting a bird and more like witnessing a small miracle. But then, the Eastern bluebird population made a comeback. The hero? A lot of…

So Much Life! This was a fun article to stumble upon: Tiny Memoir Contest Winners We challenged teenagers to write a story about a meaningful moment in their lives in just 100 words. These are the subjects of some of the 14,232 “tiny memoir” submissions we received. Teens do (nonfiction) drabbles. The New York Times called them miniature memoirs, but regardless, they are wonderful!

So Much Life!

This was a fun article to stumble upon: Tiny Memoir Contest Winners We challenged teenagers to write a story about a meaningful moment in their lives in just 100 words. These are the subjects of some of the 14,232 “tiny memoir” submissions we received. Teens do (nonfiction) drabbles.…

It Has Come To My Attention It has come to my attention that my site’s subscriber emails sometimes arrive with only parts of the post included, particularly when there are quotes involved. Sorry! I’m not sure whether this is a Wordpress thing, a "my theme on Wordpress" thing, or what, but I do know that I don’t have a fix for it at the moment. At least without even more time in CustomerServiceLandia and/or overhauling my site, which, sure, I hope to get to… eventually.

It Has Come To My Attention

It has come to my attention that my site’s subscriber emails sometimes arrive with only parts of the post included, particularly when there are quotes involved. Sorry! I’m not sure whether this is a Wordpress thing, a "my theme on Wordpress" thing, or what, but I do…

Can’t Stop Laughing, Though An adventure: “Hey, Self, we haven’t made bread in a while. Maybe it’s time.” “Sure, sounds good. And while we’re at it, let’s play around with the rise. This sourdough levain looks great, let’s try using just that and a pinch of yeast and see where that takes us.” “Terrific idea, Self!” /hours pass “So, this second rise is taking forever, right?”

Can’t Stop Laughing, Though

An adventure: “Hey, Self, we haven’t made bread in a while. Maybe it’s time.” “Sure, sounds good. And while we’re at it, let’s play around with the rise. This sourdough levain looks great, let’s try using just that and a pinch of yeast and see where that takes us.”…

Happy Happy Holidays! There are a lot of holidays happening today or starting this week, including some of the big ones: Lunar New Year and the Spring Festival, Mardi Gras (and Lent), and Ramadan. If I used AI casually I might ask it for an image of a fiery horse eating a beignet at an iftar meal, but instead I’ll just wish you all a wonderful week! * * * Photo by Gunnar Bjarki on Unsplash

Happy Happy Holidays!

There are a lot of holidays happening today or starting this week, including some of the big ones: Lunar New Year and the Spring Festival, Mardi Gras (and Lent), and Ramadan. If I used AI casually I might ask it for an image of a fiery horse eating a beignet at an iftar meal,…

Rays of Ravishing Light “Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means. And that posterity will triumph in that day's transaction...” ― John Adams * * * Photo by Mariana Maciel on Unsplash

Rays of Ravishing Light

“Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means. And that posterity will triumph in that day's transaction...” ― John Adams * * * Photo by Mariana Maciel on Unsplash

Not Too Long & Not Too Short Here’s a quick notification for anyone interested in writing and publication venues and supporting a fun Kickstarter: Missed-Fits: A Calendar of Fools Anthology by Storm Humbert The idea for Missed-Fits is born of two central motivations at Calendar of Fools: the desire to create truly unique books and reading experiences for our readers, and the desire to provide a service or fill a gap we see in the professional short fiction space.

Not Too Long & Not Too Short

Here’s a quick notification for anyone interested in writing and publication venues and supporting a fun Kickstarter: Missed-Fits: A Calendar of Fools Anthology by Storm Humbert The idea for Missed-Fits is born of two central motivations at Calendar of Fools: the…

Doing Things Badly For Fun, Not Profit If there’s one thing I frequently excel at, it’s doing things badly. And I don’t mean this in a negative way. I find something really enjoyable about just muddling through low-stakes activities, because for me at least, it’s clear that it’s all about fun. If it’s something I’ve never tried before, I’m not going to be great right off the bat.

Doing Things Badly For Fun, Not Profit

If there’s one thing I frequently excel at, it’s doing things badly. And I don’t mean this in a negative way. I find something really enjoyable about just muddling through low-stakes activities, because for me at least, it’s clear that it’s all about fun. If…

Tea And. I’m working on a secret project and on deadline. Have a quote, a pretty picture, and hopefully an adventure! Do you want an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first? — J.M. Barrie * * * Photo by Caraianu Camelia on Unsplash

Tea And.

I’m working on a secret project and on deadline. Have a quote, a pretty picture, and hopefully an adventure! Do you want an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first? — J.M. Barrie * * * Photo by Caraianu Camelia on Unsplash

Hurry Hard! Crazy day today, so in the spirit of the season, here’s a fun explainer about the fun sport of curling! How Curling Works The Winter Olympics are here, and that can only mean one thing: for the next few weeks, people who don't like to do housework and can't really tolerate the cold will become unnaturally interested in a sport which involves sweeping while standing on ice. Curling is back, and all is right with the world. * * * Photo by Sreyus Guruvu on Unsplash

Hurry Hard!

Crazy day today, so in the spirit of the season, here’s a fun explainer about the fun sport of curling! How Curling Works The Winter Olympics are here, and that can only mean one thing: for the next few weeks, people who don't like to do housework and can't really tolerate the cold…

Hold This Truth Close First, hold this truth close there may be demons on earth but there are saints too. * * * Photo by Murilo Bahia on Unsplash

Hold This Truth Close

First, hold this truth close there may be demons on earth but there are saints too. * * * Photo by Murilo Bahia on Unsplash

How Marvelous! “How marvelous books are, crossing worlds and centuries, defeating ignorance and, finally, cruel time itself.” ― Gore Vidal * * * Photo by Charles Mazón on Unsplash

How Marvelous!

“How marvelous books are, crossing worlds and centuries, defeating ignorance and, finally, cruel time itself.” ― Gore Vidal * * * Photo by Charles Mazón on Unsplash

On Behalf Of… Today, I’m happy to share a story from friend and fellow writer Elaine Midcoh.  On Behalf of Lake Owakeela Do you want the truth? I will whisper so no one else will hear and think that I am crazy. I am not the ‘clever young legal scholar’ as has been alleged. The idea didn’t arise because I am brilliant or original.

On Behalf Of…

Today, I’m happy to share a story from friend and fellow writer Elaine Midcoh.  On Behalf of Lake Owakeela Do you want the truth? I will whisper so no one else will hear and think that I am crazy. I am not the ‘clever young legal scholar’ as has been alleged. The idea didn’t arise…

Best Yet Followup notes on yesterday's cheesecake: Won't lie, it worked out really well. Both friends and Mr Man said it was my best so far, and that’s feedback I’m happy to hear.  I forgot to take a picture for my notes, but the result was pretty served with blueberries, raspberries, and drizzled raspberry lemon reduction.* Next goal, upgrading the chocolate version:)

Best Yet

Followup notes on yesterday's cheesecake: Won't lie, it worked out really well. Both friends and Mr Man said it was my best so far, and that’s feedback I’m happy to hear.  I forgot to take a picture for my notes, but the result was pretty served with blueberries, raspberries, and…

The Impossible, Achieved I have accomplished the impossible! For the first time ever, I have managed to bake a cheesecake without cracks.* I’ve made cheesecake a number of times but haven’t managed a crack-free surface. Until now. The secret? Rather than cracking open the oven door for the 10 minute rest period between high and low heat bakes, I opened the door alllll the way.

The Impossible, Achieved

Our American Experience Black history is American history. It’s a story of promise, setback, and redemption—all things at the heart of the American experience. We shouldn’t be afraid of this story. We should learn from it, be inspired by it, and celebrate it every single day… — Colin Allred * * * Photo by Unseen Histories on Unsplash

Our American Experience

Black history is American history. It’s a story of promise, setback, and redemption—all things at the heart of the American experience. We shouldn’t be afraid of this story. We should learn from it, be inspired by it, and celebrate it every single day… — Colin Allred * * *…

For Those With Excellent Taste “There is a time for any fledgling artist where one’s taste exceeds one’s abilities. The only way to get through this period is to make things anyway.” ― Gabrielle Zevin * * * Photo by Edan Cohen on Unsplash

For Those With Excellent Taste

“There is a time for any fledgling artist where one’s taste exceeds one’s abilities. The only way to get through this period is to make things anyway.” ― Gabrielle Zevin * * * Photo by Edan Cohen on Unsplash

You’ve Reached Artemis, Please Hold… Sadly, NASA's Artemis mission launch has run into some issues (hydrogen leaks bad!) and will be delayed until at least March. NASA Conducts Artemis II Fuel Test, Eyes March for Launch Opportunity That said, safer is better, so you do what you need to do, NASA. (Maybe rehiring some of the folks who were let go last year might help? Just saying.)

You’ve Reached Artemis, Please Hold…

Sadly, NASA's Artemis mission launch has run into some issues (hydrogen leaks bad!) and will be delayed until at least March. NASA Conducts Artemis II Fuel Test, Eyes March for Launch Opportunity That said, safer is better, so you do what you need to do, NASA.…

Taking a Broader View We admire people at their peak, we don’t get to see the distance they’ve traveled. — Adam Grant * * * Photo by Ryan Stone on Unsplash

Taking a Broader View

We admire people at their peak, we don’t get to see the distance they’ve traveled. — Adam Grant * * * Photo by Ryan Stone on Unsplash