"You in da Wong store..."

It goes like this:  "I went into this bookstore and asked for a book on how to correctly label the Barbie Ford Mustang, vintage 1967, for auction.  I asked the owner.  He never heard of it.  I muttered under my breath, 'wrong fucking bookstore.' The owner evidently overheard me and said, 'No, I buy Fook and Hing out.  Only Wong bookstore now.  Not have time to change sign."

You've probably already seen this photo.  I've had it for several years.  So, yeah, every now and again I break it out.  It always makes me laugh.

I'm preparing for a holiday break road trip.  I'll leave early Thursday and, with good driving habits in place, should make my destination by Friday night.  I have to find a babysitter for Banjo and somebody to feed little kitty.  I thought about bringing him with me and boarding him when I reach my destination.  Might be easier than finding a babysitter.  I could board him locally.  If I bring him with me, I will be able to visit him while I am at my destination.  It all costs money.

The kiln is firing.  At last look, it was at 1380f.  It needs to get to 2280f.  Lately, it has not been firing past 2030f.  That is not good for a mid range firer such as my self.  Anybody who has had to listen to me for the last few months knows that my kiln does not hit temp but I am loathe to replace the elements.  I've been having an ongoing chat with the kiln dude and the last thing we are trying before replacing the elements is hard wiring the kiln to the breaker.  Maybe that will reduce the resistance and help me hit temp.  Keep your eyes crossed.

The 125th Anniversary Special Issue of National Geographic is out with NO MAP!!! In its place are many pull-out extended pages with hi-res photos that make your eyes pop out.  Still, I would expect a map of...anything.  As I paired down the magazine subscription list, Nat Geo has remained.  I've even given up my subscription to The Sun Magazine.  That has been sacrosanct.  It is a literary magazine with contemporary authors, and essays built on a theme that readers can write about.  The reader submits the essay and, if chosen, it appears in the "Readers Write" section.  It was the one magazine that I held onto.  With the loss of 2% of my salary two years ago, and a divorce, I had to make a choice.  Consideration factors were 1.) How often do I read the magazines?  2.) Which one has more inherent value in it and how does that compare to my current lifestyle and reading schedule.  I hadn't been able to read The Sun for a while.  Too much something going on.  Nat Geo has remained stalwart in their efforts to educate us about our shrinking planet and the need to use it wisely.  Also, there's a lot of photos.  Cool ones.  Almost as cool as these.

Then there is this guy, who seems to really knows his material when it comes to dung beetles.  It is not as simple as you may think.  As the man says, you have to deal with poop.  He calls it, "pooh."  Go there.  Learn something you didn't know.  If you know all about it already, then you shouldn't be reading this.  Go finish your encyclopedia!

Ok, so the deal is I get up and leave by 5AM Thursday.  I shall take "Lappy" with me and continue to venture forth in the blogosphere.  I will take too many photographs and some video, too.  the roads look doable.  I guarantee at least one photo you will never have seen before.

Time to go to the Wong store.