The Measure of Humanity

In a beloved episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, a cyberneticist arrives on the starship Enterprise with the intention of dismantling Data, the android, for scientific discovery and for the goal of creating more androids like him. Data would not survive this, and when he tries to give up his commission as an officer so they cannot order him to submit, Data is told he is not human and cannot make that decision for himself. He is a machine.Read more

Gibbs Sends His Congratulations

Geez. I’m still wondering how retired life got so busy, but it’s not a complaint. I rather like it this way because it beats spending too much time on the couch, watching mindless TV, in the midst of winter. Speaking of winter, my brother sent me this photo on Saturday morning. It snowed in Colorado, up to a foot in some places. This was my chance to laugh at his predicament and enjoy the cool 64F (18C) day in Wisconsin.Read more

#SoCS: The Nose Knows

He knows He yowls The human shares its noes It smells It desires He reminds her how this goes We spar He resists The nose wants what it wants They waft They float The essence of chicken taunts She speaks up He turns deaf Human food not to be shared The whines The sadness Hunger is loudy declared Almost time Almost here The feeding of this cat Forgets chicken Embraces fish The nose smells where it’s at Stream of ConsciousnessRead more

Be Who You Are

Cheers to being who you are! The title of this post comes from a Sunday sermon, but I’m not here to impose Jesus upon you – although, what I’m about to say not only comes from who I am, but also from my spiritual heart. Many of you know who I am to some degree – Biker chick (both Harley and bicycle); cat lover; animal lover; beer and chocolate taste-tester; lover of outdoors and all things Star Trek and NCIS;Read more

An Inanimate Conversation

In the grocery store parking lot, on a Monday afternoon, I asked myself the following question: “Am I the only one who talks to inanimate objects?” This came after I told a shopping bag to behave. I was trying to put two plastic bags into one of the many reusable shopping bags I have in the car and it was not cooperating. It’s possible that quietly yelling at the bag out loud finally forced it into submission. There were noRead more

Cancel Culture vs. Consequence: An Opinion

There is a TV ad running by a certain individual who uses this platform to refer to cancel culture. His product is no longer in at least four major store chains due to his political support of a former President’s claim that the 2020 U.S. election was stolen. I’m guessing most readers in North America know of this ad. I literally want to scream when it comes on, so I’ve taken to switching the channel or hitting the mute button.Read more

#SoCS: Explaining “Lid” to a Cat

“Are you okay today?” “Yes Gibbs, why do you ask?” “Because a few days ago, you didn’t seem okay.” “When was that?” “The day when you went out on that thing with two wheels. When you put on different clothes and left for a few hours.” “Oh, you mean when I went for a bike ride and came home with green paint down one arm and on most of my fingers?” “I guess. You seemed pretty mad.” “Yeah, I blewRead more

Being Remembered

I remember long ago getting that, “You’re so weird,” look from the father-in law due to something I said. Trying to be funny. He smirked a sly smile at me, but I knew what he was thinking. His daughter-in-law could be so strange. Yes, I am weird and unashamedly so. Got a problem with that? This post has been brought to you by weird strangers and Linda Hill’s One-Liner Wednesday. If you are wondering what One-Liner Wednesday is all about, CLICK HERE. LindaRead more

Prising Gibbs

“Try to prise a limpet away from its rock and it will cling all the harder.” ― Jeremy Holme A limpet is a marine mollusk. I have a cat who will serve as its stand-in. Some days, prising Gibbs away from my side requires a chisel and pry bar. I am his rock with a thin coating of super glue. Where I go, he goes. When I sit, there he is – gray paws kneading rhythmically on a pair of LeeRead more

Visible in Love

“What if the only example of God’s love your neighbor will ever see is you?” ~Pastor Shawn Whitworth~ For Christians and non-Christians alike, loving a neighbor or another human being can be difficult at times. We are humans, after all, with egos, steadfast opinions, self-righteousness, fearfulness and unwarranted condemnation that allow us to flow along with inappropriate behavior toward others rather than love unconditionally. During Easter week, I am reminded that Christ died for our sins and gave us eternalRead more

Read, watch TV, nap.

“Sleep did not honor me with it’s presence.” ~Alysha Speer~ MJM’s Diary of the Tired: Monday, March 15, 2021, 3:30 am – Gibbs the cat wakes me. The change in time may be at fault here, or he may be his usual self who believes he deserves kibble upon vocal and mischievous demands. Monday, 3:35 am – I used the water spray bottle. Gibbs settled down. Monday, 4:00 am – I am awake again, but not by the paws ofRead more

What Lingers Forever

When in grade and high school, I earned “nicknames” from a certain few. Twiggy, Jolly Green Giant, and variations of my last name. At the time, I was thin and tall for my age (5’9″ by 9th grade) and my last name was not a simple “Smith” that everyone knew. I also was picked on for wearing glasses and an overbite, neither of which helped with personal esteem or confidence in self. I was never self-assured in school, never partRead more