When I visit a blog, I rarely check the writer’s link list. If you asked me why I don’t, I couldn’t provide you with any answer other than I don’t know. I mention this only because I have added some names to my Great Reads roster and I want to draw your attention to the additions.

Melinda, the poet who runs the shop over at Sipping the Vast Spring, has recently started a showcase for her outstanding photos. For the sake of my list, I have listed it as Photos by Melinda. She takes some excellent pictures.

Walk of the Fallen, an extremely well crafted memorial to our fallen warriors, is the skilled loving dedicated work of Labrys. She doesn’t post as frequently as I would like, but then I am a greedy S.O.B. when I like something. Stop by, take a look, and give her a read.

Akinoluna is a blog written by a young female Marine. I find her observations interesting and agree with most of her conclusions.

This is Your Captain has been on my list for a while. I believe I snuck him in without mention. I don’t know how to describe the Captain. I’m more than pretty sure he isn’t playing with a full deck of cards. He is in frequent communication with Jesus and Elvis, both of whom have quite a bit to say. If you are a trifle bent, warped, and not totally full of … yourself, you will enjoy listening to the Captain meander the outer limits of sanity.

Burnett’s Urban Etiquette is written by James Burnett, a feature writer for, I believe, the Miami Herald. The man is an excellent writer.

James Shott, of Observations fame which is listed on my sidebar, and I chose the same topic for an op/ed type essay. His essay is posted on his blog. The one I wrote is posted on Gun Toting Liberal, also listed on my sidebar. I invite you to stop by both sites and give them a read and let us know what you think. I guarantee that Shott’s piece is well done.

You know, and on an entirely different note, we have a neighbor who is driving me crazy. I’m not sure what in the hell is wrong with the guy. In case you’re wondering, this is the same guy that couldn’t keep his lawn mower running more than 45 seconds at a time; we’ll call him Mr. Mechanic, because he isn’t.

Every single Saturday morning at exactly 0805 Hours, come rain or shine or snow, this guy comes outside and makes noise for about two minutes. Some days he fires up a skill saw long enough to cut one or two small boards. On another day, he might hammer on something for a couple of minutes. Every now and again, he will fire up his lawn mower. He never works long enough to actually accomplish something. He never begins before 0805.

If I weren’t a stranger in a very strange land I would go over and visit with him.

Some of you seem to be laboring under the misconception that Kat has me wrapped around her tiny little finger. That ain’t true, neighbors. That woman is wrapped around my extremely masculine little finger. Until I came into her life, her life had no purpose. She was in stasis as she waited for my supremely wonderful self to appear and give her purpose. Her greatest happiness in life is tending to my magnificence. I am the Bull of the Woods, the Cock of the Walk.

When I say jump, she doesn’t waste time to ask how high. She starts jumping until I tell her she has reached the desired height. That is the way it is and don’t think otherwise even for a micro-second.

I hope that has cleared up those misconceptions you have been harboring.

Life is sweet – because I am the Bull of the Woods – and more full of bullshit than Ferdinand.