I don’t remember where it was that I read or heard that the events of 9/11 were “a wakeup call.”

I do remember, however, hearing and reading a lot about Islam being a peaceful religion.

Geographically that is, not electronically.  You know, the hard way — boxes, heavy appliances, rental truck, leaving all the hard work we’ve put in to the place, address changes, new doctors, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Our vehicle insurance rates have almost doubled in the past 2 years and our home owner’s insurance doubled plus $100 two years ago.

So, what’s worth putting 2,179 one-way miles on a rental car and then flying home?

Well, meet my grandson, Elijah, here and here.

‘Nuff said?     

Subtitled: What I learned while transporting 15 pounds of boudin from New Orleans, Louisiana to Iowa City, Iowa, with sightseeing stops along the way

(But all that won’t fit on a book cover.)

So I went to my favorite search engine and typed in “China recall.”  The results were not unexpected, given the recent publicity of what we get when we “save money” by buying Chinese-made goods.  Here are some snips of the hits I found: 

THIS part I understand.  It’s a basic product, recommended by my doctor, and it works.  So much for endorsement.

THIS part I also understand, well, the WARNING, anyway - the first one, the one in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.  It certainly seems logical.

However, the next part I DO NOT understand. What’s that second inactive ingredient?

After wanting to do so for a couple of years, now I’ve finally done it. 

I dug the hole, and what a hole it was, laid in the gravel, and then the sand, and then the pole sleeve, and then the concrete.  The flag pole, 20 feet with 16.5 feet above ground, went up in the last week of June.