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Getting Wet - An Evolution in Washing

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 17:19 — rpuckett

Most people in the western civilization take for granted that if you turn a little valve on the wall, and warm luxurious clean water will come flowing out for your bathing delight. When I first started homesteading, I often received multiple showers daily. However, there was no valve, the water wasn't usually warm, and it was anything but delightful. I didn't even want to take a shower!

Coerced Community Service

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 17:08 — rpuckett
We laud anybody who has the heart and motivation to pursue community service. Some people give so much of their time to worthy causes. Institutions, such as churches and schools, try to inspire the youth to volunteer their hours for the greater good of society. When that fails, they resort to bribery. If you want to excel, you want that scholarship, you want that awards ceremony, then you'd better get out there and start supporting the community. People may think these tactics are effective and that those eager high school students will continue their good Samaritan efforts after the school bell rings no more. But are we doing more harm than good in using such tactics? Charity should be a selfless act, not rewarded, no thanks necessary. The schools, in all their eagerness to just get the students out there, may be setting up the students for failure, or worse, to expect rewards for community service. After all, you can lead a horse to water...

Fear and Loathing in Los Angeles

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 17:07 — rpuckett

The stress of life, the fear of losing what one loves, can bring any man to tears. Your hopes oscillate with the swing of a clock's pendulum. The weather becomes personal, a vengeful or spiteful entity amplifying your emotions. On your left you see pauper's begging in the streets. On your right, greedy fat bastards in penthouse apartments. And here you are in the middle, with the potential to go either way.

A California Couple Moves West

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 17:02 — rpuckett
This is a parody of A California Couple Moves East to Get Away from Earthquakes. The original story has floated around by many names for over a couple decades now. I originally saw it in paper form that my Dad brought home from the office. I posted it on my first web site in 1995. However, the parody of this story takes place and was written in 2002. It chronicles the struggles Eric and I faced in the first 8 months of living in Hawaii. A lot has changed since then, but I still wince at the story.

1994 Northridge Earthquake

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 17:00 — rpuckett
Four days before my birthday I was finally cleaning my room. I had stacks of computer game boxes, cds, and books all over the place in preparation for the organizational effort. My room had more than its fair share of furniture in at the time, items waiting to be taken on the Easter trip to Walker, which made things more complicated. With the ephemeral towers of books, CDs, and boxes stacked high I finally retired to sleep inside my top bunk of my shiny red bunk bed. The whole city went to sleep, all was quiet, and so it remained until 4:31 am, when disaster struck.

Locked Out with a Twist

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 16:58 — rpuckett
Our HouseAnyone who drives has at one time or another been locked out of their car. Homeowners, likewise, experience that sinking realization when you discover you've left your house keys at the office. Or just as your reaching for the newspaper, in naught but your bathtowel, the door slams closed, on your towel. We've all experienced something similar, the frantic pat downs of pockets, the pleading that you left some door or window ajar. However, most people do not approach their front door at 10 feet high upon a slippery aluminum ladder.

A Birthday Cake for Tye

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 16:48 — rpuckett

Tye said that the only thing he wanted for his birthday was a birthday cake. He hadn't had a birthday cake in years. He'd even hinted that german chocolate cakes were his favorite. So what does one get for a friend's birthday? for a person concerned with attaining the 'finer' things in life? and for someone who already told you what he wants you to get him? Well, what he got was a sweet little lesson...

Tropical Rain Dance

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 16:17 — rpuckett
It began raining outside, but not hard. What the tiny droplets lacked in size, they made up for in number. Swirling clouds of water blew this way and that, making its main direction indiscernible. Still, there was enough water coming down to get a person wet, should one wish to venture outside. Occasional gusts of wind rolled the moisture into billowing sheets of wetness. These gusts made it seem as if entire clouds of the water had forgotten they were on there way to the ground, and instead followed the passages and boulevards, any open space really, before resuming their eventual decline.

Fettuccine Alfredo

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 16:15 — rpuckett

The original inspiration for this recipe came from the PETA Vegetarian Starter Kit.The kit came with several recipes including a tofu and corn based fettuccine alfredo recipe with no dairy. I added new spices and flavors to kick it up a notch and adjust the consistency. Frequently I'll use fresh onion or garlic instead of the dried spices to give it some zip. This alfredo sauce is awesome!

Mulligatawny

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 16:14 — rpuckett

This is one of my all time favorite soups. The flavors complement eachother well. Its a hearty savory soup. No matter how much soup I make, its always gone within a day. I'll eat it for breakfast lunch or dinner. My mouth waters just thinking about this soup.

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