The human head is one of nature’s most impressive wonders. It contains a few features that would be the envy of the animal kingdom if only all of non-human members of that kingdom were given to such emotions as awe and envy. The head contains, among other intriguing organs, eyes, ears, nose, and tongue, the … [Continue reading ]

Banking is an institution unlike several other institutions with which many of us may be familiar, such as learning, penal, and mental. Well, maybe banks are not so different from one or more of those other institutions after all. But anyway, banks have been around for a very long time, many centuries in fact. They … [Continue reading ]

I am a decent talker although I am not an excessive one. I can usually express myself without stuttering, lisping, snorting, choking, cracking, lisping or making obscene gestures. However, when it comes to listening, I am mostly a skilless individual. I usually can hear clearly enough but my retention abilities are mostly absent.  I cannot … [Continue reading ]

I have become very fond of breathing. I am quite good at it since I started eight decades ago. I hope to continue my excellent record for at least a little longer. It is usually effortless, unless I am having some difficulty with my sinuses, and I believe it benefits my body. However, in spite … [Continue reading ]

For the life of me, I do not know the difference between a closet and a cupboard. Nor between either of those and a cabinet. I do know, because I have been told by someone very knowledgeable about these things, that our house has many examples of each. Every room in our house, except for … [Continue reading ]

Most humans have brains. Actually, all humans have brains but there are some people I know whose brains are so weak and who annoy me so much that I like to think that they are brainless. There are a few folks, however, whose brains were so enormous that they have gone down in history as … [Continue reading ]

In our house the pantry is spread throughout the actual kitchen. We have a sort of half pantry. It used to be a full pantry which, when we bought the house more than fifty years ago, held the refrigerator (which I have always called an ice box) since there wasn’t enough room in the kitchen. … [Continue reading ]

For some people sins are very easy to commit. It seems that nearly every day gives them one or more fresh opportunities to exercise this talent. Such individuals are objects of deep envy for some of us who do not possess such a ready skill. Now the fact that we are less favored with their … [Continue reading ]

A modest little cough covered by a modest little handkerchief clutched by a modest little hand is not a terribly unpleasant thing when performed by a discrete and fairly remote individual who is aware of the sensitivities or her immediate viewers. This can be carried out with a measure of subtlety, restraint and ingenuity without … [Continue reading ]

Clauses contain a verb but phrases don’t necessarily. At least I think that’s what they taught me in elementary school. I had trouble remembering then and I have trouble remembering now. Fortunately, I don’t really have to remember now because there are none of those pesky nuns hovering over me as I write. What a … [Continue reading ]