Disconnected.

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Hi, everyone. Wendy here. We had a big storm night before last and while we kept our power, we lost our internet. ALL DAY, for reals. I know, it was awful. It’s still not back, and Dog only know when it will be. So I’m tapping this out on the phone and this will be it, most likely.

No bloggage, but if you could wish mild-mannered Jeff a happy birthday, that would be a very man’s-best-friend thing to do.

Thanks. Happy Thursday, all.

Posted at 12:30 am in Same ol' same ol' |
 

46 responses to “Disconnected.”

  1. Bill said on August 28, 2014 at 12:56 am

    Happy Birthday Jeff (The MM One). I hope the good you do goes on for many more years.

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  2. Dexter said on August 28, 2014 at 1:08 am

    Hi Wendy! My name is Pogo Dogg. I went to the vet Wednesday for a distemper shot and a heart worm test, which I passed. My master, Dexter, cussed up a storm as seemingly every road to the vet’s was closed for bridge rebuilding. We finally got there and I got to see my friend Dr. Cynthia who is so nice to me. I love to strain my master’s grip on my leash/harness when I see a cat or squirrel or especially an o’possum, and when I see another dog I go crazy. I heard it’s because I am a Labrador Retriever, http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images26/LabrabullPitadorLabradorRetrieverAmericanPitBullTerrierHybridDogsMillie2YearsOld6.jpg
    and that’s just what we do. My sister here at home is a Jack Russell Terrier. We are walking partners and we eat together. I love my sister Noelle Belle.
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF THE MM ONE.

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  3. Dave Kobiela said on August 28, 2014 at 1:26 am

    Best wishes for a Happy Birthday Jeff, and many more!

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  4. Sherri said on August 28, 2014 at 1:52 am

    Happy Birthday, Jeff(tmmo)!

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  5. Dexter said on August 28, 2014 at 3:27 am

    Journos read this blog. So, journos, what do you think of The Times (London) introducing the sound of what!–typewriters , many of them, clacking away in your newsrooms? The theory is the sound/noise will inspire creativity. Or will it drive the youngbloods bloody mental? They will sort it.
    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/the-times-newsroom-set-to-ring-with-the-sounds-of-typewriters-once-more-9692335.html

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  6. MarkH said on August 28, 2014 at 4:39 am

    From yesterday –

    Amen to the notion that only the participants know what goes on in any marriage. The positive side of that is that Deb and I will have made it 27 years as of tomorrow. We’ll take the gondola up Rendezvous Mtn. to Couloir for drinks, then back down to our new favorite Italian restaurant, Osteria, in Teton Village.

    Charlotte and LAMary – the movie was Rancho Deluxe filmed in ’74, featuring a fine cast led by Jeff Bridges and Sam Waterston, but completely stolen by Slim Pickens. It was not a book by McGuane, but his original screenplay. McGuane and Warren Oates can be seen backing Jimmy Buffett in the scene at The Wrangler. An uneven film, but fun viewing.

    Happy Birthday, Jeff tmmo! Lead on, both here and at Notes From My Knapsack!

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  7. Deborah said on August 28, 2014 at 5:12 am

    Happy birthday Jeff (tmmo). Keep up the good work, you are an inspiration.

    Nice to hear from Wendy.

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  8. linda said on August 28, 2014 at 6:01 am

    Happy birthday, Jeff. I always look forward to your insights. Many more years to you.

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  9. Jill said on August 28, 2014 at 6:12 am

    Happy birthday to you, Jeff (tmmo)! Keep up the good work.

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  10. brian stouder said on August 28, 2014 at 7:35 am

    Happy Birthday to the One (and only) Mild Mannered buckeye pastor Jeff, and happy 27th to Mark H and his (no doubt lovely!) wife

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  11. alex said on August 28, 2014 at 8:11 am

    Have a happy, Jeff!

    And get well soon, Nance’s Internet — I wanna see what she has to say about Judge Posner going all Judge Judy on them Hoosier and Cheesehead martinets.

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  12. 4dbirds said on August 28, 2014 at 8:41 am

    Happy birthday to you jeff.

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  13. Peter said on August 28, 2014 at 8:55 am

    Congratulations, Mark, on 27 years on the books. One more month and the lovely bride and I hit 30. And happy birthday wishes to Jeff (tmmo) (TM).

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  14. Connie said on August 28, 2014 at 8:55 am

    Both Slate.com and Salon.com have plenty to say about Judge Posner this morning.

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  15. Peter said on August 28, 2014 at 8:58 am

    Hey Dexter, way back in the day I was one of the architects for the Board of Trade expansion, and the acoustical consultant was really big on hard reflective surfaces – like concrete – so the ambient noise would bounce around the room and make the place sound more active.

    It took almost two days after the opening before everyone agreed that a trading floor doesn’t need any help to be noisy.

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  16. Dorothy said on August 28, 2014 at 9:12 am

    Once again, Jeff, have a terrific birthday. Aren’t we lucky to have birthdays near a holiday weekend? We get to spread out the celebrating a wee bit longer.

    Andrea I just posted a comment in yesterday’s thread – wanted to be sure you read it.

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  17. jcburns said on August 28, 2014 at 9:16 am

    Happy birthday Jeff…may all your days be mild-mannered.

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  18. Jeff Borden said on August 28, 2014 at 9:19 am

    Happy b-day to the nicer Jeff.

    Judge Richard Posner is a real piece of work. He does not suffer fools lightly and the attorneys representing the knuckle draggers in Indiana and Wisconsin were carved up like turkeys yesterday. As much as I’m often dismayed by the actions of our nation, it’s kind of amazing how quickly the gay issue is just melting away. The fundamentalists are still shrieking. . .that’s what they do. . .but they’re in a rapidly shrinking minority and will go the way of Lester Maddox and Bull Connors.

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  19. Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on August 28, 2014 at 9:40 am

    Thanks to everyone! A mug of coffee for the house, bartender, and keep ’em coming. I’m told I may get some cake out of the first day of classes mega-picnic at Denison University tonight, which is my wife’s nearly annual way to avoid taking me out to dinner. Grace and peace to one and all.

    (And the biannual reminder to the newer readers: I became TMMO not because of the charming & delightful Monsieur Borden, but because during the Goeglein affray, a Jeff from the LCMS jumped on and started spewing unpleasantness to all and sundry, and I started specifying which Jeff I was then, and just never stopped.)

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  20. Julie Robinson said on August 28, 2014 at 9:58 am

    Wendy, all is forgiven when we see that sweet face. But you already figured that out, didn’t you?

    Many blessings to you, Jeff, Mark, and Dorothy coming up. Our daughter’s birthday is Sep. 3, and as a kid she hated it because people were usually out of town when she wanted to have her party. She solved that problem by growing up to be 100% extrovert, which means she carries the party with her wherever she goes. Our visit/party starts today!

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  21. Dorothy said on August 28, 2014 at 10:28 am

    Yay for Virgo Extroverts!! That’s an excellent description I’ve never heard before but will adopt: she carries the party with her wherever she goes. When I lived in South Carolina I made friends with someone at my office who described me as ‘never met a stranger.’ That was the first time I’d heard that expression but I hear it more often now. It really does describe me to a T. My family and I have benefited from that personality trait much more than it has disappointed us. I’ve made friends with so many people because I’m so chatty. I realize I might chase away as many as I attract, but of course those are the types I wouldn’t want to be friends with so… BONUS!

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  22. mouse said on August 28, 2014 at 10:34 am

    Happy birthday Jeff from an old Navy man—-Semper Fidelis

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  23. Heather said on August 28, 2014 at 10:44 am

    Joyeux anniversaire, Jeff tmmo! And many more.

    Since we’re talking pets, I decided I was ready to jump back into cat ownership and got another one from the shelter last Saturday. Her name is Posy. She’s about a year old and is a tiny little thing, but best of all, she is so very friendly and relaxed. Now to train her not to scratch up the couch. My allergist is going to kill me, but surely the benefits of having a pet around will make up for the discomfort to my lungs as I readjust.

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  24. Judybusy said on August 28, 2014 at 10:55 am

    Happy birthday, Jeff! I alway enjoy the insights you bring to the discussion.

    And congratulations MarkH; may you have many more years of joy.

    I came across this article when reading the Smithsonian. I thought of Deborah, and if anyone else is interested in new developments in architechture, click on the link. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/fast-forward-3D-building-blocks-are-the-secret-of-this-old-digital-house-180951805/

    Dexter, I dunno if the breed is the whole story. I’ve seen lots of labs who totally ignore the Cujo-esque antics of my mixed breed when we’re walking. Happily, if Cora meets a dog off-leash, she subsequently has no issues. We did that with new neighbors and their adorable dog, Fuzz, because they walk by our house so often. Cora also barks at every dog that walks by, but now, not Fuzz, because she knows she’s cool. (And we intervene VERY quickly when Cora does bark, because that is super annoying to fellow dog owners and stressful for the dog.)

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  25. adrianne said on August 28, 2014 at 11:35 am

    To Dexter’s query about the retro sound of clacking typewriters at the Times: I’ve never worked in a newsroom with typewriters, and I’m 52. So this attempt, it is to laugh! And a happy one bday to Jeff, happy anniversary to Mark and his bride.

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  26. Scout said on August 28, 2014 at 12:25 pm

    Happy Birthday dear MM Jeff! Your posts are always a delight.
    and
    Happy Anniversary MarkH and Mrs MarkH!

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  27. Connie said on August 28, 2014 at 12:25 pm

    Julie, I am a September third birthday as well, and I know Dorothy’s is right around there somewhere.

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  28. Dexter said on August 28, 2014 at 1:04 pm

    I really hope the lawyers lose this fight in NYC, just because.
    I used to love the old friendly neighborhood dive bars. Still do, but I never go inside anymore, as if to drink a Co’Cola and hang out. I guess all I went for was the beer, pretty obvious all these years away now. Still, I have an affinity for this joint. http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140827/upper-east-side/subway-inn-stays-open-while-it-fights-its-case-court

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  29. Kirk said on August 28, 2014 at 1:08 pm

    The sound of clacking typewriters and teletype machines did provide an energetic background to newsrooms I have worked in, but they have gone by the wayside. Playing recordings of such sounds would be sneered at by true newspaperpeople, because it would be as phony as CBS’ playing of amplified bird chirps on its golf telecasts.

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  30. Sherri said on August 28, 2014 at 1:19 pm

    You might be surprised at what sounds are faked on sports broadcasts: http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/the-sound-of-sports/

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  31. Deborah said on August 28, 2014 at 2:55 pm

    Judy Busy, I had read about that 3d printed house a while ago. I clicked on your link hoping to see more photos, more up to date ones than I had seen before. But maybe it was because I was using my iPhone while waiting in the Dr’s office, I didn’t see any new pictures. I will haul out my laptop later.

    I’m finding out that Santa Fe isn’t a great place to have medical issues. Either my previous problem of a few weeks ago is relapsing or It’s been kidney stones all along. We’ve gone through a lot of Drs here with Little Bird, so now it’s my turn. I got some new meds today so hopefully this will be resolved one way or another. My husband thinks I did too much strenuous work right after my UTI and didn’t let my body recuperate. Who knows.

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  32. Julie Robinson said on August 28, 2014 at 3:28 pm

    Judy, The story about 3D houses sounds fascinating. I’m going to see if I can pick up a copy of the magazine at the airport, because we realized last night we didn’t have good airplane reading. Plus, one of the nieces we’ll be seeing is very into 3D and I love talking with her about all its possibilities. She is trying to work her way into the supply side of 3D, and I love the idea that materials can be recycled.

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  33. MichaelG said on August 28, 2014 at 3:34 pm

    Happy Birthday, MMJeff and Happy Anniversary, Mark.

    Hope you’re feeling better soon, Deborah.

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  34. Judybusy said on August 28, 2014 at 3:47 pm

    Deborah, the article has just the one picture, but I bet if you searched the firm’s name they’d have more. Julie, the Smithsonian was made for reading on airplanes! That’s cool your duaghter is interested in this technology, too.

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  35. Jolene said on August 28, 2014 at 4:05 pm

    Happy birthday, Jeff. Always grateful for your wisdom, good humor, and good work.

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  36. Deborah said on August 28, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    Judy Busy, and anyone else who might be interested here’s a link to a website all about the 3d printed house http://3dprintcanalhouse.com Very cool!

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  37. paddyo' said on August 28, 2014 at 5:38 pm

    Happy BD, Jeff . . .

    And Dexter @ 5, I laughed earlier today when I heard that story about piping in the sound of newsrooms of yesteryear.
    I had four college newspaper years and three at my first newspaper reporting job in Reno before we got our first computer terminals. I do think the rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat of our manual Underwoods and the jangity-jig-jig-jig-BING!-BING! of a clattering bank of old wire-service Teletype machines 10 feet from my desk did make a kind of energizing workplace music of sorts.
    In an odd way, it also helped (me, anyway) learn to focus and concentrate on my deadline writing amid the din of carriage returns, newsprint typing paper ripped from typewriters, unanswered phones and editors and reporters swearing at typewriter key jams.
    But I think those sounds will be entirely lost on subsequent generations of ink-stained wretches, so why bother?
    The clickety-snickety-clack of computer keys, like handfuls of Chiclets on our keyboards, will never measure up. They’ve made the newsroom just another white-collar/pink-collar steno pool or corporate call center. ZZZZzzz . . .

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  38. Deborah said on August 28, 2014 at 6:00 pm

    The clickety clack sound of typewriters in the newsroom must be similar to the smell of hot wax in the studios of graphic designers. Long gone are those days.

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  39. Charlotte said on August 28, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    Deborah — my first job in New York involved a lot of schlepping of mechanicals up and down from our office, to Random House, to the Conde Nast building and over to the book designer’s apartment. And I was often sent to wax the type … 1985/86, tail end of real typeset type. Also, failed typing tests on the old IBM selectrics at every major publishing house in New York City — thanks Beloit College for not pointing out that a typing class over the summer would have done as much for me as my shiny liberal arts degree.

    Happy Birthday and Anniversary to all .. thanks for getting the McGuane/Fonda/Kidder details right for me Mark, like I said, they’re all my parents’ generation, so I forget the specifics.

    Peach chutney on the hob today — case of peaches from Utah — saved some to eat fresh, but the others are getting cooked down just ahead of that sudden collapse that stone fruit does. And jeez, Craigslist really works! We’re replacing my old gas heater with a woodstove, so I listed the heater for free, and in less than 3 hours I’ve had a bunch of calls and it looks like a couple of guys will come take it away for me. It’s a nice heater too, I’m going to kind of miss it’s noises, but I’m *so* looking forward to having a fire in the house! (well, in the woodstove).

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  40. candlepick said on August 28, 2014 at 6:30 pm

    hmm, hot wax. I loved the smell of waxers at deadline.

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  41. Connie said on August 28, 2014 at 6:42 pm

    I see Longmire has been cancelled.

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  42. Julie Robinson said on August 28, 2014 at 7:06 pm

    No Smithsonian at the airport! Magazine selection was poor.

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  43. Deborah said on August 28, 2014 at 7:10 pm

    Shoot. I loved Longmire.

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  44. Minnie said on August 28, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    Happy birthday Jeff, and happy anniversary Mark H. and beloved.

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  45. MarkH said on August 29, 2014 at 12:16 am

    Thanks for all the good anniversary wishes, everyone. Counting my blessings always, while keeping aware of my shortcomings.

    Longmire cancelled?? Nooooo! Not sure what A&E is thinking, but let’s hope it survives on another venue, as is indicated.

    https://tv.yahoo.com/news/longmire-canceled-e-205800216.html

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  46. Dave said on August 29, 2014 at 12:29 am

    Longmire canceled? Oh, say it isn’t so, how are we going to know if Branch shot his father or Branch got shot? Yet, they’ll show all their idiot shows on A&E.

    From yesterday, I stuck with the Neil Young book because there was no index and I wanted to see what he had to say about Buffalo Springfield, a group I was listening to and buying their albums in Central Ohio when I don’t think anyone else was (other than “For What It’s Worth”).

    He also continuously shilled, not only for his digital sound service but his electric cars. Throughout the entire book I wondered, did he make some kind of agreement with the publisher not to have an editor? A lifetime of smoking some good weed surely has some effects that ol’ Neil doesn’t realize.

    Happy birthday, Jeff, best of anniversaries to MarkH, who trod around Clare Yard before I ever got there.

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