This week I am the owner of a monster truck. At least it seems like that to me.

Through a series of events, and needing something I can use to carry large household items in, I found and had this baby (pictured above) fixed up. Now I’m feeling a tiny bit overwhelmed.

Many of the things we learned growing up were roles we play as girls or as boys, and something about opening the hood of a truck is just intimidating. Yes, I can find the oil, and add water, and even windshield washer fluid. This is a pretty basic engine, too. It just isn’t natural to me, though.

Good morning pups of fire and welcome to Thanksmas, or is it Christmasgiving?

Either way, it’s officially that month between Thanksgiving and Christmas where people really don’t want to be at work, while the poor retail workers absolutely dread being at work, and where there are an average of 7,532,816 things that we need to get done between the beginning and the end of the holiday season. There are gifts to buy and wrap, cards to send, meals to prepare, trees to decorate… At this time of year, children look ever forward with anticipation to all the loot they are going to receive from tired parents and doting grandparents, none of whom get any credit for their efforts.

What did this election mean to you? For my part, I am relieved that the President was returned to office, even though I live in an area that saw complete rejection of progressive ideals. I credit voter suppression for waking up voters throughout the country. Early voting here turned out long lines, and the people in line with me on the first day of early voting were an amalgamation of types not usually seen at the Chamber of Commerce here in flyover land, North Texas. What did you see at your polls?

Recently I ran up against an exercise of ‘salesmanship’ that I suppose we all encounter a lot, reminding me there are lots of ways of living we can be glad not to have to practice. Usually when we go shop for something, there’s a need to have it. Sadly, there are some among us who have gotten themselves into a bind that makes them go about misrepresenting what they’re charged with getting us to think we need.

Have you ever made a conscious effort to make a change in your life, and how did that work out? Only say it if you’re willing to. Trust me, I’ve made changes that I wouldn’t share here, and I think I’ve been fairly open about who I am and what I share. But, if there’s something you want to share, or read, or vicariously experience…

I’m going to riff on Margaret’s theme from last week’s PUAC about how we treat each other. Ya got yer golden rule, aka the Ethics of Reciprocity, which may not speak to everyone’s specific or general belief system. But, did you know that most faith systems have a version of Do unto others?

Since it’s SumSumSummertime, I thought we could talk about the beach. Doesn’t have to be the Kona Coast in Hawaii, but that IS nice. (And, yes, Mr. Tuttle, Hilo is fabulous too.)

Birthdays, celebrations of the usual holidays, have you got ways of handling them that try to avoid the commercialism they so often demand?

Morning Firepups! As most of you are aware, I’m all about science and things scientific. I’m one of those people who needs hard, solid, empirical evidence in order to be convinced of the veracity of claims. Don’t have the evidence? Then don’t waste your time and mine trying to convince me. And anecdotal “evidence” is not evidence at all. Don’t even try to woo me with astrology or pyramid power. The fastest way for a guy who wants to ask me out to get shot down is to ask what my sign is.

Now that I’ve almost certainly made you think that I’m a close minded skeptic who wears blinders and never considers the possibility of something more, let me qualify that

So…. it’s June 2012. Dad’s, grad’s and Vacation Time!