By Eilene Lyon See a gringa in this mariachi band? Yup, that’s me! Sorry, no big sombrero or fancy conchas down my pant legs, but I really am blasting out “Volver, Volver” on my silver Getzen trumpet. My parents were both musical (not so much these days). They insisted that my brothers and I get... Continue Reading →
History in the Making (A Poem to Build On)
By Eilene Lyon Generally, I will stay away from politics. This is a history blog, right? But history is in the making every day. Also, I am by no means a poet. With that in mind, I’ve begun this poem, but really think it needs more verses. I’m sure you can help! He Says... Continue Reading →
Absurdities #8
By Eilene Lyon Auto makers have been coming up with weird names for cars and trucks for…well, forever. But the auto industry has nothing on the RV manufacturers. I live in a tourist town, so there is no shortage of RVs bumbling through the area, especially in the warmer months. (Full disclosure: we own an... Continue Reading →
Absurdities #7
By Eilene Lyon I was puzzling over the use of the term "Dogfight" to describe an aerial combat. It seems odd, considering that the only "flying" dogs I've ever come across are Snoopy, who is forever losing his Sopwith Camel (an entirely absurd name for a plane, I might add, especially when it’s really a... Continue Reading →
Absurdities #6
By Eilene Lyon This one, found on a walk down the mountain above Bergen, Norway, left me scratching my head. Is there supposed to be a hyphen in there somewhere? Is someone hunting invisible witches, or is the witch hunter invisible? Or is the witch an invisible hunter? Now I’m extra confused! And why does... Continue Reading →
Earth Day and Pogo
By Eilene Lyon Today we celebrate Earth Day, an international event that takes place in nearly 200 countries around the globe, involving roughly a billion participants. Throughout the 1960s, environmental legislation was going nowhere, as Americans roiled about our participation in the Vietnam War. Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, an environmental champion, decided to create a... Continue Reading →
Versatile Blogger Award #2
By Eilene Lyon I’ve been nominated for a second Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you muchly to Dane at Bar Stool Talk for the honor. He has a great blog with a theme all related to bars (the kind you drink in, say, as opposed to monkey bars or candy bars). Fun historical bits mixed with... Continue Reading →
Absurdities #5
By Eilene Lyon I just love signs written by people who don't speak the language they're writing in. They are so frequently unintentionally funny! It doesn't matter what language they speak or what language they're writing in - I just happen to "get" the ones written in English. But maybe someday this sign will be... Continue Reading →
Absurdities #4
By Eilene Lyon I get tickled every time I read this species description for the Eurasian Collared-Dove in my National Geographic bird guide: "...do not do well in the wild" they claim. From Project FeederWatch: "No species of bird has colonized North America at the speed with which the Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) has marched... Continue Reading →