Wannaskan Almanac

We hauled our old cannon to the  bluff and pointed it at Kilbourn's house across the river. No one knew where the cannon came from or how it got here in Jeuneautown. Our gunner, old Jacob, had been with Mad Anthony at Fallen Timbers back in '94 and was the only one of us who had ever fired a cannon. He promised the cannon would not blow up in our faces. We planned to knock down Kilbourn's house because he had knocked down our bridge and done lots of other crazy things. He was an evil man. If you've ever been to Milwaukee, you've seen how the Milwaukee River comes down from the north and takes a sharp turn east into Lake Michigan. Back in 1818 our leader Solomon Juneau came down from Quebec  and started a trading village here between the river and the lake.  Solomon married an Métis woman which gave him an in with the Menomonee Indians. Everything was going fine till this Byron Kilbourn arrived on the west side of the river and started Kilbourntown. Kilbourn w

                                                    The Rhode House: Part 3 Tin Man Solar    There were two old school buses with trailers behind parked at the Tin Man’s, both modified to carry many people and all their worldly goods. Several children explored the Tin Man’s old dilapidated house and out-buildings. Some teenagers stood in the shade of the school buses their  faces downcast at their phones. Others threw Frisbes or footballs. A few took pictures with their cellphones, then stood looking at the landscapes around them, shielding their eyes from the sun. Tents of various designs stood about the vicinity as though set up in a country park.    A canvas cook camp had been erected, as had two lengthy latrines; each stretch of outhouses angling away from the other nestled amid the willow brush. Two large solar panels stood facing southeasterly east of the Tin Man’s house. The Rhodes were an organization of amazing efficiency; they had done this before i

And here is the Wannaskan Almanac for Word-Wednesday, January 29, 2020, the 5th Wednesday of the year,  the 29th day of the year, with 337 days remaining, but only 63 days until April 1st. Nordhem Lunch: Swedish Meatballs Earth/Moon Almanac for January 29, 2020 Sunrise: 7:58am; Sunset: 5:15pm; 2 minutes, 53 seconds less daylight today Moonrise: 10:24am; Moonset: 10:17pm, waxing crescent Temperature Almanac for January 29, 2020                 Average           Record          Today High             16                   39                 21 Low              -6                 -45                 15 January 29 Celebrations from National Day Calendar National Corn Chip Day National Puzzle Day Curmudgeons Day January 29 Word Riddle My first is syllable is company; My second syllable shuns company; My third syllable assembles company; All my syllables amuse company.* January 29 Pun So Heisenberg is driving Schrödinger and Ohm when he gets pulled over.

You know, you never know what you might learn when reading the Wannaskan Almanac.  Much of what you read can be attributed to an overactive imagination or a misrepresentation of the facts...but even then, you are learning something. You see, you seldom see facts clouding your vision while reading this prestigious blog.  There are writers who are pros at prose and others who don't have the time to make the words...uh...sound alike.  There is a lot of fiction, opinion, and bald-faced lies (mostly on Tuesdays) but it is all useful words to hide in your brain.  Then if someone is stringing you a line you can share something from the Almanac and even point to it as evidence in philosophical discussion. Anyway, on to today's important stuff, like a light-hearted look at what happened on this day in history. 1262 AD:  The Flemish Dutch coast was hit by a huge storm.  Politicians in the area were quick to blame the terrible weather on "opwarming van de aarde"...which they

Once again, our hero is escaping from a less than ideal situation – this time with a canine companion. Clarity arises that places Skitch and his small crew in the clear light of who they are; however, it has taken Hertwig in contrast for the MC to gain this insight. Immediately after the escape, a canine-related dilemma arises, but between the MC’s ingenuity and Argose’s courage, the small event has a happy ending. Be ready for the nature of travel, the surprise and the boredom of continuing, ever continuing. Leashless, Argose, and I hurry away             down streets to harbor to pier and to boat No one follows – the Dragon prize not worth             enough for these three to break a sweat  I feel young and fleet and on adventure But now standing on the pier looking down             I see a dilemma I hadn’t thought of I can scuttle down the vertical ladder              but Argose has the wrong appendages                         for handling even a fe

Reading the history of Science, it's amazing how long it takes new discoveries to be accepted. On the other hand, there are always dozens of crackpot theories claiming to be the truth. The spy prefers the status quo. If his side or the other side wins, then he's out of a job. I dreamt I was battling a giant paper towel dispenser. When I woke, all the blankets were on my side. I can admit my memory is going and deal with it. Or I can flatter myself that the problem is too much wisdom and be buried under it. The News of the World: so quickly forgotten. Only reports from the interior seem to stick. Chairman Joe

Hello and welcome to a pretty nice Saturday here at the Wannaskan Almanac. Today is January 25th which means Happy Birthday to my niece and uncle! We're celebrating this weekend as we have another licensed driver in the household. Friday, the Second Oldest and I headed over to Roseau for the big test. On the way over from Warroad, the son asked, "So, is there anything I need to know about the car? Like where the parking brake is and how to adjust the mirrors?" The previous night, I had said, "Tomorrow's the big day! You take the test! A defining moment!" When I mentioned we were also going to renew his passport and  - Good news! - because he's 16, the new passport would be valid for 10 years, I said, "Just think, the next time you need to renew your passport you'll be 26. That's almost 30! Can you imagine being almost 30?" "Another life-defining moment!" The Oldest chimed in. Yes, with the Oldest herself turning 18

   It all started on this day back in '48. I was in charge of building a sawmill up on the American River for my boss Mr. Sutter. I should say Señor Sutter since he was a Mexican citizen. This Alta California area wouldn't be American till the Fourth of July, 1848. We had won it in the Mexican War, which wouldn't  be over officially till next week when Mexico and the U.S. signed the peace treaty.    My name is John Marshall. I was born in New Jersey in 1810. I left New Jersey in my thirties and moved to Missouri. I had a farm along the Missouri River, but I came down with malaria and couldn't work. The doctor told me to go west where the air was healthier.     I ended up at Fort Sutter northeast of San Francisco. As I say, this was part of Mexico which was part of the Spanish Empire. But the Mexicans or Spaniards or whoever never came up here. They pretty much left the Indians alone. But American settlers were starting to move in to raise cattle so the Mexicans ap

                                   The Rhode House: Part 2 “Guess Festus ain’t ‘ome, eh,” Sven asked when Ula came back to his truck. “I saw da curtains open yust a little, but it musta been da vind, cuz dey closed right back up. ‘e must be out trackin’ sum felons down or fuelin’ up ‘is squad car in Vannaska, doh it looks like its taillights stickin’ out da hay shed dere . . .” Ula didn’t want to press the issue. “Yah, ‘e’s sleepin’, I ‘eard ‘im snorin’. No sense in vakin’ ‘im fer a question ‘bout sum new neighbors. Let’s yust go up to da Tin Man’s place an’ introduce ourselves, ya bein’ yerself an’ me bein’ meself, as ve are.” “Vudint vant it any udder vay, “answered Sven, trying hard to get his seat belt hooked. “Geesus man, vy don’t ya git dis ‘ere fixed? I donut t’ink dis ‘ere contrapshun is legal-eagle, if’n ya know vat I’m sayin’, Ula.” “Aye, a screen door hook ‘n eye seat latch was original equipment ven I bought dis ‘ere rig, she vas all original, right down to da balin’ vire

And here is the Wannaskan Almanac for Word-Wednesday, January 22, 2020, the 4th Wednesday of the year,  the 22nd day of the year, with 344 days remaining, but only 70 days until April 1st. Nordhem Lunch: Hot Ham Sandwich w/Potatoes & Gravy Earth/Moon Almanac for January 22, 2020 Sunrise: 8:06am; Sunset: 5:04pm; 2 minutes, 33 seconds more daylight today Moonrise: 6:32apm; Moonset: 2:55pm, waning crescent Temperature Almanac for January 22, 2020                  Average          Record           Today High             15                    50                  27 Low             -6                   -55                  15 January 22 Celebrations from National Day Calendar National Blonde Brownie Day Library Shelfie Day Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day January 22 Word Riddle What word of six letters contains six words, besides itself, without transposing?* January 22 Pun January 22 Notable Historic Events, Literary or Otherwise, from On