A Bloy and his Blog

This week, my latest web creation was launched: a new design of Edgewood College Library’s catalog.

Visually, I designed the new catalog to have an appearance that compliments the look of the library’s web site (with a similar header and footer on each page). Marketing types would probably use the word “branding” here somewhere. Some new features have also been unveiled along with the catalog’s new look. Check out the news blurb from the library web site for details.

read the rest of: A new catalog for Edgewood

Today when I got home from work the temperature was in the upper 60’s (F). The first thing I did when I got in the house was open the windows.

It was the first time I had the windows open in my place since last fall. That’s probably one of the best smells in the world — that rush of fresh air you get in the house when you open the windows for the first time in four or five months.

I do like the change of seasons here in Wisconsin. Feeling that change on days like today is good for my soul. I don’t think I’d like to be a permanent resident in a climate where the temperature is the same all the time — even in a beautiful setting like Hawaii. Okay, I probably wouldn’t pass up a chance to live in Hawaii for a time. But after about six months or so I would definitely miss seeing the leaves turn colors, tromping through snow drifts, and smelling that first breath of fresh spring air.

Yesterday I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and went for a hike through the Arboretum. There were a few early flowers out, like this blossom from one of the fruit trees.

read the rest of: Spring in the Arboretum

My hosting company was having severe problems with one of its servers yesterday — the server this website is on. The good news is everything has been restored and is back to normal. The bad news is emails sent to addresses on this domain from early Wednesday morning through about 5pm have been lost in the void. If you’ve sent anything to me, or the two other people with bloy.net addresses, you should send it again.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.

I’ve been listening to the new CD by Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings The Flood over the past few weeks and it’s one of the best albums I’ve heard in quite a while. You could probably file her music under the alt-country genre (along with bands like Wilco, or even Graham Parsons). Ms. Case prefers the term “neo-country,” a label once used by a reviewer to describe her music. However, like other outstanding musicians, Neko Case’s sound does not easily fit into strict categories.

read the rest of: Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings The Flood

I usually try to take a look at the statistics for this web site once a month or so. One of the things you can see in the stats, are the search phrases people used to get to your site. Every month, without fail, at least a couple of visitors arrive here by searching for the phrases “play bloy” or “bloy job.”

I’m going to make two assumptions here.

1. These people can’t type very well.
2. They did not find what they were looking for.

Of course by posting this entry, I’m going to get even more hits from swingin’ play bloys looking for bloy jobs. Move along fellas, nothing to see here…

read the rest of: Blossoms

It’s been rainy and unseasonable cold here in Madison lately. When dreary weather like that comes around, I often find myself making comfort foods to pick up my mood. Today I decided to make one of my favorites — the chili my Mother taught me to cook. Chili is one of those dishes that everyone makes a little differently. I remember as a kid eating other people’s chili and thinking, “This is not chili. My Mom knows how to make chili the right way.”

I’m sure there are people out there who will scoff at what I make and think the same thing. Nevertheless, my taste buds and I have known it is the right way to make chili. Over the years I’ve made a few alterations to the original recipe (most recently using ground turkey meat instead of ground beef). Whenever I make it I usually end up thinking about Mom’s chili and appreciate the knowledge that she passed on to me. Thanks Mom!

read the rest of: Mom’s Chili

It’s been real quiet at my place of work this week. Graduation was this past Sunday and the summer session hasn’t started yet. With not that many people needing reference help, I’ve been spending most of the work day at my desk in the back room. Even when I’m at the reference desk, reference questions from patrons have been few and far between.

read the rest of: Having Balance

Did you see me on the Simpsons?

Okay, neither did I. But, what do you think, did I capture my essence as a Simpson?
Try the Simpson Maker for yourself.