Well, hello again. You might guess from one of my last posts that I came down with a particularly nasty bug. It turned out to be a chest infection thingy, also with fever, and that pretty much scuttled any plans I had for my brain to do anything. For weeks, as you can see. I’ve also got laryngitis and haven’t spoken a word in 4 weeks or so. Whispered, yes, but it’s not quite the same. Weird.

Anyway, time to start over, and on a Monday, no less. This forced break from blogging and writing and publishing has allowed me to step back and look at it all a little more objectively – not from the inside, as it were. I’ve recognised that there are certain strategies that make my work easier from day to day – for example, it’s a much better use of time to write and schedule all my blog posts a week’s worth at a time, rather than scrambling for something every evening. It’s also better to view my publishing tasks bit by bit, rather than the whole schamassel which can certainly seem overpowering at times.

So here’s to the next round of Daily Doctor, Photo Story, Reading Challenge, and whatever else I can cook up for you here.

...or chemist shop, as we call them hereabouts. This kangaroo somehow got loose in Melbourne airport and went to a nearby pharmacy for something to help his sore feet.

More info and a video here at The Journal - don't forget that in an Irish newspaper, the best part of a funny story is often in the comments that follow it...

Something has been crreeping up on me these past few days - perhaps I just exhausted myself, but I have been feeling far more drained than ever before. Last night I started getting feverish and that has continued throughout today, though I was able to keep my appointments, but I didn't feel like eating anything and that is most unusual for me. My temperature was a little over 39.5 C (103 F) earlier today. I think I'm going to try sleeping it off and hope I'm well enough to go out for a couple hours tomorrow as well.

Sorry for a bit of an insubstantial blog today, but I honestly don't have the brains for anything better. And perhaps it wasn't a great idea to start King's The Stand last night either, haha. That one might have to wait until the eerily similar symptoms are all gone...

aka... Splashmob! With an "ice skating song" that we children of the 80's will never forget. Torvill and Dean, anyone? But the scene couldn't be any more different than this...



I confess, at 1:41 I thought the dude got out of the hot tub because he was weirded out. Wouldn't you be? But no, he was just off to an instrument of his own, or at least it seemed so at 2:20.

Recently, an Irishman with the online handle demc7 made an exciting discovery when he moved into a new apartment near Coventry, England. The flat was part of an old monastery building, so it makes sense that a place like that would have a few secrets.

The Polish army once enlisted a bear. They came into possession of the orphaned cub, named him Wojtek, and raised him as their own. He seems to have been completely tame. He was given a military serial number and the rank of Corporal in order to be allowed to sail with his company from Egypt to Italy.

The full article here is well worth a read, including several of his adventurous exploits.

Ever wanted to own an igloo? This fine specimen is up for grabs. Located 180 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska, it was intended as a hotel but the owner got into straits. It's not handy to anything at all, but I suppose that's all part of the charm. The future owner would have to upgrade it to comply with building regulations. Lots more pictures at the original article, courtesy of Curious History.

I do enjoy a good bit of sax. This jam session is enlivened by its attraction for cows.

This is Pierre-Paul Thomas. Born blind into a poor family, his cataracts were never removed - until now. Click through for the video and meet the old man who, as he says, is "like a child again." Oh, and the Quebec French accents are funky, too (don't worry, there's subtitles!).

Via PetaPixel and NASA comes this extraordinary photo taken at a recent rocket launch.

It was captured on September 7, 2013 during the launch of the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft. The craft will enter orbit around the Moon’s equator in order to study the exosphere and dust particles in the area.

Check out the full article here. I hope that giant leap brought the frog to safety!

I recently came across the gravity-defying antics of one James Kingston. He's part of a Parjour Agency called Ampisound, where several guys appear to make a living out of climbing ordinary things. Here's one where he leaps around the rooftops of Cambridge (England). I found my head swaying with the movement!



Then it led me to another one where he climbed a crane. With no gear! He proceeded to walk out to the end and hang off it by one hand.




Dude has no fear. Needless to say, don't try that at home!