Category Archives: humor

The Reality Behind the Shot- Wildlife Photography Tales

Posted on by

A large brown bear moves through dense autumn foliage, its head visible among branches covered in bright orange leaves.

The Truth About Wildlife Photography (As Told by a T‑Shirt)

Red fox baby on MondayEvery once in a while, something comes along that perfectly sums up an entire hobby. For wildlife photography, it isn’t a dramatic eagle shot or a fox leaping through golden light — it’s a T‑shirt. A T‑shirt that insists photography is simply “being in the right place at the right time”… followed by a dozen more “right” things, from the lens to the batteries to the background to the angle. It’s funny because it’s true, and every wildlife photographer knows it.

Why This T‑Shirt Gets It Right

People love to say, “Wow, you must have been lucky to get that shot.” Luck plays a part, sure, but it’s the smallest slice of the pie. Wildlife photography is mostly patience, persistence, and a willingness to stand in uncomfortable places for long stretches of time while your subject does absolutely nothing. It’s waiting for the light to cooperate, adjusting settings on the fly, and hoping your batteries don’t die at the exact moment a squirrel finally decides to pose. (Click Here for my squirrel Story)

The wildlife itself adds a whole extra layer of unpredictability. Animals don’t care about your perfect composition or your carefully chosen lens. They wander off, turn around, hide behind rocks, or stare at you like you’re interrupting their day. Sometimes they give you the “I might charge you” look, and suddenly the shot doesn’t seem quite so important anymore.

And yet, we keep doing it. Because every once in a while, everything lines up — the light, the moment, the subject, the settings, the batteries, and your own stubborn determination. You get the shot that makes all the waiting, sweating, freezing, and gear‑lugging worth it. (Having the right gear is very helpful too)

That’s why this T‑shirt is so perfect. It doesn’t glamorize wildlife photography. It doesn’t pretend it’s easy. It simply tells the truth with a wink: it takes a whole lot more than being in the right place at the right time. It takes all the “right” things coming together at once — and a photographer who’s willing to chase them.

Disclosure:

Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you decide to buy something through them, I may receive a small commission — it helps support the site and my photography adventures, at no extra cost to you. Team Arounddustyroads thanks you

 

Say What? A Stroll Through American Slang

Posted on by | 2 Comments

A hand holding a marker writes the words “SLANG LANGUAGE” in bold black letters, with a red line drawn underneath on a plain white background.

Finding Fresh Ways to Say It

As someone who writes daily, I’m always looking for ways to say things that don’t sound like the same old, same old. Which brings me to today’s topic — American slang. It’s a huge pool, and we’ll only scratch the surface, but let’s dive in and explore a few of our most familiar expressions.

OK — The Universal Word

Don’t tell me you don’t use it. Everybody says “OK.” The funny thing is, nobody really knows how it started. Most linguists believe “OK” came into use in the 1830s after it appeared as an abbreviation in a Boston newspaper. Then Martin Van Buren used it as a key part of his presidential campaign — and as they say, the rest is history. Honestly, I can’t imagine a world without “OK.”

Cool — Or Wicked, If You’re From Boston

This one slides in and out of favor but never disappears. “Cool” started with the jazz culture of the early 20th century. Those black‑shirted, beret‑wearing hipsters used it to describe anything the opposite of flashy or hot. Now it’s just part of everyday vocabulary. Of course, if you’re from Boston, you probably say “wicked.” Same vibe, different accent. (How about “Wicked Cool?”)

The Whole Nine Yards

Truth is, no one knows where this one began. Explanations range from ammunition belts to fabric yardage. Whatever its origin, we all know what it means — going all in. (Or if you prefer, the whole enchilada.)

Hands Down

If someone wins “hands down,” they win easily, without real competition. The phrase comes from horse racing, where a jockey comfortably ahead could relax, lower the reins, and coast across the finish line. So if you won that round fair and square — hands down — you’ve earned bragging rights.

Cops — Not Just Constables on Patrol

Ever wonder why we call those men and women in blue “cops”? Despite the popular myth that it stands for “constable on patrol,” that’s a modern backronym. The real origin likely traces back to the verb cop, meaning “to catch or seize,” which dates to 17th‑century English slang.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree

If you say someone is “barking up the wrong tree,” you’re telling them they’re misinformed or chasing the wrong idea. The phrase comes from hunting dogs — coon hounds that, after chasing a raccoon, would bark furiously at the base of the wrong tree. Oops.

Food for Thought

American slang is colorful, creative, and constantly evolving. It’s part of what makes our language so lively.

I wrote this with my ESL teacher friend in mind — because if slang confuses native speakers, imagine trying to explain it to someone learning English from scratch. No wonder her students look at her like she’s speaking Martian. This one’s for you, Nancy.

Let me know what your favorite slang expressions are. I’d love to hear the ones that make your conversations cool, wicked, or just plain OK.

 

 

I Sound Like My Grandparents… and I’m Okay With It

Posted on by
Whimsical drawing of an elderly couple surrounded by decorative leaves, perfect for a blog post about old‑fashioned sayings and grandparent phrases.

Your Grandparents Said What?

Oh no. According to an article I read, I apparently sound like my grandparents. I found this little gem on Bing — I love checking out their shorts. They’re perfect bite‑sized sparks when I’m stuck for ideas, and honestly, even when I’m not stuck, they serve up all kinds of interesting things.

So today I was reading 17 phrases your grandparents said that nobody says anymore… except I use a lot of them. As I put this list together, I had to laugh — I still use so many of these. My grandparents would be proud… or concerned. But don’t worry, we’re not going through all 17. I’ll just touch on the ones I still use today.

“Happy as a clam.”

Are you enjoying life? Are you content? I can tell you that Banner, curled up in his sink, is happy as a clam. Living in Massachusetts, where clamming is practically a sport, it’s no surprise this expression stuck around — dated or not.

“Close the door — were you born in a barn?”

Ouch. I don’t use this one myself (no kids to yell at), but I can still hear my mother shouting it, and wow did it sting. None of that “sticks and stones” stuff for me — words absolutely can hurt.

“Keep your shirt on.”

Did you know this probably goes back to the early 1900s, when men would take off their shirts before a fight? Apparently they were more afraid of coming home with a torn shirt and facing their wife than they were of getting a bloody nose.

“I’ll be there with bells on.”

I use this one all the time. If someone invites me over, I might very well say it without thinking. Turns out it comes from the bells used to decorate a horse’s bridle or sleigh. Who knew? But I still say it today.

There are so many more. Don’t take any wooden nickels. Go pound sand. You got your ears lowered. I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. The list goes on, but we’re out of time. And honestly, I don’t like to think I’m outdated. After all, I still use wicked to be cool.

How about you — do any of your grandparents’ sayings still sneak into your vocabulary? Drop yours in the comments — I’d love to see which ones you grew up with.

 

The Feline Geneva Convention: Peace Talks in the Kitty Jungle

Posted on by

Two cats rest together on a carpeted floor near a window. A black cat is stretched out on its side, and an orange cat is curled up beside it. Soft natural light from the window creates a calm, cozy scene with a cat tree in the background.

Two cats sit together on a carpet near a glass door, the orange cat upright and the black cat lounging beside him, both looking like they’re deep in important “cat business.”

Go away hooman. we’re busy

The Great Truce of the Kitty Jungle

I don’t know what’s going on in the halls of cat chaos, but Banner and Balboa seem to have worked out a truce of sorts. Looks like they’ve held thier own Geneva Convention and come to terms of some sort.  Balboa is usually the temperamental one, yet lately he’s been right there beside Banner like they’re co‑captains of calm. Maybe there’s hope for World Peace after all.

Summer Sunbathers & Squirrel Watch

Maybe it’s just summer. These two love lounging in front of the slider on warm afternoons, soaking up the sun like tiny furry sunbathers. Mornings have them nose‑to‑screen, vibrating with excitement as squirrels race along the top of the fence like they’re running the Indy 500.

I had high hopes that adding a sock of birdseed to my flower basket would attract sparrows or finches to entertain the boys, but it’s been a couple of weeks and still no interest. We get a few birds on the fence, but none come to visit the hanging basket. We aren’t allowed to have feeders on our decks — the folks on the first floor complained — and honestly, I can’t blame them. Still, I was hoping for at least a few visitors.

Fireworks, Hideouts, and Evening Drama

Evenings are quiet in the condo, mostly because the neighbor is shooting off fireworks every night. As soon as the first bang goes off, Balboa vanishes like a magician’s assistant. I don’t even know where he hides. Banner, not so much. The noise doesn’t bother him — but then, not much does. He’s such a laid‑back kitty cat.

The Cat Grass Chronicles

Both boys are leaving my little AeroGarden alone now that they have their own cat grass. Balboa visits his garden every morning, and usually after dinner I’ll find him poking around in it. Thankfully he seems to have stopped chewing it. When the first garden sprouted, he plowed through it like a furry lawnmower and deposited a pile of cat‑grass straw right in the middle of the hallway. It looked like a slimy haystack. No repeat performances, thank goodness.

Closing Thought

For now, the Kitty Jungle is calm — no zoomies, no turf wars, no dramatic monologues from Balboa. Just two cats enjoying summer, sunshine, and the occasional squirrel show. Peace may be fragile, but I’ll take it while it lasts.

Squirrel in a tree

 

 

“And They Walk Among Us” — Featuring Bizmanic

Posted on by | 2 Comments

“Red wheelbarrow with wooden handles next to a caution sign reading ‘Not intended for highway use,’ highlighting a humorous and unnecessary product warning label.”

Proof That Common Sense Isn’t Common

Have you ever heard the expression “And they walk among us” — usually said with that tone of marvelous disbelief? Then we laugh and shake our heads. How could anyone be so stupid!

Well, I’ve found a creator who has built his entire brand around calling out these moments. His name is Bizmanic, and he has perfected the art of showcasing the everyday absurdities of the human race.

Some of his greatest hits include:

• Are You Smarter Than the Average Customer

• Top 20 Complaints

• Top 10 Entitled Customers

• Top 10 Dumbest Reasons Someone Got Fired

• Complaints From Entitled People Who Went on Vacation

• And the best of all: a list of ridiculous product warning labels

There are probably more, but honestly… aren’t these enough?

Let me give you a few examples of the kinds of stories he tells — and yes, these things really do happen.

Story Box 1 — The Comcast Call

Let me give you an example. This is a story about being a call center helpline representative for Comcast aka Xfinity. You know, that company we all love to hate. Callers are mad before you even have a chance to pick up the phone. I’ve even answered this very same question.  So here it is

I can assure you this really happens. I spent nine years at Comcast, several of them in that same tech‑support queue, and I have personally answered this exact question more times than I can count. Back then, before everyone switched to streaming, the cable box was the only clue people had. Now your smart TV just taps into Wi‑Fi — but if the power is out, nothing works anyway.

Story Box 2 — The Blockbuster Puppy Incident

Do you remember Blockbuster Video? Rows and rows of VHS tapes and DVDs lining the walls.

A customer once walked in, looked around at all the movie cases, and asked:

“So… where do you keep the puppies?”

I still don’t know what movie they thought they were renting, but I sincerely hope they didn’t leave disappointed.

Story Box 3 — The Grocery Store Beef Revelation

Then there was the customer who was shocked — genuinely shocked — to learn that beef comes from cows. This was brand‑new information to them.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not let this person do my grocery shopping.

But like I said, the warning labels post was the best. These are the ones that make me question Darwin. Survival of the fittest? If you need these warnings, how are you still walking among us?

A few gems:

• “Do not iron clothes while wearing them.”

• “Not for contact with eyes or genitals.”

• “Remove child before folding stroller.”

So folks, if you want a good laugh and don’t mind someone poking fun at the absurdities of life, you have to check out Bizmanic on Facebook. He’s proof that common sense isn’t common — but at least it’s entertaining.