[prompt: 'transparent' 15/3/19]

New York, April 19, 1884

It's official [Well-ll, it was in 1884. The Scientific American Supplement No. 433, tells me so!] . And I quote -

There is nothing luminous, transparent , or delicate about dust.

Oh golly gosh and gee whiz and I'll be a monkey's uncle! I thought I could explain away my slovenly habits by getting hold of one of a number of signs with important messages like -

'The dust bunnies killed my cleaning fairy',

'Slow Down to 10mph - Dust Control', and

'I Hate Four Letter Words - Cook, Iron, Wash, Dust'

Looks like there's little choice but to rely on my trusty hand-stitched sign that 'hangs out' on the handlebars of our exercise bike, facing the back door [you may be relieved to know it's easily removable to allow daily exercise...well, most days... uhrr, some days?]

When I look at this amateur effort, I do regret finishing my stitchery career before I made the one that says -

'My House Was Clean Yesterday - Sorry You Missed It!'

As I write that, I'm almost tempted to take up needle and thread again. Almost! But there's pencil and paper and a computer keyboard clouding my vision and occupying my fingers now. Plus the small matter of researching and sifting through the messy filing cabinet I whimsically call my butterfly brain.

Another problem apart from writing the darn stuff, is getting deliciously diverted by scintillating snippets like the following, that have absolutely nothing to do with dust - where we began - but everything to do with the aforementioned grey matter. I mean, REALLY! Can you tell me these distractions from the straight and narrow wouldn't lead you astray if you were checking out the Scientific American Supplement, having found an oblique reference to the prompt word, 'transparent'?? Look... and wonder!

Climbing Tricycles

A Threaded Set Collar

Wretched Boilermaking

When Does the Electric Shock become fatal?

A Theory of Cometary Phenomena

The Prolificness of the Oyster

Coarse Food for Pigs

Propagating Roses

A People without Consumption

The Treatment of Habitual Constipation

In case you hadn't already guessed, I have this one bookmarked to return to. I simply MUST explore information about such gripping titles. [EVEN the one about 'Propagating Roses' - simply because it's such a bizarre subject, plopped in the middle of the others. Irresistible!]

The burning question is - Which One First?? Which, of course, acts as a perfect lead-in to another of my equally laughable creations [and I'm not only talking about the messages! Nor my photography in the good old days!] In among crazy faces with idiot curls sticking up every which way, it says -

The difficult ... done daily

The impossible performed overnight

But Miracles are by Appointment Only

Author's Note: Trust me. Better by far you don't see the woeful photo. Up on a wall, with our tall ceilings, it looks halfway reasonable [sort of], 'cos you can't get up too close and personal. A perfect distance to be! But the message is great, hey?