when I started this blog five years ago, I was a pet sitter and the name animal-crackers made sense. now I'm a stay-at-home-dad and freelance writer, but rather than confuse everyone by getting a different blog, it's just easier to keep posting things here.

I hate to throw things away. You'd think I was the child of a Great Depression survivor.

Today I finally threw away a leather belt I got as a freshman in college -- more than 16 years ago. Last week I replaced the sneakers I bought in 1992.

Who knows what's next -- maybe the hand-woven rainbow belt from Guatamala, circa 1991. Or maybe the book on the history of the Ottoman Empire (which I've half read twice ... same half).