I prefer thinking outside the box … unfortunately, they only let me out of the box on alternate Wednesdays and on special occasions. Such was the case last holiday weekend, when I was allowed out to chase pollen grains with my plastic tweezers. (I love when newcomers read this column for the first time.)

Anyway, I was stopped in my pollen-pinching tracks when a construction truck rumbled by and the ground beneath my feet shook one good.