Many things to be thankful for this year
Thanksgiving really snuck up on me this year. Before I knew it, I was searching for the electric knife to prepare it for the annual turkey carving. It was the usual plan for Thanksgiving this year – that means my wife’s family comes down from Wisconsin on Thursday, and then we have friends over the next morning for “Friendsgiving.” Friday is bloody Mary’s, mimosas and frittatas.... more
Swarm of scorpions? No thanks
The desert is a place of great beauty, and great danger. Flash floods, extreme heat, rattlesnakes, side winders – you must be on guard all the time you are out there.... more
Can't do without technology
Technology rules our lives. Bold statement? Not really. In 2021, it is just a true statement. It really hit me last week when we lost Internet connection for a bit. I was basically dead in the water.... more
Kinzinger on the right side of history
t came as no surprise to me, and probably no one else, when U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger announced he would not seek re-election next year. First elected in 2010, Kinzinger was known as a conservative member of Congress, a protégé of former U.S. Sen. John McCain and his future seemed bright.... more
Just like that, Halloween is over
The day after Halloween was a dark day. A dark day indeed. Nov. 1 meant it was over. The horror movies you enjoyed, the costume you worked to make just right, the carnivals held at local schools and of course the great trick or treating.... more
This was one spicy party
I love spicy food. When I am eating food that should have some kick, like Mexican food or hot wings, I want it spicy to the point that I almost can’t eat it … but I can’t stop either.... more
No, I won't take life advice from celebrities
Celebrities are human beings. That is something we all know, right? They might present themselves at times as something above human, or superhuman, but they are just human beings. They snore and burp and fall and make stupid mistakes just like all of us do.... more
We are a country full of people who love to criticize
There are people who love to criticize. We see it daily – at school, at work, at home. When you are young, especially, the criticizers can have a very deep impact on self-esteem. But even as an adult, criticism can sting.... more
Let's leave research to real researchers
I am going to say here, on the record, that I have never done any research. None. Zero. Zilch.... more
So much for the endless summer
As a guy who dreams of endless summers, the trees in my yard are always there to remind me that my never-ending summer is just a dream. There is one tree in particular with leaves that turn yellow and fall fairly early each year – well, early for me.... more
Remembering the best job ever
My wife and I love to stream a good drama every now and then. It is great to get mindlessly lost in a show. We have recently been watching a show where the main character drives a 1960s Ford Mustang. I am not positive on the exact year, but it might be a 1967, my favorite.... more
Nuke decision never should have taken this long
As I write this, we are less than a week away from the Byron Station closing its doors for good. And I have no idea if it is going to stay open or not. That is not a good thing.... more
We are society of rules for a reason
We are a society of rules. We have rules for everything. We have rules for traffic. We have rules for going to school. Sports have rules. Board games have rules. Businesses have rules for employees.... more
'Live PD' shows the best, and the worst
I love the TV show “Cops.” It is an adrenaline rush of a show, and one that highlights some of the best police officers and some of the dumbest criminals on the planet.... more