As a Christian, I’m supposed to have forgiveness in my heart when people do wrong. As an animal lover, I have a hard time forgiving someone who inflicts pain and suffering on a helpless creature. That realization hit me recently when something came across my desk at work about a dog that was found with…
America gets its kicks, but how far will soccer fandom go?
It’s mid-summer, and the ball parks are full of screaming fans eager to enjoy a baseball game. It’s just like any other summer. Is it though? I ask because America seems to be in the grip of another ball frenzy, trading in bats for nets—really big nets, the kind that make basketball players envious. The…
Cartoonists have their own superstar
In every art form, there are elite titles. In acting, there’s the EGOTs—short for actors who have won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. On a side note, there are some interesting notes for awards. Maybe we should have the Mildred awards, or perhaps Hortense? In book writing, we have the New York Times bestsellers….
Books hold the key to unlock the imagination
Books have been on the forefront of my mind over the last week. From selling the books I’ve written to buying books that have caught my eye, the literary side of my brain has kicked into high gear. It got me thinking of the books that I’ve read previously. I read more in my youth…
Division seems to be favored math when dealing with society
I remember when I was growing up in Chino Valley having to learn math. First came the addition and subtraction, which was fairly easy. Then they taught us to multiply, which was a little more difficult. After that came division, another challenging step at first. I could go on and on about going into algebra…
Calling cops on lemonade stand ends with happy twist
It’s been a few years since I’ve had to write about lemonade stands and how sweet children looking to make a few bucks have run afoul of the law, but recent news reports show that we’ve somehow lost the ability to let kids be kids. However, there is a nice twist this time around. One…
What do you do when the Empty Bowls stay empty?
I have about a dozen ceramic bowls sitting in my cabinet. There’s a tiny purple one that’s shaped like a heart. A couple of others are shaped like trapezoids. They’re all awash with color and include some interesting patterns. All of them are currently empty. Keep in mind, I don’t have a particular need for…
Could new trend reduce streaming services to a trickle?
I love some improvements in technology, the evolution of how we navigate our world. Of course, there are some places where I draw the line. One of those is streaming services. It’s not for a lack of trying, though. Streaming services like Netflix came as an alternative to cable and satellite television years ago when…
Creative spark can become a flame with the right circumstances
We all have a creative spark somewhere that inflames us and causes us to do wonderful things. Sometimes, it’s getting that perfect photograph of a raccoon clutching a tree branch in the forest. Sometimes, it’s painting that perfect image of a bowl of fruit sitting on a kitchen table. It could be sewing the most…
The spirit is willing, but the cash is weak when it comes to fun
When you love someone, you want to go and do things together on a regular basis. It’s completely understandable. After a while, just being at home loses its excitement, and you want to be somewhere else doing something else. One of the big things my sweetheart, Todd, and I like to do is go out…
Pizza could save America’s reading scores
You can’t be a writer without readers. You also can’t be a writer without being a reader. I was fortunate to have a family that put a lot of stock into reading, showing it’s an important way to learn and a vital method for expanding your imagination. You could say that reading is its own…
Birthdays serve as reminders we’re still alive
This week, the family celebrated a milestone. My mother turned 70 a few days ago, celebrating with burgers involving the whole family. When it comes to milestone birthdays, a lot of families rent out venues or go out to fancy restaurants. That’s just not our style, though. It might have something to do with dealing…
Rural Roots and American Rainbows 