Best Dad Memory

My Dad marched to the beat of his own drum. He set his own standards, and while they changed through my childhood years, the bar and his expectations were always higher than I was tall.
Dad was a product of a rough and tumble father and a mother who only knew how to love and care [...]

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Intolerance for A Day

I’m intolerant today. So…
To the Red River, Fargo, Moorehead – and the two 100-year-floods which happened within six years of each other:
Folks, if you knowingly live in a flood plain, quit your whiney complaining. Your options, as you have known since the time you bought the property included flood insurance, sandbags and flood waters. If [...]

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The Ugly Face of Elitism

Elitists feel they have outstanding personal abilities, intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or some other distinctive attributes, and therefore their views and ideas must be taken more seriously or carry more weight. In addition, they may assume special privileges and responsibilities and feel they have earned certain rights that others do not or should [...]

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Spirited Christmas, Then and Now

Christmas time is here
We’ll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year”
Plenty of Christmas childhood memories float around my head this time of year. Like the several-year-stretch of purchasing flocked Christmas trees from Del’s Garden Center in Spencer, Iowa. Dad and Mom even bought a red flocked tree (around 1972, I [...]

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10 Things I’ve Done That You Probably Haven’t

I’m a blog thief today. This idea comes from gentiana from her blog “Headfile.”
Go ahead, try to come up with 10 really unique things that no one else is likely able to say they’ve done as well.
1) I cycled across the state of Iowa
2) I shook the hand of former Vice President Walter Mondale
3) I [...]

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Thanksgiving In A Box

In my bank of childhood memories, the Thanksgiving holiday stands out big time. My very-middle-class roots found me living in a five-bedroom house – we had a formal dining room, a front entry that seemed gynormous, and lots of space to entertain. With grandparents living just three houses away and a Dad who owned a [...]

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Random Thoughts (yet again)

It’s mid-September in Minnesota and summer begins its gentle slide into autumn – right on cue.
 Five tell-tale signs that fall is upon us…
1)      Leaves find their way to the ground…mysteriously and usually only at night.
2)      Windows left open at night mean that toweling off after an early morning shower will result in goose bumps.
3)      From [...]

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Back to School

Yet another first day of school is in the books. Both kids started back on September 4: One in 7th grade (first year of junior high), and one now a junior in high school. They scrambled to tell me how their first days went and I listened, congratulated them and patted them on the backs [...]

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The Minnesota State Fair: Perspectives in Photos

Today was the last day of the Great Minnesota Get Together. My son and I ventured out to the fair for a few hours. You can view the photographic results  here…

Since part of my last name is included in this sign from a Midway exhibit at the state fair, I was compelled to include it. [...]

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Sunsets

New Ulm, Minnesota
Aug. 25, 2007

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