Keeping the Fire Going at Camp Shetek With temperatures pushing 60 degrees this weekend in South Dakota, and the snow melting away like the disappearing drifts of wrapping paper from a Christmas that seems... just yesterday, it's easy to imagine this fine March 1 that we've left the winter doldrums behind. When, in reality, there's the usual... Continue Reading →
A thing of beauty to this lifelong Cleveland Browns fan: a replica 1952 Otto Graham jersey. Divine Vintage: Paying Props to the PastToday marks the 54th Super Bowl in NFL history, and for the 54th time, my beloved Cleveland Browns won't be playing in it. It's an annual rite of futility that hasn't dampened my... Continue Reading →
In Memoriam: Don Warren, 1928-2019 I'll begin with a confession: I have not spoken to Don Warren for probably five, maybe seven years. Not since before or shortly after my family and I picked up stakes after 11 years in Chicago, Don's nearly-lifelong stomping grounds, and trekked west to South Dakota. "You're WHAT?" I can... Continue Reading →
Dadding with Distinction: Drawn & Caricatured I'd guess, for most parents, to our kids we're merely caricatures of our real selves, anyway. But that's mostly true of the myriad glimpses different people get of us as we rotate through various circles: work, church, after-school activities, the neighborhood, and not to mention (but I just did) social... Continue Reading →
Lazy (Extra) Days in Nashville - Dad About Town After an early career as a journalist that afforded me titillating glimpses of the wilder parts of Sandusky, Ohio (the North Coast!!!) and the Chicago suburbs (Naperville! Downers Grove! Wheaton! Bolingbrook!!!!!!!!!) -- I've been blessed to upgrade from that scintillating travelogue to the farflung locales the... Continue Reading →
Meandering Man: American Airlines Blues Maybe the headline of this post isn't quite fair. Though, a few weeks ago, when I was caught in my travel time warp, there was plenty of blame I felt I could righteously direct at American Airlines. Because we can't quite blame the weather, can we? Mother Nature laughs at... Continue Reading →
In Praise of: First Grilled Meal of the Season Box up the snowboots. Mothball the parka. Trap that waddling prognosticator, Punxsutawney Phil, and stuff him for a fuzzy warm hat. Or, better yet, grill the meddling sonofagroundhog. Hibernation's over, bomb cyclones are spun out. Springtime is here and it's time to fire up the barbecue... Continue Reading →
In Praise of 5th Avenue, Best Intersection of Peanut Butter & Chocolate As a man in his (early) 40s, I've put quite a few of the bad habits of my youth behind me. Never one to guzzle pop in the first place, it's such a rare presence in our fridge at home, the kids don't... Continue Reading →
Jersey Shopping, Pub Hopping, Pottering - Dad About Town In the midst of February, buried in snow and cold as we have been, dreaming of April seems a worthwhile pastime. It nearly always arrives on schedule. You just have to wait. Though sometimes it brings its share of sudden snow and mayhem in its own... Continue Reading →
An Ohioan's Take on "Chili Soup" The first Super Bowl I remember was the post-1984 season clash between the Dan-Marino-led Miami Dolphins and Joe Montana's San Francisco 49ers. I guess it was played in January 1985. I would have been 8. But everything about it says 1984 to me. It's funny: You do a search... Continue Reading →
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