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Month: June 2017

The American Shopping Mall: Dying a Slow and Painful Death

The American Shopping Mall: Dying a Slow and Painful Death

Remember when the shopping mall was THE place to be?  One could have it all – clothing, sporting goods, home goods, shoes, even check out the latest movie.  Big-name department stores anchored each end of the mall, and smaller specialty shops filled all of the spaces in between.  You could eat at your favorite fast-food outlet or grab a snack from a nationally-known kiosk.  The mall was also a social gathering place.  Teens flocked there – to see and be…

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Summer Time Means Grillin’ Time!

Summer Time Means Grillin’ Time!

The summer months are upon us.  Now is the time to get out on that grill!  If you’re like me, you use the grill all year round, but the summer months are a special time for cooking outside.  How can you beat a juicy steak, burger, chicken thigh, or sausage – flame-kissed and beautifully browned with those distinguishing grill marks?  Grilling is also a fast and easy way to make a delicious lunch or dinner, and also helps to cut…

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The World of Retail: How’s it Going?

The World of Retail: How’s it Going?

As I have written about in previous articles, I am spending the summer as a seasonal employee for a big-box home improvement store (the blue one) in the “inside seasonal” section of the store.  I assist customers with their purchases of everything from lawn chemicals and bug killer to lawn mowers, trimmers, air conditioners, and air filters. Yes, it’s a busy section – and a busy time of the year.  Veterans of the store refer to the summer season as…

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The Summer is Here! (So Now What?)

The Summer is Here! (So Now What?)

Wow!  School has been out for only two days and already I’m hearing “I’m bored” from the kids in my household.  That certainly didn’t take long.  The summer has “officially” returned, and this one will be one of the longest away from school in many years (thanks to the decision to send the kids back to school after Labor Day this year). So what’s a parent to do?  How can the kids fill the hours (and not drive you insane…

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