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Author: James Snyder

Christmas Shopping:  Is It Ever Too Early?

Christmas Shopping:  Is It Ever Too Early?

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Ahhhh, fall.  Being out and about, I love the sights and sounds of autumn.  The crunching leaves, the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg, a hearty casserole, the Christmas shopping. Wait – what?  The Christmas shopping? No doubt you’ve already seen some Christmas displays up at your local box stores or favorite department stores.  Every year, retailers just can’t seem to get this stuff out fast enough.  They’ve got Halloween decorations out in July, Thanksgiving never gets any love whatsoever, and…

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Trucks:  The Bigger the Better?

Trucks:  The Bigger the Better?

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After being blasted in my rear-view mirror by the headlights of a gargantuan behemoth that was so wide it barely fit in its lane yesterday, I’d like to take a moment to talk about trucks. I’m not talking about 18-wheelers, mind you.  I’m talking about all of these Dodge Ram, Chevy Tundra, Ford – whatevers I see more and more of on the road each year. It used to be that a man (or woman) wanted a small truck to…

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Hurricanes – Not For The Faint of Heart

Hurricanes – Not For The Faint of Heart

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Hurricanes are back in the news again, as Ian rumbled across the Florida peninsula this past week and we’re smack dab in the middle of the 2022 storm season (hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th).  Many folks in the four-state region may think they know what it’s like to “ride out” a storm.  This area sometimes gets the remnants of a hurricane that rumbles its way up the Eastern seaboard and into the Chesapeake Bay, or maybe…

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Autumn is Here – Let Us Rejoice!

Autumn is Here – Let Us Rejoice!

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At last!  As of this past Thursday, we have officially entered my favorite season of the year – fall! Do I write a blog about autumn every year?  Yes – and why?  Because it is the perfect season.  Living in the mid-Atlantic region allows me to enjoy each and every part of the annual cycle.  It is cold and snowy in the winter, spring brings life-giving rain as new growth bursts across the landscape, while even summer has its pleasures,…

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Road Trippin’:  California Style (Part Two)

Road Trippin’:  California Style (Part Two)

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Last week I detailed my first two days of my recent California Labor Day adventure, where I got to spend a few busy days visiting my brother on the West Coast.  If you missed Part One, I suggest you go take a look.  Things will make a little more sense as we dive into the back half of my ‘So Cal’ travels.  Let’s get going, shall we? Day 3 I awoke early again (still on East Coast time), and got…

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Road Trippin’:  California Style (Part One)

Road Trippin’:  California Style (Part One)

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You may have noticed I didn’t publish a blog entry last week.  That’s because I took the Labor Day weekend for a quick trip to the West Coast to spend some time with my brother, who lives in Los Angeles.  It was a short visit, but boy did we pack it in. Day 1 After a cross-country flight, I touched down at the Hollywood-Burbank airport around noon local time, where I was picked up by my younger brother.  His wife…

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College Football Season:  Who Ya Rootin’ For?

College Football Season:  Who Ya Rootin’ For?

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You know fall is approaching when college football season is back in business.  The excitement starts this coming weekend – so who are you pulling for?  Who’s your favorite team? Many folks root for the university they attended.  That’s all well and good, except for when your college is without a football team.  My alma mater, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) doesn’t have a football squad (although they did become the darlings of March Madness in 2018 when…

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Old Bay Seasoning:  It’s Hard to Miss These Days

Old Bay Seasoning:  It’s Hard to Miss These Days

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Ever since German immigrant Gustav Brunn created the Old Bay Seasoning blend back in 1939[1], it has become synonymous with the identity and culture of my home state of Maryland.  The familiar yellow and red can is found in almost every Maryland kitchen, and for those of you who haven’t tried it, you really should.  Not only is it great on seafood (its original purpose), but its versatility adds a “Maryland flavor” to chicken, beef, or even scrambled eggs.  Some…

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College Move-In 2022:  The Apartment Version

College Move-In 2022:  The Apartment Version

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I was away from the writing desk last week, taking the weekend to drive back down south to move my youngest back in for another year of college.  This time, it was a little different, as she was moving into her first apartment – off-campus (her university only guarantees on-campus housing for the freshman class).  As you can imagine, this took a little more planning and research, since her university is about twelve hours away (driving time) from our home….

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Social Media Fads:  What Is Going On?

Social Media Fads:  What Is Going On?

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OK, I don’t mean to sound old here, but I have some strong opinions on all of this social media hoo-haa. Let me first point out that my career choice was Information Technology, and as such I do work with computers, servers, networks, and other technology services on a daily basis.  That being the case, I am usually loathe to spend my non-working time on them in any form or fashion.  Hell, I rarely even answer the house phone when…

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