The end of August signals the annual trek back to school for students all over the country. My youngest has started her fall semester at college, and I now get to navigate all of the daily school bus traffic on the local roads twice a day (be careful out there). My youngest is taking a Microeconomics course this semester, and I thought it would be interesting to follow along. So, while she attends her classes in person down south this…
The craft beer industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the past ten years. Now, in the beginning, that was a good thing. We were becoming more like Europe, where in countries such as Germany, it seems like every small town has their own brewery, and the beers there are generally good, unique, and flavorful. The first brew pubs were packed here in the U.S., and for connoisseurs of that wonderful, malty beverage, it was a golden age. Beer…
As you may know, I’m a big fan of the Walt Disney Company. I worked there for over fifteen years. My wife worked there. My brother and his wife worked there. My youngest daughter currently works there. Needless to say – we’re fans, so all of us were patiently waiting for the big announcements coming out of D23, Disney’s showcase of company announcements and plans for the future of their parks and experiences. Seeing as how Universal is opening up…
The first week of August means only one thing in my small town. It’s carnival week! Yes, that cavalcade of carnies, questionably-maintenanced rides, deep fried food, inflatable trinkets, and colorful, live entertainment descends once again on my little town, offering a week of summertime entertainment to young and old alike. The carnival marks the wind-down of the summer season, when kids know school is just around the corner and older folks know another summer is almost gone, soon making way…
Living in a rural area in the summer is a magical time. Gardens are in full bloom, and all over the countryside, local fruit and vegetable stands are busy, presenting fresh and just-picked produce used in our favorite summer recipes. They may be a formal market, a lean-to on the side of the road, or even just a small table at the end of a driveway (where payment is made on the honor system), but no matter where you find…
I have some friends who recently became grandparents, and they have been proudly showing my wife and I pictures of their new grandson (who, truth be told, is a cute little fart). As I look at the pictures, I can’t help but reflect on my own kids, and the job my wife and I have done as parents. We raised our girls to be smart, independent young women, and now that they are both young adults, they are out in…
I don’t know how long it’s been since the last time you went out to eat at a casual dining chain, but the landscape sure has changed – and not for the better. First off, I’m going to do my “old man” rant on QR codes. Now, I do technology as a profession, so I understand that it does help in some cases. I also understand that the younger generation has no problem adapting to these advances, but I’d like…
As of today, I’ve only got 176 days left of work until I pull the plug and retire from the normal 9-to-5 of the world of work. I’m walking away after 35 years of regular employment, at the rather young age of 57. I get lots of comments from friends and co-workers when I share this information. After the formal “congratulations”, there’s always the upturned eyebrow, along with the slew of questions. “Aren’t you a little young to retire?” “What…
This week marks the 248th anniversary of the Continental Congress adopting the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It’s a big day in our nation’s history. But it’s not the only significant event in our nation’s history that has happened on that day. If you’re really in the mood to celebrate (or somberly remember), here are some other things that also happened on that day (all of these events are listed on the history.com and Britannica.com websites, in case you’re wondering):…
Well, I hope all of you summer fans out there are happy. It’s not even July yet and we’ve already hit the mid-90’s on several days here in June, the corn is already rolling up from heat stress, and as usual, there’s hardly a drop of rain in sight. July and August haven’t even reared their ugly heads yet. It’s shaping up to be a brutal summer. Welcome to the new normal. This past week, the thermometer touched 95 degrees…