Browsed by
Author: James Snyder

Fight Night in West Virginia?  Sure, Why Not?

Fight Night in West Virginia?  Sure, Why Not?

Comments 3 comments

For St. Patrick’s Day weekend, what could be better than attending a good ‘ol fashioned boxing match with a bunch of buddies?  How about forty-one matches in one night?  Yes, it was time once again for the annual West Virginia “Toughman” Competition, and this year, my friend’s eighteen year-old son was going to take his shot at fortune, glory, and a chance to win $14,000 dollars.  How did he do, you may ask? Patience, Grasshopper, all will be revealed in…

Read More Read More

Gambling:  There’s More Out There Than You Think

Gambling:  There’s More Out There Than You Think

Comments 3 comments

As I wander about in my day-to-day life and observe the folks around me, I’ve noticed that If there’s one thing that both blue-collar and white-collar Americans love to do, its gamble.  In my home state (Maryland), we have six legal casinos and of course, plenty of opportunities to sports bet online (although I’m still perplexed as to why I can’t play Texas Hold ‘Em online for cash here).  Now, that may seem like a lot, but it doesn’t even…

Read More Read More

Daylight Savings Time:  Are We Doing This Again?

Daylight Savings Time:  Are We Doing This Again?

Comments 3 comments

For those of you who don’t keep up with current events, you read that title right.  Next Sunday, March 10th, it’s time once again to participate in this national game we call “Daylight Savings Time”, in which we will collectively move our clocks ahead by one hour to somehow believe we are taking advantage of the earth’s tilt and rotation, gaining an additional hour of daylight each day. Madness. Honestly, people – just pick a lane and stay with it. …

Read More Read More

Cellphones:  A Blessing and a Curse

Cellphones:  A Blessing and a Curse

Comments 2 comments

Yes, today I’m going to get up on my soap box and shake my fist at the world of cellphones. Now, don’t get me wrong.  Cellphones are powerful tools.  If you could go back in time to just the early 2000’s and show the average person a cellphone from today, they wouldn’t believe the capabilities in today’s hardware and software, all conveniently packaged to fit in your pocket.  “Whoa, easy there, future boy!”  The world is truly at one’s fingertips….

Read More Read More

Tax Time:  Why Do We Make Things So Complicated?

Tax Time:  Why Do We Make Things So Complicated?

Comments 2 comments

The month of February is marked by many milestones – Groundhog Day, Mardi Gras, and for me it’s time for another annual chore that I loathe every year. Tax time. Yes, it’s time to sit down and figure out and file my federal and state income taxes.  I am one of the many folks who does their own (as well as the rest of my family’s), so at this time of year, I put out my shingle and start pestering…

Read More Read More

Thinking About a Garden This Year?  Now’s The Time to Start Planning For It

Thinking About a Garden This Year?  Now’s The Time to Start Planning For It

Comments 1 comment

Ahhh, the summer garden.  Who doesn’t love the thought of walking out of their back door and picking some ripe, juicy tomatoes, tender lettuces, or snipping off some fresh herbs to be used in that favorite kitchen recipe?  Well, hold on there a minute, all you Gordon Ramsey wannabes.  First things first.  If you want to reap all of those delicious rewards, there’s a little sweat equity involved to get there.  I’m not saying that having a small garden is…

Read More Read More

Grocery Shopping:  A Little Planning Saves A Lot

Grocery Shopping:  A Little Planning Saves A Lot

Comments 1 comment

One of the biggest expenses in a typical household after those pesky rent/mortgage/car payments every month is groceries.  We all have to eat, and things are certainly not getting any cheaper at the local supermarket.  What’s a body to do?  Well, I feel your pain, and as someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, I employ quite a few strategies to help make my food dollar go as far as possible.  I’m certainly no expert, but here…

Read More Read More

Retirement:  It’s Closing In, Thankfully

Retirement:  It’s Closing In, Thankfully

Comments 1 comment

As you may or may not know, I’m retiring from the world of work at the end of this year (just 338 days to go at the publishing of this blog entry – not that I’m counting or anything).  It’s a funny thing, the reactions I get when I tell people this fact.  First, they always look me up and down and quizzically ask, “how old are you?”  When I tell them I’ll be fifty-seven at the end of this…

Read More Read More

There’s A New Music Venue In Town – You Should Check It Out!

There’s A New Music Venue In Town – You Should Check It Out!

Comments 1 comment

I’m a big fan of live music events, but I generally either find the ticket prices appalling (for “big name” acts), the travel time excessive (it’s a bit of a jaunt to get down to Baltimore or Washington – or for that matter, even Hershey, PA), or the choice of acts and styles limited (you ever try to find a good jazz quartet in Hagerstown?) I’m happy to report that all of that is changing, thanks to Live at Hub…

Read More Read More

Food Trends for 2024 – What’s “In” For The New Year?

Food Trends for 2024 – What’s “In” For The New Year?

Comments 2 comments

We humans are a fickle lot, jumping on the latest taste and flavor bandwagon when it comes to food and beverage choices.  So, what’s on the horizon for 2024?  Where does the industry think our taste buds and habits are heading?  I’ve scoured the internet for multiple clues (so you don’t have to) and come up with a few trends that the pundits say are in store for us in the coming year. Plant Based Choices – More and More…

Read More Read More