With the summer heat reaching record-breaking temperatures, wouldn’t it be nice to step out of the back of the house and take a refreshing dip in your very own swimming pool? It’s the dream of a lot of homeowners, right? Be careful what you wish for. I know quite a few friends who happen to have swimming pools in their backyards (both “above ground” and “in ground”), and to a man (or woman), whenever I pose the comment “it must…
There’s nothing like a short summer getaway to recharge one’s batteries and to enjoy time with friends. My wife and I recently did both, taking in a long weekend in Philadelphia, PA, where there’s more to the city than just the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the ‘Rocky’ statue. We headed north on Friday from our home in MD, making the short three hour-plus trip up I-95, passing through northeastern Maryland and Delaware before arriving at our lodgings for the…
The heat of summer has me longing for the shade of my front porch, where I can leisurely sit in the evenings with a good book or just watch the world go by. There’s also nothing better than sipping on a summer cocktail whilst I enjoy a good parch sit, but what to drink? I’ve seen plenty of videos and tik-toks on summer drink hacks that look fun, refreshing, and tasty. Here’s a sample of a few that you might…
Ahhh, the family reunion. An annual rite of passage for most families, you’ll often find the summer months as the “high season” for this type of extended family gathering. Reunions are done in a number of ways, whether it be meeting up at a relative’s house for a picnic/barbeque or gathering everyone together for a big trip somewhere – say Disney World or getting a cabin together in the Great Smoky Mountains. There tend to be two camps when it…
This week marks our country’s 247th birthday (just three more years until the Semiquincentennial – start your shopping now!), and what’s more American than watching a fireworks show to celebrate our Independence Day? No matter where you see a colorful display light up the night sky, it’s always an exciting time of year. That being said, advances in drone technology are now being utilized by the entertainment industry, most notably in the form of drone shows. Similar to a fireworks…
I spent last week in Florida visiting my youngest daughter, who is working for a theme park company infested with rodents (I think you know the one). In addition, I also spent some time visiting my extended family on my wife’s side and delivering a car (the rest of my family flew while I drove the 920 miles to get there). Upon my return this past weekend, I had some time to ponder about what I missed (and didn’t miss)…
Do you remember that one car you owned in your life that took on memorable status? The one that not only revives horrible flop-sweats, but also brings back memories that make you smile? I have one of those. It’s a 1999 Toyota Camry. A white, four-door. The car that if you gave its description to a police officer, they’d say “well that narrows it down to about two million possible matches.” They made a ton of these back in the…
I don’t know how hard you keep your finger on the pulse of modern music, but if you have been paying any attention at the department store or at your local used book shop recently, you’ve probably noticed an uptick in both the availability and browsing of an unexpected item. Vinyl record albums. Yes, for those of you of a certain age, you heard that right – that record collection gathering dust in your attic or basement is making an…
I recently attended my oldest daughter’s graduation from college. It was a special day. A milestone in her life and in ours, and while I couldn’t be any more proud of her completing this chapter of her life, I have to say I was more than a little embarrassed and disappointed at many of the other attendees at the graduation ceremony. Yes, I’m talking to you, friends and family of other graduates. I don’t mean to go off on a…
Ahhh, the dream of the typical, American family. There’s Mom, Dad, the eldest son and the youngest daughter. They get the happy news in April that Dad got that well-deserved promotion at work and to celebrate, this summer they are going to pack up their suitcases and head down to Orlando, Florida for a week of fun and frolic at the most magical place on earth, Walt Disney World. They excitedly talk about it over the dinner table, discussing what…