Items of local interest to the four-state area (Western Md, Southern PA, Northern VA, and Eastern WV).
Another major milestone in the Snyder household this week. My oldest daughter just turned twenty-one years old. I know – it’s hard to believe – and a little shocking to say. Not to wax nostalgic, but it really doesn’t seem like all that long ago when the hospital in Florida let us go home with her – a tiny infant that would totally rely on us for her future existence. My wife and I looked at each other with fear…
Yes, this Tuesday is the arrival of Fat Tuesday. You may know it by its more famous French name – Mardi Gras. It’s the last day of fun and frivolity prior to the arrival of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, when the more pious among us will forgo their wicked, hedonistic ways and settle in for forty days of self-reflection and prayer in preparation for the coming Easter holiday. Since Fat Tuesday is the “last gasp” for all…
Did you ever have a home or work project that just lingers? You know, you intend to get it done, but somehow, you never get around to finishing it – or even starting it? I can probably tell you one of the main reasons it never gets done. It doesn’t have a “deadline”. The addition of a deadline to any task makes it a priority. It crystalizes one’s thoughts, provides focus, and spurs one into action into either getting the…
Yes, today is Valentine’s Day (don’t worry, Dollar General probably still has a card and some cheap flowers if you forgot), and while you and your sweetheart (if you have one) are reading cards, going out to dinner, or pounding chocolate squares filled with mysterious ingredients by the fist-full, you may be thinking – “where did all of these traditions come from”? Holiday Origins As with most holidays, the origins of the holiday are a mixed bag. There were many…
Imagine you’re a pig farmer. You raise your pigs in hopes of selling them at market for a profit. You feed them, water them, make sure they have all their vet needs taken care of, and you weigh them once a week to see how they’re progressing. Your scales are electronic, and they also send the weights to your local auction house, so they also know how much your pigs weigh. This auction house also offers incentives, such as bonuses…
One of the drawbacks of all this readily available connectivity, communication, and technology in our modern era is the loss of regional food and cuisine. Go anywhere in America these days and if you’re in a decent sized-town or city, you’ll find a ‘Starbucks’, ‘Chick-fil-A’, or ‘Olive Garden’ – all serving their dishes to exacting standards, so that your dining experience is the same no matter where you visit in the United States (or in some cases, the world). What…
Once all of the Christmas stuff starts coming down in January, it always seems like a good idea to start taking a good look at the house and “de-cluttering” it a bit. It’s an overwhelming task. It’s best to start in one room and just start looking at everything in it. I’ll start with that “junk drawer” in the kitchen? Have you ever taken a good look in there? Yeeessshhhh. I doubt if I need that dentist appointment reminder card…
Well, if the forecaster’s predictions hold-up, we should be looking out the window at our first significant snowfall of 2022 here locally. One of the reasons I like living here in Maryland is the seasonality of the weather. You get a little bit of everything. The pleasant spring months, hot summers, glorious falls, and of course, cold winters. Winter also means snow, and although we don’t get as much of it here in Maryland as we used to (for a…
Ahhhh, the happy dreams of a young (or older) couple that decides to have children. At first – as infants – they require round-the-clock care. Mom and Dad look forward to the day when diapers and formula will no longer need to be purchased (it’s like getting a raise to one’s weekly paycheck each time one of these necessities is eliminated from the weekly grocery bill). Someday, this wiggling, crying human will sleep through the night. What a day that…
New year, new you, right? If you’re like me, you hopped on a scale over the weekend and were both shocked and offended. I looked down and saw numbers that would qualify me for a “Caution: Heavy Object” sticker if someone decided to ship me anywhere. As January unfolds, its time for me to get back to basics, and no – that doesn’t mean I will be shelling out some ridiculous monthly fee to go to a gym and sweat…