Items of local interest to the four-state area (Western Md, Southern PA, Northern VA, and Eastern WV).
It’s that time of year. So much going on – so much to get done. The house needs to be decorated, there are presents to buy and wrap, holiday school events to attend, college kids to pick-up, and meals to plan. Did you get your Christmas cards done and in the mail? How about those packages that need sent out in order arrive on or before December 25th? What day are you baking your holiday cookies or assembling that gingerbread…
As the years have passed by, I have come to the realization that the older I have become, the worse I feel. Oh, I can’t point to anything specific, but in general – if you ask me “how are you?” – I’m more than likely to respond with a pursing of my lips and a response of “meh”. Let’s look at my various ailments and conditions that I now deal with on a daily basis. First off, I’m about twenty…
Well, another Thanksgiving has come and gone, which means our household can now turn its attention to the upcoming Christmas season. Unlike more and more of my friends and neighbors, in our castle we DO give Turkey Day its due and hold off on the fluff and floof of Christmas until at least the day AFTER Thanksgiving (which even I think is a little early, but am generally overruled by a gaggle of women who are in full-on “Holy Jolly”…
It’s coming – like a beast that has slumbered all season, waiting to unleash its onslaught of bargains and deals for those brave souls willing to sacrifice sleep and sanity to take on its promise of retail nirvana. “Black Friday”. For most stores, it’s the turning point of their fiscal year – when they actually START to turn a profit (changing their financial figures from red to black, hence the name). You’ve all seen the videos, articles, and news reports. …
If you’re anything like my family, getting folks to and from their various job duties, school functions, and appointments is a constant battle. I’ll describe my family’s situation below, but I’m sure you may have some hybrid of this situation (or if you have young children – don’t worry – it’s coming). First, there is the sheer lack of available drivers in my clan. I have a wife and two daughters (one is eighteen and the other is sixteen). Now,…
While driving home from work recently, I began to notice something about the downtown Hagerstown business scene. Barbershops. As in – it seems as if you can’t swing a dead cat in downtown Hagerstown and not hit a barbershop. It looked like every other storefront was a barbershop. “In the Cuts”, “Clippers”, “Cape and Blade”, “Goyo’s”, “Xander’s” – there were enough barber poles and chairs to start a barbershop theme park. I came back home and Googled “Hagerstown barbershops” –…
As you may know from reading my posts, I have some strong feelings about Wal-Mart (it’s a love/hate thing). Now, don’t get me wrong, I know that they provide affordable products and grocery items – and that if you’re on a budget, Wal-Mart has some great deals. That being said, each local Wal-Mart tends to take on the flavor and personality of its clientele, and in the case of the Hagerstown Wal-Mart (#1674 – Salute!), a trip to this specific…
As a writer, I’m a big fan of the short story. I’ve penned a few short stories over the years, and have been working on a collection called “Dark Water Tales” – an anthology of spooky stories that all revolve around the central theme of water. I posted one of these last year, and thought it was time to publish another one, so dim the lights, curl up under a warm blanket, and be prepared to be taken on a…
For those of you traveling along South Potomac Street in Hagerstown for the past year or so, you’ve probably noticed the construction that has caused many a traffic delay or detour through the downtown corridor. What’s it all been for? Well, a new 30,000 square foot expansion of the historic Maryland Theatre has just completed, and I had the chance to be one of the first visitors during its recent open house to view all of the new changes. First…
October means cool nights, pumpkins, and of course – Halloween mania. Halloween has become the second-most popular holiday here in the US (thankfully, Christmas still reigns as the holiday champion), and there are those that wait all year for the chance to get their fright on. There are plenty of opportunities in the local four-state area to have the bejeezus scared out of you (if you’re into that), so check out these local attractions this holiday season (but just don’t…