Browsed by
Category: Local Interest

Items of local interest to the four-state area (Western Md, Southern PA, Northern VA, and Eastern WV).

Drone Shows:  Technology Goes Next-Gen for Nighttime Entertainment

Drone Shows:  Technology Goes Next-Gen for Nighttime Entertainment

Comments 2 comments

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…

Read More Read More

Records Are Making a Comeback?  Who’d Have Thought!

Records Are Making a Comeback?  Who’d Have Thought!

Comments 3 comments

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…

Read More Read More

Graduation Decorum:  Hard to Find

Graduation Decorum:  Hard to Find

Comments 2 comments

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…

Read More Read More

Graduation Season:  Celebrating Success

Graduation Season:  Celebrating Success

Comments 0 Comment

The month of May brings about many things.  May flowers, the Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo, and this year, even a royal coronation, but it is also the month for most high school and college graduations.  All over the country, young men and women will be dressing in gowns and mortar boards, shaking hands with academic elite as they walk across stages, and awkwardly hugging that uncle or aunt they see once a year (and who is totally embarrassing them…

Read More Read More

Rainy Days:  Get Them While They Last

Rainy Days:  Get Them While They Last

Comments 1 comment

The local weather forecast is filled with rain for the next week, and while some folks may dislike the seemingly day after day of wet weather, I for one embrace it – for a number of reasons. First off, there’s my garden.  I plant a few raised beds every year, and the daily dose of liquid sunshine keeps me from having to manually water in my seedlings and young plants.  At this time of year, they will take all the…

Read More Read More

“Adulting” Is Hard

“Adulting” Is Hard

Comments 1 comment

As my daughters are quickly learning and often quoting to me these days, “adulting” is hard.  There are so many interactions to navigate, so many decisions to be made, and so many moving parts of to an adult life.  There’s transportation, work, paying bills, obtaining housing, shopping for groceries, relationships, preparing meals, washing clothes – the list goes on and on. While my daughters think that an old hand like myself makes these daily, weekly, and monthly tasks look easy,…

Read More Read More

The Great American Front Porch – Back in Business for Another Year

The Great American Front Porch – Back in Business for Another Year

Comments 1 comment

With the return of warmer weather, I spent this past week prepping my front porch for another season of use.  I swept off the winter dust and dirt, washed a window or two, and even cleaned off the porch posts with some soapy water to rid the area of its winter grime and wear.  Then it was off to the shed to retrieve the furniture and cushions, getting them placed just so, followed by the return of my house plants…

Read More Read More

Pet Peeves – The “Old Man” Rant

Pet Peeves – The “Old Man” Rant

Comments 4 comments

As I grow older, I find that more and more things tend to annoy me when I’m out and about.  I’ve always been sarcastic (which my own daughters now give back to me in spades – I guess they have been paying attention), but it seems to me as if society as a whole has become more impolite, self-centered, and “me”- centric.  Either that or I’m slowly turning into my own father (yikes!).  Here’s what I mean. Let’s start with…

Read More Read More

Spring is Here! (Actually, It’s Been Here for Weeks)

Spring is Here! (Actually, It’s Been Here for Weeks)

Comments 2 comments

Well, spring “officially” made its annual appearance this past week, but let’s not kid ourselves.  We’ve had a VERY mild winter this year locally, and judging by my flowering cherry trees (which have already bloomed and faded), the landscape has been in full-on regeneration mode for several weeks already.  If this keeps up, old “Punxsutawney Phil” will be greeted by crocuses and daffodils next year on Groundhog Day. I’m sure the local ski resort took a financial beating this year,…

Read More Read More

March Madness is Here!

March Madness is Here!

Comments 1 comment

The middle of March brings us to the annual NCAA basketball tournaments (both men’s and women’s).  Sixty-four of the nation’s Division 1 schools compete for the title of national champion.  It’s a time of emotional highs, crushing lows, and thrilling basketball action (especially if your favorite team is participating). Part of the annual tournament is the fun (and in some cases, high stakes) of trying to pick the eventual winner of the event.  You’ve probably seen these brackets floating around…

Read More Read More