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The Outdoor Theater Experience: Cheaper Than You Think

The Outdoor Theater Experience: Cheaper Than You Think

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Nothing beats being able to combine two good things and turning them into one great thing.  Chocolate and peanut butter, Crown Apple and ginger ale, or Steve Martin and Martin Short are fine examples.  For me, that means cool, autumn evenings and watching classic movies.  Since movie theaters are still mostly closed due to the pandemic (or just starting to reopen at limited capacity) and drive-ins are all but extinct (but making a comeback in some areas), the next best…

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Siblings

Siblings

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As I watch my own daughters grow up, I’m reminded of the differences that seem inherent between an older and a younger sibling.  Through observations of my own family, my own experiences, and my very unscientific conclusions, my theory consists of a few hypothesis statements: The first-born takes on the mantle of being the responsible, serious family member. The second-born is a wildcard. Sibling rivalry is real (Sorry, this theory doesn’t factor in any “middle” children.  The only thing I…

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It’s a Strange, New World: Learning to Embrace It

It’s a Strange, New World: Learning to Embrace It

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My, what a difference a month makes.  Although it seems like an eternity now, just a mere thirty days ago, my household had different priorities.  We were planning college visits, working on summer vacation plans, and riding out an unusually mild winter. Now we’re hunkered down, seeing our schedules free up on a daily basis (as more and more activities get delayed or canceled), and a family unit that was starting to go their separate ways has now been placed…

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So You’re Stuck at Home, Huh? Don’t Worry, There’s Plenty To Do

So You’re Stuck at Home, Huh? Don’t Worry, There’s Plenty To Do

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As the coronavirus continues to spread and lock-downs are becoming more and more stringent, you’ve probably got a house full of people that are cooped up and getting restless. “There’s nothing to do!” That’s a common chorus I’m hearing in my household. On the contrary, there are plenty of things to keep one’s mind and body occupied. For example, we’ve started a 2000-piece puzzle, which is now taking up space on the dining room table. I’ve got a plot in…

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The Driving Test – Part II

The Driving Test – Part II

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When last we left our heroes, the car they were using was on the fritz, confidences had been shattered, and the question on whether or not the State of Maryland would ever grant my oldest daughter her driver’s license was up in the air. What a difference a week makes. As you recall from last week, the 2012 Nissan Sentra my daughter was going to take her test in decided to break down while sitting in line to take the…

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The Driving Test – Part 1

The Driving Test – Part 1

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Wow, what a week.  The story of my oldest daughter obtaining her driver’s license is becoming the stuff of family legend.  One day, she’ll be able to tell her own kids about it, have a laugh, and hopefully – their own challenges with the process won’t seem so insurmountable. First, let’s back up a bit. My oldest daughter hasn’t been too concerned about obtaining her driver’s license.  It doesn’t consume her as it does my youngest, who just recently got…

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Paintball: A Sport on the Verge of Extinction Rises Again for a New Era

Paintball: A Sport on the Verge of Extinction Rises Again for a New Era

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It was an overcast and gloomy morning in the mountain woods.  Viewing silently from my elevated position, I could see the enemy moving along the bottom of the ridgeline.  Working slowly from behind trees and ground cover, they were attempting to flank members of my squad who were engaged with other combatants to my left and further downslope.  My team’s attention was focused on the short bursts of rounds being thrown at them from hidden positions to their front, so…

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The Slow Cooker: The Solution for a Busy Family’s Dinner Dilemma

The Slow Cooker: The Solution for a Busy Family’s Dinner Dilemma

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It happens every fall all over the four-state area.  The kids are back in school and sports and your calendar now looks like a jumbled mass of dates and times.  One goes here, one goes there – oh, and don’t forget your church meeting or club gathering.  When will you ever find the time to make dinner when everyone is going in ten different directions? Ahhh, but there is hope.  A kitchen gadget you no doubt already have in your…

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Massanutten Water Park: A Great Place to Cool Off

Massanutten Water Park: A Great Place to Cool Off

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The family and I recently received a surprise invitation to join some friends at the Massanutten Resort complex, located in central Virginia.  It’s a sprawling 6,000 acre, four- season resort located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley near Harrisonburg, VA, (about 140 miles southwest from Hagerstown, MD, right off of I-81).  There’s something for everyone here, but today I wanted to focus on the highlight of our overnight stay, the Massanutten Water Park. The water park complex consists of…

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