One year ago, my father-in-law, age 84, was living on his own, driving, in charge of his own finances, and pretty much his life. After two bouts of pneumonia last spring, things changed quickly. The family felt it best that we think of some long term plans, the first of which involved him moving into […]
I admit that I am dating myself, because when I was in school, and you went to the library for research, you stepped up to a large cabinet full of index cards. For example, if you wanted information about Abraham Lincoln, you searched his last name in the card catalog, alphabetical order in the ‘Ls’, […]
Until recently, buying light bulbs for your home was simple. You selected the watts required, perhaps a 3-way bulb, or maybe some sort of light blue or pink hue. Now go to any home improvement store, and there are walls upon walls of different lights to choose from. CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lights), are very energy […]
As host families for UWEC, my wife and I got to know two young women who had different stories to tell about freedom in their countries. Agnese was from Latvia, which today is a very progressive European country. However, they were not granted their independence from Russia until 1990! Latvians were under Russian rule before […]
The modern holiday of Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. In 1908, the U.S. Congress rejected a proposal to make Mother’s Day an official holiday, joking that they would also have to proclaim a “Mother-in-law’s Day.” However, because of the […]
OK, I admit it. I am somewhat plagiarizing this blog, as an article appeared in the Eau Claire Leader Telegram recently that really hit home. Not being afraid to date myself, but this summer I do turn 65, and this really got me thinking. Here are a few of the bullet points I took from […]
No, not the line from Fiddler on the Roof – but close. When my 3 girls were younger, it was often difficult to have set traditions over the holidays. Both my family and my in-laws insisted on each having their Christmas celebration and gift opening on Christmas Eve. Some years we went to both homes, […]
Don’t look now, but the holiday season is fast approaching. Falling on November 23 this year, Thanksgiving 2017 is earlier than usual, and with Christmas, New Year’s, and other festivities following soon after, the time is right to get ready for holiday travel. Driving? Any seasoned Wisconsin driver knows to check and double-check driving conditions, and if a blizzard […]
Ok, I admit it’s been a while, but I fondly remember my college days when the semester was finished, and I could read a book that I WANTED to read, not one I HAD to read. One weekend I blew off school and read The Godfather by Mario Puzo. Probably paid for it with a […]
Ever wonder why football and soccer are played in a stadium? Hockey on a rink? Basketball on a court? But baseball, well, that is played in a park! Yes, a ball park, with green grass, sun shining, fans, and the smells of hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, and yes, beer. I still think that going […]
