New beginnings, fresh starts, reaffirmation of love and promises for a brighter future all come to mind as we ring in a New Year. There are the superficial, yet purposeful, promises we make to ourselves. We resolve to get in shape, lose weight, improve career paths, and the like. Then, there are the heartfelt promises…

Driving up the hill, I could see the Animal Control Officer standing by the ice shrouded pond. About 20 feet away was another lady, jus’ standing there. They were both focused on something splashing around in the water; that something was a dog. So I pulled over to see if I could lend a hand.…

While at the veterinarian’s office with one of our dogs, I asked for cup of coffee. It is something they offer to the ‘parent’s of their patients,’ and anytime I can get a fresh brewed cup o’ Joe, I’m all over it. As the coffee finished gurgling through the maker, the young lady who was…

Harlem Globetrotter “Meadowlark” Lemon passed away at the age of 83. He played 24 seasons and by his own estimate more than 16,000 games with the Globetrotter organization. It was the early 70’s and I remember watching his on court antics as a kid, and enjoying Saturday morning cartoons with his team mates solving some…

Perhaps you’ve heard the old saw: “Things happen for a reason.” Well, it seems that Star Wars is running through my son’s and my life, over 32-years after I found myself involved in “Return of the Jedi.” This thought came to me as we sat watching the new movie over the weekend. Hopefully, I can…

So schools in the Reno/Sparks area are out for winter break — or Christmas break as we used to say in the old days. Despite that, the school zone light’s near my home continue to flash meaning (in Nevada) you’re supposed to slow down to 15 miles per hour. So the question becomes: Do I…

While working as Irving Middle School in Pocatello, Idaho, Dalene Bowden was caught giving a lunch to a girl who supposedly didn’t have the money to pay for it. Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 immediately terminated her employment because of her theft of school district property. Yes – school district property — which is paid for…

It was Christmastime 1969, when my best friend and I got off the bus, arguing over whether Santa Claus was real or not. He said ‘no’ and I said ‘yes.’ My conviction was so strong that I eventually picked a fight with him and we both ended up in the principal’s office. I explained that…

(April 1997) Match head strikes the grainy pad, Miniature graphite stones glued in place, Sparking up with flare and flame. Bringing warmth and cooking heat. No roar as it jumps to life. Jus’ a gentle crackle from hunger, Gobbling up leaves and twigs. The tinder I set before the flame. Smoke curls into my face,…

The Obama White Administration is continuing its pushing to have women assume combat roles. However, the Center for Military Readiness (CMR) has released statistics showing there’s no such thing as combat equality. Females are injured at twice the rate of men in basic training. Females suffer a rate of stress that’s four times higher than…