Monthly Archives: February 2011

My niece Christy Ford never caused any heart attacks during her childhood but she came close. Like many of us in our large family, Christy was born at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids.  She is sixty years old today, and … Continue reading →

I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up – a drug lord.  I want to own a pharmaceutical company.  What a gravy train! Here’s some of the reasons pharmaceuticals might seem like a winning source … Continue reading →

My idea of a super bowl is one that’s filled to the brim with buttered popcorn. As a non-practicing jock, the only part of Super Bowls I watch is the half-time entertainment.  The rest of it seems like a lot … Continue reading →

I hope you’re not getting as much exercise as I am.  Because this is how much I’m getting.  Zero. Nada. Null. Nil. Zilch. Zippo.  It’s not because I’m lazy. The reason I fail to get enough exercise is political. I’m … Continue reading →

Today is the birthday of two winsome members of my family. . . . My daughter Judy Taylor is (gasp) 50 years old today.  My niece-in-law Denise Fitzpatrick is trailing behind at 46 years. Judy is my youngest child – … Continue reading →

Life in the Midwest is not for sissies. Yesterday, as you well know, Chicago was buried in over 20 inches of snow, ice, wind, thunder, lightning, and wind chills of 20 to 30 degrees below zero. But the city also … Continue reading →

Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is the home of Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s best known groundhog.  Today is his day. Groundhog Day. In four hours or so after I post this blob, Phil will step out of a burrow, see or not see … Continue reading →

What costs about forty dollars, has four strings, only two octaves, is easy to learn, lightweight, easy to carry, and makes your singing voice sound better than it really is? You guessed it — a ukelele.  Ukelele is a Hawaiian … Continue reading →