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Baseball Is As Faded As Roy Rogers

These days, I save a quarter-hour of time by not checking the previous night’s baseball results each morning. That feels odd, vaguely like leaving the house without my car keys. In one sense, I am always troubled when I leave the house without my car keys. But in a closer-to-home sense, I usually leave my car keys on my desk when I feed the dogs, cats and chickens or to take my daily one-mile walk around our fields. I take that walk with our two dogs. Passers-by sometimes see from one to four small gray cats appearing to tag along. Cats, being cats, don’t admit to liking ...

Computer Geek Worries About Parents

Arbed and Fred are a retired couple who were both involved in the helping profession for over 40-years. I took a call from one of their children, Jules, a self-described computer geek. He explained that he worried about his parents. They were residing in their family home, which they built 50 years ago. The multi-dwelling no longer fit their needs. Fred and Arbed were struggling to maintain their home. Jules was exploring viable options that would be safe and secure. Months of investigative work were at an impasse. He labeled them “stubborn.” What to do ... what to do. His call ...

Continuing On Learning About Ants

Ants are doubly annoying because the minute I started checking, they taught me how dreadfully ignorant I am. Definitely on the subject of ants. Unless you too are in the habit of picking one up to squash it (there are spots shoes don’t reach), you might not know they bite — and sting. They have long (well, for an ant) mandibles (the illustration shows what appears as two long curved teeth) which can be used for defense. But they also have a “sting” at the end of their back end and I suspect that’s what I feel. Not anything to cry about but an unpleasant surprise ...

Divide And Conquer In Modern America

I’ve decided to create my own little autonomous zone at my house. I’m going to erect a chain link fence at the end of my driveway and the only people who are allowed through the gate are my mail lady, family members and people who agree with me about everything. And I mean absolutely everything. You don’t like lemon and ginger tea with honey? Don’t bother stopping by. You like my last haircut better? Don’t even consider expressing your opinion here. It’s not welcome. And hey, if we can’t agree on the best way to roast a chicken, please refrain from ever speaking to me ...

Enjoy The Summer Fun You Can

I think playgrounds are open but I am not sure. It has been awfully slow opening everything up around here. I know there are no programs this year, but I think parents can still take their children to the playground if they choose to. When I was growing up the playground played a significant role in my summer entertainment. Sometimes I went to work with my mother to be able to go to the playground that was near her work. (Number 2 School playground) That activity netted me many new friends since it was beyond my neighborhood. I especially liked the crafts that were done at the ...

Taking A Look Into The Definition And Job Of A Father

Who takes on the arduous job of provider, protector, counselor, advisor, teacher, referee, arbitrator, disciplinarian, repairman, and many more roles that may pop up during his life? One answer is, of course, a father. We know how much mothers do for their children, and the many roles and tasks they take on after giving birth to their children, and realize the additional time mothers spend as mothers and fathers in some of today’s family situations. But even in situations where both parents are not living together, and in cases where one parent may be gone for military ...