rike52

accident, 1968

An essay I’m about to submit to the Southeast Michigan Tournament of Writers (1) weaves around the writing of my first book, a process that really strengthened my ties to my old home town. Started in February ’19, first published May ’21 and updated March ’23, The Accident tells of that awful week in OctoberContinue reading “accident, 1968”

how lucky

Listening to John Prine’s Spotify channel last night got me thinking about a project I started years ago and now might be about time to deploy. I’ll link John’s song about this at the end, but first let me relate the details. From my birth I’ve been lucky. After a while you wonder what the pattern means.Continue reading “how lucky”

land of ice

That’s how Norseman Hrafna (Raven) Flóki (getting that nickname as he used ravens to find land from out at sea)) called it when in 868 AD he became the 3rd European to set foot on this little island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, sailing the 1300 km (800 mi) from the Faroe Islands by Scotland (1). Tho’Continue reading “land of ice”

cinquo de enero.

If my accomplishment was from over the border, perhaps I could apply the term to this Spanish phrase. But since all the production commemorated here came with my butt firmly applanted to my nice Ekornes recliner in my living room, we’ll be happy saying “happy 5th anniversary”. We had another little celebration in the interim, so I forgotContinue reading “cinquo de enero.”

chilled bubbly

Coming in from a hot task outside to something cold out of the fridges one of life’s great underrated pleasures. But what happens is someone has purchased said beverages but not put them in the fridge? Oh, the sadness of a warm beer. Relief is on the way. A couple cans in the ice cube tray cool downContinue reading “chilled bubbly”

Docere day?

My dear wife flew pretty high around the turn of the century as NASA’s Chief Scientist, an experience that informed the motivationql speeches she took to giving after her tenure there. To handle the proceeds from her efforts, she formed an LLC, Docere (doh-kaý-rah; from the Latin “to teach”). Over the years, we’ve taking to running anyContinue reading “Docere day?”

south county blue

I spent my formative years in the little farming village of Vicksburg, in South Kalamazoo County. Then about 2000 souls, it’s grown to over 3600, as the combination of good schools, friendly neighbors, and abundant lakes and streams keeps drawing people in from the surrounding communities While I was one of the smart ones who couldn’tContinue reading “south county blue”

quad?

George Carlin never got to be as old as I am now, dying at 71 on June 22, 2007, in Santa Monica. His twisted, if amazingly logical, humor shaped much of my youthful thinking. I never expected that wisdom to be enduring, but much of what he talked about rings true today. During COVID, especially, I found comfortContinue reading “quad?”

God Jul!

From Harbal, December 11, 2024. That’s Norwegian for “Merry Christmas”. For me and Kathy, this season stirs our (25% Norwegian) Scandinavian souls. The year past tickled all of our national origins, so here I share with you some of the highlights. My sweetie loves Christmas. She got down to it after Thanksgiving, finding another tree farm for our 9’Continue reading “God Jul!”

A shot for flu? No thank you!

Among the many things COVID has taught us is that we should be wary of those insisting we be jabbed with something foreign to protect us and others. Turns out the vaxx didn’t protect against infection or slow its spread, and oh those side effects! Peter McCullough, one of the heroes in bringing reason to our fightContinue reading “A shot for flu? No thank you!”