January Tanning at 40 Degrees North

 ”On vacations we hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies, and the sand out of our belongings.”  Erma Bombeck

Suntan lotion sales melt at forty degrees north.  Especially in January when jackets cover skin.  But compared to my buddy, O’Malley Nanook of Fairbanks, I have it easy.  Located two-hundred miles south of the Arctic Circle, O’Malley covers up with flannel, mittens and parkas woven from caribou hide.  This week’s forecast for O’Malley features balmy nights at 25 below, cold enough to freeze antifreeze. Continue reading “January Tanning at 40 Degrees North” »

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A Harried Christmas

Once again we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.”  Dave Barry

I’m more into saying Merry Christmas than Happy Holidays.  For me the latter is too politically correct and saccharin.  But for many in fire ravaged Northern California its understandable why folks may neither be merry nor happy.  Those that have lost homes, and loved ones, grind through the days.  Many of us wish a magic wand would make things better.  Friends, press onward.  A community supports you. Continue reading “A Harried Christmas” »

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Thanksgiving 2018 – Thanks Firefighters

I enjoy camp fires but have NOT enjoyed the recent Camp Fire which hit the community of Paradise, California.  For readers unfamiliar with Northern California, Paradise sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills about fifteen miles east of Chico and about 90 miles north of Sacramento. Continue reading “Thanksgiving 2018 – Thanks Firefighters” »

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Words of Wisdom – Will Rogers

A remark generally hurts in proportion to the truth.”

“Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction.”  Will Rogers

Will Rogers was an icon.  Born in 1879, Rogers was an American stage and motion picture actor, vaudeville performer, American cowboy, humorist, newspaper columnist, and social commentator from Oklahoma. Born in the Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, Rogers was a Cherokee citizen. Continue reading “Words of Wisdom – Will Rogers” »

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Get Ready for the 2018 Butte County Trivia Bee

There are basically two types of people.  People who accomplish things and people who claim to have accomplished things.  The first group is less crowded.”  Mark Twain

Mark Twain lived generations ago but his words and wit live in print.  Many take literacy for granted— but unfortunately for some Twain’s genius will never be read. Continue reading “Get Ready for the 2018 Butte County Trivia Bee” »

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Neighborhood Watchin’ Pays Off

I never expected needing to carry a baseball bat for walking my own property.  I swing bats to miss pitches.  Not fend off intruders.

We own an investment property in town, an old walnut orchard thick on bark, long on limbs and short on shade.  The trees are geezers and recent drought years have stressed them beyond good health—a true orchardist would have felled them.  But we’ve hung onto the lot, trimming what we can within our gerbil powered real estate budget.  Gravity directs dropped branches onto our side of the fence.  The lot also has a small house, a rental.  It’s temporarily vacant until we complete interior repairs. Continue reading “Neighborhood Watchin’ Pays Off” »

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Paying Homage to a Great One: Humor Writer Patrick McManus

The writer with Patrick McManus

“You’ll never meet him,” a know-it-all consultant told me.  “Patrick McManus is big time.  He’s hard to reach.  He won’t have time for you.”

It pays to ignore naysayers especially when one is young, dumb, ambitious, and on a mission.  In this case I was on a mission to interview Patrick McManus, a New York Times best-selling author and humor writer.  A long-time columnist for Field and Stream and Outdoor Life Magazines, McManus wrote about guys who got lost in the woods and the trials and travesties of wiring trailer lights.  Continue reading “Paying Homage to a Great One: Humor Writer Patrick McManus” »

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Buying Your Teen a Car? Hmm…

I’m a hand-me-down guy with a mindset inherited from my grandparents, Great Depression veterans.  Whether it was hockey equipment or clothes the only “new” stuff Mom bought was either underwear or socks.  She’d hand down Dad’s shirts telling me I’d grow into them.  When it came to sneakers she’d splurge with a trip to Penny’s if we were lucky.  But un-luck mostly prevailed and I got blue-light specials.  “Your dad’s left foot is size 8 but he wears a size 9 right foot.  Here, enjoy your Keds knock-offs.”  Good thing my feet were size 8.  My brother got my hand-me-downs, unfortunate for him—he’s worn size 7 shoes since kindergarten. Continue reading “Buying Your Teen a Car? Hmm…” »

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Book Review: Dave Barry in Cyberspace

With word processing, there is no end to the amount of words you can crank out without having to become personally involved with what they say.”  Dave Barry in Cyberspace

Like everyone else on the planet I’ve been busy, but I make time to pitch another Dave Barry classic.  Barry’s humor fits like a well-worn glove that slides over chapped skin.  He’s comfortably funny.  From the opening paragraph Dave Barry in Cyberspace is a riot.   No need for warm-up exercises; Barry hooks you before reaching the period in the first sentence.  Continue reading “Book Review: Dave Barry in Cyberspace” »

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Even Hockey Coaches Have Hearts

Published in the Chico Enterprise-Record, Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph & Hockey Player Magazine (2012)

Readers, a prologue: This article previously appeared in several newspapers and on my blog.  I share it again in memory of Eric Trivedi, a fellow hockey buddy.  Originally from Dearborn, Michigan, Eric started playing hockey at age 5 and was a founding member of the California State University-Chico inline hockey team.  Eric not only had a snappy shot but also a quick wit.  He even gave me one of his old sticks—the one that never scored.  Eric passed away unexpectedly last month at age 43.  Eric, you were too young to say goodbye to.      

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“I thought this may interest you,” the email said.  In the subject heading was a name, Wayne Marshall, my high school hockey coach.  I expected the worst, to see an obituary.  Continue reading “Even Hockey Coaches Have Hearts” »

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