No one is more surprised than me to hear me say this (see me type this, rather) but clutter is really getting on my last nerve these days. For those of you who saw my house before the fire, you’re probably laughing your ass off and blowing whatever you’re drinking out your nose right now, having just read that. I mean, we filled two 35ft dumpsters FULL...

Thirteen Books That Have Shaped Me(in no particular order) A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life by Bruce Wilkinson The Dancing Wu Li Masters: An...

…because someone I love thought I needed a good laugh, and I thought you might,...

For the 11 years, 3 months and 9 days we have lived in this house, we’ve had a problem that is GOING AWAY TOMORROW!!!We have been unable to open any of our windows. They are old and have been painted a hundred thousand times (plus two more times since I’ve owned them) and I’ve actually cracked two of them trying to pry them open. Now, at first...

I went to bed early last night, and much appreciate the well wishes from all of you. I’m proud to report that the fever broke about 3:15am. I woke up, my forehead was all wet like I’d just washed my face and the broken-bone-aches I went to bed with were gone. I got up, got a drink of water, washed my face for real and went back to bed and slept until...

Temp of 103. Ha! And you thought I was being conceited. Shame on you. You know I’m not like that. I’m taking my hot self to bed early. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves…

They say time heals all wounds, but I disagree. I know too many people still hung up on events in the past for that to be true. I think, at least from my own personal experience, what heals the wounds is letting go of wishing things had turned out differently, or just were different, and accepting what is. I believe most of the emotional pain we endure in life is...

Deck construction is not always the glamorous endeavor you imagine it to be. Sometimes, you find yourself in strange places and positions in an effort to ensure your creation is solid and will withstand the test of time. Other times, you find yourself in these strange places and positions in an effort to correct an “oops – I forgot to do that in my zeal...

I and many of my neighbors have just about had it with one of our mail carriers. For me, the issue is him and one of our dogs. Our inside dog, Pepper, is a little black Benji-looking mutt with a big mouth. On the days that I teach, she’s in the house in her crate until I get home to let her out. We have a tie-out in the front yard for her, as our...

Thirteen Favorite Foods When It’s Cold Outside Broccoli/rice/chicken casserole Corn chowder Chicken stew Boiled cabbage, ham and macaroni & cheese Chili w/cornbread Cream of wheat w/ brown sugar Hot chocolate w/ mini marshmallows French Onion soup in a bread bowl Roast and vegetables in the crock pot Beef stew Tomato soup and grilled cheese...