For those of you who live in the Annandale area, you might have noticed a minivan with a huge “HONK I’m 50 Today” sign on the back. Unbeknownst to me, my son Jack made this lovely sign of declaration in his art class. (Thanks Mr. Sparks…I owe you one!) As I’m driving the kids to school I kept asking why... READ MORE >
Wouldn’t having a day of your own be wonderful? This would be a day where everything automatically went just as you liked it…. What could be better? Having this day several times a month just because “It’s Your Day!” Let me explain…. My brother and I were only 10 months apart in age and we fought constantly throughout our childhood.... READ MORE >
I have a new favorite TV show: America’s Secret Slang. In truth, I think I should have pitched this show to television executives years ago. Slang is fascinating and so many times we use it without even considering how silly it sounds. For example try explaining “You’re pulling my leg” to an African priest in Tanzania. He answered seriously, “I... READ MORE >
They say the best stories come from people writing what they know and so I will share with you, my friends, I now know ticks. For years I have made fun of all the ticks we have bombard us here every summer by keeping them in a clear jar of alcohol so we can get a body count at the... READ MORE >
This year our summer vacation was spent on the North Shore with the Jacobson Family. It was interesting to see some of my old haunts through new eyes. Their youngest, my pal Sam, liked to call my attention to every detail by saying my name twice. By the end of the long weekend I believe I heard my name 38... READ MORE >
I recently returned from a week-long mission trip to New York City with my son Jack. In many ways this trip was more difficult than the 21 days I spent in Africa. First was the 27-hour bus ride to get there. Thank you Greyhound for making this as comfortable as possible. I really appreciate that you now have Wi-Fi and... READ MORE >
I grew up celebrating the 4th of July at the Tofte Park with a parade, a hoedown, food and family fun! And of course fireworks! The evening would end with us lying on old sleeping bags down on the rocky shore of Lake Superior watching the night sky light up with bold explosions of color. I lit my first firecracker... READ MORE >
Between you and me I have a pet peeve with the word “like.” Warning: this column contains 27 misuses of the word “like.” You may have a headache by the end. I did and I was only typing. When I was young the word “like” was used in short sweet messages—“Do you like me?” “Yes I like you”—not as a... READ MORE >
Do you know why God made puppies so cute? I will tell you why—because if they weren’t cute we’d hang them by their heels from the clothesline every time they were naughty! Which in the case of our new canine addition would be about 15 times a day! Yes we (okay, it was me) decided we needed a new puppy.... READ MORE >
I grew up in the quiet of northern Minnesota so I am experienced when it comes to “country quiet.” Yes, there are days when you can enjoy the peaceful sounds of the birds and the gentle tinging of the wind chime as it sways in a cool breeze…but that is not every day and definitely not the first day of... READ MORE >
