I love Christmas. I sing the carols and the religious songs, even though I do not believe in god nor miracles. However, I do think the world, at least here in North America, gets kinder at Christmas time. I like that. At Christmas time I like to carry a pack of rolled quarters in my […]
Letter: “What does a lamb say?”
“Baaaaaaa.” Then she’ll smile, revealing four upper teeth and a matching set below. “Mmmmmmm,” she will mimic grandpa as he pauses while pondering what next animal sound she might recognize. Lion, dog, horse, cow. She knows what each of them has to say. But to hear her rendition of kitty or lamb is sweetest of […]
Westside Story – Second, Second Amendment Opinion
On 05-15-2020, Mr. William Elder capitalized on his Constitutional Right under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Using his freedom of speech guaranteed under the First Amendment, Mr. Elder wrote and published an article which I am referring to as the First, Second Amendment Opinion. The title was The Second Amendment to the […]
Motels, Hotels, Apartments and Rental Properties in Danger
I lived in a motel for eight years and my wife and I used to own dozens of rental homes, so I know something about motels, and collecting rent. My parents bought a small motel in Ponders Corner when I was in the seventh grade at Hudtloff Junior High. I stayed there through my second […]
The Half Of It – 2020 Film Review
I recently watched the film “The Half Of It” late one night with captions on and the audio down. I wanted to wake up my wife Peggy, but simply enjoyed the movie knowing that over breakfast I could tell her about it. The initial release date was May 1st. The movie is about train service […]
Across the Fence: Pancakes
Do you remember specific dishes from your very early childhood? Some that you outgrew but still make, a little changed up? I can still taste the German pancakes my mother used to make when I was about four; we usually had them for lunch in our nursery, my mother, my brother, and I. Sprinkled with […]
Backstory: Sixty-fifth Mothers Day
A story on this morning’s news says that I could have kept the Stimulus check issued last week to my brother. I wrote in last week’s News Tribune column that the check was a big surprise because he died a year ago. Apparently, according to Nina Olson, executive director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, […]
Vet Clinic, May ’20
New resources for military veterans… Coronavirus death rate among veterans continues to climbhttps://www.militarytimes.com/news/2020/04/21/coronavirus-death-rate-among-veterans-continues-to-climb/ Another big boost for VA funding in latest federal budget dealhttps://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/12/19/another-big-boost-for-va-funding-in-latest-federal-budget-deal/ VA extends financial, benefits and claims relief to Veteranshttps://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5412 Veterans groups step up efforts to help with coronavirus financial challenges and isolationhttps://www.militarytimes.com/news/2020/04/14/veterans-groups-step-up-efforts-to-help-with-coronavirus-financial-challenges-and-isolation/ Wounded Warrior Projects offers $10 million in coronavirus relief […]
Westside Story – Too Much Screen Time Causes Metamorphosis
I always wanted to be six feet tall, but I never made it. As tall as I ever got was 5’ 8 3/4,” which caused the Tacoma Police Department to reject me in 1966. They demanded I be 5’ 9” to become a TPD street cop. Then there was that crushing blow in high school […]