Sadly, San Bernadino, CA was the scene of yet another mass shooting as assailants gunned down dozens of defenseless people at a social services center. I think we can all agree that this type of violence is becoming all too common. In glancing over some Twitter feed about the incident (before the identities of the […]
My father-in-law (Ted) passed away several months back. It was a difficult time for the entire family as we lost a man we dearly loved. Understandably, my mother-in-law got the worst of the deal. Not only did she lose her faithful husband of almost 60 years, her entire way of life was radically changed. Working […]
I wanted to write a blog post after the terrorist attacks killed 130 people in Paris, but it’s been difficult for me to put words to type. In part, I felt the need to show respect for those who died and their families. And in part, I’ve been at a genuine loss for words. What […]
Several years ago, some friends invited me to join them for the home opener of the newly crowned (again) Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Going through the front gate, we were each given a “free” Steelers poster to be decorated with stickers that could be purchased at local grocery stores. When I calculated the cost […]
On September 22, 1955, not long before dark, 14-year-old Dave Hickman was out hunting with his grandfather when he heard an odd cooing sound. Spurred to investigate, the young man walked about 150 feet and climbed on top of a fence. Looking down, he spied an infant girl lying in the weeds, wrapped in a […]
The Pittsburgh Pirates suffered another heartbreaking loss this week in their season-ending Wild Card game. After such a great season, it’s difficult to stomach the overall circumstances leading to their early exit from the MLB playoffs. Thankfully, hockey season is now beginning … and the professional football season is well under way… and I can […]
Isaac Newton presented his three laws of motion way back in 1686. The third law, which I learned in school, states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law proved painfully true a few weeks ago when I played a game of pool with my son. In spite of my […]
Imagine standing along the ocean shore and enjoying the gentle splashing of the waves. Then, without warning, a rogue wave flips you upside down and pile drives you into the sand. It actually happened to one of my coworkers, Herb, several years ago. One minute Herb was soaking in the pleasure of a beach vacation, […]
Kim Davis. Does the name sound familiar? Perhaps, you know her better as the Kentucky clerk who was defied the Supreme Court by refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. According to her lawyers, issuing a marriage license to a same-sex couple “…irreparably and irreversibly violates her conscience…” A federal judge disagreed with her […]
“I’ll burn my stillerz gear in my yard and i’ll remove my tattoo from my leg!” If you’re not “from around here,” the statement likely makes no sense. But if you’ve ever spent time in western PA, you’re aware that our little slice of the world has a culture of its own. Ever since the glory days of […]
