We can learn a lot from kids. I marvel at their ability to make friends so easily. It’s not uncommon for either of our boys to start playing with other kids for hours and not even know their names. For whatever reason this carefree and nondiscriminatory attitude towards relationships becomes more conditional as we age. […]
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Inflation
What’s a dollar worth these days? Just Tuesday, we met with our new financial adviser (for the record – we didn’t fire our last one, he quit the firm) and looked over some of our retirement accounts and investments. It’s crazy to see what the past year of recession economics has done to our portfolio. […]
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Lucky 7
Today, our youngest boy, Chase, turns seven! We’ve been hounding him for quite some time about what he’d like to do that’s special for his birthday. So far, Mom and Dad will be making a guest appearance in his class to read his favorite books. He wants to have a party some weekend with some […]
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Shopping
I’m not a huge fan of shopping (not even for myself), so needless to say Christmas shopping is a bit of a task for me. I don’t like the crowds, lines or nagging doubts that what you’re going out for will even be found or, if found, appreciated. At the same time, I’d rather make […]
Christmas goodies! Everybody loves ’em, nobody really needs ’em but the holidays just wouldn’t be the same without them. Here’s to mothers everywhere who bake enough homemade favorites to feed a small township. Exaggeration? Hardly. I know moms who had to resort to stashing baked goods on the upper shelves of the garage until Christmas.
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Yep, it’s Monday
It’s not like I don’t usually greet the morning alarm with pleasant thoughts, but for some reason today came a little too early. We don’t believe in the “snooze” button either. I never understood the reason for prolonging that torturous transition from “slumber” to “awake” in nine minute increments. Ready or not, day, here I […]
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Sharing the Joy
Advent is in full swing and many of us are going through the annual rituals to prepare for Christmas. I hope everyone has the opportunity to take the time this year to really focus on what Christmas is about and the joy it brings. Share that joy with others this year and you just might […]
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If only it were that easy…
I have to agree with my wife, I too, wish our kids had a floating stats meter above their heads to give us immediate feedback as to when they’re feeling tired, sick, angry, happy, scared or hungry. It seems the older they are the better they think they are at convincing you what they’re feeling […]
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Energy Efficient Escalator
My soon-to-be seven-year old son, Chase, has always been fascinated with the escalators at the downtown Wells Fargo Bank Building (what kid isn’t?). But he’s concerned about the fact that they are always running – “wasting power”, as he puts it – even when people aren’t using them. His invention: a motion-activated escalator that would […]
I think it’s safe to say that winter is upon us. This year was really extraordinary with regard to weather and it was really nice to have the time to prepare for the snow this year. Most of the time, winter comes like an unexpected guest and a lot of the fall work is buried […]