Lauri and I had a date night last Monday and enjoyed a dinner out.  We went to a Japanese restaurant for a little Hibachi.  Of course, if you have had a Hibachi dinner at a Japanese steak house you know there is nothing “little” about one of those meals.  A younger family and an elderly… Read More »

Last week Lauri and I were able to get away for a short camping trip — just two nights — but it was good to have a bit of down-time and relax.  We camped at Punderson State Park which is located close to Chardon, Ohio.  Punderson is a very nice campground with many activities and… Read More »

How is it even possible?  To say that it was out of control would be an understatement… it was overwhelming… downright embarrassing… I honestly didn’t even know where to start.  I would take one look at it and slink away in discouraged failure.  Now, it wasn’t ALL my fault.  I had gotten sick with COVID… Read More »

I had been in Toledo St. Vincent Hospital for 15 hours and I was so sick.  As long as I just laid in bed and allowed the oxygen being fed into my nose to work — I could at least breathe.  Even a short 5 foot walk to the restroom exhausted me and left me… Read More »

Once, when Lauri and I were dating, we had planned to spend a couple of days together at my parents’ house.  While she was on her way to Stow, I decided to go out for a quick 20 mile bike ride.  In high school, throughout college, and for years after, I cycled quite often.  As… Read More »

It was 10PM and Lauri just naturally assumed that our dog, Molly, wanted to go outside to relieve herself.  But Molly was acutely aware of an unauthorized visitor on our deck, and as the door barely cracked open she burst through and jumped on the surprised raccoon bandit that was raiding the bird-feeder and… IT… Read More »

Just four days after our lawn was installed, Lauri told me one morning… “I have something really important to tell you.”  The last time I heard those words Alyssa was born 8 months later… so I braced myself… “WE HAVE GRASS!”, she said.  Don’t tell Alyssa that I was almost as excited for the grass… Read More »

Well, it has sure been a long time coming!  Two Summers of dust… two Spring and Fall seasons of mud… much of our yard had come to more closely resemble a plowed field (and not a very nice one at that) than a grass-filled yard.  Construction projects, heavy equipment and constant traffic had done its… Read More »

It was in my way!  It needed to be moved!  Yes, it was big… yes, it was heavy… but IT WAS IN MY WAY!  So… I picked it up and moved it.  Yeah… big mistake.  I will spare you the self-deprecating details of my injury, (after all I don’t want to be one of THOSE… Read More »

My Mom is an amazing woman… I mean, she would have to be, right… to deal with all the stuff I threw in her direction as I was growing up?  I was always getting hurt… depending on who you talk to, I was either accident prone or a consummate dare-devil with no fear.  (In case… Read More »