So there we were. Standing in the proverbial arena like gladiators of old.  The soft click of the reinforced plexiglass door behind us served as a solid reminder that our fates were sealed and we would only emerge from our confinement after glorious victory or ignominious defeat. Barely out of high school, we quickly sized … Continue reading The fleeting joy of athletic prowess*

I had always planned to have three children.  I was one of three and thought it pretty cool to have an older sister and a baby brother so it seemed natural to me to plan the same for my family.  We stuck to that strategy, and my first wife and I had three adorable children. … Continue reading The Special Olympian

As far as parents go, I had a pretty good set.  Always the provider, Pop made certain we had what we needed so Mom could stay home and take care of us kids.  That had been the plan from day one for them.  My mom worked until she became pregnant with my older sister, then … Continue reading The Graf Zeppelin

Few phrases have stricken so much sorrow in the hearts of children on Christmas morning as those three evil words : “Some assembly required.”  For me, the agony of waiting for Pop to assemble that beloved Christmas gift felt like extended dental work without anesthesia. My introduction to the phrase cam in the form of … Continue reading Electronic Battleship – Some Assembly Required

True to form, my old college roommate has always recruited me to participate in shenanigans that I would otherwise remain oblivious to. There's the helicopter ride, which stunk profusely because I'm afraid of heights.  Then the bungee jump, which also stunk because… uhm, I'm afraid of heights. After several years, I began to realize that … Continue reading The Spartans*

I am not exactly Grizzly Adams.  With my minimal camping expertise, even modest adversity makes things . . . well, challenging. We recently toured the “Domes and Dripstones” of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, a truly amazing place.  The beauty arising from our mountain heights is rivaled there by the silent depths of an expansive cave … Continue reading The camper

True to my Sevier County roots, I have been getting my hair cut by the same stylist for nearly a decade. That doesn't mean that she should be held responsible when you see me looking a little unkempt.  I should be on a four-week cycle but I tend to wait five weeks.  I spend that … Continue reading The Mullet

Well, folks, it appears the zombie apocalypse has arrived. Don't believe me?  Just look out your windows around 7:30 any weekday morning and you will see the horde, lumbering along semi-conscious and brain-starved. Of course, I am referring to school starting back and the onslaught of tiny, backpacked humans with glazed-over eyes struggling down the sidewalks … Continue reading A tiny zombie apocalypse*