The Magic Has Returned

By brian September 4, 2012Baltimore, Baseball, Columns

As I got ready for work the other day, I spotted something hidden behind a chair in our computer. Once I realized what it was, I knew I had to make a change.

So I found an empty nail in the wall and hung the frame which held some special memories for me. I figured with the Baltimore Orioles actually in the hunt for the playoffs, I could return the tickets for the final three games at Memorial Stadium, the first game at Oriole Park and the 1993 All-Star Game back to a place of prominence.

Book Review: Candy Everybody Wants

By brian September 3, 2012Books

Even though I know better, I am putty in the hands of book marketers sometimes. "Candy Everybody Wants" by Josh Kilmer-Purcell stands as a perfect example. All the marketing department…

A Day at the Beach

By brian September 3, 2012Beach, Columns, Travel

My big mouth gets me in trouble sometimes. That should not shock anyone. I have learned over the years, however, to not promise things I might not do.

I did not follow that guideline earlier this summer during a conversation with my daughter. She loves our family’s annual beach week as much as I do, so I told her we could make plans to head down to the beach for a day trip sometime.

I didn’t regret things at that point. When I saw a free Saturday on our schedule and proposed the trip, I felt a little guilty, but not enough to worry.

At that point, I felt fully confident I could get organized and pull off the trip. My only concerns at that point were ones out of my hands, specifically bad weather or rough surf which would keep us from enjoying the actual ocean.

Stop Bugging Me

By brian August 23, 2012Columns

We visited my wife’s mother recently and spent our usual amount of time sitting outside and talking. They have some really nice shaded areas around the house, and we had a really nice day.

At one point, a solitary bug was, well, bugging me. I could see him very clearly fly a few feet away when I swatted at him before returning to hover around my leg again.

Normally, this would not bother me that much, but I really wanted to get rid of this little bugger. He was quick, however, and I never really got him. I did manage to squash one critter who landed on my wife’s leg.

In the end, I didn’t worry too much about it because I have a special superpower which comes in handy during the summer months. Bugs don’t bite me.

Oh, (Big) Brother!

By brian August 20, 2012TV

At this point of the summer, I usually find myself filled with opinions on the latest news from the CBS reality show "Big Brother." This is only series in the…

Where’s My Midlife Crisis?

By brian August 14, 2012Columns

Someone I know showed off a restoration project he has recently undertaken. As he told me about his plans, he mentioned that someone called the enterprise his “mid-life crisis.”

I had to laugh because he’s a little older than I am. Since I don’t think I have officially had a mid-life crisis, either I’m off on life expectancy or I need to play catch-up on this concept.

This whole idea really only comes to mind because I turn 44 today. I have no problem admitting that in public because I don’t get too worried about my chronological age. After all, my maturity has steadily floated between 13 and 19 for decades.