Cold, Cold Go Away

Posted inColumns

NOTE: I wrote this column a while back when it was really cold, but never posted it. Since it was in the single digits this morning, I thought I’d finally get around to doing that. I know it also snowed so some of this isn’t relevant, but just deal with it

Usually, I try to keep an even keel. I don’t let things get me too upset even though some of the stuff I write might not seem this way. Typical every day things should not get any of us bent out of shape.

But I tell you, this cold weather is pushing its luck.

I know that it’s winter, and we all should expect some harsh weather once in a while. I have lived in Maryland or Pennsylvania all my life so I understand how winters around here can work.

For four years in college, I lived just about 40 minutes southeast of Lake Erie. Snow turned into an almost everyday part of life from Thanksgiving to past Valentine’s Day. You just dealt with it.

Last year’s huge snow storm didn’t both me because those sort of things happen once in a while. That helped me look at the snow a week ago and just kind of laugh. Sure, we got a lot, but we dug out and got on with our lives the next day.

Storms like those actually make me appreciate winter. Whether you go out and play in the snow or just sit inside wand watch it fall, the whole process feels like it has a purpose.

The bitter cold does no such thing.

Family Viewing Options

Posted inColumns, Family, TV

We have a ton of options on television these days. Personally, I love this fact. I can do nothing but scroll through the options over and over again seeing what I could watch if I really wanted to settle on one thing.

Some people see this development as a negative. They say we have too many things to choose from or that the choices aren’t good enough or that no one makes television like they used to.

I don’t like those people, especially those who focus on that last point. Sure, the shows that pop up on channels like MTV don’t qualify as family fare, but since we have more options, it seems logical that there will be as many junk options as good ones.

Unfortunately, these people who complain don’t seem to want to send press releases out about the shows we should be watching with our kids. So I guess I have to do that for them.

Brian the Builder

Posted inColumns, Computers

As I wrote this, the pieces of my new computer sit in several boxes in my basement.

I didn’t go on some angry tirade and break the thing apart. The shipping company didn’t drop a box and shatter the thing. In fact, nothing bad happened.

I have decided to build our new computer from scratch.

Win Some, Lose Some

Posted inColumns, Food

Sometimes I think we have progressed as far as we possibly can as humans. We have sent astronauts to the moon. We have built vehicles to explore other planets. We continue to seek the outer reaches of the galaxy.

As far as I am concerned, I thought our technological advancements had reached an end. Then I went to the grocery store the other week.

The Travels of Lucky Charms

Posted inColumns, Family

When you grow up with a large number of siblings like I did, you have difficulty trusting people. That’s just the nature of a big household, especially when you are the youngest.

Sure, you have a great support system, but while one of them is helping you, another might be lurking around the corner waiting to deliver a wedgie. Then there’s the laundry chute from the main floor of the house to the basement which you had to use with one eye peeled on the hallway lest someone try to push you down it.

I have gotten over many of these problems as the years have passed. I’m still a little flinchy and suffer more jokes than anyone else in the family, but I have long learned how to deal with those things.

At least I did until my sister threw a party this summer to celebrate her son’s engagement.

The Snuggie Predicament

Posted inAmerica, Columns, Holidays

The way people react to change fascinates me. As a society, we have so many new things at our disposal, but sometimes we simply retreat into a stubborn position and wish everything would just always stay the same.

That’s a tempting proposition, but not always the best course of action. Change can open our eyes to wonderful new things and make our lives much richer in the long run.

I thought of all this as I peeled the wrapping paper off a couple of my presents Christmas morning. Since I don’t like to turn my gift wish list into a ransom note, I don’t ask for many things, preferring to let the people who buy me presents rely on their imagination and understanding of my personality.

This generally works out. I understand why the list makers do what they do – I generally get pretty detailed instructions from my wife to avoid any mishaps – but I don’t want to play their game.

I want to be surprised. If the gift is not what I want, I can either just deal with it or find a way to exchange it for something more aligned with my tastes. I have much more fun buying special gifts than receiving something I specifically asked for, but that’s just me.

As I picked up one box and they both looked at me with great anticipation, I could tell my theories on gift giving would soon undergo a very strong test. I tore into the paper, a little bit excited and a little bit worried.

I had no reason to worry. I knew that within a few seconds when I saw the familiar picture on the outside of the box. We watched too much television.

I got a Snuggie.

Out of Gas

Posted inColumns, Making an Idiot Out of Myself

I had a few things I wanted to accomplish on the first Sunday of December. I had a few errands to run, a meeting to attend, and I wanted to take a nap before the Ravens and Steelers played that evening.

But it would all start with a trip to church in the morning. I had a good feeling as we braved the cold and jumped in the car. That good feeling lasted less than a few minutes.

We neared the intersection of Middle and York streets when the car sputtered. I had no inkling anything was wrong. I cranked and cranked the ignition with no positive results. This was not how I envisioned my day going.

Happy Holidays – Like It Or Not

Posted inColumns, Holidays

As each day gets us closer to Christmas, I enjoy this season more and more. Not the season of giving or the season of celebrating. The season of annoying people who don’t like Christmas or things associated with this time of year.

Now I know some people may have real and legitimate reasons for dreading this time of year. Maybe they have real turmoil in their family or are reminded of a death of a close relative. They have every reason in the world to take a pass on Christmas cheer.

But then there are the rest. Boy, do I love letting them know how awesome Christmas really is. I mean, do I love letting them know how awesome the holiday season is because I know how not calling it Christmas drives them nuts.

Peanut Butter Burger

Posted inColumns, Food, Travel

One summer in college, I went to Los Angeles to spend the week with a few friends. One of them helped open my eyes to the many wonderful uses of peanut butter.

I had only believed that you could use peanut butter for sandwiches and crackers until this point. Shawn showed me that it could really jazz up a bagel, an apple or even a banana.

Not all of these uses appealed to me, but it definitely made me open my mind a little. I thought back to that week the other day as I sat at a bar in Indianapolis.

I had to travel there for work. Before I left, I asked some friends who knew the city for dining recommendations. One pub showed up on almost every reply I received.

After settling into my seat on Wednesday night, just a few hours after my arrival, I began to peruse their extensive menu. I kept flipping back to one page, the one with all of their burger selections.

They had a burger special which a friend of a friend highly recommended. He worked at the newspaper in Indianapolis for a number of years, and I try to always trust suggestions from fellow journalists.

But this burger – the Shewman Special – had a unique combination. They topped the thing with bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato and onion. They also mixed jalapenos in with the cheese. Those aren’t my favorite, but I could survive.

The final ingredient kept me both interested and worried as I considered my order. The burger had peanut butter on it.

I had mulled this situation over ever since I found out about the burger a day or so before I left. I love burgers. I love peanut butter. Would I love them together?

Running Wild

Posted inColumns

Three quarters of the way through my running race at Hanover High School a couple of weeks ago, I sighted my target.

I had tried to remain non-competitive in the race. I signed up to help myself stay in shape and support the athletic program. I didn’t want to get too caught up in things.

But I could see him. I knew I had some energy left in the tank, and he looked like he had trouble maintaining his pace. I had a chance to pass him.

I had to keep a steady pace though. I have only taken part in a couple of races in the past – both back in high school – and neither ended well.