American Gothic and My Iowa Roots

Hello from rural Mallard, It’s about the end of the day, the sun is setting, I can smell livestock from the hog containment facility down the road, and yes, there are flies (scads of them). It was a productive day as I got the weather stripping for the main bus door ordered, and the majorityContinue reading “American Gothic and My Iowa Roots”

Hej fra Humlebæk

Indeed, Hej fra Humlebæk! I am back two years later almost to the day to visit Anton, Carla, Anne Marie, and Hans Christian. My first visit for Anton’s graduation from gymnasium was wonderful, and now, returning again to their beautiful little village on the coast is as tremendous as the first time, but having aContinue reading “Hej fra Humlebæk”

When the Daily Norm is anything but . . .

Hello from my desk on the mini-Acre, I have been commenting, grading, and managing student writing most of the weekend. It is Sunday evening, and the 1st of October. We are into the last quarter of yet another year, soon what will be a third of another decade, and not that far away from anotherContinue reading “When the Daily Norm is anything but . . .”

Out of the Depths, O Lord . . .

Hello from my study, There are a multitude of thoughts, emotions, concerns, and fears as I reflect on the pictures of our national Capitol yesterday. I do not mean that to be a political statement, it is a statement of one single individual, a former pastor, a Marine Corps veteran, a person who has RepublicanContinue reading “Out of the Depths, O Lord . . .”

Wishing I Could be Three Again

Hello from the study, It has been an interesting 5 months. It is, almost to the day, that amount of time we started a Spring Break and the fear of COVID was becoming more of a reality. Since that time, the world has been turned upside down and that is a profound understatement. A CBSContinue reading “Wishing I Could be Three Again”

“Are We Still of Any Use?”

Hello from my kitchen bar counter on a Thursday afternoon,  When I began writing this, we had just managed freezing weather, wind chills of the lower 20s in May, and then during a week of grading, yesterday felt like summer might actually be on the horizon (and even in my yard). It was a weekContinue reading ““Are We Still of Any Use?””

I was Fourteen . . . Tin soldiers and . . .

Hello from my kitchen on a Sunday morning, I went to bed early last night and slept pretty well. Up once around 2:00, but this time I was able to go back to sleep somewhat quickly and slept until about 6:30. As usual, I did some reading and some praying. After some morning preparations forContinue reading “I was Fourteen . . . Tin soldiers and . . .”

Learning from a 17 Year Old

Hello from my kitchen, We are back to school, so to speak, though most of my work will occur at my kitchen counter, in my study, or somewhere in my house. I did go to my office one last time today to set up a watering system for my plants (both the ones in myContinue reading “Learning from a 17 Year Old”

When Do You Actually Work?

Good morning from Kraków (at around 10:15 a.m.). Because I travel, because some believe it is merely a vacation, because a former administrator argued I was only contracted to work 17 hours a week, I am often asked both when as well as how much (which is more accurately about daily frequency) do I work?Continue reading “When Do You Actually Work?”

The War to End All Wars

Hello from a Starbucks in Selinsgrove, Hiding away and working, but trying to imagine the feelings of not only the important players on the stage in France 100 years ago, but also the simple people, those in France where much of the carnage of a trench war was fought to the families who lost lovedContinue reading “The War to End All Wars”