The other day I was a-thinking. Yea, I do think every now and then but not too darn much so as to get a headache. But I was thinking, (money being no object), what would I give all of you for Christmas if I could. New cars for everyone came to mind; huge raises for all; the Christmas ...
I have been rattling my brain tonight to try and think up some of my family's Christmas traditions to talk about. I didn’t come up with much. There are two reasons for this. One: it seems like every Christmas changes in some way, and two: our traditions aren’t the norm. First off is the ...
Over the last couple of weeks, I think I’ve been pretty candid about the up-and-down nature of my life – what’s been weighing on me, what’s been interesting to me, and my general musings. All pretty typical for this column. But if I’m being honest, it’s felt a little less than ...
Once again, snow is on the ground, and chilly fun is being had by all. Snowmen are being made, snow angels are being crafted, and gladiatorial combat is being had with the snowball. Growing up, I didn’t usually have someone to have a snowball fight with. My Ma always obliged for a short ...
There are certain truths in life: snow falls in Iowa before we’re ready for it, the Wi-Fi drops right when you need to upload something important, and I will become sick at the most inopportune moment possible. Every time. Without fail. It’s truly remarkable how consistent I am at this one ...
There’s a certain point in every semester when all the neat little boxes on my calendar stop behaving like boxes and start behaving more like small campfires — scattered everywhere, all burning at once, and I’m just standing with a garden hose with little to no water pressure. Welcome ...
Wow! Here we are beginning the month of December. What a time of excitement as we start our journey towards Christmas. The Christmas lights are starting to appear throughout the town, the volunteers are ringing the bells for Salvation Army, the snow is falling & falling & falling and ...
Happy December! I hope everyone had a great November and Thanksgiving. A Letter of Engagement was signed with Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce for Economic Development purposes. Supervisor Doland and I met with John Hall, President and CEO of Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce multiple times ...
Growing up on a farm, free-range chickens meant that you’d have to catch ‘em, to eat ‘em. Today, they gotta print that fact on the packaging. “Wild caught” meant that either you shot them out of the sky, hooked them in the crick, or ran over them with the pickup. Everything that ...
I cannot resist checking out the latest Christmas gift ideas for the totally clueless us! This year’s suggestions top them all! So, here we go! There’s the “yodeling pickle,” the makeup and skin care Advent calendar (no kidding) competing with the whisky Advent Calendar! There’s the ...