Two Gents' Worth
June 13, 2026
Yes, the time has almost come for us to end our nearly two-week trek to Mr. Disney’s place here in Orlando and head back West. We’ve had quite a fine time here, and you always hate to see something you really, really like — come to an end. No, this is not going to be…
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In recent years, it seems that every time Sharon and I manage to make our way to Disney World in Orlando — and every time we receive a nice greeting on the TV inside our resort room — I write a piece on this very blogsite, saying near the top that it might be the…
Read More about Mr. Disney’s World, Again
It was, incredibly, exactly a half-century ago this very week when I was hired by Channel 30 as the youngest TV reporter in Fresno. I was 23 — and, of course, almost completely unqualified. I had graduated from Fresno State with a degree in broadcast journalism and taken my first full-time broadcasting job as a…
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On the Saturday night before Thanksgiving a few weeks ago, we had to say good-bye to a beloved family friend. And we cried. Her name was Rocky. She was 17. She had started her life by being pulled out of a trash bin by some kindly people who discovered her when she was only a…
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On the week before Christmas more than a half-century ago, I received the greatest gift anyone had ever given me. And it changed my life. Let me tell you a story. I grew up in Fresno in the San Joaquin Valley of California. We did not have a lot of money. But Mom did have…
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Yes, it’s nearly back. Thanksgiving Day. That day of turkey and Macy’s parade and NFL football. I’ve experienced nearly three-quarters of a century’s worth of Thanksgivings (not quite — I’m not that old — not yet, at least). So I have a ton of memories of that day, as you undoubtedly do. Growing up in…
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They held a Chili Cook-Off in Bandit Town near North Fork in the Sierra this past Saturday, and there were several reasons why I had to head up there. For one thing, I like chili — a lot. And I knew it was going to be a gorgeous autumn day at the 3,000 foot level. …
Read More about Bandit Town’s Hot ChiliThey put on another Old Timers Day Parade in Madera this past Saturday. In a related story, I dressed up as a Victorian dandy. Now that I have your attention, I hope, let’s move on. First — the parade. They’ve been having one in honor of Old Timers for more than 90 years in Madera,…
Read More about A Dandy in MaderaThe calendar tells us — and our temperatures confirm — that autumn has arrived here in the Valley. Of all our seasons — autumn is our Emma Peel. The most beautiful. If you’re not familiar with Emma — I invite you to Google “The Avengers” TV show from the 1960’s. The lovely Emma — played…
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I took a hike in the Sierra the other day — a trek that propelled me back into my parents’ past. My guides were Connie Popelish and Michael Olwyler — who likely know more about the history and topography of that part of the Sierra surrounding North Fork in Madera County than anyone else alive. …
Read More about My Hike in the Sierra