Two Gents' Worth
June 13, 2026
Here we are once again, back in Ames, Iowa — the great Heart of the American Heartland. Ames is the home of Iowa State University, but this fine old town also boasts a fine old-fashioned downtown Main Street, majestic churches and many historic homes, some dating back to the 1860’s. Yes, we’re finally here, after…
Read More about Back in the Heartland
I figure that with all the bad news that’s been going on “out there” these past weeks and months – and, yes, there’s been a ton of it – you’d really like to read something “uplifting” on this page. Something that maybe – just maybe – makes you smile, if only for a minute or…
Read More about Trippin’ Back “Home”On this Memorial Day weekend, we, as a nation, obviously — and in my view, unfortunately — have decided that “enough is enough,” when it comes to trying to contain the coronavirus outbreak. We have decided that we no longer want to stay inside. We no longer desire to wear masks. We are salivating at…
Read More about Holiday Break-OutThese past few weeks have been doozies, all right. Have you been anxious? Have you been scared? Have you been frustrated? Same here. And we’re not alone. It’s been going around – spread like wildfire by the deadly coronavirus that’s roared through our nation and our world. We were all transported into new territory –…
Read More about Weeks Like No OtherWow. That was fast. It was only 10 days ago when Sharon and I boarded a plane in San Luis Obispo for a flight to Dallas, where we got on board another jet that whisked us to Disney World in Orlando. The idea was to celebrate — if that’s the appropriate word when it comes…
Read More about Older, in a Whole New WorldNot that it matters, but I’m not terribly happy to have the month of March come marching in. You see, that particular month has a particular day that always ages me when I see it. It’s my birthday. And this one is a biggie, moving me into yet another category of “old.” Whoo, boy. Don’t…
Read More about That 70’s Thing
I want to talk about someone we all know – a guy by the name of Disney. When I was a kid growing up in the San Joaquin Valley – and, yes, that was a long, long time ago – I loved Walt Disney. He was always on TV, always in black-and-white – and he…
Read More about Walt’s Wonderful WorldBud Elliott and I got together for pastries and hot drinks this Wednesday morning at that fancy French pastry shop at Fig Garden Village in Fresno. It was early (yes, 9 a.m. is early for retirees), and there was only a small crowd, so we were able to easily get a table by ourselves. I…
Read More about Two Gents, Palavering
It’s no secret that when it comes to New Year’s Eve, I’d rather Just Say No. When that ball starts to drop at Times Square, I’m not thinking as much about “Auld Lang Syne” as about the sad fact that I’m about to throw away yet another calendar because, yes, another year has passed and…
Read More about That New Year’s Feeling
Getting closer and closer to Christmas, and the chilly days and deep-freeze nights that come with it. We come to Christmas with a merry spirit, and we always have. Man and boy, boy and man, my family tried very hard to have Christmas trees. In Fresno, where I grew up, we had precious little money….
Read More about The Spirit of Christmas