August 4, 2021
Road Trips
“More and more, the precious lives that have made my life worthwhile are abruptly or slowly ending.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article7133415.ece
July 20, 2021
Losing my Stuff or Losing my Mind
“Losing some items can be chronically irritating, especially when you have to have them to get something done.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article7117464.ece
July 7, 2021
Time for a Little Back and Forth
“A new table tennis game in the garage brings family together.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article7100849.ece
June 23, 2021
Camping Past and Present
“When it’s gorgeous outside, camping is great. When it’s not, well, a nice way to put it is, it’s an adventure.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article7081768.ece
May 26, 2021
Missing Time with Friends in Canada
“The chance to fish with a bunch of good friends in Canada looks a little dicey this year..”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article77039571.ece
May 12, 2021
Feeding the Birds, and Bears
“Every night during bear time, the big bird feeder comes down from the pole under the kitchen window.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article7019633.ece
April 28, 2021
Heated Garage An Essential Getaway
“Garage — man cave? Nyet. Heated garage? You betcha.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6998425.ece
April 14, 2021
Curating the Songs in My Head
“I suspect there are a lot of reasons music sneaks out of the packed spaces in our brains.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6980001.ece
March 31, 2021
Fat tire, here I come
“Things started out well, but then I picked up speed, and control left in a hurry..”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6957928.ece
March 17, 2021
Time for wonder’s return
“Being chronically forgetful about grocery lists, I had to throw in remembering to bring the face mask.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6934887.ece
March 3, 2021
No repair goes in a straight line
“When I think about that time, I know every plumber earns their money.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6909991.ece
February 17, 2021
Starting the Day Tousled and Ready
“It’s better to repair hair by making a bee-line to the shower first before dawn’s early light..”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6887764.ece
February 3, 2021
Dreams That Keep Us Going
“Escape themes in reverie break us out of the humdrum.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6865537.ece
January20, 2021
Living life in days of chaos
“I sometimes have wondered how we’ve been able to keep things moving on a day-to-day basis.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6841260.ece
January6, 2021
First Ski of the Season
“Dragging out the wicking underwear, I chose the heavier variety as the temperatures and wind outside were nippy..”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6825652.ece
December23, 2020
The Challenge in Speaking
“When we’re speaking, we generate 150 words a minute.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6806384.ece
December 9, 2020
End of a License
“The kind of energy it takes to do a good job in psychology requires people with stamina and youth.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6790309.ece
November 25, 2020
Escape During a Bleak Time
“Sometimes I feel like a cartoon figure peering over the edge of a backyard fence scanning the fall season and seeing nothing but sleet and snow on the horizon. The prospect of five more months of isolation without a safe route toward social pursuits chills me.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6774016.ece
November11, 2020
Echoes
“Deck time after our return from daylight saving time is a priceless commodity. The chance to sit and watch chickadees zip in and out from the bird feeder in the sun, snarfing seeds and chattering away, will soon come to a screeching halt when the temps peak at 50.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6751307.ece
October 28, 2020
“My early years were spent in a small town of 200 people in central Minnesota, close to aunts, uncles and grandparents. With three streets, we knew everyone. One of the bonuses of living in a rural setting was the chance to be near large animals, among them, horses. But as fate would have it, I couldn’t get within 100 yards of one.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6731666.ece
October 14, 2020
“The maples, oaks and aspen are a sure way to eliminate a speeding ticket on the home stretch..”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6710401.ece
September 30, 2020
“I used to think I was kind of a hotshot when it came to fixing things around the house. We’re on our fourth home now after 47 years of marriage (apartments don’t count).”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6681181.ece
September 16, 2020
“Wildlife gets me thinking of loved ones.”
We seem to get lots of visits from family and friends who are no longer here. It takes an active imagination to think about coming back as a critter.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6660288.ece
September 4, 2020
“Domestic Duties.”
Ironing was rewarded with a perfect crease and a wrinkle-free finished product. Something had been accomplished.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6641954.ece
August 21, 2020
“Meditation helps in hectic times.”
There was a time that most of my days were spent in silence, the rule of the house.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6623247.ece
August 6, 2020
“Having Pelicans on my Mind.”
I’m a lazy birdwatcher. The only effort I’ll put into watching our winged neighbors is hauling in the feeders at night so their supply of sunflower seeds doesn’t disappear when the bears swing by..
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6603957.ece
July 12, 2020
“Sinking Money to Float Your Boat.”
There are times when I’ve thought about standing on the lift bridge and throwing money into the canal as the water sweeps its way out into the big lake. I own a boat, and tossing 100 dollar bills off the iconic span would probably be cheaper.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6583574.ece
July 12, 2020
“Take Time to Enjoy the smells of the day.”
Outdoors on a summer day, there’s nothing like walking by a house where someone is mowing a lawn.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6565566.ece
June 26, 2020
“Finding a Smile Out on the Bike Path”
Moving to Duluth has presented biking challenges.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6548577.ece
June 11, 2020
“Appreciating the Moonlight”
There are numerous books about children greeting the moon, among them “Goodnight Moon” and “Hello, Moon!,” volumes that calm and reassure kids as they fall asleep. The moon, as we know, has been there for a long time, not always visible but something we can count on..
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6527984.ece
May 24, 2020
“Learning to Admire Crows and Ravens”
Some animal researchers think they’re smarter than chimpanzees..
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6502812.ece
May 10, 2020
“Not Ready for New Normal to be Normal”
Simple, everyday occasions have been set adrift, knocked off an anchor point. We can create fresh routines, but events that have provided mooring points are shifting all the time right now. A lot has changed during this strange, unsettled period.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article6483208.ece
April 26, 2020
“Flying High with Childhood Memories”
I’ve been enamored by airplanes all my life, as my fascination with them started early.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article5518700.ece
April 12, 2020
“Taking a Survey of Springtime”
When the seasonal rains come, more and more debris will be exposed.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article5034644.ece
March 31, 2020
“The Day Changes, and Thoughts Grow Somber”
This new coronavirus has unfolded in time with a slow and relentless resolve.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article5019218.ece
March 27, 2020
“Chat with Car Guy Reveals Other Hobby”
Jeff Hofslund of Foreign Affairs enjoys adventures under the water as a volunteer at Great Lakes Aquarium.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article4815843.ece
March 6, 2020
“Difficult Trek to Feed the Birds”
Keeping snow away from the house means forming little frozen peaks that make excellent launch points to the bird feeders for ravenous squirrels.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article4982321.ece
February 21, 2020
“Puppy photos kindle memories of an old friend”
Every morning when we open the News Tribune, after reading the main sections, we wander to the classifieds section and eyeball the puppies. Every one of them is so darn cute. We talked about maybe getting one and then decided, no, it wouldn’t be fair to the dog. We’re gone too much.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article4959363.ece
January 24, 2020
“Winter’s Challenge a Cycle of Snow”
After moving to Duluth, I struggled with the amount of snow we had to get rid of.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article4876404.ece
January 10, 2020
“It’s the Little Things We Miss”
Handkerchiefs and socks have a way of disappearing.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article485233.ece
December 20, 2019
“Telling the Stories of Holidays Past”
One uncle, in his enthusiasm for tree decorating, went right out to the front yard and dropped a large spruce.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article4829700.ece
December 19, 2019
“Fond Memories of Seeking the Perfect Tree”
There were always snowball fights and kids running around in circles and the occasional howl from a 2- or 3-year-old.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article4815844.ece
November 29, 2019
“When the Caffiene Makes You See Faces “
There was very little artistic flair on the surface of the floating foam — until the faces started showing up.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article4790197.ece
November 15, 2019
“Better to be Lucky than Smart”
There’s apparently no end to the list of things I’ll leave on top of my car before driving away.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article4767298.ece
October 18, 2019
“A Trip on the Big Lake with a True Fisherman”
A traumatic brain injury years ago doesn’t stop a love of travel and sport.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article4713497.ece
September 20, 2019
“Setting Sail with Friendships”
You can’t depend on the wind alone to set a course; it’s there to help, but the captain’s in charge.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article4669070.ece
September 6, 2019
“Shattered Gets Back on Track”
How do you finish making a latte when there’s glass all over the floor, large pieces to finely ground sand-sized bits?
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article4646089.ece
August 23, 2019
“Marking Time Through Tire Tracks”
“Many of my remembrances are linked to cars that have driven through my life. Maybe that’s why I’m a motorhead who has “Car and Driver” and “Motor Trend” magazines strewn around the living room. The automobiles of my life have bracketed the passing of years like bookends.</>
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article4622811.ece
August 9, 2019
“When Scammers Come Calling”
“Short of retreating to the wilderness, living off the grid and ignoring spam, Twitter and Facebook, is there a middle ground to avoiding scam artists?”
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article4050936.ece
July 19, 2019
“The Final Leg of a Lifetime of Mowing”
“You know, Doug, the grass is gonna need mowing before the weekend company comes.”
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Alas, I am only too aware of my familial responsibilities having been conditioned from an early age to mow frequently and cut often. Can you blame me if I have a love-hate relationship with the lawn?
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article2778257.ece
July 5, 2019
“A First Fishing Trip”
This past week I returned from a few days fishing in Canada with my seven year-old grandson and son-in-law. I have been going to Frog Rapids Camp in Sioux Lookout Ontario for over thirty years and John has gone up with me several times, but this was Declan’s first trip. We were pumped about going together.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article2778257.ece
June 2, 2019
“Visits by Fellow Creatures of the Morning”
The girls come through our yard on a regular schedule. At least that’s what we’ve called these early-morning visitors. Most times it’s just before sunrise. They stick to the same pattern, but it takes an early riser to see them, standing there in the twilight with watchful brown eyes surveying the tree line.
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/article2604019.ece
May 14, 2019
“When the Sounds of Spring Come at Night”
One evening a few weeks ago after the sun left for the day and night settled in, my wife and I were quietly reading in the living room by the fireplace when she remarked, “Did you hear that?”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
April 7, 2019
“Thoughts on one of the Northland’s deep problems”
There are fifty five million potholes in the United States according to recent research. Throw in Canada’s contribution to this continent-wide test of endurance and the numbers stun. This time of year as we emerge from underneath feet of snow, the problem of finding a smooth path to any destination jumps in the car too.
March 3, 2019
“The Ups and Downs of Sharing the Cooking”
When I’m in charge of supper, it’s not like I don’t know where stuff is. It’s just easier to ask instead of fumbling around in the spices for a half hour. By getting an answer, there won’t be the chance of my opening the wrong cabinet and having a large bottle of olive oil fall on my head. A concussed cook may not be able to pull off the evening meal.
Read the Full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
February 24, 2019
“A Lesson Learned the Hard Way”
Cross-country skiing is a gift given to those who stay here in the winter months. Years ago after a brother-in-law cut some trails adjacent to his property near the Chippewa National Forest in Bemidji, he introduced me to the pleasures of gliding through a silent forest.
Read the Full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
February 3, 2019
“Home Improvement and Relationships, One Step at a Time”
This time of year provides ample free time for indoor projects neglected
during times of the year when it’s easier to play outside. My kids used to
watch “Home Improvement” when they were growing up in the ’90s. I’m
not much of a TV watcher, but one night, they yelled at me to come in and
watch a part of the show called “Tool Time.” It was a lot like my own “Tool Times.”
Read the full Article at the Duluth News Tribune
January 27, 2019
“Saying Goodbye to the Season is in the Details”
It’s over, another season that stretched from Halloween through mid-January. Despite the best efforts of the world of commerce to extend it from September to February, Father Time pushed the chunky guy with the white beard out the door along with the red-nosed deer, and started the prep work for lawnmower sales.
Read the full Article at Duluth News Tribune
December23, 2018
“Ready for the Many Rituals of Snow”
Most folks who grumble about snow ignore its finer points. That’s not to say it isn’t inconvenient and a mess to clean up, but there is fascination and beauty in its arrival.
Read the full article on the Duluth News Tribune »
January 6, 2018
“Ice Demons Take their Perch”
It is possible to stay ahead of the icy ridges on a roof’s edge by religiously scraping every last snowflake each time it snows. This requires obsessive attention to predictions flowing from weather forecasters. There are ways of coping with the dams, some verbal or chemical, others labor intensive. Still others rely on the magic of modern electricity.