I just returned from a one week cruise in the Caribbean. You know--burning yourself to a crisp on the sun deck while imbibing umbrella drinks, visiting the buffet 18 hours a day while trying to fend off seasickness, cramming yourself into a 120 square foot "stateroom" with a a commode that, when flushed, is guaranteed to ... Continue Reading

I took a stroll down memory lane over the weekend. I attended a concert by a band whose music might have come out of the Sixties--a little bit folk, a little rock, some blues, mostly singer-songwriter stuff. Actually, I don't know what they call it anymore, but it was definitely not Britney Spears or Kanye West.But it was ... Continue Reading

I've lived in the Upper Peninsula for nearly eight years now, but I've yet to tackle the Noquemanon Ski Marathon.I bought a budget package of cross country ski gear a few years ago and I've managed to get out a few times on the trails every winter, but never quite caught the fever.And also, inexplicably, never managed to ... Continue Reading

Something I've noticed as I get older: we're all looking for ways to fend off death and to enhance whatever time we have left on this planet.When you're young, you get by on three hours of sleep on a ragged, urine-stained couch, you eat Twinkies in the morning, you snack on a plate of french fries and a Pepsi for lunch, you ... Continue Reading

Dim the lights.Turn on the calming, New Agey music.Lie down on your one-inch-thick mattress pad.Breathe in, breathe out. Empty your mind of all thoughts.So far, so good for this Yooper who's recently discovered the joys, and challenges, of yoga. You see, I figured it was finally time for me to try something new, something ... Continue Reading

I've been reading the biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. Fascinating book, fascinating character. He truly helped change the course of technology, even the world over the last 25 years--or as he put it, he helped "bend the universe."But I, for one, have never fully embraced the changes. Part of the reason is I'm ... Continue Reading

I made the sacred pilgrimmage last Sunday to Lambeau Field, the land of the green and gold, the home of the cheesehead.I've lived in the Upper Peninsula for only about seven years but with remarkable insight, I quickly adopted the Packers as my favorite team. The fact that they win most of the time and actually haven't lost ... Continue Reading

I can tell it's winter because our cat, Big Boy, sits forlornly by the window every day wondering when that white stuff is going to disappear outside so that he can resume his fierce, nighttime prowling around our neighborhood in search of unsuspecting, helpless baby rabbits.Five months, Big Boy, five months. That's how ... Continue Reading

I've just returned from a three week, nearly 6000 mile road trip to California. Yep, driving all alone, our nation whizzing by me at 70 miles per hour.When I was younger, I hitchhiked cross-country a few times; when I was at CNN, I either flew or sat in the passenger seat of a car while someone else in our crew (usually the ... Continue Reading

I'm now three months into retirement (you know, that thing that sad-assed, old farts do, but you, yourself, will never have to deal with because you'll be forever young) and I've learned a few things.First, I still feel guilty almost every day when I wake up and realize I don't have to go to work. No demands on me, no rigid ... Continue Reading