How much do you weigh? Oh, I beg your pardon, I guess that it is none of my business. It seems people get a little prickly when asked their weight. Besides, it appears that most of us might fudge about it. Perhaps because we eat too much fudge?
The British are coming! Yes, it is that time of year again. Would you like some chips? No, not potato chips! I mean delicious French fries that are perfect with battered cod, which is a staple in all pubs in Great Britain.
The kiss of disaster. A World Cup Championship, a celebration, an unwanted kiss and then all hell broke loose. Spain is in the spotlight, and we can’t seem to look away.
Have you ever seen someone have a meltdown at the self-checkout in a grocery store? It is not a pretty sight.
My home is my castle! Isn’t that how we’re all supposed to feel? When we arrive at our abode after a hot and busy day, we’re entering the comfort zone. The one safe haven in a hectic world. Home sweet home.
Summer is over. OK, so we might have a few more months to swelter, but the kids are back in school.
I was speeding in my Subaru down a lonely road. There, I confessed to my carefree, fast-driving ways and I already feel a lot better about it. Have you ever driven a bit over the limit? Hmm ... I thought so.
Oh, Surfing Sea Otter, please stop stealing surfboards! It will not end well for you.
The heat is on. Welcome to the “dog days of summer.” This phrase was originated in ancient Roman times, used to describe the intense heat of summer. The term has been widely used ever since.
Shrinkflation. When the size or quantity of a product is reduced, while the price remains the same or is increased. In other words, we are being ripped off!
Independence Day. Flags flying, parades, family get-togethers, barbecues, fireworks and a long summer weekend. A time to celebrate! Approximately 44 million Americans are taking road trips over this holiday. Unfortunately, it appears most of them are driving on the mess of a freeway called I-17.
Coffee, how we love thee. It is our favorite American beverage that helps us get through our daily struggles, gives us a boost of energy and holds the promise of good things to come. All manner of challenges may await us, but fortified with a cup of coffee, we can do anything.
When did humans become so self-absorbed? The craze to take selfies, especially in dangerous places like ledges of cliffs, edges of waterfalls, and with wild animals at national parks is killing people!
What’s for dinner? Three little words. Spoken over a billion times a day, in millions of places, in thousands of languages, all for one reason: people like to eat.
Debt ceiling. First enacted by Congress in 1917, it is the legal limit on the total amount of federal debt the government can accrue. Established to simplify the process and enhance borrowing flexibility. This is the federal government’s definition.
Oh Martha, 81-years never looked so good! When Martha Stewart, Lifestyle and Cooking icon, made it on the cover of Sports Illustrated, it was quite a landmark. Looking very sexy and lovely (in a bathing suit) it made me wonder, “Is 80 now the new 50?” Well, I can dream.
Westminster Abbey. The place where history is made. Last week we got to witness the Coronation. Oh, the gowns, the jewels, the clerical robes, military uniforms with epaulettes, plumes and swords. It was a meticulously planned event and although we might not completely grasp it, we can appreciate the traditions rarely seen elsewhere in modern life.
Look around. Spring has arrived! Poets call it the most romantic time of year, when tree blossoms, mild breezes and songbirds stir up positive emotions. We might want to take time out of our hectic schedules to appreciate the essence of these beautiful spring days.
What’s in your attic? Look carefully, Dear Readers, as a hidden treasure might be tucked inside an old box.
It is a weed. And it stinks. Invading our desert, yards and trails, like an army marching forward into every square inch of open space and snuffing out everything else. It boasts blooms that look like small yellow lollipops. It is called stinknet, or globe chamomile. It proves that sometimes “pretty” can be bad. Arizona, we have a problem.
Freedom. What we live and die for. Not available to all living creatures. Experienced by many. Taken for granted by some. Now an orca named Lolita in Florida might have a taste of freedom after 52 years in captivity.
Tax Day. Oh, let the fun begin. If you are still scrambling to get your taxes filed, I hate to remind you that you are running out of time!
Potholes: A depression in a road surface where traffic has removed pieces of the pavement (or caused ruts in the dirt). They are usually caused by water, freezing and thawing.
I am trying to outsmart a bird!
Keep going. Don’t think. Just do it. Believe.
This has been the winter of our discontent. Plenty of wind, rain, sleet, hail and snow (some of it all happening at once). For many, depression set in while all hail broke loose. Finally, the sun is shining, so we might get our mojo back. Or at least our golf game.
Bing? Sydney? Mere mortals, fear not the Microsoft Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered chatbot that has become an unhinged gaslighting, lying, threatening menace.
She has a purpose. A talent. And a God-given gift that she has graciously shared with sick children. Her name is Dorothy Crane, and she is having a birthday. Mrs. Crane is soon to celebrate her 100th birthday!
Arizona knows how to throw a party. While our eyes were temporarily diverted from unidentified flying balloons, visitors flocked here from all over the country and seemed to have one big spend-fest.
The Day of Love. Roses. Candy. Champagne. Cards. And all things the color red.
How do you celebrate your birthday? My girlfriend, Carol, has a big birthday coming up. She is thinking about going skydiving to celebrate.
What do Oreo cookies and psychoactive drugs have in common? Evidently, they are both highly addictive.
There is nothing quite like stormy weather to get us in a tidying up mood. January is the perfect time to de-clutter! Out with all the “stuff” we never use, wear or even like.
Football. Once again it is that time of year when we Americans obsess over who will make it to the Super Bowl. The fate of our beloved Cardinals has been decided as they got crushed by San Francisco.
Eggs, where art thou? How we miss your oval beauty and deliciousness. How will we manage without this essential ingredient that goes into our yummy baked goods and perfectly with toast?
The gifts are unwrapped. Holiday decorations are coming down. We ushered in a New Year. Another chance to look forward to what is coming and to let go of what didn’t work. We have a whole new chapter to write. And saying “goodbye” to a year gone and anticipating a chance at new beginnings might be the real thrill of a New Year.
Tis the Season of Giving. As we approach a New Year, Americans are unified through one common bond over the holiday season.
Oh, Dearest Santa, are you for real?
Do you believe in Santa Claus? Yes, of course, you do. Who can honestly say that there is no Santa! So, as we approach Christmas, we still have many reasons to believe.
To tree, or not to tree, that is the question. Oh Christmas Angel, please guide my decision, as I am contemplating not putting up a Christmas tree this year.
How did “Black Friday” get its name? The phrase has been widely used since the 1980s to signify when retailers can go from operating in the red to finally making profits.
Football. Turkey. Family. Oh my, did I mention football? The first professional Thanksgiving Day football game was played in 1920.
Mental fatigue. Post-election hangovers. So much to contemplate. Winners and losers. Time to reflect and take it all in. And remove all of those campaign signs from every street corner! We need a rest from all the political ads. Let’s give ourselves a time-out.
I won the lottery (in my dreams). I see it all now, flashing before me. I turn on the television and watch excitedly when they call out the winning numbers. Nervously, I look down at my Powerball ticket and then in complete disbelief, I realize I have won 1 billion bucks!
What is quiet quitting? Evidently a malaise has taken over the American workforce, it is the definition of slacking off, doing the bare minimum, and displaying an unwillingness to do anything extra.
Soon. Day of the Dead. Dia de los Muertos is approaching. So is Halloween. In Mexico, the holiday is a time when families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration.
Cinnamon. Ginger. Nutmeg. Allspice. The holy grail of spices. The pumpkin spice season has arrived! How did this “autumn flavor” gain so much popularity in America that it practically formed its own culture?
Flippy, move over. There is a new tin can in town. Elon Musk debuted Optimus, the “robot of the future.”
Sometimes, we just need a friend. A buddy who will walk miles through a scorching desert, escape the perils of predators, suffer through the wind, rain and dust of monsoons with no map, GPS or cell phone, just to make it up your driveway, saunter in through your open door (or doggy door) and once again, grace your life with a visit.
Goodbye, Ma’am. We will miss you. With 70 years of service, a stabilizing force in an ever-changing world, you defined an era.
