Cecil caught rubbing his head on top of Carol's           A good friend of mine died last year on the 10th of September.  Her name...

          If you have a personal set of values, and were asked to briefly outline a few you consider the most important, what would you say...

                   Do you understand what it is to think rationally?           By that, I'm not asking if you know the definition...

          Thinking about thinking — it's not just reserved for philosophers, poets, and songwriters.           When reminiscing abou...

       Considering enlisting in a branch of the US military?        I recommend asking the opinion of someone who:        you respect t...

This 2018 essay was updated/revised in 2020 .           Last weekend, as we drove thru the countryside of my state, my wife pointed to...

I have always loved women without makeup. Vanity is terrible. This woman is amazing in every way. I love her.

          I have never celebrated the fake holiday in mid-February.  It's a scam holiday which business's use to sell cards, fl...

This essay is intended to help you with future “new” relationships.   I hope this information is considered valuable enough that you dec...

Stupid Genius - 2018

          On New Years Eve, I found a very touching note from my daughter after I returned from dropping her off at the airport.           ...

    Please accept my apology.  I hate myself for shouting at you.  I have spent almost all the hours since our phone-call, trying to und...

...you'll be my bodyguard and I can be your long-lost pal.  I can call you Betty—and Betty, when you call me—you can call me Al...    ...

          As I have done in the past, I turn this canvas to the wall.  I will be back when blogging excites me again.  Until then...Alf'...

          We intentionally did not see the first two films (2012 and 2013) in order to see the 3d Hobbit Trilogy all at one time.  Today,...

          With one last page still hanging on the calendar, I prematurely offer this years ten best films.           Birdman should no...

          Pam and I were married on 1 Nov 2014 and just spent an amazing few weeks honeymooning at the Oregon coast, Washington's Ho...

          Funny is in the ear of the beholder.  Timing, pacing, delivery, grasp of storytelling—all very important.  These girls have made t...

         This is a continuation of an article I wrote five years ago explaining how I trained my cats to hike with me (original article her...

          My second creation, also from an Oregon beach, is the same—but different—all over.  This rock is an ever so slightly flattened eg...

          I have returned to more creative endeavors.  This small flat rock from my favorite Oregon beach is almost a perfect 1 11 ⁄ 16 ...