Memory… is the diary that we all carry about with us. ∼ Oscar Wilde     While living in Southern California during the 1970’s, I found employment at a plastics manufacturing facility in Pacoima, where I was hired to handle the inventory and stockroom. It was a small facility, owned by one man, Adolf, […]

  Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them. —Dalai Lama     Mathew Nelson grew up in California to parents born in Wisconsin (so he shares a bit of their mid-western charm but with a west coast attitude). With not many […]

      Along with the many kind emails I receive through my contact page, during the past few months I have received a number of messages asking me to post an endorsement for our upcoming presidential election. While I am flattered and appreciate the trust placed in my abilities, I will tactfully decline this […]

    We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun. – Winnie the Pooh     As kids growing up on the south side of our fair city of Kenosha, Wisconsin we enjoyed the company of many other kids in our neighborhood. The post WWII baby boom was in […]

  When the world is so complicated, the simple gift of friendship is within all of our hands. ∼ Maria Shriver       In our little corner of the world, we’ve often shopped at our local Farm & Fleet. (Blaine’s Farm & Fleet, to be exact).   Though traditionally catering to local farmers, over […]

    Website visitor Mike Kelley thought he’d share his journey on becoming a certified “motorhead”. Mike was inspired by Rick Wehler’s earlier story about a ’58 Ford Thunderbird.   Mike was a career Army man, retiring after 22 years of service. He served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966 as a helicopter crewman and […]

  It’s 106 miles to Chicago, we’ve got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes; it’s dark and we’re wearing sunglasses. —Elwood Blues, “The Blues Brothers” (1980)       A recent discussion on an outdoor forum, centered around restaurants in downtown Chicago. Having visited Chicago many times for business, family visits […]

  The greatest gift one can give is thanksgiving. In giving gifts, we give what we can spare, but in giving thanks we give ourselves.  —David Steindl-Rast     While chatting with my daughter about Thanksgivings of days gone by, I recalled a Thanksgiving disaster I myself created many years ago. (What a surprise […]

    Fun times in LA!   Southern California in the early 1970’s was a great place to be. Although the hippie era was coming to an end, there was still enough “peace, love and rock n roll” to go around. After having spent one year in North Dakota and one year in Vietnam, I […]

    The patio attached to our condo has at least five bird houses. A few fancy ones, one I made with the help of my grandchildren, and an A frame bird house that’s been around the longest. And despite the availability of all the other fine dwellings, there’s a pitched battle for the A […]