Those who think teachers have a cushy job with lots of time off have never taught. The first few years I was a college professor I spent any extra hour I had learning the subjects I was expected to teach. After a year to get acclimated, I spent the next five years teaching, running a … More Six Days and Counting

I know that I have been cheating the past week or two. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve seen that I’ve been posting a lot of older blogs–“archives”–instead of my usual meanderings. The reason I have done so is called August. School starts next week and I am hip deep in alligators, I mean, meetings. … More Reality Strikes

We are working in the back yard this morning. We got up early–well, sort of–and tried to get as much weed pulling done before it gone hot. But 9, 10, and then 10:30 came and the sun started beating down. We thought about jumping in the pool, and that led us to think about our … More From the Archive: Cooper’s Surprise

As many who see my Facebook page are aware, yesterday I did something out of the ordinary for me. I’m no cupcake. I love football, I laugh hard and play hard. But yesterday was my first time getting both a manicure and a pedicure. Here’s how it happened. Shelly, my wife, was scheduled for a … More Archive: I did it, and I am glad

I got home last night late, burdened down with worries. I stopped by the mailbox and grabbed the handful of bills there, then answered my cell as I entered to door of the house. While I was talking to my son on the phone, I flipped through the letters until I came to an innocuous … More Archive: Why I Turned Down $150,000

This is for those Freshmen who are a week away from arriving on campus. Remember you have the boilerplate excuse for all things, which is good only for nine months: “Please excuse me; I am a freshman.”   I consider myself a pretty easygoing guy. Ask my students–at least those who like me–and they will … More Archive: Advice to the Lost

After years as a professional communicator, all that time working for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in some capacity, I have come to the conclusion that everyone is hiding something. When I was a PR assistant at Hinsdale Hospital in Illinois in the early 80s, a colleague told me that I was “too transparent.” What he … More From the Archive: That’s Right. I’m a Nerd.

Today is brochure day. I guess I am just easy. I was asked at the end of last week to write a series of brochures for the enrollment department of my university. When I got down to listing them, I found there were a total of 20. You heard me. The big two-oh. So I … More Brochure, Bro, Brochure