I came to the realization this morning that one of the big reasons I haven’t been writing more than I have is because I have been waiting for something profound to say. First big mistake. The second was believing that you actually had to know something about what you are writing about. I can list … More Archive: What MEN Really Want

  “Wass mann nicht sterbt, macht mann stark.”–Nietsche I wrote a couple of days ago about how each of us has a story that we are destined to tell. That story could have been something that had been told them in their childhood, a tradition passed on in their family, an experience they had, or … More From the Archive: Scars

In twenty minutes, the first class of the first day of classes of the 2012-2013 school year begins for me. I will approach it with an optimistic attitude. I will be prepared for all of my classes, with plenty of time to grade and review my students’ work. I will be able to accomplish my … More In Twenty Minutes….

I got a call yesterday in my office. My son and daughter in law–who live with us–called to tell me that the doorknob to our outer door had broken. It was exposed to the weather and several years old, and the mechanism had been sticking for a while, so I knew it was time to … More Archive: Fixing Things

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