We’ve reached the holiday that needs no calendar to mark its arrival. We’ve been hearing our neighbors celebrate the Fourth of July for days now. Read more

I was talking with an individual recently when he let out a laugh and stated, “I was walking up the stairs in search of something and stepped right past it. It was like I never saw it at all.” With that, his laughter became much more intense. Read more

As a 58-year-old woman on disability, Robin Short of Wallingford, Connecticut, relies on her tax refund to catch up on bills. She filed her return electronically in February, opting for direct deposit so she could get her $773 refund quickly. Read more

It’s easy to pick out people who are not used to being on rail-trails. They walk on the wrong side (one should stay to the right) and spread across the trail, making it difficult for other people to pass. Read more

The tree-lined lane was flanked by well-maintained grassy rights-of-way that were free of knotweed — and wildflowers, unfortunately. To knock the former back, the latter had to be sacrificed as well. Read more

It’s funny. Maybe that isn’t the right word. I almost feel as though there isn’t any right word other than what I have selected. Maybe we’ll leave it at that. Anyway, thinking back to, say, the ’50s, what comes to mind that was taboo then that isn’t so today? We all can come up with a trio of words, and I bet choices might be different. Read more

Our first weekend in Green status was golden. Both days were sunny and warm, and after a Saturday spent at home, working on the “honey do” list, I was more than ready to get out for some enjoyable recreation that Sunday. Read more

I’ve done it. You’ve done it. We’ve all done it at one time or another. We’ve passed on statements to others that we thought were true but had no factual substantiation. Call it what you will. Some persons may use the word rumors. Others may state, “That’s incorrect.” Finally, I’ve heard it said, “We’ll just have to agree to disagree.” Read more

Our world is being rocked these days. Protests and riots. A rapid start to tropical-storm season. A politically divided nation fracturing further. And COVID-19 remains among us. Read more

John Doosey will never forget the appearance his once longtime girlfriend had when he got down on one knee and proposed to her. Cynthia’s eyes lit up and her smile extended from one ear to the other. It didn’t take long for her to joyfully whisper while nodding up and down, saying “Yes, I’ll marry you.” That was definitely music to his ears. Read more

I love symmetry. I appreciate a picture that is hung centered on a wall. In fact, I wish I could be more centered myself. Fortunately for me, there are already words that are perfectly symmetrical — they’re called palindromes. Read more

It was one of the first genuinely nice days of May, sunny with cirrus accents, warm; and it was a Saturday. Getting out the lawnmower, I started to cut along the sidewalk in the side yard then paused and really looked around. Read more

English is weird. According to dictionary.com, the English language borrows up to 80% of its words from other languages. In fact, English words are composed of 350 other languages. No wonder we can’t spell. Read more

Don’t it always seem to go. Read more

A couple of months ago, I received a letter in the mail addressed to me that had no return address. Being a bit suspicious, I opened it immediately only to find a two-page printed letter signed, “Your secret admirer.” I was elated. I have a secret admirer, no less. That certainly made my day, or did it? I’m the type of fellow who likes to know who my admirers are so I can reciprocate in some fashion or another. On the other hand, I’ll take him or her, for having such a person is rare, at least in my case. Read more

Have you ever put spicy mustard on a sandwich? If you inadvertently glob on too much of the good stuff, you’ll swear you just snorted wasabi. When it comes to spices that are in your face (literally and figuratively), a little bit can go a long way. Read more