Here Are Some Columns I Won’t Write
“My first “Funny-ish Files” column was published in July of 2015. (It was a story about how dandelions had taken over my lawn.) I’ve been writing this column for almost eleven years. That’s at least 125 columns and well over 50,000 words. I’ve written about a wide variety of things, like “5 Things To Do […]
Seven Excuses for Not Returning Your Shopping Cart
It really isn’t that difficult to return a shopping cart to the cart return, is it? It’s common courtesy. It takes just a few seconds. It’s not rocket science. Or brain surgery. Or rocket surgery. And yet, if you drive into most parking lots, you’ll likely find a wide array of shopping carts scattered […]
Thanks for the Memories:A walk down memory lane
I have a lot of memories of my sons growing up. One of my favorites is when there was a chore that the younger one thought he could get out of, so he tried to get my older son, who has high functioning autism, to do it. The older son declined, so my younger son […]
Writer’s Retreat…at the Car Dealership
I’m a writer. I like to write. I like having a nice, quiet place to write. I’m a dad. I like being a dad. I like doing fun things with my kids. Unfortunately, those two things aren’t compatible. It’s impossible to find a nice, quiet place to write with four kids around. Some writers deal […]
The Do’s and Don’ts of Being a Soccer Parent
We signed our kids up for the city soccer league, and they are really enjoying it. And we, as soccer parents, have learned that there are some things you should do, and some things that you shouldn’t. DO mark your calendar as soon as you get the schedule, so you know when all the games […]
It Took Me 40 Years to Hike to the Y
I first moved to Utah County forty years ago. I was a skinny, fresh-faced* kid, coming from Idaho to start my freshman year at BYU. (*”Fresh-faced” means, “I wasn’t shaving yet.”) And, at some point during that freshman year, I looked at the Y on the mountain and said to myself, “I’d like to hike […]
Aspen Roots
Having strong roots is important in life, and it is aptly illustrated in this photo taken on a nearby mountain road. Aspen trees grow as a colony – young and old trees – from a common root system
Getting Ready for Summer Vacation
One of the best things about having the kids off for summer vacation is…going on an actual summer vacation! So many great memories can be made on these summer trips, whether they be family reunions, camping in the mountains, relaxing at the beach, adventuring at an amusement park, or whatnot. (Whatnot is one of my […]
Who Touched My Gas Station Hot Dog?
Every time you go inside at the gas station you see them. They are rotating in their display case. They’ve been cooked (probably), or at the very least warmed. They are waiting to be sold and eaten. They are the gas station hot dogs. Who eats these things? They’re slimy. They’re greasy. And, worst of […]
Have I Become My Mother?
I love my mother. She’s a wonderful woman. She brought me into the world. She taught me not to talk with my mouth full, not to burp at the table, and not to go swimming until at least one hour after eating. She loves me very much. And sometimes, she even remembers my name. My […]