October is about restraint. It’s about resisting the urge to buy those giant bags of candy until the day before trick-or-treaters show up to collect it. Years ago, I learned – the hard way – that if you buy the chocolate too early, your house will be haunted by the siren song of Snickers. more

If statistics are to be believed, I’m part of a shrinking minority: I go to church every Sunday. more

The question has returned. It plagues my mind every October. It happens when the “Happy Halloween” signs start popping up all over the place. more

Bet you didn’t know our lovely state has a national day, did you? Well, we do, and why shouldn’t we; there is a lot to offer here in the “Show Me State.”. First and foremost, here is a disclaimer: if you look up National Missouri Day, you will get conflicting information; some sites say it is Jan. 4, and other sites say it is the third Wednesday in October. I am using the latter since it was officially ratified by a constitutional convention for Missouri Day to be in October. more

Dear Ragweed, more

Dear Editor, more

I had lime Jello for breakfast today. Guess what I'm having for lunch? Lime Jello. And dinner? You guessed it. Lime Jello is on repeat today unless I get crazy and have a little chicken broth before the Jello. I'm also drinking water, white grape juice, Sprite, and tea. more

Life really keeps us guessing. I began my professional career in Colorado Springs after I graduated college in 2014 with a Master's in History. I was offered a job at my alma mater, the University of Colorado, as a co-professor in a few history and humanity classes. I then began teaching history at a community college, then moved on to teaching middle school history for a couple of years. Initially, teaching college was not on my radar, but I loved it. Then teaching pre-teens about WWI and the Cold War was never a consideration, but I thrived doing it. I figured everything was set. I was going to be a historian, teach history, and grow old in Colorado. As is often the case, however, things do not always go to plan. more

Like many folks of my generation, I tend to see much as it once was, not as it is. more

Bear with me as we take time to remember Dee, for more than 23 years my South Dakota Bride, but much more than just the local newspaper editor’s wife. more

Dear Editor, more

I never understood as a young man why Dad didn’t fix the barn door. All it needed was a proper hinge. more