Columns

Confessions of a pet-less animal lover  

I am a non-owner of pets.  Although I will stop my car or swerve to avoid creatures in the road, most of my home looks like it was decorated by a monk who’s allergic to fur.  Some friends and colleagues assume I’m lying about my fondness for animals. “Prove it,” they challenge me.

Music serves as reminder of important times

It’s been said that music provides the soundtrack to our lives. Songs can be powerful waypoints throughout our life, reminding us of both the beautiful and joyful times as well the sad and difficult moments.

A penny for my thoughts? Good riddance, 1 cent

That's all, folks: The U.S. Mint has struck its last penny.  As of Wednesday, those small copper-plated discs with Honest Abe's gaze are no longer being churned out. The Treasury swung a ceremonial hammer at the Philadelphia Mint for nostalgia's sake.

A kayaker’s odyssey: 130 miles of determination

I kayaked the St. Marys River, from the Okefenokee swamp to the Atlantic Ocean, for 130 miles. The summer winds were relentless this year. That’s important to note, since I enjoy solo circumnavigating barrier islands in my 13.6 foot kayak.

A salute to my late father, no average Joe

On the verge of Veterans Day, I feel compelled to write about my late father, Joseph.  He was a veteran of World War II — having served in the Marine Corps — who passed away in mid-November five years ago.

By the numbers: The long and short of attention spans

If it takes you longer than 1.7 seconds to read this opening paragraph of my column, then you have already spent more time than the average person spends on a single piece of social media content on a mobile device. You read (or scanned) that correctly: 1.

A coffee a day keeps homesickness at bay 

As some of you may know, I moved to the area nearly six months ago from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I resided there for all four years of my bachelor's degree and was living in London for two years prior to studying.

Autumn affair: I flirt with fall while loving summer

As I've gotten older, I've grown to appreciate and prefer warmer, sunny weather conditions. After reaching the half-century age, a person doesn't often become stronger, bigger and tougher — except mentally or spiritually, perhaps.

Tricks and treats from Halloweens past

While I was growing up as a kid, Halloween ran a close second to Christmas when it came to holidays.

Good looking, what’s cookin’? Nothing on my watch

With each passing year when the holidays approach, one truth remains self-evident: I wasn’t born with the gene that enables cooking or baking. That isn’t to say I’m incapable of reading a recipe and cobbling together something edible with the proper ingredients.