Columns

Fresh coffee fuels my days, one cup at a time

In dreaming of my perfect morning, coffee is always at the forefront of my mental images.  To me, it's more than just a drink — it's a ritual, serving as a reminder every morning to slow down and be present before the chaos of the day overtakes my mind.

Memories of playing Putt-Putt as national contest gets rolling

Growing up, I was never a particularly good athlete as a kid. I was a pretty decent baseball player. I had a good batting eye and was a strong enough fielder to play shortstop in my little league years – skills that carried over to my softball days in later years.

Eyes, ears in tune with movies, music plus popcorn

Any readers familiar with this space since July may recollect that I’ve referenced musicians and films once or thrice; also inclined to write film reviews on Wednesdays when the mood strikes.

Adventures with the greatest four-legged escape artist

If you are a regular reader of my column (thanks, if you are), then you have seen me mention my dog, Whiskey, from time to time.  It’s been 11 months to the day since I adopted Whiskey in Washington state, where I lived prior to moving to Florida.

Newspapers endure as black, white and read all over

National Newspaper Week is winding down, but my memories about traditional newspapers remain as vivid as fresh ink. For my money, there still isn’t much that beats the feeling of holding a newspaper in my hands. (Cold, hard cash and a good novel are other items that come to mind.

Breaking bread with Buddy and visitor visionaries

This past Friday, I had the pleasure of having lunch with Gil Langley, president & CEO, and Paul Beirnes, Vice President, of the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, along with legendary Fernandina Beach attorney Buddy Jacobs.

A timely tribute to Mom, in all her glory

Just around the corner is my favorite person's birthday. My mother, Helen, turns 91 this month. As hundreds of millions (probably billions) of people say about their mothers: Mine is second to none, as good as it gets.

Mother Nature delivers breathtaking beauty, ferocity

It’s been 15 years since I’ve had to actively worry about being in the potential path of a tropical storm or hurricane.

Buoyed by division win, Jags head West

It’s normal not to have a barometer yet on where a team is after Week 3. The Jaguars face a talented, undefeated, chronically injured San Francisco 49ers team (3-0) on the road. The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) won ugly against the Houston Texans (0-3), a team in freefall.

Loads of laundry amount to life’s spin cycle

Like a moth to a flame, I’m lured twice per week to the laundry room, the sudsy shrine to domestic drudgery. Most of you know the sounds involved: The washer’s whirring, humming and chugging – with intermittent rinsing and spinning.