This is the second blog in one week about current bank life. Ever since my bank was taken over by another, it has been an unmitigated nightmare. Don’t worry, I’ll spare you the real depressing…

Originally written for Town Hall:2-5-10 Well, it’s that special time of the year again, Valentine Season. The season begins on December 26th when Hallmark rips down their Christmas decorations (which were up since before Halloween)…

I’ve been trying to cut down expenses lately, even on my day off when I often head for the multiplex cinema and view a matinee. On this particular fine, crisp, winter morning, I took out…

Have you ever noticed that the best way to hear honest feedback about your appearance is to change your appearance? “Have you lost weight? You sure have lost weight!  Wow!  No kidding. You look terrific! …

Fast food restaurants seem to have figured out how to navigate through today’s horrible economy. So many of them are selling hamburgers and similar items for only a buck. Even if you buy three such…

Given the choice between being sick, with all the accompanying discomfort, or losing my voice, I would choose the painful sickness hands down. Because of all the public speaking I do, not to mention a…

This morning, I needed to get a checking account problem straightened out, not the kind of simple situation a teller could take care of. No, this needed one of the heavy guns, somebody from Customer…

Everybody knows how long it can take to park at Disneyland. Well, if not everybody, at least my girlfriend Nancy and I know. Since we have those cheaper, annual passes, the drill is quite familiar…

This week, I turned 56. Remember when you were little? Your birthday was exciting for several reasons; the presents, of course, along with cake and ice cream and parties. But you were also thrilled, and…

Pop up on a computer has always been annoying. It’s not as if any of us loved commercials anyway, but one that leaps into your face like a sneaky, sinister Jack in the Box makes…

What can be closer to the heart of American culture than Disneyland?  Of course, the big attraction to Disneyland this time of year is that they’re all decked out for Christmas Time with a spectacular…

The fellow in line ahead of me at the bank kept shouting something to his wife about hurrying up. You see, she was still filling out their deposit slip, but wanting to redeem the time,…

You just have love these drive-through hamburger joints such as Wendy’s or Jack in the Box. The other day my car was behind a mother with a van and a couple of kids (never a…

The first three times they called me for jury duty I got out of it. Not that jury duty wouldn’t be interesting. Actually, I think I would enjoy the process and find it fascinating. My…

Originally published on Town Hall: 8-13-09 Lots of chatter is going on about Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who both answered and talked on her cell phone in the middle of a question from a…

I had a good time the other day touring the San Diego Zoo with my girlfriend, Nancy. We had a two for one bus pass and got on top of the double-decker bus for a…

At first my friends were taken back by my recent rule. After all, who loves entertainment more than I do? But I informed them of the new personal standard nevertheless. No more evening movies! That…

Originally written for Town Hall on 7-3-08 This will not be an important article, but please cut me some slack: Between gay marriage, free speech going down the tubes, the war against Militant Islam and…

A brief thought for the day: Here’s an idea: Maybe movie theater refreshment stands could start selling gasoline. We could get it right in the lobby, put the gas in plastic containers, and then carry…

In Big Bear, California, (appropriately named for this news story in kind of an ironic way) we read the following from The Associated Press: BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (AP) — The owner of a wild…