Regular Life

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Whoa. Here is what we get in the Dallas metro area this time of year. Plenty more of this is expected in August. And look at those “low” temperatures. This isn’t meant as a competition. I’m sure there are folks reading this who have it worse than we [...]

Besmirch not my mommy’s name.
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In Tulsa last weekend, my favorite time was one cool morning playing with Benjamin in the front yard. He picked up a couple black plastic stakes advertising the lawn service Shannon’s uncle uses, and following his lead we pretended they were swords. We [...]

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The Dallas Arboretum is the centerpiece in an oasis in a concrete jungle. Plus, the deli makes a great panini.
Shannon and I loaded up her father and Ben in the minivan and headed out last Sunday for a warm, overcast-then-sunny afternoon among the flowers. Every city’s residents should [...]

On Saturday morning (still Easter weekend), Dad and I managed to sneak away to one of my favorite spots — Bridal Veil Falls. The name isn’t original, but ever since Tim Ernst used “Fuzzy Butt Falls” for a site featured in his Arkansas Waterfalls Guidebook, I’m beginning to think that re-using a title isn’t [...]

The real question is, “What did we not do during Easter weekend?”
As I mentioned already, the boys hit it off early at my parents’ house. This allowed us to shed a layer of worry and enjoy unfettered access to our extended family.
And Sugarloaf Mountain.
As if the name “Sugarloaf” weren’t derivative enough, the area boasts [...]

Boys do eventually grow out of some of their annoying tendencies. I’m sure girls do, too, but I’ve never brought one up — heck, never even had a niece — and so I claim no expertise in the female arena.
Yeah, so what’s new, right?
On Easter weekend, Benjamin and his cousin, LC, got along great [...]

(Note: All readers of “Bernie” will find the conclusion now available. I also adjusted Part Twelve so that it’s a little easier to follow. Hey, author’s prerogative.)
What started as a simple stroll back to work after leaving Homer with our honest mechanic turned into a black-and-white photography shoot.
My first thought as I [...]

(All those reading “Bernie,” you may continue on to Part Seven)
A new park opened near us.

See for yourself (and click to enlarge a pic)…

(Note: Those reading “Bernie,” please continue today with Part Three)
When I finished up late that Thursday night making a video and doing crazy voices at Moksha’s house, I stopped at the picturesque private college nearby. The snow continued falling fast and steady, with about three inches already on the ground. I missed wooded [...]

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I miss snow.
All of you living in places where you have too much of it, I know it’s hard to believe, but the cold white stuff — never the same flake twice! — is very miss-able.
Like the bodies of dying crystalline butterflies, the flakes float to the ground and silently stack [...]