Growing from 2011 into 2012

Here it is.

The last hours of the year 2011.

Shining through with this pic

I snapped this pic as I was driving to work Thursday. I love the cloud and how the sun was shining through as well as the blue sky. The tree to the left adds to the rustic look.

On a rainy day, I thought it nice to share this.

Mom and holiday baking

Damn you, Mom.

A shooting claims a family and so many more

Hearing several loud pops, the woman went outside and to the back of the house next door.

A few of my favorite Christmas things

Looking back on the things that I remember about Christmas as a child.

The face says it all

How is it that women can read a man's face and know he has more on his mind than he is telling?

The toy store is closing

Life is not fair.

Plain rude

My Christmas spirit is not too happy.

Learning more

What makes me feel like I am the problem?

Long winter's nap

When I got home tonight, I looked to the sky.

It's the eve of Thanksgiving Day.

Less face time

Is it me, or is the time you spend on Facebook shrinking?

The child becomes the parent

When does the child become the parent?

A photo of my hero

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Life ...

Life is not a game.

Mr. Irrational here

Irrational:  not endowed with reason or understanding.

Dating was a lot of fun

Things I remember about dating as a high schooler and college student:

Random things

Reach out and touch someone.

Keep on shining, please

On a whim and a prayer.

I do not know if I could do it.

Boy did I mess up

What if you are riding along on your journey and the apple cart gets tipped?

Sermons and nerves

I am having trouble with a gray cloud over me.

Making good with God

"You have to make good with God."

Looking outward

Stop being introspective.

A wind can blow away mistakes

Way back in 1985, I wrote a newspaper column titled "Second Wind."

Oh the silence

The silence is the hard part.

A sigh and a grunt

What do the sigh and the grunt mean.

Vacation time is over

Here it is, that first day back to the work place after vacation.

Adding a few more words

Uncertainty.

Welcome to Unknown, population growing daily

The unknown is not a fun place to be.

Wear some clothes when grocery shopping

In less than five minutes at the local Kroger, I was blinded.

You got to please yourself

Do not try to please everybody.

Father and daughters

The joys of being a father.

Just a few words

Self-centered.

What is it about forks in the road?

Oh, those forks in the road.

Trying to figure out "Home"

For more than a month, I have been intrigued by Michael Buble's hit song "Home".

Liven things up at home

Exciting ways to enjoy an evening:

Big adventure at Big Lots

I made my first trip into a Big Lots store today.

Thank you for being my friend

Friendships are treasures.

Why is it hard to talk to someone?

What is it that causes someone to not engage with someone.

Remembering Sept. 11, 2001

Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks in the U.S.

Put up or shut up

Why do some people who comment on line act like CIA, NSA, ICE, FBI, Navy SEALS and the Rockettes are after them?

Love and life ...

How many levels of love are there?

No advice; just a good listener in the making

You have used people to form a comfort zone.For too long, trying to solve the problems of others has been a problem I refused to address.

Living inside a box

Do you feel boxed in?

Life takes many sharp turns and twists

"I learned writers are kind of difficult in many ways. Damn you, Hemingway."

Music smooths out tough day

After a tough day at work, I can sure use some good music.

Secure or not

What if you just wanted to be secure?

I'm quiet but still here

If I do not answer your text, voicemails, emails or Facebook queries, do not panic.

Words that hurt

The words that cut through you like a knife are the ones spoken to you by loved ones.

Married to the the simple way of a song

I am a firm believer in the "keep it simple" method.

What makes us ask what?

What are you thinking?

Think before doing

It is hard to fathom the depth of destruction that takes place when you hurt people you love.

Baseball fever,catch it

It's all about baseball.

Loving you

"When you love someone, you want them to be happy way more then you want yourself happy. That's love."

Pitch the mirror and look into their eyes

Look in the mirror.

Brother, inspiration, guardian angel

How much did I love my brother, Mike?

So many ways to take a positive and turn it into a negative

How do you get past questioning yourself?

Newspaper carrier, listener, customer service

Prior to starting eighth-grade in August of 1974, I got my first paying job.

A stereo, toys and music appreciation

The Towncraft stereo was situated in my parents’ bedroom, on a metal contraption also known as a 1960's-style entertainment center.

County fairs, lemon shakeups and old farmers

Not much comes close to the anticipation, excitement and adventures a person can have when the 4-H county fair rolls around in July.

Carnivals, games of chance and root beer

Growing up, I loved going to carnivals and fairs.

Flawed, but I am just going to be me

Practice what you preach.

Home will always be home

Yes, you can go home again.

I hope today to ...

Today, I hope to make a difference.

To make someone smile.

To make someone laugh.

To make someone feel loved.

To make someone know they are not lost.

To make someone know they are cool, no matter what the in crowd says.

To make someone pay it forward.

To make someone know they are winning the battle.

To make people realize, we are all in this together.

To make time to enjoy life.

Take it easy

Now I understand what my Mom meant when she told us, "Don't hit your Dad up at the door when he gets home. Let him sit down and relax."

A Mom for the ages

We all have our relationships with our mothers.

Playing by the rules

How many sets of rules are there?

Magnificent miles for visiting legislators to explore

Illinois is known as the Land of Lincoln.

Typical line doesn't cut it

I overheard this line used today, "that is a typical man for you."

Thoughts for Monday

Maybe the first day of the work week should he a 4-hour shift.

Sundays are just too terrifying after 6 p.m. I have to start thinking about what I will wear to work Monday.

I think back on the past 48 hours and the bliss.

Nap time might be a good thing to add to the workday on Mondays.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can get us out of a funk.

Remember, it is another day closer to retirement.

Enjoy!

A slow burn that fired me up

While juggling several things at work Monday afternoon, I got a nice kick in the gut.

This talk amongst friends is off the record

Do people really like having friends who are in the newspaper or journalism business?

We have to toss out those who are in the business here, and look at the normal people.

Why is it that some of these people think when they tell you something that could be a potential story, you are going to excuse yourself from the room to make a call.

Better yet, I can text it at the table since I am pretty comfortable with the keyboard.

Something like this happened recently and it was a longtime friend. Ouch.

Regardless of if the story is newsworthy, know that I like to be a part of society.

The story was eventually told.

What I learned was teens will police their own.

Good does top bad.

Good parenting is still out there. Woot, woot.

But for the fact I am a journalist, please, talk to me as a friend.

That is what I am first and foremost.

Even if I have called to see about finding people to talk about other events in the past.

Lesson learned.

I will be your friend, too.

Thanks for listening.

A key sunset is coming

While winter has its grips on us, here is a warming thought.

When someone thinks they're always right

This week I received an email at work from a person upset that we had taken down a letter on the newspaper's website in which he had commented.

It had not been deleted, but removed from the rotation on the landing page.

I answered that the letter was still there and told him how to find it.

He sent a reply that he could not find it and that it was wrong to take the letter down.

The sad thing is, I know this person.

What is even sadder is that he is a whiner and a shouter. He loved to argue and he will not actually listen to other people.

This being the case, I find it easier to laugh off his rants.

But it still steams me that there are people out there who think every thing is a conspiracy. Every one is against them.

When all is said, he will not get the last word in any way.

That's it for today.

Sorry for being gone a few months. I got caught up in life.