Here in Central Virginia, we’ve had some crazy weather lately: ice, snow, bitter cold, and then rain on top of it all. While that may not be unusual in general, it’s unusual for us. Having to break through snow and ice just to get out of our driveways isn’t something we’re accustomed to in this part of Virginia. All of it got me thinking about a scene from the movie  Frozen  where Olaf the snowman talks about how much he wants to experience summer. Of course, the joke is that

We live in a time in American history when people seem more divided than ever, even while loudly proclaiming messages of diversity and inclusion. This division is especially evident in our political scene. Whether you like him or not, Donald Trump, the current president of the United States, is deeply loved by many and just as deeply despised by others. Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, or whether you even knew this was a thing, I recently came across a headline

Merry Christmas, everyone! Many of you have probably already busted down the stairs (if you have them) and dove headfirst into the pile of presents and stocking stuffers. As I’m sure many of you received gifts you needed and wanted, there is also real joy in watching the faces of those you give to. Sometimes the best part of Christmas morning isn’t what we open — it’s who we’re watching. This Christmas, after everything was opened, I mentioned that only one thing came off he

Have you ever made plans only to watch them fall apart? That was my experience this past weekend, and it was felt most clearly while trying to sell my truck. For the record, my wife suggested that I call ahead to make sure I had everything I needed to complete the sale. I didn’t call. I was certain I had everything covered. So we made our arrangements and drove into town. After waiting for someone to help me, I presented the offer sheet I had received the week before. The sal

The other day, I got some bad news. My truck has some issues, and the long and short of it is that the repair costs almost as much as the truck is worth. I decided to shop it around and see what I could get for it. All day Saturday, I drove around to multiple places seeking appraisals, and while at one of them, I was struck by a conversation with the sales person helping me. He led with, “I want to help you,” and that he didn’t want to put me in a vehicle I didn’t really want

On New Year’s Day , I played in a “for fun” golf tournament. It was more of an outing with a few elements of a traditional competition. I...

In December 2021, I pulled the plug on the previous iteration of I Was Just Thinking…
 Over the past 21 months, I have had the chance to...

Dorothy and Toto. Luke, Han, and Leia. Rey, Poe, and Fin. Katniss and Peeta. Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel. The...

“ I deserve it! ” We have all uttered this phrase. We may all have different “its”, but we all say it. Sometimes we even flip it around...

One of the joys and burdens of being around the house more often is actually seeing what it looks like sometimes. So many times we just...

Here we are, just 4 days away from Christmas Day. Christmas music is playing everywhere. Decorations are hung in windows and on houses....