No Fashion Guru

 A few years ago, I made a dreadful mistake, something absurd for one as cultured and capable as yours truly. Read about it (here).

 

A Lesson for CJ

In 1985 Mrs. Chatterbox's parents moved to Oregon to be closer to their grandson. When Grandpa decided to take little CJ to his first baseball game, our son learned more than we'd bargained for. Read about it (here).

An After Christmas Miracle

The mall was choked with shoppers returning Christmas presents and looking for end of year deals. My sister had gifted me an unsuitable sweater and I’d come to return it.I found something at the mall far more useful than a sweater. Check it out (here.)

 

Merry Christmas

 

This illustration was the companion piece to the Hanukkah picture I painted and posted along with the story The Deal Breaker on Being Jewish. Both were commissioned for a greeting card company, but I can’t remember which one. Check out the entire Christmas illustration (here).

Mrs. Claus in Old Town

Several days ago I was bored and struggling to generate enthusiasm for the Holidays. I found the spirit of Christmas in an unusual place. Read about it (here).

 

The Deal Breaker on Being Jewish

When I was a kid I considered changing religions and becoming Jewish, until I learned about the "deal breaker". Read about it (here).

Finding the Porziuncola

 

One of the details in St. Francis lore capturing my attention was the Porziuncola, a small chapel that had fallen into disrepair in Francis’ day. This structure was important to the saint, but you might be surprised to learn what happened to it. Read about it (here).

 

Free Delivery

 

I’ve spent years in retail and know what it means to give good service, and I treat salespeople as I wanted to be treated when I was wearing the nametag. But one fellow didn’t care much for me in spite of my attempts to thaw his icy disapproval. Read about it (here). 

Playing With Food

 

I was driving home from the grocery store yesterday and the deejay on the radio was spinning moldy oldies and asking trivia questions. One of the questions was: “What was the first toy or game advertised directly to children on television?” The answer is (here). 

Contest Update

 

On November 17^th I mentioned that I was entering a travel writing contest with my entry Whirling Dervishes. My piece made it through the first round and is being considered for a prize. Help me grab the judge's attention by going (here).

 

Complaining About the Weather

Mark Twain once commented that everyone complained about the weather but no one did anything about it. Now it's my turn to complain. Read about it (here). 

 

A Fraud at Westminster Abbey?

 

Most of Britain’s great writers are memorialized in Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey, and quite a few are buried there, including Chaucer, Blake, Browning, Dickens, Tennyson and Kipling. Interred here is James Macpherson. Never heard of him? He pulled off the most successful literary scam in modern history. Read about it (here).

I Almost Felt Guilty

 

The nice folks at Retirement and Good Living have asked for another story, and I’ve shared an account of a special car I purchased to celebrate my retirement. I might have gone too far with a practical joke I pulled on my salesman—you be the judge. Read about it (here).   

Why, God?

I’m receiving pictures from fellow bloggers showing snow-covered front lawns and backyards, reminding me of the first time I saw snow. Mrs. Chatterbox was an Army brat and grew up in Germany where snow is plentiful, but for me snow was an elusive mirage constantly out of reach. Until one day... Read about it (here).

 

Sailing

 It’s been cold and dreary here in Portland, and I’ve been thinking about a wonderfully sunny excursion Mrs. Chatterbox and I took several years ago aboard a special ship with an interesting history. Read about it (here).