Hollow Victories

Strange occurrence. I picked all 16 first round matchups correctly yesterday. Yep, Yale and Little Rock, too. It won’t last, and it doesn’t matter, since I entered no contests. But it’s my biggest brush with success since a guy named … Read More

Waste Trash Flotsam

Kit Carson saw a lot of tumbling tumbleweeds along the trail. Today the tumbleweeds are outnumbered by plastic bags. But hey…same aerodynamics.

Chatol

A.B. Chance guest house in Centralia, built in 1940. Architectural style is Depression Modern.

Riverset

It was a good day on the river. Sun thought so, too.

Book Club Gives Valentine to Governor’s Mansion

  On this day, next to the ancient fireplace where generations of Missourians warmed their feet, the Tuesday Club’s gift to the old mansion drew every admiring eye. Over many decades, the needlepoint art that stretched across the old wooden … Read More

Walmartization

If Walmart is pulling out of small town America, can the Mom ‘n Pop Store come back?

Speech at Governor’s Mansion

I never thought I’d utter these words, as I turned to Cheryl: “What do I wear to a tea?” She dressed me, and offered one command: “Don’t slouch.” At the event I stood before five dozen attendees in the Governor’s … Read More

The Genius of Clemson

Samuel Longhorn Clemson said it: “Our long national championship is over.” Well, it was a football fan, mistaking the ghost of Mark Twain, and replacing his real name with a footballized name, lamenting mighty Clemson’s defeat, and misquoting our most … Read More

Sharp Young Minds

Just spoke to Grant Elementary geography classes, and was reminded that, even on my best day, I’ll never be as sharp as a roomful of fourth graders. We had a blast talking parklands, prairie chickens and preservation.