Since 1970, April 22 has been recognized around the world as “Earth Day.” The day was established to bring awareness to the state of our planet because, as environmental awareness increased, people realized things were looking pretty grim for Mother Earth. At the time, cars were using leaded gas, unregulated manufacturing plants were filling the air, waterways, and ground with pollutants and carcinogens, and air quality was bad enough that in September, in Southern California, I could barely see the mountains right behind my house. It was obvious that the planet, and its people, needed change...CONTINUE READING
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I grew up in the 1970s.
There was a lot going on in those years, though much of it wasn’t something a schoolkid followed too closely. Here in the U.S. the news was about Vietnam, Richard Nixon, Civil Rights, and an energy crisis. To take our minds off politics we had TV shows like “Welcome Back, Kotter,” “The Love Boat,” “Three’s Company,” and many others that are still talked about today. At the movies there was “Jaws,” “The Godfather,” “Grease,” “Star Wars” and, one of my favorites, “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”...CONTINUE READING
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A few months back, my Jignificant Other mentioned, once again, that my to-do collection of puzzles seemed to be growing faster than my “completed” pile. That comment prompted me to take a look through the stash, to see if maybe some could be passed along to someone else, to be returned in future. During my tour of household puzzle storage closets (yes, multiple closets), I discovered several beautiful puzzles from a brand I hadn’t tried before. So, as a fan of always trying new things, I pulled them out, put them at the top of the pile, and planned to do a write up to share with you...CONTINUE READING
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Why did the chicken cross the road?
It’s a classic. The answer varies depending on who you ask, though my dad always told me, “to get to the other side!” Sounds like a dad joke, right? And, being a bit grayer on top, and having a few years under my belt (or slightly over my belt, as things now seem to settle in my midsection), dad jokes definitely tickle my funny bone like they never did in the past.
“Dad, will you make me a sandwich?”
“Abracadabra! You’re a sandwich!”
Oh man, I crack me up...CONTINUE READING
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At some point in our life, each of us is asked, “are you a cat person or a dog person?” There’s usually a pretty clear answer. Some like the demonstrative love and devotion of a dog, while others prefer the independence and stand-offish nature of a cat. For me it has always been a tricky question. I mean c’mon, can’t we like them both?...CONTINUE READING
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It’s November. Yes, I know. In fact, it’s quite nearly December. Since about mid-September, when stores started decorating for Christmas, everywhere I look there are pumpkins, ghouls, cornucopias, Christmas trees, and other assorted Fall/Winter holiday things. All the stores are gearing up for their big sales season, and all the puzzlers are dutifully putting together Halloween, Thanksgiving, and other holiday puzzles. So much orange! So much white (snow)!...CONTINUE READING
Cruising along in life the day-to-day things generally fall in place: Wake up, morning routine, lunch, afternoon stuff, dinner, etc., etc., etc. And so it continues, until….
A few months ago my father died. I had wondered, sometimes, how losing a parent would affect me. Would I suddenly miss him, even though our contact has always been sporadic? Would I grieve visibly, as I’ve seen others do from loss? Or would I continue with the day-to-day, going through the steps of everyday life as if there hadn’t been a change at all?...CONTINUE READING
Anyone who has been puzzling for a while is likely to be familiar with several well known puzzle artists. These folk are household names among puzzlers, and have been prolific producers over the years. Experienced puzzlers can tell you, from a single glance, which of these artists created a particular scene, as each of them has developed a unique puzzle niche...CONTINUE READING
Over the years I’ve noticed something of a pattern to my puzzle solving. Most of the time when I’m looking for a puzzle, I’ll check my stash and choose one totally at random. I’m not picky about the brand, the artist, the subject of the picture, or the number of pieces it has (usually the more the better). But is it really random? I’ve always thought it was, but in looking through the photos of those I’ve solved I noticed some interesting patterns...CONTINUE READING
