Glen Campbell was an icon, at one point in my life. The singer/musician, who recently passed away at 81, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, was a memorable presence to many in the late ‘60’s through the early ‘70’s, with television, and movie appearances, and his popular “Good Time Hour” variety show on CBS. ...

Welcome to the real world, glad you make it, and yes, it’s a bit of a shock, isn’t it? These words I almost rattled off in a conversation with a friend of mine recently, in discussion about a recent experience she had volunteering at a food bank. I won’t give who or where, but I can give how...

And thus, the masses will descend, because it is the 4th of July holiday weekend... sounds Biblical, right? Hordes of locusts, consumption of manna from heaven – it’s like the verse from the Old Testament, except, I’m talking about the City Beautiful (and, er, yeah, no 4th of July back then – just trying to be darned witty, and failing...). There’s a difference, of course, between visiting Storm Lake for a 4th of July celebration, and living here during it...

Ah yes, graduation from high school looms on the horizon for many students and parents – a hectic, but hopefully joyful time, when we say hasta luego to another phase of life done. We have our son graduating next month, and it’s like a bullet train full of memories that keep cropping up, as well-wishers grant him, and us, salutations and goodwill wishes. ...

Sears, we hardly knew ye...

Prom season is under way, and we’ve already got one under our belt. Other than some sleep deprivation, and a twisted knee, I had a pretty good time working the after prom party recently, and evidently, so did the kids. After prom parties have been the norm de jour over the past years, and it’s a good thing, too – got to keep those kids occupied on prom night, because as we all know, stuff can and will happen. ...

In the book “The Life – Changing Magic Of Tidying Up” author Marie Kondo describes the Zen-like approach of of cleaning your house, organizing, and getting rid of stuff that ‘does not have any meaning to you’ at this point in your life. ...

We are well into Lent, and I thought I would take a time out from the usual musings to perhaps concentrate on a bit of uplift, a bit of reflection, because I think we need it. Not that I wasn’t tempted to get off on a tangent – the now on-fire Steve King “civilization” comment thing is beyond reproach (look for more yahoos around the state to see King’s comments as a go-ahead for more racist justification of more yahoo type stuff – hey, by the way, your white hood is ready at the cleaners, folks). ...

I really appreciate customer service. So obvious, because who wouldn’t, right? In a world where we are overwrought with how-to, inspirational books, videos, posts, blogs, and whatever on providing great customer service, it’s surprising how many businesses don’t have a flippin’ clue on how to provide great customer service – nada, zip, none, mic drop out...

I thought about this one quite a bit. In a time where we are knocking celebrities for political speak, there is one person I would endorse for public office if he ever ran (probably elsewhere than here, because of his citizenship status), and that would be Bono from the rock band U2. ...

Funny thing about Americans – we really hold our passions close to our heart, to feel the thump, thump, thump of a collective beat. Football, process meats, beer, weekends, all this stuff are like sacraments you don’t screw around with. Maybe you can sneak in something like Taco Tuesday, or monster trucks, but as they say, when it’s lit, it’s lit, and people want more, and more. ...

Sick, sick, and sick.....I can’t find one redeeming quality about a cold. All this, and Led Zeppelin’s “Sick Again” plays on repeat in my head. Day Three, and I’m still stuffed up – trying to get better before next week, because my dance card is full, with work and music lessons...

You know, Jack LaLanne was right – you can do a fitness workout anywhere. LaLanne, who was the self described “sickly kid” who turned himself into one of the first health and fitness gurus, thus building a great brand, and business for himself along the way, was one of the earliest proprietors of getting up in the morning, and working out from the comforts of your home, first thing...

There’s an old Chinese curse that states “may you live in interesting times,” and brother, after this week, you can’t get stuff that’s any more interesting than what’s been taking place with The Donald, er, sorry, President Trump, and this executive order business. ...

Mary Tyler Moore’s timing as an actress was always impeccable. Moore, who passed away this week at age 80, seemed to say, to today’s phoenix-like women’s movement that has sprung up since President Trump’s election, “Well, girls, you can take it from here.”...

I always like to see what my fearless editor, as well as the other columnists for our fine publication, write for column topics every week. That’s obvious, because I don’t want to duplicate anything in my writing – you know, harrumph, here, here, and all that jib-jive. ...

Socialism in America? What the heck, Bobby Joe? What’s our society coming to? Yeah, bring up the word “socialism”, say we’ve got in America, and some folks start to freak out a bit. Some can’t believe it, but it’s oh-so-common, right under our noses, yessiree. ...

Looking at the hulking phenom called the NFL this season, it looks like the New England Patriots, led by 64 year old head coach Bill Belichick, are headed once again back to the playoffs, as we get into the heat of the run towards the Super Bowl. Sure as shinola, the Pats are even in the mix of chatter for a Super Bowl run. ...

I thought I was done with my columns for the year, but apparently, I guess I’m not. You get ideas, usually at weird times of the night, then they need to get out of your head, and onto the electronic device. I told myself, nope, no year end resolution columns, nope, don’t do it, man, don’t. ...