This is a book review that could be a column. Like many people my age, the blur of decades past and the acceleration of each passing year breeds a sense of urgency, if not panic. Jack Nicholson in "About Schmidt" looks up one day in astonishment, asking "what the hell happened." We're not paying attention. That's what happens. Then suddenly we realize the cliff is getting closer and we're like the Road Runner trying to flip on the brakes and backpedal those last few yard

A series binge. I'd exhausted all the Reacher books and discovered this author. The first book has been turned into a Netflix movie. The movie had mediocre reviews, but the book(s) have been wildly popular. Mark Greaney is a riveting master of the spy thriller and the Gray Man is a distinctive character - though not quite as compelling as Reacher. Greaney is also known for authoring the Tom Clancy novels and he's obviously been a good choice to carry on that legacy. I'

A house-sit in England prompted this trip.  We've done some 15 house-sits domestically through Trusted Housesitters , building up our credentials and plotting to take some overseas.   It's a way to travel cheaply, but perhaps more importantly, it provides an opportunity to live in a more relaxed atmosphere like a local.  This is another instance of Martha pushing me beyond my normal comfort zone and it's been rewarding.  We've experienced places and met interesting people tha

Guilty pleasures, just pure action/adventure. I get my books on Libby, the online library service and often there's a lull between...

This was widely acclaimed, won numerous prizes, made NYT lists and has rave reviews. The premise intrigued me. It follows a young woman...

The next time you're at the beach, grab a handful and sand and hold it in your palm.  How many grains are there?  A thousand?  Five...

Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook A New York Times bestseller, and with good reason....

As the years increasingly do, this one passed in a blur - though we had a lot to show for it. January and February were routine,...

= The death of my mother-in-law and a dear childhood friend got me thinking about death - as it might for anyone.  The specter is never...

The Conspiracy Cranks Building on the previous column regarding impatience with the lack of public understanding of government,...

I have always suffered under the impression that others knew at least as much as I did, which not only fed some insecurities but also...

It had been a long time coming.  Throughout 2023 Martha and I had been discussing and debating our next overseas trip.  Portugal? ...

A natural assumption about retirement is that you're free to do whatever, whenever. Good in theory, but there are always other...

Going overseas, especially anyplace in Europe, sounds exotic. To family, friends and the obligatory social media audience, there's even a...

Note: This is an initial treatment for a larger composition with more detail on the workings of Washington.* During lunch with a...

It’s not news that the political landscape in the country has seen tectonic shifts in the last few years. The working class has...

Malcolm Floyd - was born on March 23, 1921 and died on February 12, 1994. The middle of three children, he was raised in Thurmond, West...

We'd arranged a ski trip to Utah - instigated by a wistful comment by Chris - for January. Skiing - and eventually snowboarding - we...

Following the New England trip in June, we made the annual pilgrimage to Castle Park in late July. Martha had to attend meetings of the...

We left Richmond at about 7 am on Saturday, June 19 for the drive up to Boston. With backups on the George Washington bridge in New York...

Donald Trump continues to represent one of the most serious existential threats to the nation and our institutions. Not just that he's...

We had to put "down" our dear cat, Inky on Saturday, March 27. It's a difficult euphemism, meaning we induced her death; but as painful...

Covid has driven everyone stir crazy. Outdoor activities have become more popular and small excursions have been a way to safely relieve...