Category: Daily Life

Hiking Without Dave Soon to Launch
November 22, 2014

Hiking Without Dave Soon to Launch

November 22, 2014 Thanks to all who have expressed interest in our book Hiking Without Dave. After three and a half years, Bonnie and I are ready to release it.  Be advised that when you open it things may get messy:  Bonnie and I will both come pouring out. If you want a head start, sample chapters can be downloaded on the Hiking Without Dave page. If you know Bonnie, I am sure you will whole-heartedly agree that she is a sweet and loving person. Here is a little secret just between you and me: …
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It Takes More Than a PHD to Shoot a Book Cover Photo
September 20, 2014

It Takes More Than a PHD to Shoot a Book Cover Photo

by guest blogger Bonnie Spencer   September 20, 2014 When my first-ever digital camera died recently, I went shopping for a replacement. I searched for a similar model because I didn’t want to have to learn how to operate a different one. Eventually, I did find another low-end model that caters to the non-pro like me. Give me an Auto setting and one button to push and I’m happy. My PHD (Push Here Dummy) in photography serves me well. So how difficult could it be to shoot the cover photo for a book? I was …
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A Golden Ticket Encore
June 16, 2014

A Golden Ticket Encore

June 16, 2014 In the “Golden Ticket,” I told you about my continuing quest for the perfect sleep while backpacking. (That was two blogs back and needs to be read first to make any sense of this one.) My air mattress has to be light enough to pack for several days or weeks. Maybe even months—who knows? But it also has to be comfortable and, most importantly, wide enough for both my elbows. The fact is, I never did actually use my new birthday Klymit Static V sleeping pad. Shortly after trying it out on …
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June 5, 2014

A Thrillin’ Memorial Day

June 5, 2014 You may have thought your Memorial Day festivities were great. Maybe even exciting. See if you still think so after you read about mine. Now, you’re probably thinking I’m going to wow you with a tale of some exotic and dangerous hike or a family reunion with a long-lost relative. OK—so it wasn’t that exciting, but . . . We spent the holiday with my father-in-law in Xenia. I kicked the day off with The Grillin’. It’s big stuff when a guy gets to do anything with propane. Bonnie and her dad …
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May 17, 2014

The Golden Ticket

May 17, 2014 Sixty-four is not a big birthday. At least I keep telling myself that. We would celebrate it quietly. Bonnie and her dad know just what I like and had it planned out. However, none of us knew it would involve a Golden Ticket. No, I’m not trying out for American Idol any time soon. There will be no coveted plane ticket to Hollywood. I haven’t even kept up with the show this season. But we did head off to the outfitter store. Bonnie had given me a blank check (within reasonable limits) …
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December 23, 2013

Everything (Mostly) in Its Place

December 23, 2013 My brain reached its saturation point fifteen years ago; unfortunately, it was about five years before my retirement date. Lesson plans, parent activities in the evenings, organizing the yearly Mary Ingles Festival in town—my plate was piled so high that I couldn’t keep track of everything in the heap. So I did what Bonnie does to maintain her sanity: I made a to-do list. I recoiled at the idea at first. It seemed much more adventurous just to deal with life as it happened. But I could see that I couldn’t put …
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