"Is your glass half empty, or half full?" asked the mole. "I think I'm grateful to have a glass," said the boy.The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy The past year has been like drinking from a tin can filled with holes. Possible, but not easy. There is enough integrity … Continue reading The Cup
Allow the Quiet to Drown Out the Noise
There is a lot of noise in our world. The noise can keep us from feeling at peace. It is efficient at distraction, shifting our focus from what is most important. Noise tells us, "Hurry up. There is no time." It persistently asks, "What's next?" Noise puts us on edge, forces us to be looking … Continue reading Allow the Quiet to Drown Out the Noise
Phoenix Street Art
Artwork by Francisco Garcia (@3nuf86) I began my teaching career in downtown Phoenix. Having grown up in "small town" Kansas, working in a large urban environment was an eye-opener. I honestly believe I learned more during my relatively short time in Phoenix, than I have in the twenty plus years I have been in Chandler. … Continue reading Phoenix Street Art
Tree Farm Life: Planting
This past week I spent a little time at Delp Christmas Tree Farm in St. John, Kansas. The farm was started in 1959 by my grandparents, Cecil and Ruby Delp. As you might imagine, Christmas trees were an unusual choice of crop in the sandy central Kansas farmland dominated by wheat, corn, and milo. They … Continue reading Tree Farm Life: Planting
Good and Tired
Today I am good and tired. The kind of tired that comes from doing things you enjoy. From physical work and accomplishment. A tired that is diametrically opposed to what you feel as a result of stress, anxiety and managing the daily grind. A "good" tired. I have spent the past four days in St. … Continue reading Good and Tired
On the Road Again
I am writing this post from the seat of an airplane -- about 30,000 feet above the ground. Beyond the wing of the plane, cotton candy clouds are the only things visible for miles. This is a milestone. Today marks the first time in almost nineteen months that I have been on an airplane. It … Continue reading On the Road Again
Signs of Hope
If there has ever been a year when we need a good spring, it is this one. It has been such a difficult year. The pandemic has wrecked havoc on the entire world. The virus has resulted in staggering losses, but I think it has also highlighted the pain and suffering that has always existed … Continue reading Signs of Hope
Chicken Wire, But No Chickens
A few weeks ago I solved a dog problem with chicken wire. We have an unusual trio of dogs -- each with a very different personality. Kosmo the West Highland Terrier is "my" dog. He loves people, the dog park, and carefully monitoring our backyard. If we allowed him to stay outside all of the … Continue reading Chicken Wire, But No Chickens
The Little I Know
Trivial Pursuit was one of my favorite games. I think it was because I knew a little about a lot of things. I still do -- like Trivial Pursuit and know a little about a lot of things. Before the days of the internet and Google Maps, our family had an over-sized world atlas and … Continue reading The Little I Know
A Fishing Story
The Arizona sun was just begging it's decent, casting a warm glow over the landscape, as I drove north toward the river. Saguaros, the silent sentinels of the desert, majestically stood their vigilant watch over the lesser of the succulents, hidden creatures, and the hikers and mountain bikers enjoying the remnants of the warm March … Continue reading A Fishing Story
