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Every now and then, my wife walks through the front door of our house with a certain amount of trepidation. And it’s not because I’ve made a mess, dismantled the bathroom faucet or engaged a raucous beer-guzzling fantasy football draft party. ... Read more

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Been there, done that

It’s been a few years, so I don’t really remember what birthday presents I gave my children when they turned 7 years old. Knowing me, it was probably a regulation NCAA basketball or Kirby Puckett autograph baseball glove. Possibly a bike. ... Read more

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Been there, done that: The lunch police

There’s an old joke in which the teller says he was such a bad student, the only subject he could pass was recess. While the playground was one of my favorite school haunts, the place where I really excelled was the cafeteria. ... Read more

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Been There, Done That: Let it snow

As winters go, this one has been relatively mild compared to the bitter cold and snowfall our area has received in the past few years. Sure, we’ve had some flurries, a few pellets of sleet and some single-digit temperatures. But this winter has been a piece of cake. ... Read more

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Been there, done that: Let it drain

For a brief moment, I was Jed Clampett. You know, the Ozarks millionaire who was out shooting at some food and discovered oil in the 1960s sitcom “The Beverly Hillbillies.” ... Read more

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Home improvement 101

It appeared to be a simple home improvement project, but by the time it was done, that simple job seemed like a three-day tour of hell. ... Read more

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Been there, done that: Lost club’s twin found

While I’ve never been one for idol worship (or idle worship, for that matter), it’s amazing how sometimes you come into possession of something that just seems to suit you. The object becomes part of your identity. ... Read more

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Been there, done that: The mother of all lawsuits

Here’s a news story out of Chicago that’s so wrong, so disgusting, it’s difficult to know where to begin. ... Read more

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Been there, done that: The smell of Patton will stir the troops

I’m not sure my grandfather ever wore cologne or after-shave. He did shave regularly and had an old bottle of Hai Karate that sat in the medicine cabinet. He used it so seldom it was covered in dust. ... Read more

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A (cooling) blast from the past

You can tell when you’ve lost your audience. Their eyes glaze over and start to flit around the room, wanting to look at anything but you. They utter simple, one-syllable words like “Huh” and “Umm” to pretend they’re still engaged when they’ve disengaged from a conversation. ... Read more

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The thrill of flying

Pretty much, the store’s name was appropriate. You know how in St. Joseph and some surrounding communities, we have a bunch of stores that sell cheap goods for a buck? ... Read more

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The tightwad meets his match

Like most married couples, my wife and I have different philosophies about a variety of topics, some important, others not so much. For instance, she doesn’t miss a new episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” and exchanges texts with her daughter during “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars.” ... Read more

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Toss the list in the bucket

Over the years, I’ve thought about compiling a bucket list. You know, that list of things you want to do, places you want to see and adventures you want to go on before you die. ... Read more

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Karma will tug at your guilt, drag you down

All of us have done crappy things to one another or wished ill on others. It’s normal. But it is tempting karma. ... Read more

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