Lucky

I am thrilled to announce that Cold Island was selected to be an Amazon First Reads book. People think it false modesty when I say that I am incredibly lucky to be a writer. My friends say that its my talent that got me here. Sure, there’s something to that. The truth is that had…

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Good People

I was deployed to Iraq twice. The flights to and from required stops for refueling. Bangor Maine was always one of them. Then there were stops either in Ireland, Germany, Italy and then Kuwait or in the case of my first trip to Iraq, Romania.  Romania and Kuwait were memorable because of that was the…

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The Whole Point

My friend Fred and I have started a podcast called Deported to Sweden. https://deportedtosweden.buzzsprout.com/2513002 . It’s likely that if your reading this, you already know that. You probably also know that it’s basically Fred and I sitting around, drinking Bourbon and talking. We talk about writing, movies, art and other related things. We also wax nostalgic…

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What is a Week end?

My Team Sergeant Ron said of this photo; "The Captain writing a report that no one cares about."

There is a great line in the first season of Downton Abbey when one character mentions that he is looking forward to the upcoming weekend. And the incomparable Maggie Smith, playing the Dowager Countess Grantham perfectly delivers the line; “What is… a week end?” She says this so convincingly that watching it one genuinely believes…

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I’d rather be busy

My best friend sent me a text message today. He was making a wry observation about his job and this led to the inevitable inquiries as to our weekends. We chatted each listing our weekend activities. Neither of us were slouches this weekend.  His involved a little travel and the building of a new deck.…

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Never Done

The work is never done. Writing, working, yard work, the basics of day to day keeping up a house and family. I don’t mind and can’t complain. In fact if nothing else I have doubled down on work. In addition to all the other stuff, Fred and I have started a podcast. Which is convenient…

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Deported to Sweden

So, the three of you that read this may have noticed I have posted much of late. I had to take some time off to finish a manuscript. When things get close to a deadline I tend to disappear. My family and friends don’t see or hear much from me.  I spent last week writing,…

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Last Saturday

There was a lot going on last Saturday. There was a Big, Beautiful, Parade in our Nations Capitol. There were No King rallies all over America. There were riots/protests in L.A. but that seems like a daily occurrence.  There was a lot of controversy on the internet about the poor Marching skills on display in…

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Memorial Day

Over on my Substack I wrote about people whom I served with in the Army who are now gone. I am at an age where I have lost friends and family and seem to go to more funerals than weddings. I also went into two professions where there seem to be more opportunities to shuffle…

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Phone Call

I complain about my house a lot. It was and still remains a fixer upper. When we found it my Long Suffering Wife and I had been looking for two years. We were living in a two bedroom condo, which had been great when we bought it. But two kids later we wanted more space.…

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