Ta da! It’s me. The Inflation Fighter: Able to leap over steep prices with a single bound, faster than a speeding Visa credit card check. I am the Inflation Fighter! At least in the grocery store. I seriously believe that I am spending less now, even after the crazy inflation going on at grocery stores. I am spending less because inflation ticks me off and I’m not going to take it lying down. I … [Read more...]

  Nancy sent me to the store with a grocery list for the ingredients she needed for the meal she was preparing. With my wife, it’s never “butter, eggs and sugar” It’s more like “Sun Dried Kumquats, Gluten Free Squash Flour and Pickled Toad’s Feet.” For the life of me, I can never remember which aisle the Toad’s Feet are on. But along with her list of exotic ingredients, she needed a … [Read more...]

  Dick’s Sporting Goods is on my S… List  (S stands for sad). I had a rough experience on my last visit. I was picking up a few Christmas gifts and saw some interesting things in the Sales Bin in their fishing department. In the Sales Bin, they always have some interesting, discounted items that make good stocking stuffers for some of the fishermen in my clan. I picked up a few of bags of … [Read more...]

  It’s your last meal and the warden says you can have a fast-food hamburger. What’s it going to be? “You deserve a break today,” from McDonalds. “Have it your way,” at Burger King. “All kinds of good stuff,” from Hardee’s. Or, “Where’s the beef” at Wendy’s. Seriously, if you only had one choice, what would it be? The Big Mac from McDonald’s would have to be a contender. … [Read more...]

You are not going to believe this, but there is a “Mattress Sale” in progress. Really. I wouldn’t lie. I know that a Mattress Sale is practically unheard of, but as I was driving down Rt. 29, I saw a sign in the window – “Mattress Sale”. It was at the Mattress Warehouse near Starbucks, across from Fashion Square Mall. I was stunned and had to check it out. “Are you really having a mattress … [Read more...]

  When is the last time you were outside and heard the sound of children? You know - running, squealing, shrieking, arguing, singing, playing as children do? Not often do you hear that sound of childish music because most often children no longer play outside. They are glued to chairs in their rooms with cell phones and video games. We are blessed to have a family next door with 3 … [Read more...]

  I was fortunate to have filled up my tank exactly one day before the mini-gasoline panic we had a week or so ago. I had no idea how long the shortage would last, but I well-remembered the Jimmy Carter Days when odd numbered license plates could buy gas on certain days and only a limited number of gallons, then it was even numbered tags the next day. So for the next few days, I … [Read more...]

The world lost one of it’s great characters this week with the passing of Ralph “Ace” Harrison. Ralph, “Ace” as I called him, was an outstanding athlete and even a better coach, leading the Albemarle Patriot football team to three consecutive 10-0 seasons. He also coached golf and was a superior referee and umpire in his middle years. I first came to know him as an umpire. I was just starting … [Read more...]

I don’t do many articles on team sports, though my first writing gig was as a sportswriter for the Brier Patch, the Greenbrier Military School newspaper. I covered the GMS/Fork Union Football game in 1960. So after a rather lengthy hiatus, here goes. I will go out on the limb here and predict that neither Duke nor Kentucky will ever win another NCAA Basketball Championship. Oh, they’ll win … [Read more...]