Fifty two years ago, it took a team of scientists and engineers (along with the military of the Soviet Union) to build and launch the first artificial space satellite.  On the evening of October 4, 1957, Sputnik 1 was launched into low Earth orbit.  Radio operators around the world picked up the “beep” signal it broadcast for twenty two days.  Sputnik 1 did change the course of history.  However, like most technological products, it’s not quite the marvel it once was.  Even at the time in 19... Read Full Story

When I was in college, my grandma would write me all the time.  Every other Friday, I could expect a letter in the campus mailbox.  There would be a little “mad money”, which was well appreciated when it meant the difference between pizza and yet another meal at the residence hall cafeteria.  However, what I really liked were the letters themselves. Grandma had her finger on the pulse of the town.  She seemed to know everyone (and assumed I knew everyone too; people were just referred to by t... Read Full Story

Daniel and I were driving to Rockford to pick up a bunch of balloons for his birthday.  He seemed more distracted than usual and kept muttering to himself as we went along.  ”How does it feel to be ten?” I asked. “I’m not nine yet,” he told me.  “I was born at night, so I’m still nine until tonight.”  That’s technically true.  I asked if he wanted to hold up opening his presents until 10:38 at night.  He shook his head; after dinner would ... Read Full Story

Daniel got a balloon at the Boone County Fair, courtesy of Green Giant.  They’re a big employer in Belvidere.  Daniel handed it to me and asked if I would blow it up.  I threw it in the air and made a “BOOM!” sound. “There you go,” I said.  “All blown up.”  Despite the enormous crowds on hand, it was strangely silent.  Daniel didn’t laugh, didn’t even crack a smile.  His eye lasers were set to flambé. So, I ended up inflating the balloon t... Read Full Story

It was Thursday night.  My dad was on vacation and we all got into his big green company car to go see a movie at the drive-in.  It was a nice evening; clear without much wind.  A lot of other people had the same idea.  The line to the Sky-Hi drive-in in Addison stretched out of the lot, down the long road from the ticket booth, all the way out onto Old 53.  My dad was driving.  My mom was on the passenger side, smoking a cigarette with the window rolled down about an inch and a half.  I had ... Read Full Story

Daniel and I were driving back from Chicago.  We had left Aunt Amy’s late and now it was just past midnight.  Daniel looked at the clock and smiled. “Look, Dad,” he said, “it’s tomorrow!”  I smiled, but shook my head. “No, it’s today.  It’s always today.” I replied.  Daniel furrowed his brow and looked back at the clock. “But it’s past midnight,” he said.  “Tomorrow starts at midnight.” I said, “A day starts at midnight -” “Tomorrow!” “No,” I said, “tomorrow is just a word that means the day ... Read Full Story

I don’t drink and I don’t smoke.  The Diet Pepsi I get from the fountain at the corner gas station is about my only remaining vice.  I even cut back on that.  I wash out the plastic cups because I can refill them for half price.  With the economy in the shape it’s in, we’ve been watching our pennies.  We’ve cut out some things here and there, but – at 59 cents each – I was able to keep refilling my Diet Pepsi. A few weeks back there was a notice taped to the check-out counter.  The price of r... Read Full Story

Daniel and I rarely play basketball.  We do go out on the driveway a lot, draw chalk lines around the tall pole which has a net attached to the top.  Between the various grandparents, I believe Daniel owns about thirteen dirty orange basketballs which are housed in a large box in the garage.  But when Daniel wants to shoot some hoops, we rarely play a game as pedestrian as “basketball”. “This game is called ‘Pointer’,” said Daniel, “otherwise known as ‘Lucky’.”  He shot a couple of baskets an... Read Full Story

Henry Ford’s first Model T rolled off the assembly line in 1909.  That rang the death knell of the carriage industry.  Soon the mass produced automobile replaced the horse as America’s primary mode of transportation.  These days it’s more common to see a car pulling a trailer with a horse inside rather than the other way around.  However, there is still a small market for horse drawn carriages.  I’ve seen them downtown.  I’ve seen them at weddings.  Where do the Amish get their wagons?  I’d a... Read Full Story

Last week was crazy at work.  I was so busy I didn’t have time to post a blog.  It was the first time I missed my daily posting since Christmas.  While that was annoying – no one likes to break a streak – I was more bothered by missing my weekly Weight Watchers meeting.  I’ve been on Weight Watchers for about sixteen months.  I’ve lost fifteen pounds and – more importantly – I’ve kept it off.  I credit my success to – get this – following the Weight Watchers program.  If I eat the number of p... Read Full Story