Some humor, tax woes and the tomato season

I watch the Comedy Channel more than ESPN. I’d much rather smile than cringe, take humor over the sports ego-trippers and retire at least semi-happy rather than irritated. Oh, I watch a lot of sports when favorite teams are playing, but I get more pleasure from ‘Seinfeld? reruns, Jeff Foxworthy and his crew and pure-mouthed […]

Hospitals vs. gov’ment: public gets it both ways

I’ve always referred to Roger Oberg as my friend. The retired superintendent of Oxford Area Schools treated me well in that job and, I’ve thought, continues this treatment. By his chosen profession he’s a prolific reader, curious and a searcher for humor. And, when finished with a paper, he passes it on, knowing my propensity […]

Udder nonsense and other stunning items

Here’s an item to make all Michigan State University grads proud. I attended MSU for just one semester and feel a tinge of pride myself. MSU has a W. K. Kellogg Biological Station in Hickory Corners, where robots milk the farm’s 100 productive cows. When told of this my sister said, ‘I hope they warm […]

‘More men are trying socklessness?

The above is a headline from the Sunday Detroit daily newspaper. I’d say Free Press, but I wouldn’t want readers to think I read it. Quoted are designers and socks makers. I read no quotes from the man on the street, the man in the stadium or the man in the bar. The first quote […]

Aging is for grapes, and they just hang around

It was like any other day. I put the bacon back in the toaster, the muffins in the freezer and the orange juice in the cupboard. Doctor, that medicine you gave me for my dog Shayna, isn’t working. So, I tried a few doses myself. Didn’t stop my itching, either. I’m not aging gracefully. Speaking […]

A story with a moral, and incidental stuff

Once upon a time there was a sparrow that delayed too long in deciding to fly south. A freezing rainstorm finally persuaded him that he’d better get going. Four hours later, nearly half frozen, heavily coated with ice and totally exhausted, he plummeted to earth. A passing horse almost stepped on him, then paused and […]

Hardware was his game, business his name

With a loan from his father, Tommy Toteff went into the hardware business in Pontiac. Driven by a goal of to not fail, he ultimately had four hardwares ? Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Waterford and Oxford. The Oxford store was always managed by son Tom, with his dad’s oversight. When the three stores became one, Tommy’s […]

Did you know you have an obese knee?

A dozen or more years ago Dr. Harold Portnoy repaired a disc in my back. Since then I have diagnosed myself, each and every ache, pain or catch in my back. I thought I was doing pretty good at self-doctoring until my left leg started going numb when I stood still very long. Ibuprofen, aspirin […]

We’re a bad news lovin? people; media knows it

The media, including this one, way too often see the glass as half empty. Bad news sells. Gossip is in and always has been. People say, ‘I don’t want to hear about it,? all the while cupping their ear. The unemployment rate in Michigan topped 15 percent, and nationally it’s over 10 percent. When is […]

We’re a bad news lovin? people; media knows it

The media, including this one, way too often see the glass as half empty. Bad news sells. Gossip is in and always has been. People say, ‘I don’t want to hear about it,? all the while cupping their ear. The unemployment rate in Michigan topped 15 percent, and nationally it’s over 10 percent. When is […]

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