Loyalty is an important virtue to me. I’d bet it’s important to you also. When I think of loyalty, I recall the first time I took an oath to the Constitution of the United States. I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United Read more…
This has been a great week to get away. Temperatures along the Gulf Coast have hovered in the upper eighties with a few pop-up thunder storms. As predicted, our grandchildren have kept us busy. But we’ve had great fun cooking in, playing games, and refereeing squabbles between the kids. Yep, that occurs occasionally. On Read more…
So, tomorrow we depart for our trip to Rosemary Beach, Florida in that state’s panhandle. We stayed there last year with our son John and his wife Erika and grandkids Isaac and Abby. We loved it. In fact, we loved it so much that before we left, we reserved a place for this Read more…
I recall what it was like to take my first shower in five months. Standing under a warm flow of clean water feeling the layers of sand roll off of my head and back was bliss. I had almost forgotten what a luxury that was. Sure, I took “field baths” in the desert, Read more…
I am not an energy expert. Certainly, no more than the next guy who pumps gas into his car and notices that it’s twice as expensive as it was two years ago. Yep, I don’t like it one bit. You don’t either. And of course, politicians really don’t like it because we don’t. But if I’m an Read more…
Dear Copy Book Warriors, For years, America has struggled with major issues. Among them are social matters like gun control, race, marriage, and abortion. There are other issues also, like crime, border security, domestic spending, and foreign policy. All of these issues are important. But social issues are particularly emotional because they touch the Read more…
After my Army career, I began a second one as a legislator. It was only after I was elected that I genuinely appreciated the vast differences between both vocations. Soldiers don’t conduct polls to accomplish what they do. And politicians don’t order people around on a battlefield. But there are some similarities and that Read more…
So, whoever invented this nonsense of supply and demand? I’m told when I pass a gasoline station and the price tops $5.00 (headed $6.00 by Independence Day), that I should curse the greedy oil CEOs. I don’t even know their names, so I’ll make one up. “Damn you Bruce! I’m sick and tired of Read more…
If you’ve ever rebuilt a pier at a river or lake home, you know it’s hard work. We had one that was reclaimed by the Potomac River some months ago and we were resolved to replace it. After all, it’s a great attraction for fishing, tossing in a crab pot for the Read more…
I love the summer season. Most people do. There’s much time spent outside, at the beach, lake, parks, you name it. For us, it’s time on the Potomac River or, as the Algonquian tribe named it, “Patawomke” meaning “River of Swans.” It is a favorite place for our family. We sit and enjoy its majestic Read more…