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Inspiration flushing out the winter 'blahs'—Elizabeth Pancamo
Daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses are popping up, as though trying to prove they are not afraid of more snow or even a good ice storm. They’re an encouraging sign of the warmer months just ahead. The extra daylight is noticeable. Seeing predicted temperatures flirting with 60 degrees sets off cravings beyond that of the hearty soups and stews of winter. It’s about this time that I realize I’ve been uninspired by the same old meals popping up in the kitchen. Even for me, I become bored with food by the end of a season, hardly noticing it until I find myself stumped when asked, “What are you making for dinner tonight?” I knew that the winter “blahs” had set in when I replied with a bleak, “I got nothin’.”
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Kids and dogs—Mike Johnson
Nobody likes to get rid of a family pet, especially one as good as what Jakey was to us. We loved him, but we had to make the tough decision to get rid of him when he started harming (the bite was the last straw) our children.read more
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Acid reflux: my experiences and prevention strategy—Mike Johnson
I used to hear my parents, especially my father, talk about acid reflux, but I never really understood what it was until I got it myself; in fact, I always thought it was something from which only people my parents' and grandparents' age suffered. I suffer from it on a semi-regular basis, and sometimes it's so bad that I don't want to eat or drink or even move. My throat burns so badly that nothing will tame it.read more
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College education does not always equal high-paying job—Mike Johnson
Let me preface by stating that I understood when I began my college education that I would not make a great deal of money. I knew that teachers, especially part-time instructors at community colleges, did not make a lot of money, and I was fine with that because I wanted to teach. I still love teaching, even with all of the frustration it can bring.
That said, I want to address a fallacy that is running rampant in the hallways of many community colleges and universities nowadays: a college education equals a high-paying job.read more
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Forcing our children to attend college right out of high school: right or wrong?—Mike Johnson
My oldest son recently told me that his mother (she and I have split custody) told him that "college is not a decision; you're going." I thought about that for a minute and wondered 1) if I have any say in the matter (yes, I do.) and 2) if it's right for parents to force their children into college right out of high school. While I see both sides of the issue, it seems counterproductive for children to be forced into college directly after high school graduation.read more |
Dads should engage in imaginative play with their children—Mike Johnson
As fathers, we have certainly come a long way in regard to childcare. There are more stay-at-home dads now than there ever were; more and more fathers are taking an active role in their children's lives, playing games, playing sports, and even engaging in imaginative play. However, there are still fathers out there, some of them I know, who do not see the value in imaginative play.read more
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Husbands, I know you worked hard all day, but there is still housework to be done—Mike Johnson
Recently, I read a blog post which listed all of the things that men, husbands, should not do. Humorous as the post was, and partly true, I wanted to respond here to the part about housework and how men usually expect some reward for doing any housework at all.read more |
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