Category Archives: Journal

Sharing more about me, less about (almost) everything else

Something Pleasant: Christmas Decorations From Minnesota

I ran across “So Minnesota: Department 56 is a Christmas tradition” on YouTube yesterday afternoon. I’ve seen these ceramic ‘Christmas village’ buildings and their many look-alikes, but hadn’t known their origin story. “Department 56, a Christmas tradition found in homes … Continue reading

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Comfort For a Recovering English Teacher

My memory, like my father’s, is occasionally creative. I remembered a someone writing that England’s public schools were dedicated to the idea “…that Tennyson would never happen again….” Then, recently, I started re-reading a Wodehouse book. “…It was almost as … Continue reading

Posted in Discursive Detours, Family Stories, Journal, Series | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Charged: a Priest in My Diocese

No matter how it turns out, this is not good news. And it’s uncomfortably close to home. “Minnesota priest accused of sexual abuse, threatening woman” Bring Me The News (December 8, 2025) “A Minnesota priest is accused of sexually abusing, … Continue reading

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Freckles is a Girl: Remembering a Dog Next Door

The house next door north from 818 went through several owners, residents at any rate, while my folks and I were living there. I don’t remember anything about the folks or person who owned Freckles, but I remember the mid-sized … Continue reading

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Matchstick Rockets in the Basement

I’ve said it before. This isn’t the world I grew up in. Today’s focus on safety, for example, feels over-enthusiastic. But then, I’m one of those people who launched rockets in the basement. With the permission and cooperation of my … Continue reading

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