No matter what’s going on in our lives, whether we’re grappling with challenges or everything’s blooming, it’s been a week for us all to be thankful. To reflect on our blessings and realize that we’re fortunate to live in this great country, to have the families and jobs we have, and to have the kinds … More Thankfulness reigns during this holiday week — except when it comes to the Tennessee Titans

Look at these bright, smiling faces. They’re amazing, gracious, compassionate, loving and supportive folks. You can tell that just looking at them, can’t you? And I’m lucky to know them all. As many of you know, I’m an adoptee, born in Huntington, West Virginia, in February 1961. I went through most of my difficult youth … More Meet some folks I’m darn blessed to know. They’re not exactly family … but they are.

After suffering from chronic headaches for as long as I can remember — and being unable to get them diagnosed by multiple physicians — I finally decided to try a medical procedure to see if it might help. This past Friday, after recent consultations with an ear, nose and throat doctor in Arlington, I had … More A new medical adventure: Balloon sinuplasty in hopes of saying adios to a lifetime of headaches

Funerals are never easy. We shed tears at the loss of loved ones while sharing memories both happy and sad that we’ll always carry, keeping the essence of the family member or friend we’re honoring alive in our hearts. Each of us has our own history with the person who’s gone, our own grieving process … More A funeral, a long-overdue reunion with family, making beautiful music on a ’62 Gibson, and singing Carpenters songs

Sharing this cool photo from the Blessed To Be An Astros’ Fan Facebook group, where over 43K fans incessantly post their devotion to the team. The poster says the shot was taken early this (Tuesday) morning, 12ish hours from first pitch in Game 6 of the World Series between the Astros and Braves, who lead … More It comes down to this: Astros-Braves Game 6. And if the Astros win, I’ll be cheering them on in person at Game 7.

I wrote this opinion piece — better known as an op-ed — for The Dallas Morning News, where I’ve spent nearly 22 years as a copy editor who also writes every so often (much less than I’d like). We published it in our Sunday edition a week ago, and I thought I’d share it on … More So long, Facebook, this goodbye is forever

This, baseball fans, should be a great one.  When the playoffs started, this eternal pessimist didn’t figure on the Houston Astros getting this far. They’d been woefully inconsistent at times at the plate, despite being near the top of the major leagues in runs, hits and average all season, outscoring opponents by an overwhelming margin. … More It’s Astros vs. Braves in the 2021 World Series. They don’t call it the Fall Classic for nothing.

Although you might think our whirlwind trip to Houston to see the Astros battle the Red Sox in Saturday’s Game 2 of the American League Championship Series was a total bummer because of the outcome, that wouldn’t be true. On the way down, as Kay and I stopped to get gas in The Woodlands, across … More The game didn’t go the Astros’ way, but the rest of our whirlwind Houston trip couldn’t have been more perfect

The game ended almost 24 hours ago, and my adrenaline hasn’t stopped surging yet. The Houston Astros, the target of anger, boos, jeers and taunting signs in every ballpark all season — and overzealous cheers when they’ve been hit by pitches or struck out in key situations — blocked out the noise of over 40,000 … More How’s 5 for a nice, round number, as in a fifth straight trip to the ALCS? Love ’em or hate ’em, the Astros have something to prove

I posted this on Facebook last night and am sharing it here. There comes a time … ***** For several years, I’ve wrestled with the reality that — behind all the wonderful, cute, sweet, moving, emotional, beautiful, informative, funny, nostalgic and sad posts, photos and memories I’ve liked, loved, wowed at, laughed at, commented on … More Farewell, Facebook — I hope you get your (insert appropriate word) together. My friends, I will miss you all so much but hope we can still stay in touch.