Once a year, or so, I feel an uncanny need to atone for my sins against our household budget by holding a garage sale. When our home begins to look like it should be featured on the season finale of … more

I’ve never been one to make New Year’s resolutions. In fact, I usually scoff at the very concept of suddenly making a decision to change some aspect of one’s life, especially after a night … more

In our family, we’ve always tried to focus on the fun, lighthearted aspects of Halloween.  Imagine Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin (which always makes me cry a little), or Winnie the Pooh … more

Dear Facebook, I know you’ve been under fire lately due to the Cambridge Analytica scandal (and the fact that your gobzillionaire CEO Mark Zuckerberg is reacting like a 16-year-old who just got … more

The author of this story is unknown and has been told by many people throughout the years. The gentleman to whom I’m going to introduce was not a scrooge, but a kind, decent man and generous to his … more

During the Christmas season each year, my family takes a traditional road trip to Santa Land in the East Texas city of Lindale. Santa Land is one of those spectacular drive-through Christmas lights … more

Several years ago, my family was presented with a gift that, since then, has become a national Christmas holiday phenomenon, namely, The Elf on the Shelf. When I first saw it, I had the same reaction … more

This year, my wife and I made a surprise trip to New England so that I could accept an award from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists in Manchester, NH. I suspected that the prize would … more

I don’t like to complain about typos. Mistakes happen. Even the best writers and editors can let them slip by. And lord knows I’ve made my share.  Nor do I like to point to typos and say, … more

I ran for Tarrant County Judge in 2006 on a platform of traditional conservative principles: local control, public safety and more personal freedom. For the past 10 years, I have watched Austin … more