Painful
Each dollar now counts
Inflation deflates wallet—
Misery for all
Incomplete
World of tiny bursts
One sound bite’s information—
Where’s rest of story?
Resolute
Undaunted voices
Place country over party—
Profiles in courage
Each dollar now counts
Inflation deflates wallet—
Misery for all
World of tiny bursts
One sound bite’s information—
Where’s rest of story?
Undaunted voices
Place country over party—
Profiles in courage
Singer Johnny Mathis still going strong
Bewitching vocals, smooth as silk in song
Warblers’ springtime plumage brightens landscape
Shades of blue, green, yellow, orange take shape
Farmers’ fertilizer prices spiking
Increased overhead not to their liking
Brown paper bags, twigs, plastic onion sacks
Collage recycles artist’s new syntax
Coffee-shop lunch counter welcomes noon time
Never forgotten, Woolworth’s “five and dime”
Belgian bluebells removing anxious stress
Nature’s medicine blooming to suppress
Most precious art comes from life’s inner heart
Handmade, with heartfelt love, creates folk art
Rethinking world’s disrupted supply chains
Rising shipping costs cause production strains
Walking, life’s underrated exercise
Fitness and health, energized at sunrise
Transforming river’s filthy slime and grime
Barge harvests garbage, one bag at a time
Everything’s shrinking except these prices
Consumers enduring sacrifices
Sports teaching much more than loses and wins
Lessons from playing field, wisdom begins
The fabric of a small town in strengthened by how people stay connected with one another. Long before the Internet and cable, people actually talked face-to-face.
Billy owns and operates a small service station on the corner of Main Street and the highway which passes through town. Years ago, he took over the operation from his father. Assisting him a few hours each day is Duane, a retired highway patrol trooper.
Billy and Duane run a station without too many frills. They stick pretty much to selling gas, changing worn-out batteries, rotating and balancing tires, and light service and maintenance of cars and trucks.
Anyone who just happens to drop in can usually find a seat on the generous and wide window ledge inside as well as a comfortable bench outside.
The “Conoco” station has been here for many years so everyone knows about Billy and his business. People depend on him for many of their automotive needs, but the special folks drop in for an even more important reason.
Many people think the original CNN (Cable News Network) was founded in 1980 by media mogul Ted Turner. Billy likes to think otherwise.
A small sign on the bulletin board identifies this station as a site for CNN. For the “hottest brand going” in local news, one needs to stop by CNN (Conoco News Network), which is years older than the other CNN.
Locals stop in to catch up on the latest news and more. Sometimes a visitor just might hear a bit of innocent gossip or the sharing of a story or two (but watch out for the really “tall” tales).
On the busiest of days, Billy and Duane always have a free minute to share and gather news. The day always goes faster with conversation while a car or truck goes up on the hoist every half hour.
Joe stops by this morning. He is a colorful cowboy-type who worked on the big dam construction project back in the 1930s. His stories are legendary. But be warned, he just might take one on a hunt for pocket gophers.
Another regular happens to be Pete, a retired teacher. Later in the morning, he stops by on his way to the post office. In a small town, everything is within a short distance.
In the early afternoon, Flint rides up on his fine-looking quarter horse. The duo has been out for a ride, and both need a quick water break. Even at CNN, news can be delivered by “Pony Express.”
Comet Neowise visible in nighttime sky
Brightness adds wonder with this fly by
Book lover yearns for a single, big library room
Books scattered throughout a house consumed
War veteran’s birthday reaches milestone of five score
Celebrating with drive-by parade, lasting love adores
David Lee Roth allows his artwork to do all the talking
Van Halen singer creates vibrant drawings, all rocking
Backyard farming brings garden-variety experiment
Mix of triumphs and failures sparks life’s merriment
Michigan man creates million dollar treasure quest
Buried jewelry, precious metals, antiques—no jest!
Teachers making investment in beneficial skills
Determined to make remote learning fit the bill
Old hardware stockpile offers newest treasures
Ghosts of hardware past make lasting pleasures
Hosting backyard movies invites welcome distraction
Adding drive-in movies as summer’s main attraction
Family should earn a doctorate for raising four boys
Each becomes a surgeon, filled with talented poise
Pandemic increases customer demand for reading material
Shoppers buying books and paperbacks along with cereal
Probe, rover, and drone plan to scrutinize planet Mars
Called Hope, Perseverance, Ingenuity—heavenly stars