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Perspective on the Half Shell
Ten years ago today, my life was in shambles. I was jobless, my on-again/off-again relationship was off again, and I was hopelessly upside down in my mortgage. I was reminded of this thanks to a Facebook memory that popped up from March 2, 2011. It read: Well, crap. My Groupon dream just went up in…
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Mayo Have Your Attention, Please
Moving to the Midwest was an eye-opening experience in many ways. Hail the size of bowling balls, overly friendly people who sometimes talk funny, chislic — all were new to me. But one of the biggest differences can be found in the most mundane of places, the grocery store. I’m talking mayonnaise. Specifically, Hellmann’s. Living…
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Rattlesnake Under His Dad’s Hat
The Brockelsby name is legendary in Rapid City, though many residents might not immediately recognize it. Impossible to miss, however, is the glass-domed building on Highway 16 — a popular tourist attraction for decades, and the family’s enduring legacy. Earl Brockelsby founded Reptile Gardens in 1937. Born on the dusty plains of Kadoka, a stone’s…
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Cups for Pups
One of my friends posted a photo on Facebook last week after he’d stopped by his local coffeeshop for a morning pick-me-up. Not just for he and his wife, but for their dogs, too. Apparently, it’s trendy now for coffeeshops to serve Frappuccinos for dogs. Starbucks has a Puppuccino, and other places have followed suit.…
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(500) Days of Winter
Just as I was walking out the front door this morning after kissing Tara goodbye, she glanced down at my feet and remarked, “Interesting shoes.” Well, shit. She might as well have said, “Are you really going out in public wearing those?!” because it certainly didn’t sound like a compliment, but rather a polite way…
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Things That Go Thump in the Night
Yesterday was the second anniversary of Doris’s death. You might recall, she was the previous owner of the home we bought in 2019. We learned later that she died in the middle of the kitchen. While that’s a little unsettling, I can’t say we ever feel her presence. There have been a couple of unusual…
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Mark My Words 