If only we could have a change of heart. Not all of us, of course. Just the too many who believe the world is an impossible mess and continue with a stream of negative doomsday phil... — Updated 11/23/2023

A lot of people around here seem to have an aversion to riding public transportation. Especially light rail. Even when they don't have a car. Sound Transit seems to be betting... — Updated 11/16/2023

The common phrase “action speaks louder than words” is traced all the way back to a sermon in 1200. It was first said, according to my buddies at Google, by Portuguese friar... — Updated 11/2/2023

One thing almost always leads to something entirely different when I sit down to write these columns. Let me tell you how the following narrative evolved. I was going to write... — Updated 10/19/2023

Would you like to write a book, movie screenplay, TV script, poem, or even just a letter to the editor of the Edmonds Beacon? Well, what the heck is stopping you? Don't you know... — Updated 10/5/2023

The other day I went to Trader Joe's to pick up a few essentials, like fresh-squeezed orange juice, romaine lettuce, bananas, and watermelon chunks. After shopping, I felt a sense... — Updated 10/2/2023

I don't like to admit that I'm more of a worrier than I want to be. How about you? Do you spend more time worrying about what could happen tomorrow than trying to live your best... — Updated 9/14/2023

I really like music. Who doesn't? But, unfortunately, I can't sing or play a musical instrument. I sang in a school chorus as a kid, with others thankfully drowning me out. And I... — Updated 8/31/2023

Forgive me, lady readers, if I'm lucky enough to still have any of you. Several weeks ago I wrote a column titled "Can I quote you on that?" That piece referenced mostly humorous... — Updated 8/17/2023

I don't like it, not at all. Who would? I try to spin a positive story, and that usually works. But today I'm kind of lost. You know that expression about not seeing the forest for... — Updated 8/2/2023

Albert Einstein, Yogi Berra, Willie Nelson, and Mark Twain. What a group of exceptional gentlemen, who contributed so much to our country and world during their lives and ours,... — Updated 7/13/2023

I'm sorry, I really don't get it. Why does everything these days seem so contentious, controversial, and polarized? And not just our politics – the list is long. School... — Updated 6/22/2023

Maybe my father was right when he sent me a newspaper clipping many years ago about a college classmate of mine who had achieved a high political office. “If only you had his... — Updated 6/8/2023

Little did I know when I settled in Edmonds over 15 years ago that my new home city was destined to become a dining destination. As someone who lives to eat, rather than eats to liv... — Updated 5/11/2023

Writing this column is fun for me, and I hope occasionally fun for you to read. Which brings me to my topic for today: What is fun for you? Or what makes you happy? Even in our... — Updated 4/6/2023

My former colleagues at the University of Washington, where I worked for almost 25 years, had a nickname for me. They called me the Mad Hatter. Not because I was mad, I hope, but... — Updated 3/23/2023

A long, long time ago, watching television didn't cost anything. Although there wasn't a whole lot to watch then. Every night at 11 p.m. the stations played the national anthem to s... — Updated 3/9/2023

My mind works in very strange ways. To say it "works" might be an overstatement. When contemplating what to write about this week, for some odd reason I thought of Dick's... — Updated 3/2/2023

A lot of people find things they don't like about Amazon and Jeff Bezos, but I think the good about the company far outweighs the bad. As an Amazon Prime member, along with an... — Updated 2/9/2023

Is it possible to write your way out of the doldrums? Like most actions, it depends on your thinking and attitude. I know that actions really do speak louder than words. Still, I... — Updated 1/19/2023

Quiet time is such a blessing. Like a snow day for your mind. When it’s quiet, you can think. And the possibilities are infinite. I’ll bet most of the great inventors first came... — Updated 1/12/2023

What's wrong with fruitcake, I'd like to know? Why do people look at me the way they do, as if I'm, well, nutty as a fruitcake, whenever I say I like it? Fruitcake should be eaten,... — Updated 12/28/2022

I can't help myself. Each holiday season I just have to write at least one poem or essay expressing my feelings on a timely topic such as Christmas excesses, mall mania, or the... — Updated 12/8/2022

A lot of people play “Words with Friends.” To me, words are friends. Especially words that sound nice when you hear them, or have especially important meanings. The word... — Updated 12/1/2022

I’m getting kind of tired of being told whatever I like to eat is bad for me. I could be wrong of course, but I believe stress is much more likely than sugar to do me in. While I... — Updated 11/10/2022