May Flowers It Is
You know…the May flowers that come after the April showers…which we did have a few of. We do not even have to wait for the song from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical, “Carousel”. The relevant lyrics go like this : “March went out like a lion, A-whippin’ up the water in the bay. Then April cried and stepped aside. And along...
If you need just a little more time
As we move past the April 15 tax deadline, you may have recently experienced that “tax” can take two forms: • the tangible, governmental kind that affects your income, and • the hidden kind that occupies space in your thoughts. While paying the first kind is an inevitable part of life, the mental tax—the stress, worry, and anxiety—doesn’t have to be. This...
Is This Really It???
It’s Spring…sorta. Get out and watch your favorite runner…thrower…catcher…jumper…lifter…hitter…pitcher…whatever. Dress in layers and take your raincoat and/or umbrella–you know how it gets around here–maybe rain boots, a hat. You never know–maybe mittens? Watching a track meet, baseball game, softball game in snow flurries is not beyond the realm of possibility; I’ve done it myself, and lived to tell the...
Tariffs: When Emotion Puts Money in Motion
With the recent news on tariffs and the accompanying market sell-off, it’s understandable that there’s some concern about the economic forecast and what lies ahead. This situation highlights an important point: how you react is important. When uncertainty fills your newsfeed, remember that market volatility is a natural part of saving and investing. History has consistently shown that staying the course...
May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
If you have asthma, allergies, or any respiratory symptoms while in your home, you may want to consider this special national Asthma and Allergy Month offer. You may not realize this, but poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is a health risk according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The air in your home is typically more polluted than the air outside! ...
Brrrr!! Go Team!!!
Springtime ! April showers and all that. Snow in the forecast. Must be Track Season ! One of those groundhogs must have been funnin’ us. March came “out like a lion” and trickled past April Fool’s Day, giving us this. (OFA quote : “Fools grow without watering”.) Just thinking about all of the athletes–we can even count baseball and softball...
How we can move fast and FIX things
Most of us are familiar with the phrase “move fast and break things,” which originated from the ethos of the early 2010s with Facebook and other tech giants in Silicon Valley. But recently, I’ve been considering a new spin on this mantra: “move fast and FIX things.” The Harvard Business Review article below offers a fresh take on rapid progress....
Everything BUT The Kitchen Sink
Get yourself to the Geauga County Home & Garden & Farm & Whatever Exposition next year. You missed it this time; and what an exposition it was! The place, up on Nauvoo Road, was two buildings…maybe three…maybe four…it was hard to tell, full of all kinds of things, particularly for the Amish community but welcoming to anyone else who came...
Come On, Get Happy: How Consistent Steps Elevate Your Life
Amid challenging headlines, market volatility, and March Madness, here’s a refreshing trend: young Americans are experiencing a surprising increase in happiness. As detailed in the Economist article below, after peaking in 2022, depression rates among college students are now declining, with similar improvements seen nationwide. This brighter mood is a reassuring sign. This wave of positivity serves as a powerful...
Is a Tankless Water Heater the Right Choice for You?
Have you ever been greeted by an ice-cold shower in the morning because your water heater couldn’t keep up with your household’s hot water needs? If so, a tankless water heater might be right for you! Tankless, on-demand water heaters provide an unlimited supply of hot water, no matter how much you use. This is possible because they heat water...
“Vernal” “Schmernal” is this the real thing?
Okay, I’ve seen worms on the sidewalk, I’ve seen daffodils coming up (as well as a couple of lonely tulips) in front of the Y, there are more actual puddles of water than treacherous ice hazards, I got up at 3 A.M. to see the lunar eclipse (which was fairly impressive, I will say–too bad we couldn’t see it...
A Novice Goes To The Daytona 500
Forty cars all in a bumper-to-bumper, wheel-to-wheel tightest of packs deadlock, all going left around a perhaps mile circle that is steeply banked toward the center. They’ll do this for about 500 laps. What is the objective again? Admittedly I am absolutely new to this car racing phenomenon. I have never been to a car race of any kind,...
Was That A Polar Bear On A Bike??
Coulda been–the grizzlies are still in caves…in Geauga County. Anyway, the bikers were in Garrettsville for the 10th Annual RoadApple Roubaix bike event–all four hundred and seventy-some crazy wheelers in the snow and cold pedalling either the long route (50 miles, give or take) or the short one (25 miles and just as chilly), winding up at Slim and Jumbo’s...
I’ve got to get out more…
For any number of reasons, actually. I have always said that I should not be allowed to go shopping unsupervised. Especially GROCERY shopping. Good Grief ! the stuff that’s out there for sale ! And not at bargain prices either. Eggs are only the tip of the iceberg…and a real expensive ol’ berg it is, for sure. For somebody who...
Is this Groundhog’s Day or April first?
I never saw the movie, “Groundhog’s Day” but I gather that the premise of the whole thing was that the same events kept happening over and over again. Beyond that, I am totally ignorant (not that this doesn’t apply to a whole lot of situations as well.) of the point of the film. After the eleventeenth weather program warning...
The North Versus The South
I was presented the opportunity to try out the snowbird lifestyle for this current winter, i.e., getting out of the Ohio cold. I have been to Florida many times in my life and even as recently as last spring for rest and rehabilitation after another dreadful spine and neck surgery. From the doctors and medical staff came, “Don’t lift...
Somewhere, far away, Edison is weeping
The man had over one thousand patents, great and small, and I cannot get my television to work properly by the biggest football game of the season (not counting the Ohio State championship, which has already gone into the books…along with TBDBITL). I even went out and purchased an indoor antenna purporting to be effective up to 50 miles. ...
It’s a Heat Wave!
Well, it’s the closest thing we’ve seen for a while, anyway. According to the OFA (Old Farmer’s Almanac), Saturday, the 25th was the date of the traditional start of the “January Thaw”. None too soon, I say, but not much evidence of any major warming. Coming up this week we are likely to breach the 32-degree barrier and even head...
There’s Snow Goin’ Out There
Walking is on hold for the duration, I reckon. I may be occasionally not too bright (The jury is still out on that one.) but I am not crazy (There may be questions on that one too; discuss among yourselves. There may be a quiz later.). When the temperatures in the morning when I normally begin my perambulations gets...
Cold Enough for Ya?!
So…when did single digits on the thermometer become a “norm”? Good Grief ! I must say, the hill in back of the Y has got the biggest workout in some time; we’ve had several winters when the snow cover was not sufficient to make sledding a very pleasurable activity–who wants to go downhill in mud? Lately, of course, there...
Timeless Needs met with Compassion
As we enter the New Year, many of us reflect on how we can make a meaningful impact in our communities. It’s a time for new resolutions, fresh beginnings, and considering how we can give back to those who need it most. One incredible way to do this is by discovering the deeply rewarding experience of volunteering in hospice...
Old Age Irrelevance, Googles got us Covered
I don’t know why it rankled me so when I heard the phrase, but it did. Some throwbacks affect me these days that never affected me before. “My old lady will be chomping at the bit, blah, blah, blah!” So remarked the 41-ish worker casually installing a replacement dishwasher and having a conversation with his helper. Maybe it...
Rant ? Me???
Time for the annual...or semi-annual...or when I da—d-well feel like it... chance to point out the error of the ways of anybody not me. Such a list I’ve got !Let’s start with a commercial message...Not!You know how the prices of things have been going up while the portions have been going down? Well, here’s an example which I ran...
“Reserved” seating…
Having now attended many of the season’s offerings of drama, music, sport, church , community activities of various sorts, I’m again noticing how we–many of us–seem to have “our” seats that we tend to gravitate to whatever it is that’s going on. Same for parking places at the mall; if you always go in at the Dillard’s entrance ,...
Why Does My Water Taste Bad Even Though It Looks Clear?
Water seems like an incredibly simple thing, right? Two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom combine to create the most essential element in the whole world. It’s what fills oceans, rivers, ponds, lakes, and pools that make up a large percentage of every living creature’s body. Since its most central substance to our survival, you would think we would...
Seasons Greetings from the Villager
As the year winds down, we’re wrapping up our final issue of The Weekly Villager for 2024. It’s been a fantastic year bringing you the stories, news, and updates that matter most to our community. We want to thank you, our readers, for your continued support and engagement. A special thank you goes to our advertisers. Your continued support makes...
And to think…
…that winter–meteorological/astronomical/calendar-wise–is all of three weeks away (December 21, 2024) and about that long ago we were all marveling at how unseasonably warm it had been for, how long? And speaking of the Winter Solstice (December 21, 2024)--the shortest day of the year–before it even gets here, we get to experience the Full Cold Moon on the fifteenth. Bet...
Toy Trends for Kids
The holiday season is bringing a wave of innovative toys to stores as top brands unveil the most popular gifts for kids in 2024. This year’s favorites combine interactive play, collectibles, and creativity, targeting kids’ interests across various categories. Among the top choices is the furReal “Daisy the Yoga Goat”, which responds to movements with yoga poses, providing an engaging...
Walk On!
Yes, indeed. Another Christmas Walk has come and not yet gone. You’ve got time to finish it off in fine style if you hit the second weekend (November 15, 16, 17). Pray for the kind of weather the first weekend had…not counting Sunday, which was a tad damp, but three out of four days is a pretty good average....
Ho Ho Ho… How Much?
I have got to get out more. That’s going to be my approach to being gob-smacked by the prices of all sorts of things. Shop more, get more accustomed to seeing items of dubious value ( and I do mean dubious–possibly not long-lasting enough to survive the trip in the cart and through the check-out) placed on shelves and in...
