In my mind, west Texas evokes scenes of austere loneliness … of stately cacti daring to be touched, a tumbleweed blowing, wheeling endlessly in through the center of a deserted town. Cowboys on horseback, and leather boots, lariats and spurs. In my mind, west Texas is a wild, untouched place – the epitome of a
A properly diversified portfolio will normally contain some amount of bond, or bond fund exposure. Bonds are contracts between an entity, i.e. company, municipality, or government and an investor that lends money to that entity. The entity agrees to pay the investor interest over an agreed upon time period and at the end of that
Going to college is an important time of transition both personally and intellectually. As young adults, we try to settle on a major field of study (sometimes changing majors multiple times) while trying to figure out who we are as individuals, which values and beliefs define us and how our future careers can utilize the
The month of May I can live with. It isn’t a summer month, and the kiddies are weeks ahead of escaping school. But if the Powers That Be in Hollywood really want to kick off the “summer” movie season in May, as they have in recent years … then okay. The line is drawn. But
My family is Italian. Super-Italian. Like, we own red and white-checkered tablecloths, everyone has at least three garments bearing an Italian flag, and growing up I thought it was normal to eat spaghetti on Thanksgiving. It was what they served at Plymouth Rock, right? So, with this pride in my famiglia, it was a dream
“The observance of a National Moment of Remembrance is a simple and unifying way to commemorate our history and honor the struggle to protect our freedoms.” President William J. Clinton In 1971, Memorial Day was designated by Congress as a national holiday to honor all Americans who died while defending the United States and its
The bees’ll buzz. Kids’ll blow dandelion fuzz … and people will look to buy a new house in Suummmmerrrrr! I live in Michigan and my daughters have made me watch “Frozen” over ten times, so I thought a quote from Olaf’s song was appropriate. It’s that time again – when people give in to their
Philanthropy is not the act of a rich person helping a poor one, but a private initiative for public good, for the dignity, liberty and happiness of individuals at large. It supports institutions essential to human growth and upward mobility like schools at any level, museums, high art, religion … all to enrich the human
For me, spring officially kicks off every year with Humane Society of Genesee County’s “Paws on Parade” champagne brunch. As I was getting ready for this year’s event, I suddenly realized it would be my tenth time serving as emcee. I am honored to be asked to return every year, but what is most humbling
The unofficial anthem of North American baseball was written in 1908 by lyricist Jack Norworth and composer Albert Von Tilzer, neither of whom had ever seen a professional baseball game before penning it. The simple and straightforward ditty that fans sing at games today is actually the chorus of a two-verse lyric. Not many people
Film is supposed to entertain and enlighten; it isn’t created to make you hungry, although with The Search for General Tso, that is a plus. Slated to play April 24-26 at the Flint Institute of Arts, this documentary about Chinese food in America is also about the immigrant experience in America, as encapsulated through the
I love it when Mother Nature melts away the wintery blanket of snow on my lawn to reveal all of the stuff I should have cleaned out of my garden before the first flake flew. I always have the best of intentions for a fall clean-up in preparation for winter. Somehow, it always magically seems
