Category Archives: Blog Archive

        Fireworks over Island Lake (photo by Rene’ Munger) I sipped coffee on the back deck of the home I share with my wife, Rene’.  We watched songbirds flit in and out of our feeders. Osprey spat … Continue reading →

We have a big ass lawn. I know, I know. You’ve talked to my wife, right? She’s told you that I could make our lawn smaller by simply choosing not to make it so big. After all, our lawn is … Continue reading →

Rain. All it does is rain. I’m sitting on the covered front porch of our white farmhouse, a misty, lacy rain descending over a field of white, green, orange, red and blue. It’s June 23rd and the wildflowers are in … Continue reading →

Saturday. Driving to Virginia, Minnesota for the 35th Annual Land of the Loon Arts and Crafts Festival. A big deal. Lots of vendors. Thousands of folks wandering through Olcott Park looking for something to eat, drink, and maybe, with a … Continue reading →

Today after a traditional Catholic Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church in Duluth’s West End (my mother-in-law was born, raised and lived in the shadow of the ore docks and would never, I repeat never, call the West End “the … Continue reading →

The trains are relentless in Wadena. Every twenty minutes or so, another diesel-locomotive-pulled assembly of open hopper cars full of coal or tank cars  full of volatile chemicals or box cars full of goods rumbles through the center of town, … Continue reading →

        Eight paddlers. Four canoes. Eighteen miles of mostly gentle river. What could go wrong? My wife and I are not avid wilderness buffs but, over the course of our relationship (going on 35 years this summer; … Continue reading →

          Wake to the alarm at 6:00am. Make coffee. Exercise to “Body Electric” at 6:30am. Make the bed. Shower. Shave. Dress. Get Jack ready for school. Drive Jack to school. Get my ass to work. Deal … Continue reading →

Rene’, Jack and I drive I-35 in my Pacifica loaded with books and the trappings of book selling. It’s Friday night after work and we’re headed to the Twin Cities to stay with the Schostags, Rene’s sister and brother-in-law and … Continue reading →

          Monday night. I have plenty of time to exit my chambers at the courthouse, take the stairs to the third floor, wander out to my Pacifica in the parking ramp, grab my “author” clothes from … Continue reading →