Category: Uncategorized
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Show stoppers
“You pretend I’m Laura and I’ll pretend you’re Christian,” Jamie said, putting her hand on my thigh and leaning into me as we watched a production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at an outdoor theater on the coast of St. Ives, England. The Atlantic was calm, but brought with it a cool breeze perfect…
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Remembering (and celebrating) Kobe’s greatness
On May 15, 2021, Kobe Bryant was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Below is an entry I wrote in my journal shortly before the coronavirus changed all our lives. Here is updated version of a journal entry I wrote on Kobe, one of the best we’ll ever see. It was a…
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All aboard the “Zhu Choo”
During the pandemic, ZHU, an electronic dance musician and Grammy-nominated recording artist, has made it a mission to “bring people to a place where they’ve never been.” He’s streamed from the mountains of western Japan, the sand dunes of southwestern Utah, and now Central Montana’s Charlie Russell Chew Choo. In the 49-minute video called “Billings…
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Choosing happiness in a time of uncertainty
Looking for something upbeat? Based on the novel by French writer Francois Lelord, “Hector and the Search for Happiness” is a fitting watch for the moment, as it takes the viewer on a journey to discover what it means to be happy. Hector (Simon Pegg), a London psychiatrist struggling both personally and professionally, impulsively goes…
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Paying tribute to Grandpa, the most grateful man I’ve known
On Saturday, April 18, my grandfather Marshall Cheek Kidd passed away. He had just turned 97, and, for the first time, was really starting to feel his age. The life of the party was slowing down, both physically and mentally. It was hard to believe, but the man with the gift of gab suddenly had…
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Local musicians, artists go “live” to lift spirits
It was February of 2007. I was in New Orleans with my friend Daniel – a native – celebrating his first Mardi Gras after Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the impassioned city, its impact still widely spread. Daniel’s home had significant water damage and some of his friends were still crashing in FEMA trailers. New Orleans,…
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Be pleasant this holiday season
“Years ago my mother used to say, “In this world you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. For years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.” – Elwood P. Dowd, “Harvey” Sixty-nine years after its release, there’s still a lot we can learn from “Harvey,” especially Elwood P. Dowd, one of Jimmy Stewart’s…
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Boring But Important: Why Super Bowl LIII is unforgettable
“If you like offensive football, well, too bad…” That’s what CBS commentator Tony Romo said during the defense-dominated first half of Super Bowl 53 between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. By halftime, the score was Maroon 5, Patriots 3, Rams 0. Most people commenting…
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Why “Christmas Vacation” is a Christmas classic
When it comes to holiday movies, what constitutes a “Christmas classic?” I don’t think there is a right or a wrong answer. Each family has their own favorite holiday movies. Growing up, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” was a big one for the Denisons. “The Bishop’s Wife” was also high on the list. Screwball comedies such…
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Catalina Island
“Dwayne Johnson has it covered, babe.” Half asleep, unsure of what was going on, that’s all I could muster. The alarm continued to sound, and Kari wasn’t comforted. “What? Seriously, Charlie, I think something’s up.” I opened my eyes a little more, looking up at Kari from the cot, feeling like I’d been asleep for…
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