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Author Archives: Marty Ryan
Homer’s
There is a bar in Vail, Iowa, called “Homer’s.” The bar has been there since I was a kid. The owners have changed, the name hasn’t. Francis Devaney was an old bachelor that owned the original Homer’s. His nickname was … Continue reading
Big Yellow Taxi
When I was a child, our home had a row of American elm trees separating our property from our neighbor to the south. I climbed one of those trees so often that I could get to a branch 20 feet … Continue reading
Posted in General
Tagged Cedar Rapids Gazette, derecho, Dutch elm, Iowa, Joni Mitchell, Vail
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John Patrick Ryan 1953-2020
Our brother, John Ryan, died sometime during the weekend of August 28-30, although the official date of his death is September 1, we were notified on the 31st, a day earlier. Some things just don’t make sense. John was a … Continue reading
Take A Pill
One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small And the ones that mother gives you, don’t do anything at all White Rabbit by Grace Slick, Jefferson Airplane. This week I have my yearly visit with my primary … Continue reading
A Taxing Dilemma
Saturday and Sunday, August 7th and 8th, is the tax-fee weekend in Iowa for purchases of clothing and footwear. What that means is that there is no addition of sales tax, state or local, on purchases of certain cloths or … Continue reading
Posted in Fairness
Tagged JC Penney, Minnesota, Sales Tax Holiday, The Tax Foundation
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What a MESS!
Our Army company was a unit called permanent party, which meant that the company’s headquarters were stationed permanently at Fort Lee. Most of the companies at Fort Lee, while I was there, were teaching units, and they taught quartermaster and … Continue reading
Posted in General
Tagged Boone's Farm Apple Wine, Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill, Fort Lee VA, Ripple Wine
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