Author Archives: Marty Ryan

A Brief Tale

Have you ever gone skinny dipping? If you were a boy living in Vail, Iowa, during the 1950s and 1960s there was just about no way to avoid the practice of diving into a farm pond sans clothing or swim … Continue reading

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Chicago – The Sequel

My first time in Chicago was chronicled in a previous blog, Look Before You Leap. I’ve been to Chicago, and the metropolitan area several times since. And who hasn’t had a frustrating trip through O’Hare Airport at least once in … Continue reading

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Look Before You Leap

I was told often that I wasn’t college material. That’s probably because I didn’t apply myself during my four years of high school. I had a friend, Jim, who died of leukemia within two years of graduating, who would do … Continue reading

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I swear I’m not swearing

Recently, I sent a text message to a friend letting him know that I would “affirm” the commitment of another friend for the three of us to have coffee at a designated location. The recipient of the text replied to … Continue reading

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Talking turkey

If you’re feeding a huge crowd for Thanksgiving this year, you better get out and find your large turkey today, if you haven’t already. Because of the bird flu, large birds are going to be scarce. You may have to … Continue reading

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Why I dislike constitutional amendments: Part II

This is the second part of a series about the reasons why I object to most amendments to Iowa’s Constitution. The series begins with the most recently approved amendments and ends with my first opportunity to vote for or against … Continue reading

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