Category Archives: General

No Comprendo!

Posted on March 17, 2024 by Marty Ryan

“Get your number two pencils out. Nothing else, just your number two pencils.” At that point the nun teaching the class would go to the child who was never prepared for anything and take away his ink pen, or other … Continue reading →

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Garbage Day

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Stephanie Fawkes-Lee

National Football League quarterback Kirk Cousins is leaving the Minnesota Vikings after signing a contract with the Atlanta Falcons for 4-years and $180 million dollars with $100 million of it guaranteed. It’s quite a contract. He had stated earlier in … Continue reading →

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A Retired Ritual

Posted on March 7, 2024 by Marty Ryan

Some traditions vanish before you think to tell your children about them. On the other hand, I doubt very much that my children or grandchildren would be interested in hearing about the anachronistic ritual of a chivaree. [Alteration of the French word … Continue reading →

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First Book Report in 60 Years

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Marty Ryan

Book reports are something for grade school students, specifically seventh and eighth-graders. The last book report I probably wrote was about a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I had checked a book out of the St. Ann’s Grade School library … Continue reading →

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By the dawn’s early light

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Marty Ryan

The Iowa Legislature is often a source of frustration and agony for many who follow the process, and particularly for those involved in the process. But it can also be a source of great entertainment as long as you don’t … Continue reading →

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The Blizzard of “75”

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Marty Ryan

We just went through a blizzard earlier this month. I read several comments on X [Twitter] and Facebook reliving ‘the Blizzard of (fill in the year).’ The “Blizzard of 75” is most prominent in my memory. It hit Omaha and … Continue reading →

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