By Phil Walton Social Security Manager in Toledo, OH Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, making this a popular time of year for proclamations of love. Such displays of affection can be as simple and sweet as a heart with a “be mine” message, or as life altering as a vow before the altar. […]
It’s always a treat when Jasper Blankenship comes down from the diggin’s with his dog, Arthur, to see us here in town and stop by for stories and coffee at the Mule Barn. “Jasper, is it true you built your cabin with only an ax?” Jasper nodded. “Aren’t axes kinda … hard to get used to?” Herb asked. […]
MY MEMORIES OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE END OF WORLD WAR II. My memories of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are somewhat hazy. But the announcement that World War II had ended is acutely vivid to me. I had mixed emotions. As a fifteen year old, I did not comprehend all the ramifications of war. […]
Soon, the world’s most famous groundhog will be getting a lot of attention. On Groundhog Day, the world’s furriest weather reporter, Punxsutawney Phil, will pop out of his home to forecast one of two possibilities: an early spring or six more weeks of winter. Regardless of what Punxsutawney Phil predicts, there’s no reason for you […]
If you didn’t know what time of the year it was, or what the weather was like, you could tell simply by eavesdropping at the philosophy counter of the Mule Barn coffee shop. “Good to see you here, Doc,” said Herb Collins. “That warm water on the battery trick work for you?” “Thanks, Herb. Yep. I tried […]
WELCOME PHONE CALL: I had a very welcome and very interesting telephone call last week. Phyllis (Kramb) Cooper called me from Twin Falls, Idaho. In the 6 January 2012 Exponent, Shadows From the Pat, I had a picture of the original Kramb Building. (Phyllis’ Grandfather was one of the founders of the Kramb Company). The […]
Dud Campbell had been quiet for almost an hour, which brought concern to his wife, Anita. Dud isn’t the strong, silent type. He’s more like a quick, noisy type. After an hour had gone by in silence, he picked up a sheet of paper and began taking notes. “Dinner’s pretty soon, Hon,” Anita said. “Can’t eat now. […]
It really is not a secret that Americans (and Ohioans) are overweight. Any trip to the mall, visit to a restaurant or trip to the movies shows that, in general, there are ample expanding waistlines around us. While there are many factors that have taken the blame for this, there have also been many proposed solutions […]