You may already know that I reside in the ‘burbs, or, perhaps more succinctly, the middle of nowhere. But what you might not know is that it hasn’t always been this way. I lived in Wichita for many years, and bought my first home in the booming metropolis of Derby, Kansas. And though I do love my rural life, sometimes I miss the relatively urban existence I once lived. I think that Derby is a very happy medium; it is outside the “big city”, but still …

“Don’t you know I’m still standing better than I ever did. Lookin’ like a true survivor, feelin’ like a little kid.” – Bernie Taupin via Elton John
She wasn’t sure about all the words, but then again “Roy Cohn, Jaun Peron, Toscanini, Dancron” isn’t the catchiest lyric. Sarah Kallail improvised what she didn’t know from “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” dancing and singing in unison (kinda) with her friends while Billy Joel pounded a piano and chanted random cultural references 100-yards below.
It was pretty much what the girls had pictured when they …

I’m not a fashion guy at all.  Put me in boots, jeans and a T-shirt and I’m a pretty happy guy.  But what you go to the gym in, or hit the road in, is super important. Here are a few general guidelines.
Shoes
Get the right shoe for the job.  If you don’t plan on jogging/running too much, then a standard pair of cross trainers are going to do great things for you.  However, if you want to punish the pavement a little bit, get good running shoes.  Your knees, hips, …

One of the most challenging jobs as a parent is managing spring break for their children. A blessing and a curse, spring break can give your family a lifetime of fun memories and tradition or be a horror show of annoying, whining children. Here are fun ideas to save your sanity this year.
YMCA Camp – Are you a working parent? Check out the YMCA’s School Day Out programs. You don’t have to be a member to take advantage of the camp-like activities for kids, including field trips, games, arts and …

I am, like many people, a proud member of the Wichita YMCA.  And like a lot of those people, I don’t use that membership nearly as much as I should.
So, here I am, 6’5″, 350 lbs. and needing to drop some weight in a hurry.  According to my good doctor, all of the hobgoblins of being fat are banging at my door,  High blood pressure, diabetes, and heart attacks – OH MY.  But seriously, I am the proud and loving dad of two beautiful girls and I have a wife …