A Mild Voice of Reason

August hasn’t been half-bad: This weekend was fairly pleasant. Today was spent in the office, preparing catch-up reports and working down my personal queue of Service Desk tickets, and now I sit at Biggby drinking mocha and writing. Yesterday, I got a haircut, got a massage from the Chinese people, bought some specialty craft beer, [...]

The last few weeks have been more interesting than usual. Last weekend, I purchased a Ford Ranger XLT from a guy in Grandville. The truck runs great and is in excellent condition (although it could use a new paint job). I am quite pleased with it, and since I paid cash I now own it [...]

‘Tis the dog days of summer. The heat and humidity have been consistently, oppressively high in Grand Rapids this month, punctuated only by the occasional thunderstorm. This has led to a wonderful case of the blahs. A few reflections and updates, in no particular order: Technology. I continue to be frustrated by my lack of [...]

Of record: Today is Ryan’s 23rd birthday.  He and Jess and the kids are in the U.P. with Jess’s family, having fun and playing in the lake while I sit here drinking mochas.  Mmm, mocha. They are enjoying themselves and unwinding, which is very important. This has proven to be a fairly decent holiday weekend [...]

It’s been a few weeks since the last general update.  Here’s what’s new and happenin’ in the life of your humble blogger. Went to my cousin’s wedding reception last Friday.  Callista and Patrick were married several weeks ago in a small civil ceremony and they celebrated last night with friends and family at St. Cecilia’s.  [...]

Curious, what milestones we set for ourselves. For some reason, Memorial Day seems to be an annual turning point for me: 2010:  TBD.  :) 2009:  Triplets had just been born the week prior; Ryan and Jess were moving to Grand Rapids from Bay City. 2008:  Met Andrew (inaugurating a six-month period of cultural and relationship [...]

The obituary in Sunday’s Grand Rapids Press was informed by a narrative I would not have predicted: KUIPER – Thomas Albert Kuiper, age 55, passed away unexpectedly from his life on Sunday March 14, 2010 and entered into eternity to wait for the Lord’s return. Tom, the 4th child of George and Kathryn (Haan) Kuiper, [...]

My friend Duane, a writer and all-around good guy, recently blogged about TV shows.  Worth reading.

This evening I turned in the keys to my apartment, having cleared it out and boxed up most of the small amount of stuff I have remaining. I am grateful to Charlie, who helped me schlep boxes. The act of moving prompts thoughts of homes past and future. The first real home of which I [...]

Tomorrow, I vacate my apartment at Apple Ridge.  I have lived there since late May. The place itself was pleasant — I enjoyed having two bedrooms, one of which served as my office, and there was a definite benefit to being located conveniently close to the essentials in Standale. Essentials like Blockbuster, Peppino’s Pizza and Meijer. [...]