The weekend weather forecast included slightly cooler temperatures, with highs only reaching the mid-90s and lows dipping to the mid-70s. Considering eight of the last 10 days saw temperatures in excess of 100 degrees, the slight dip was a gift from the climate gods. We actually were able to spend time outdoors–dining al fresco, walking…
This weekend marked the 10th anniversary of living the “RV lifestyle.” For the better part of a decade now, we’ve packed up and headed out for a weekend away from it all. Jon’s first camping-related blog post was titled “Simple Pleasures.” In it, he described a camping experience he had when he was serving as…
We began our July Fourth 10-day stay at Loyd Park with a bitter argument, fueled more by resentment and vulnerability than actual disagreement. It reminded us both of previous flare-ups we’ve had and how these events have the ability to completely derail an otherwise enjoyable camp-out. We finally found forgiveness by talking our way through…
This past week, as the world turned its attention to the Titan submersible that disappeared last Sunday during a dive to history’s most famous shipwreck, it was reported that OceanGate’s chief executive, who was piloting the vessel, was married to a woman who is the great-great granddaughter of Isadore and Ida Straus, two of the…
The weekend began with the federal indictment of former President Donald Trump, unleashing a wave of calls by his supporters for violence and an uprising to defend him. Once again, Trump dominated every aspect of American life, including a retreat to Loyd Park. The camping crowd includes a disproportionate number of Trump supporters, who have…
After spending time with Jon’s high school buddy, staying 10 days in Cloud 9 while Hampshire’s interior was painted, visiting Jon’s mom for Mother’s Day, and two weekends at home recovering and doing follow-up projects, we finally got back to the basics: a weekender at Loyd Park. We arrived at mid-afternoon and set up camp,…
Late on Thursday, the Texas Senate approved a bill that would require public schools throughout the state to prominently display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. The legislation now heads to the state House of Representatives. The Republican lawmaker who authored the bill noted that his new legislation comes in direct response to the Supreme…
One advantage of having a spring birthday is that the weather is typically pleasant. The weekend ahead of Jon’s 60th birthday was no exception. Clear skies, mild temperatures, low humidity, and gentle breezes made for beautiful days and brisk evenings. Arriving at camp in the early afternoon, we ate a fast lunch before settling into…
This weekend saw the rare confluence of Easter, Passover, and Ramadan, a time of high holy days for the world’s great religious traditions. Although our observance of the Catholic Triduum is nothing like it was when we were in active ministry, we nonetheless immersed ourselves in some favorite shows to get us in the proper…
April Fools’ Day dates to 1582, with Pope Gregory XIII’s announcement of calendar reforms that would replace the Julian calendar, which incorrectly calculated the average solar year. The new Gregorian calendar moved the new year to January 1, rather than the Julian’s calendar’s spring equinox (around April 1), and people who refused to recognize January…
