AniMal's Trax

Small hairs on the back of my neck still salute on the increasingly more rare moments I seriously think about it. I can still recall the exact moment; I was vacuuming on a Saturday morning when the breaking news broke in on my usual talk radio. I must have been dusting between vacuums to have … Read moreAmericans for Responsible Solutions

Sending Christmas cards dates back nearly 170 years; closer to 160 in the U.S. The advent of the locomotive, mass production by printing presses and the creative genius of three Hall brothers resulted in holiday greeting cards becoming as common as well, having a facebook account today. Unsurprisingly, only around 15% of them are actually … Read moreThank Youse

After more than 30 years of employment, nearly 25 which could be defined as semi-to professional it’s been challenging to revert to much more of a ‘taken-care-of’ role. Weekly, sometimes daily ups and downs filled the first six months. Posturing, positioning, proving, shirking, over-compensating, hedging. All actions or reactions taken by one or both of … Read moreHouse-Spouse

Consistent with the low-key, non-traditional theme we packed bags, loaded dogs and headed north (yes north!) for several days of downtime. As if the previous couple weeks wasn’t relaxing enough we thought we needed a few days more. Actually the north was as much west–landing in Scottsdale. Fortunately for us we have friends with an … Read moreNuptials – The After, Part I

As expected the actual event was a breeze. A mere tiny fraction of the time prepping and we were finished, right on queue. A great location, stunning bride and a sharp and prompt group of guests made for a flawless afternoon/evening.  After a quick pre-dusk spin through the gardens with the folks Ames and crew … Read moreThe Nuptials