You own a gun to shoot for sport, for relaxation, to hunt game. You share this activity responsibly with your sons and daughters, your siblings, your spouse, and you take safety precautions. You own these guns legally. You take pride in your marksmanship, your sharp eye and steady hand, your…

It wasn’t because I was stir crazy. The snow and frigid temperatures that had turned Day #6 of no shopping into a housecleaning day didn’t have anything to do with it. I had a meltdown on the coldest day of the year because of plastic. My Facebook post Saturday afternoon: …

You know how you can write a letter to City Hall to ask them to designate a certain day in honor of a person, a group, or a movement? My local government officials have been very supportive of my no-unnecessary-shopping pledge. On Day #5, here in Syracuse, NY, they’ve issued…

Day #4 of no unnecessary shopping, and there’s both good and bad news. Let’s start with the bad. Lacking firm guidelines (blame it on procrastination — I still need to define this experiment), I have already pushed the envelope. The thrill of the hunt — and the adrenaline rush of…

I don’t smoke, don’t drink, and have no urge to gamble; I’d rather torch a twenty than let a casino have it. My problem is shopping. All of it. Every type, form, and manner of shopping that’s out there. The online browsing, the in-store hunt. Snagging a good bargain at…

When something happens, it takes time to process. For me, staying open means putting it out there, and you are part of that equation. I’ve stopped keeping you at arm’s length. I’m opening for a hug, and if you come close, you’re gonna get grabbed, squeezed, and pulled into the…