As I sit on my Indiana porch sipping my Indiana coffee, I contemplate the destruction that has surely overtaken the area in which I once was. Traveling south on a long-awaited vacation little more than a week ago, my family and I could hardly contain our excitement as we inched ever closer to the virtual Graceland of every child in America: Walt Disney World...

The English language is a funny thing. Although it’s the world’s third-most spoken language behind Chinese and Spanish, the English vocabulary is arguably, debatably and irritatingly the most difficult, arduous and demanding around which to wrap one’s mind...

When I think back to my childhood, I mostly remember the times when I hadn't a care in the world. Admittedly, the worst parts of my day seemed to ironically include the simple acts of waking up early so I could get to school on time and getting to bed at a decent hour ... so I could get to school on time...

With so many fond memories of family and friends acquired over the years, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to put my finger on any certain timeframe which I could say was my favorite. Indeed, I have been truly blessed to be able to call such a myriad of people my companions through this crazy thing called life...

In just two weeks, the world will play witness to the eighth installment of the enduring Star Wars movie franchise. Indeed, with the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, fans young and old will have a second reason to revel in just two short years (366 days, to be exact)...

Growing up with baseball in Indiana can be a very special thing. And with the likes of Tommy John, Don Mattingly and Cy Williams all coming from the state (Terre Haute, Evansville and Wadena, respectively), perhaps the most famous Hoosier to break into the Big Leagues was none other than Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown of Nyesville...

Long have I been a fan of the Indianapolis Colts. I can still remember the magically mold-breaking season of 1995 when then-Colts’ quarterback Jim Harbaugh (Captain Comeback himself) led our team deep into what was our first playoff appearance in many years...

U.S.A. -- If there’s anything on which both Republicans and Democrats can agree this election season, it’s that America definitely deserves better. After more than a year of extensive and exhausting campaigns that have reached millions of voters, the general consensus of the population seems to be that both the free-wheeling, billionaire business tycoon known as Donald Trump and the hot-button-issue candidate typically found embroiled in (and seemingly quite comfortable with) controversy known as Hillary Clinton have brought voters to a new low in 2016.. ...

As we steadily approach the end of summer, many may be thinking "it'd be nice to get a break from this weather" or "I can't wait for the holidays to get here." Well, I would have to place my opinion in both camps -- I cannot wait until this heat finally breaks and the holidays return. To me, they're one in the same -- you can't have one without the other...

As the big day rapidly approaches, I'm reminded of the age-old question: "Are you getting cold feet yet?" Sure, a wedding is a big deal and a big responsibility, but with the support of so many loved ones helping me through this ceremonious occasion ... what is there to be nervous about?...

Sometimes ... all you need is the right tool. This can apply to many areas of life in many different ways: To have the right career, one requires the tools necessary to achieve that goal, i.e. a good education and/or strict work ethic; in order to gain healthy relationships with your friends, family and coworkers, one should have excellent people-skills and the wherewithal to maintain those relationships through patience and understanding; and when you look for a house or property to purchase, one should know exactly what to look for through the use of a realtor, homeowner seminars, online courses ... ...

Why do we have weddings? What's the purpose? Is it simply to fulfill a life-long dream for the bride? Is it meant to imbibe a higher meaning that can only be achieved by standing vertically in front of hundreds of family members and friends? Me thinks the answer is "no," or at least I hope so...

"The paella is thick with the sea, Creatures of the deep, Fresh and poised warm On the platter of our desire." -- poem excerpt by Ronald Baytan Long have I, too, desired to experience the taste of buttery lobster, the crack of the crab's claw and the roll of the sushi...

Sure, a guitar can be difficult to tune. But what if you don't have a tuning device nearby and are suddenly put on the spot by friends, family members or an audience of 1,000 spectators that you just realized may mistake you for a hack and boo you off-stage because you left your tuner sitting on your coffee table at your house 100 miles away?...

"The times, they are 'a changin'..." Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan first uttered these words more than 50 years ago and yet they still have an impact today. The Civil Rights movements, the decline of America's post-World War II prosperity and the liberal ideologies of the '60s undoubtedly had an influence on his lyrical choice, but why do they still ring true to people who were born 20 or even 30 years after his penny pencil first expressed the phrase?...

This winter has been a good one ... so far. Every year seems to be the same -- we get through summer and have a pleasant fall, only to seemingly plunge deep into an inhospitable arctic wasteland once the holidays are finally over. This year, however, we've been a little spoiled -- and I love it...

I took this the other day while searching for scenery in southern Putnam County. This is the original US Highway 40 which famously stretched from New Jersey to California. It was laid on the path of the much older National Road, which ran from New Jersey to Illinois...

As high school football moves into the post season and sectional championships loom, I'm reminded of times when I was lucky enough to experience America's great game first-hand. Whether it was through school, for fun or even as part of our youth-run and Sandlot-esque Darlington Football League (apply named the DFL -- clever, I know), the plan was always the same: gear up, have fun and score as many touchdowns as possible...

When I first considered journalism as a profession, I remember thinking how much I wanted to be right in the middle of the action. I pictured myself trekking through the wilds, a camera in my hands and a laptop in my pack, to some remote destination where some sort of conflict or unique event was going on -- some sort of happening that the world needs to know about...

Coming from a county filled with high school sports, softball leagues and impromptu basketball tournaments, I felt safe in assuming that the traditions around the football field in Putnam County would have to be either better or worse than what I've experienced so far, but definitely not the same...