This week, I had a chance to grab a brisket sandwich from Buc-ee’s. I’ll testify that I like it better than any Kansas City BBQ joint. We lived there for many years, and I thought K.C. had the best barbeque. Nope, it’s Buc-ee’s. more

With Saint Nick’s annual visit approaching and winter’s cold starting to settle in, I can imagine some folks hoping to find warm fur caps, gloves or coats under the Christmas tree. more

I'm good at some things — like making a paper projectile out of a straw's wrapper, swatting a fly with one targeted strike, and quoting lines from reruns of sitcoms. Thanks to excellent teachers, I also have a few academic skills, like knowing when to use "who" or "whom" in any given sentence and where apostrophes should and shouldn't be.  more

Tis the season to be busy, busy, busy. That can equal stress, stress and more stress. The holidays can be a joyous time visiting with family and friends. It can also be a very busy stressful time. It is also a depressing time for some. more

Some just-nippy mornings it wafts on the air as lightly as the fragrance of apple blossoms in spring. more

My mom was a formidable woman. She was a “where the rubber meets the road” kind of lady. The first time I realized this was at the supper table when I was still young enough. I had to sit on the tall stepping stool.  more

We all have good days and bad days. How you handle the bad days can make a difference. Or even how you handle the good days can make or sabotage a healthy eating plan.  Some people eat comfort foods when they are sad. Some eat celebratory foods when they have accomplished a goal or celebrating a wedding, holiday or other special occasions. This time of year is especially tempting to overeat on foods we do not get the rest of the year or just overeat while celebrating with family and friends. Who wants to miss out on that? more

For years, I said the thing all busy parents say when we’re wading through the drama of raising humans – the feeding and cleaning, the last-minute science projects, and the after-school activities that swallow up evenings and whole weekends. On days when I felt outnumbered by kids, errands and messes, I’d mentally reassure myself with this one hopeful phrase: “When the kids are in college, I’ll have time to take care of myself.” more

Let’s return to the 1900s and remember the variety shows we watched as the family gathered around the television with rabbit ears, static snow, and sometimes aluminum foil attachments. more

The interstate that connects my town to neighboring towns is under construction. It's going from two lanes to a much needed three. But during the road's growing pains, construction workers have erected a concrete barrier that runs along the left-hand side of the road right next to the yellow boundary line. And that short but solid wall? It scares me. more

What are liquid calories and how do they affect our overall health? Liquid calories are found in drinks like soda, juice, alcohol, coffee (flavored), sports drinks and meal replacement drinks along with many others. more

If I didn't have to share mental space with an inner 12-year-old, I would've already put on a pair of progressive glasses or bifocals and been done with it. That's what most people my age do. more

In scarcely more than a week, it seems, the verdant and overgrown woods of summer have given way to the colorful tapestry of fall. more

The U.S. Census website reports the most recent data available below: more

The Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz needed oiled. Do your joints need to be oiled? more

I’m ashamed to admit this, but I spent Sunday afternoon wrapping Christmas presents. Although Halloween is this week, this old lady started wrapping presents. more

When I was a young girl, I was told I was stubborn. Looking back I think I just knew what I wanted and how I wanted to do things. Words like headstrong and independent were words I heard. My dad was not one for complements, but I heard him once tell someone. If Karen sets her mind to it, she will do it. That made me feel like he was proud of me and I could do anything. more

I’m not sure how it happened, but Tom and I raised three kids who love scary movies. It wasn’t genetic. more

While at cardiac rehab last week, the workers asked a patient why he had always worn a baseball cap. He explained he had worn a cap since he was a youngster. His wife also works out with him during his heart rehabilitation. She perks up and tells the room that once in a while, she walks into the living room and finds him sitting in his lounger in his underwear and baseball cap. more

I take pride in calling myself an Ozarker, and indeed I am. more

I have a problem. And if the first step is admitting it, here goes: I'm a snooze abuser. If there's a snooze to use, I'll do it. Again and again. more

October 22, 2019, I was biking on the Katy Trail with my sister and two good friends. I received a phone call that my oldest son had died. I was devastated to say the least. Numb for days. more

I’ve been struggling with an assignment from the Midnight Writers, a writing club I attend once a month, along with other Dallas County wordsmiths.  more

When I was a boy learning of life in the woods, my dad taught me to recognize animals by what they left behind — the contents of their scat. more

When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do – before caffeine and hygiene – is trick the dog and cat. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. But the attempt has become my morning ritual – an act of love and deception. more