Maybe my hobbies are too tame. How about yours? — Posing cicada shells with armor and weaponry in mock battle scenes? Collecting handcuffs? Breeding beetles for beetle fighting? People have some pretty weird hobbies. In my weekly newsletter, Tails and Twists, there is a section called Confession. It’s usually just a quick one or two-line revelation of a guilty pleasure…

With so many toys on the market, how do you choose? — It’s easy to get carried away with buying a multitude of toys and furnishings for our furry loved ones. We want them to be happy, comfortable, mentally stimulated, and entertained by scratching on and playing with appropriate items (e.g., not our furniture or treasured knick-knacks). …

We thought wine coolers in our friend’s parents’ basement was the key to a great Saturday night. — Is it just me or does it seem like today’s teen parties are way better than when we were kids? Judging by what’s seen on TV, high school parties are now extravagant affairs with thousands of dollars being spent on custom decorations, fancy catering, top-shelf liquor, and live music. Do…

This reluctant fan of high fantasy is no longer reluctant. — I’ve claimed a couple of times this year that I am not a big fan of the fantasy genre. (Nora Roberts’ The Awakening is Surprisingly Worth the Risk.) I keep dipping into the fantasy waters and it appears I was wrong. If there was any doubt lingering in my mind…

An abrupt change in weather calms the wild beast. — Jasper checking out the snow in 2019. Photo by author. Last week I wrote about our cat, Jasper’s, spring fever. It seems a lot of people could relate to the wild antics spring brings out in our pets. Ironically, after weeks of spring fever craziness and a 76-degree day last…

Spring has awoken the bad boy gang member in my cat. — I didn’t know that cats could experience spring fever. I’ve had a lot of cats in my family over the years, but until a couple of years ago, other than shedding more, I’d never seen a behavioral change during the spring in any of them. Jasper has remedied my naivety. …

It’s not horror, but still classic King all the way. — Upon first reading the description of Billy Summers, I knew it wasn’t a book I would pick up if the author was not Stephen King. However, being a lifelong King fan, I wanted to give this book a chance. The story is about a skilled hitman who is about to…

Enjoying and learning from the drama-fueled married-to-a- stranger shows. — I’m not a big fan of reality TV, however, I make exceptions for my guilty pleasures of the marrying-a-stranger shows. The two I watch are the very popular Married at First Sight and Love is Blind. In case you are not familiar, MAFS gathers a bunch of people who are…

Maybe it’s not just useless chatter. — “I know, I know, let me get your harness,” I tell our dog, Kola, as she dances at the front door, waiting to go out. “It’s a bit twisted, just a minute…Are you saying good morning to Jasper? That’s nice….No, don’t step on my shoes. …