Rick Ryckeley's blog

Snowball etiquette

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:50:52 -0500

The snowball was the size of a grapefruit, or at least it felt that big when it slammed into the back of my head. With the force of a sledgehammer, it almost bowled me over. Snow then slipped down the inside of my shirt. The wetness brought with it the frigid hand of Old Man Winter.

Not so happy Valentine’s Days

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:45:42 -0500

I’ve learned many life lessons during my 51-plus years on this spinning blue orb. Some have been easy to learn, some have been very difficult, and there are still a few I’ve yet to master. Knowing the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day is at the top of my “yet to be mastered” list.

Cups, String, and Dinosaurs

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:24:07 -0500

When Twin Brother Mark pulled the string tight and talked, I was blown away. With the can cupped to my ear, I heard everything he said. It didn’t matter the span was only 20 feet between us and I could’ve heard him perfectly without the use of our new communication device. For us kids at the time, a soup can and string was the cutting edge of technology.

Standing on the shoulders of giants

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:13:16 -0500

The 6-year-old boy looked up with eyes full of admiration at the giant of a man and said, “When I grow up, I want to be just like you, Dad.”

Beware the incoming tide

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:59:25 -0500

The receding water tugged at the corners of the magnificent castle he had built. As each wave folded back onto itself, it took with it handfuls of sand. The sand was pulled under the water and reclaimed by the tide’s relentless force.

The painful tooth

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:54:44 -0500

Most people fear something in this life. Some will crawl up the wall at the sight of a spider. Others will scurry out of the room away from an approaching cockroach. Still others are deathly afraid of clowns. Not a laughing matter, I assure you. Those sinister clowns are high up on my fear list also.

Coupon Man

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:22:05 -0500

Despite gazillion-dollar bailouts, let’s face it: Our economy is still in a downturn. Experts state the bottom is near and should be reached this year. Unfortunately what they don’t want to tell you is that the bottom is actually a cliff. And with one look at our bank account and stock portfolio statements, The Wife and I are about to take the plunge. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Coupon Man has made a return to save the day.

Economic summit

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:47:02 -0500

Last weekend was an historic time around our house. No, I didn’t finally win an argument with The Wife. Not that we ever argue, mind you, but if we did, I still wouldn’t win. She was the high school debate team coach for three years, and they won the state championship. Why start an argument when you know you’re gonna lose?

Surviving childhood

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:53:28 -0500

Long ago was truly a simpler time. It was a time of innocence. In my childhood, kids could just be kids. Our senses weren’t bombarded by 24/7 news coverage of everything bad that happens in the world. We focused our attention on having fun. It’s a time that’s unfortunately forever passed.

The people in the woods

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:57:13 -0500

No one knows where the people in the woods actually came from or how long they had lived behind the vacant, dilapidated house on the corner of Flamingo Street and Beacher Hills. They had been there as long as any of us could remember. Some said they would always be among us.

The night Dad saved Christmas

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:55:41 -0500

“Dad, what do you want for Christmas?” is the question kids across this country are asking. Forty-six years ago I asked my Dad that same question.

Black Friday

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:03:45 -0500

Well, it looks like you’ve made it another year — almost. The hurdle of the holidays, overstuffed with physically unhealthy portions of food and fiscally unhealthy credit card bills, still must be jumped. In this economy the bar of self-control has been set really high as we watch our waistlines expand almost as fast as cash disappears out of our wallets.

A very strange request

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:59:15 -0500

Well it’s happened again. The Wife has left me. For those who are regular readers of this column, the news may come as a surprise. Others may be wondering why it has taken so long for her to come to her senses.

Minced turkey for Thanksgiving

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:29:35 -0500

The early morning sun streamed through the bedroom window blinds, warming my face. A slight breeze slipped past the cracked window and tickled my neck, trying to awaken me.

When I was ...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:05:34 -0500

When I was small, my best friend suddenly stopped coming around to play. Mom said, “He’s moved on to a better place.”