As a single guy living in an apartment with no washer and dryer, you need to know where the laundry mat is. There's one in the basement of the building I'm in, but it's on the fritz half the time. Where's your favorite laundry mat? I've been spoiled I guess. The last two places I rented had quality washers and driers in the apartment. The units in my last place in Colorado weren't new by any stretch but worked great! My washer did go out a time or two but my landlord had someone out to fix it in a day [...]

I was just a kid but I recall when the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl IV. A large group of family and friends were gathered at my grandma's house with the furniture rearranged so everyone could gather around the relatively small TV. There were screams, cheers, and hugs as everyone celebrated the Chiefs upset victory over the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings. I know for many of you old enough to remember, it was a disappointing outcome. However, the Vikings did go on to have a successful decade of the 70's making three more Super Bowl appearances. Kansas City hasn't been [...]

The season's first winter storm hits the region this weekend. What do you do when you're snowed in? Even if you could get out you don't want to fight the conditions unless you really have to. What are your plans for this snowy weekend? Of course, being "snowed in" isn't nearly as challenging as it was in the "good ole days." Back then, keeping yourself entertained was more challenging. There was a limited number of channels on TV. Board games, reading a book, listening to music, catching up on household chores, and other activities were the ways to kill a day [...]

What band or musician is your favorite? On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rank your fandom? Is it a mild case in the 2 or 3 range or more like 10? I've had several artists and bands that I'm passionate about. Rush being my favorite. I word it in the past tense because several have already passed or retired from touring and making music. It's a real problem if Classic Rock is your music of choice. Being a Rush fan, Neil Peart's passing crushed any slim hopes of ever seeing the band again. Another reason it's so [...]

It's "National Hat Day"! Every day is "National Hat Day" for me. Not only since my hair began to thin. I've been wearing them for most of my life. Maybe not as much back in the 80's when I had long flowing locks, but certainly over the last couple of decades, I've worn a hat most every day. For me, wearing a hat started with fishing where it's a helpful accessory. Since I've been old enough to hold a fishing pole, I've been fishing. Countless hours on the lake, walking around a pond, or wading a creek requires headgear. The bill [...]

What's the best thing to do on a winter Saturday afternoon? Drink beer and watch football! That exactly what hundreds did this weekend at the annual Mankato Craft Beer Expo!  The 8th annual event at the Mankato Civic Center Saturday afternoon was a huge success. The expo showcased craft brews from local and regional breweries including Schell's and Mankato Brewery, as well as others from as far away as Alaska and California. A couple of my favorites brews from Colorado were there as well. Attendees sampled beers from over 40 different craft breweries in their little commemorative glass. On occasion, you'd [...]

Most people that know me know I'm a Rush fan. My first time seeing Rush live was on February, 27th 1980 in Kansas City. I drove over two hours from the little town I lived in to get to Municipal Auditorium. I was pretty fired up for my first Rush show! I had been listening to the band since I first got my hands on a copy of 2112 in the summer of 1976. Since that first show, I've gone on to see the band about 30 times or so. When I received the news of Neil's passing, it hit hard. [...]

If you love baseball and the Minnesota Twins the Winter Caravan is a great way to shake off the winter blues. Come out, grab a hot dog, some chips, and a Pepsi and dream of warmer days to come Thursday evening January 23rd. Being new to town I wasn't sure where the KATO Ballroom was. After a quick Google search, I was able to find the place. "Mankato's Premiere Entertainment Center" is at 200 Chestnut Street and has been serving the public for nearly 70 years. The old ballroom looks like a cool place to hang out with a few of [...]

It's maybe difficult to appreciate the job that law enforcement does, especially if you've just been handed a speeding ticket. The fact is, there are few jobs more dangerous than being a law enforcement officer. Today is a National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. A day set aside to thank the men and women that put their lives on the line to protect ours. From the local city, county, state and federal levels, the job is demanding and dangerous. Officers often spend time away from their families, often for extended hours at a time. Spouses and their children say "goodbye" to their [...]

I moved to Mankato from Gand Junction about 4 months ago. I was in western Colorado for over 3 years. Within a few weeks of moving to Colorado from Kansas, I was informed of the state's rich craft beer heritage. The state is one of the nation's largest beer producers. Beer Connoisseur Magazine ranks Colorado #4 on their "All 50 States Ranked For Beer" list. In case you're wondering, Minnesota is ranked #17th. Needless to say, I got a crash course in beer drinking while living there. My palate expanded from Bud Light as I learned to appreciate the many different [...]