I’ve been know as being pretty stiff-necked under normal circumstances but today the description is particularly apt. Yesterday afternoon my dermatologist took three pre-cancerous lesions off my skin – two on my neck and one on my back. This is both better and worse than it sounds: better… Read full post »

I haven’t been writing in a while. In fact, I haven’t posted regularly to a blog since before I met my wife. This means that there will be plenty of lousy writing before the good material appears. Sorry, no help for it.

This is the only warning you will receive.… Read full post »

As merchants keep trying to pull the holiday season into Labor Day there is (quite rightly) a debate as to when is the appropriate time to start thinking about Christmas. Since moving to Columbus I’ve come up with a simple series of signs which indicate when to roll out the holly.… Read full post »

Having a baby means neither Judy nor I get out much. Really the only time out I’ve had is going to Cbusr meetings and watching the Columbus Crew games with the rest of the supporters group. So, in the vein of “don’t ask what else could happen”, driving home from the… Read full post »

I was quickly perusing the papers and Facebook this morning and found little news but much commentary. Reminds me of an old saying:

“Opinions are like bellybuttons*: everyone has one but nobody wants to see yours”.

 

 

 

* In my old neighborhood a different portion of the a… Read full post »

It’s getting to be the time where “gasbag gulch”, that dismal place where political pundits gather, starts the play-by-play on the 2012 Presidential election. Last week the “big” story was the Ames (IA) straw poll and the end of Tim Pawlenty’s campaign. This week t… Read full post »

Today was our first “official” non-doctor outing with Tommy. Right about the time we moved to Columbus a diner opened not to far from Ohio Nancy’s house: the “Beechwold Diner”. We’ve been regulars ever weekend pretty much since they opened. They have &#8220… Read full post »

Some will notice that I have removed a few posting from the blog.  I hesitated before doing so – after all, generally changing a blog ex post facto is considered poor form.  Proper practice is to either add an “update†to the end of the post or strikethrough elements which are… Read full post »

Greater love hath no man than this…
Originally uploaded by tlillis4

…that a man lay down his Amtrak points for baby furniture.

Hoarding is not too strong a term for what I’d been doing with my Amtrak points. 58K is enough for a round trip “Back East” twice or a… Read full post »

Family Room: Before and After
Originally uploaded by tlillis4

With the baby on the way, Judy and I had hardwood flooring installed in the nursery and family room. Judy loves the aesthetics and I’m excited about hardwood’s utility and durability. If the apple doesn’t… Read full post »

From a writing perspective I have been most uncharacteristically quiet going on nearly 18 months. There are multiple reasons for this hiatus but the best and most recent excuse is the replacement of my Aortic Heart Valve. I have been on a slow but certain path to recovery as… Read full post »

Christmas in Ohio
Originally uploaded by tlillis4

The start of the season! Our tree decorated (but not yet topped by the star – that’s a later picture), fire in the fireplace and fathful Golden napping at the foot of the carpet. Now that’s my idea/… Read full post »

I never thought they'd fit that seven-foot Christmas tree into the Mini but they did. This was taken at Columbus-Sawmill Anderson's the day before Thanksgiving. A triumph of hope over experience!

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The lady of the house basking in the glow of her triumphant dinner and the warmth of her faithful dogs (and guest dog). Hey, wait a minute! Where am I suppose to sleep?!?

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As last year I’m live-blogging the Ohio Lillis’ Thankgiving through Flickr. The new set is here – follow along and see what’s been added.

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On September 9, 2010 I entered the Cleveland Clinic for a procedure to replace my aortic heart valve (AVR). During the procedure and recovery loved ones were kept up to date using a personalized section of the Cleveland Clinic’s portal called “theStatus.com”.  I thought it was only… Read full post »