Travel Log – Falling for Water!

(Silverdale, Washington; May 4, 2021) – Waterfalls wash away strife and care, the rushing cataract mesmerizing the eyes even as it soothes the soul. As I near my departure from Washington State, I wanted to share a few more memories of the amazing places we have here. I’ve found much solace, wonder, and water droplets … Continue reading Travel Log – Falling for Water!

Photo Finish: Mount Baker and Glacier Peak!

Mount Ranier is the tallest, Mount Adams contains the most volume, and Mount St. Helens is the grumpiest, but Washington State boasts four more active volcanoes. Two of them, Indian Heaven and West Crater are not nearly as well known because they aren't stratovolcanoes and don't possess the classic volcano shape. Indian Heaven and West … Continue reading Photo Finish: Mount Baker and Glacier Peak!

Photo Finish: Washington State Memories!

I'm packing up and organizing my things. The movers come May 3rd and 4th; I'll be driving out of Washington State for Tennessee by May 7th. As I get ready to move on, I wanted to take a moment and publish a few Photo Finish columns detailing some of the greatest places I've seen in … Continue reading Photo Finish: Washington State Memories!

SPECIAL EDITION!! Photo Finish–The Brothers Through the Year!

The Brothers are a prominent set of peaks in the Olympic Mountains. The south peak (on the left) rises to 6,842 feet above sea level while the north peak (on the right) rises to 6,650 feet. The peaks are 22 miles from where I live in Silverdale. The Brothers hold the distinction of being one … Continue reading SPECIAL EDITION!! Photo Finish–The Brothers Through the Year!

Photo Finish – Volcano Day!

I am starting a new column head: Photo Finish! I started in journalism as a Navy operational photographer and photojournalist. Although writing is the center of my life now, I still think of myself as a photographer first. Now and then I want to show off what's I've done...and what I can do with a … Continue reading Photo Finish – Volcano Day!

Mental Health: Into the Volcano

(Silverdale, Washington; Jun. 23, 2019) – I debated for a long time whether this column should go under “Travel” or “Mental Health,” but the mental health analogy won out. However, that does not alter the fact that, last Saturday (June 15) I accidentally hiked right into an active volcano’s crater. I know, I know—you’re wondering … Continue reading Mental Health: Into the Volcano

Mental Health: Anxiety and Experience

(Bowie, Maryland; May 5, 20187) According to the American Psychiatric Association, an anxiety disorder is defined as: Anxiety out of proportion to the situation or age inappropriate Anxiety that hinders one’s ability to function normally This can be found on their website (https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/anxiety-disorders/what-are-anxiety-disorders), but the mere definition of it doesn’t do much to help those … Continue reading Mental Health: Anxiety and Experience

Travel Log: A Day in the District

(Jan. 17, 2018) I officially picked up Maryland on the 11th for my State Collection, and got Washington, D.C., on the 12th. If you check the state map, you’ll see I’ve also picked up Virginia (Jan. 13) and Delaware (Jan. 17). I know D.C. isn’t a state, but the federal city is our capital, and … Continue reading Travel Log: A Day in the District

Travel Log: John Brown Marches On

(Jan. 10, 2018) John Brown cast a long, long shadow across the United States in 1859, a shadow so long he is (in my opinion) rightly considered one of the final causes of the Civil War. I did my master’s thesis on him while I was still active duty, focusing on how, despite his spectacular … Continue reading Travel Log: John Brown Marches On