Shenanigans Episode 76: If We're Ranking on a Scale of 1

We have a full house this week as Howie makes an appearance and we have a special guest for that coveted sixth spot. As we recorded on Monday, the news of the day was talked about -- the terrible fire at Notre Dame de Paris. Since it's Holy Week, we also had to mention the possibility of racist Easter Ducks. There were some martial art shenanigans at Walmart, complete with crazy dogs. Rogue Roombas remind us that the machines are coming. Or at least helping. And what is that thing they're selling at the local convenience store?

Book Reviews Reloaded: The Dead Lands

This article first appeared on East Niagara Post on June 23, 2015. It is repeated here as I work to put all my book reviews in one place. They will be posted on Thursdays or Fridays and only be altered from the original in that I will add publisher information and pages. Hopefully, by revisiting these reviews, other people might find a book they'd like to pick up for their own enjoyment.

The Dead Lands - Benjamin Percy

Grand Central Publishing

416 pages

Wendy Bacon: Goodbye Grandpa

I know how very fortunate I am that I have had my grandfather and my grandmother in my life for 45 years.  My girls are all fortunate to have know them both as well. This knowledge, however does not make it any less painful to watch him go.

My grandpa has always been a do-it-yourself kind of guy.  I recall many weekends of my childhood watching and helping as the family put shingles on a roof, poured a concrete pad for a patio, built a garage, put up a shed or any other thing that needed doing.  Those were the big jobs, things for which Grandpa, Dad and a variety of aunts, uncles and cousins would all come together--many hands making light work. There were smaller projects too, things that could be done alone or with the help of one or two others: fixing a leaky pipe, laying linoleum, changing the oil in the car, or greasing up the tractor.  Grandpa could do anything!