Author Archives: vanbytheriver

Chicken and Egg

Posted on November 9, 2017 by vanbytheriver

Chick-Fil-A is taking on the role of Sam-I-Am. They want us to believe that it is okay to eat chicken and eggs for breakfast. Together. When they opened a new store in the area near my work, they brought us … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Education, Entertainment, Food, Humor, Nature, News | Tagged , , | 42 Comments

One Minute

Posted on November 6, 2017 by vanbytheriver

“In spite of everything I shall rise again: I will take up my pencil, which I have forsaken in my great discouragement, and I will go on with my drawing.”  Vincent VanGogh  

Posted in Art, Education, Entertainment, Music, Nature, News, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Toys “Were” Us

Posted on November 3, 2017 by vanbytheriver

Cabbage Patch Doll. 1983. Teddy Ruxpin. 1995. Tickle Me Elmo. 1996. Furby. 1998. Pokemon. 1999. Nintendo, XBox, Playstation. Forever. These are just a few of the toys that made us lose our mind. Marketing strategies stirred up popularity, kids begged … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Education, Entertainment, Fashion, Movies, News, Technology | Tagged , , | 77 Comments

Nevermore

Posted on October 30, 2017 by vanbytheriver

I had a Halloween encounter today. With a raven. A pair of these huge beauties have been hanging around my neighborhood all summer. I thought they were crows. Until today. Crows have a different shaped tail, and travel in larger … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Books, Education, Entertainment, Nature, News, Photography | Tagged , , | 80 Comments

The Million Dollar Tip

Posted on October 25, 2017 by vanbytheriver

He didn’t have change to tip the courier who brought a message to his Tokyo hotel room. So Albert Einstein wrote him a brief note on hotel stationery, telling him it might be of some value later. The 1922 message … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Education, Entertainment, History, News, Technology, Writing | Tagged , , | 61 Comments

Trick or Treat

Posted on October 23, 2017 by vanbytheriver

If you contribute to the estimated $3. billion in Halloween candy sales in the US, you might be interested to know what is most popular in your state. The surprising winner was candy corn, selected by at least 6 states. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beauty, Entertainment, Food, Movies, News, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 56 Comments

Me Too ?

Posted on October 19, 2017 by vanbytheriver

There is a form of collective PTSD that has emerged from the Twitter campaign started by actress Alyssa Milano, #Me Too. Millions of women and many men have responded. It is not just about Hollywood’s casting couch culture. My Facebook … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Education, Entertainment, News, Technology, Writing | Tagged , , | 57 Comments

The Lady in the Van

Posted on October 16, 2017 by vanbytheriver

“And what I’ve learned, and maybe she taught me, is that you don’t put yourself into what you write. You find yourself there.” Alan Bennett . This brilliant insight comes from the British playwright, author, actor as he recounts the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Education, Entertainment, Humor, Inspiration, Movies, News, Writing | Tagged , | 70 Comments

Shells

Posted on October 10, 2017 by vanbytheriver

We’ve all done it. You break an egg, pieces of shell end up in your bowl. You reach in to retrieve it, with a spoon, knife, or mostly, your finger. All you really need is the rest of the shell. … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Entertainment, Family, Food, Nature, News | Tagged , , , | 92 Comments

Storm Puppies

Posted on October 4, 2017 by vanbytheriver

The winds came, the fence was down. I wandered away, hiding in a shed from something called “Irma”. So much pressure, the puppies would not wait. When they found me, I was holding up a large board, protecting my clan. … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Entertainment, Flash Fiction, Nature, News, Photography, Writing Challenge | Tagged , , | 64 Comments