Seeing What’s Important

Posted on October 11, 2018 by Bill Kasal

I recently spent a bittersweet day with my eldest son.  Though I accepted his invitation with joy and excitement, I approached the morning with some trepidation.  The event was the first annual Cannonball Memorial Run Golf Tournament; created to provide immediate financial relief to the families of all fallen law enforcement officers Continue reading →

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It Already Hurts

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Bill Kasal

I recently attended my high school reunion.  Looking back over the decades, I became aware of how different life was then.  The differences in my priorities between then and now were quite striking.

Back then our topic of conversation, for example, was, “Hey!  I just got my first car!”  Today it’s, Continue reading →

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Blame it on the Corndog

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Bill Kasal

Recently I was out running errands with a friend.  When time came for a lunch break, she suggested Der Wienerschnitzel.  I can’t remember the last time I’d been to a Der Wienerschnitzel!   I ordered a few mustard dogs with pickle and she ordered Continue reading →

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Things I’ve Said

Posted on June 11, 2018 by Bill Kasal

With the arrival of my second granddaughter, I find myself thinking that, perhaps, I shouldn’t be allowed to be a grandparent.  Of course, this doesn’t mean I don’t want to be a grandparent.  Again.  Because being a grandparent is the best thing I’ve ever been.  But, sometimes I question if Continue reading →

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Crappy Poetry

Posted on March 31, 2018 by Bill Kasal

My roommate is a university student.  She’s an English Major with a Creative Writing Minor.  One of her classes this quarter was Poetry, and a recent assignment was to write ten titles that you couldn’t imagine could be turned into a poem.  On the day of class, Continue reading →

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Nearly the Best Morning of My Life

Posted on March 14, 2018 by Bill Kasal

For six decades I lived my life as one in which the bad times overshadowed the good.  But now, reclining in the overstuffed warmth of a more gentle and accepting perspective, I like to allow what’s left of my mind to wander back to some of those golden moments and Continue reading →

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My Mother’s Words

Posted on March 3, 2018 by Bill Kasal

The older I get, the more my mother’s admonitions and/or words of advice—to my younger self—seem to come back to me.  Some I remember with a gentle smile while others reverberate through my skull as if I were standing under a large bell.

One of the classic laments of mother-dom, Continue reading →

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Bettman & Halpin: Ten Years

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Bill Kasal

I don’t get out much.  So, lately, I’ve been making an effort to do just that.  In January I went to a concert!  And the style of music was quite different for me.

I was not a rock & roller.  I grew up listening to Continue reading →

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It’s a Generational Thing

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Bill Kasal

There’s an old axiom that some people can learn from seeing another make mistakes while others just have to pee on the electric fence.  I’m sure that the vast majority of parents would like to impart the experiences of their own lives to their children.  Being the protectors of our young, we naturally want to help them.  We would certainly not Continue reading →

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I Never Dreamt of a White Christmas

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Bill Kasal

I grew up in Southern California.  Wait.  Let me rephrase that.  I was raised in Southern California.  Not sure I ever grew up…

Okay.  So.  SoCal boy.  Near-perfect climate.  Almost always lovely weather.  In fact, Christmastime in SoCal is almost always Continue reading →

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When I Grow Up…

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Bill Kasal

Though it is difficult to remember those decades long past when I was a child, I do remember being asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  And even if I couldn’t recall it being asked of me, I’ve asked it of children and heard others ask the same.

There are many kids who dream of being a Continue reading →

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Instant Karma Came to Get Me

Posted on August 2, 2017 by Bill Kasal

This event takes place in the previous millennium.  It was back in my early “radio days.”  Back then, I lived in the Coachella Valley, which is well-known for its beautiful winter weather.

One week each January, the Bob Hope Desert Classic golf tournament would consume the attentions of locals and tourists alike, the latter of whom would swarm to the desert that week, bringing their tourist dollars to infuse the local economy.

Even though the tournament took place in the Continue reading →

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My Grandmother’s Ricotta Cake

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Bill Kasal

Okay! Taking a break from my usual musings to share a  simple, yet delicious recipe for Italian Cheesecake, modified only slightly from my maternal grandmother’s recipe.

Continue reading →

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Intellectual Brilliance

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Bill Kasal

This story is all about what a genius I am.

According to a 2005 article at Wilderdom.com, back in the late 1800’s, a guy named Francis Galton came up with the idea of being able to quantify intelligence.  In the very early 1900’s, another sciency guy in France, named Alfred Binet, came up with the first intelligence test.  I think the idea was to Continue reading →

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Making Strides

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Bill Kasal

Does the world notice or does one live a solitary, invisible life?  Do the things I do matter and does anyone see them?  Then again, do I do the things I do, live the way I live, for me or because I want someone to notice?

When I was a reserve police officer, we often Continue reading →

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Is Evility a Word?

Posted on April 10, 2017 by Bill Kasal

Basically, I’m an evil person.  I have no doubt. Somewhere in my chromosomic configuration, I have the evil gene.  Or genes.  And how can one live in denial of his genetic structure?

I realize that some of my friends and followers may entertain a perception that I am a (somewhat) “nice guy,” but that only demonstrates my keen ability to keep my malevolent nature well concealed.

I’ve tried for decades to not only obscure my wickedness, but I have, in fact, tried to become Continue reading →

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A Wonderful Day

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Bill Kasal

My mother turned 90 a few weeks ago and, the following Saturday, my five siblings and I held a party for her in our back yard.

The afternoon was perfect.

On the day before, my nephew, Dakota, and I set up rented tables and chairs.  We set up food tables and Continue reading →

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Not My Best Business Idea

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Bill Kasal

In my life, I have had quite a few jobs.  My first was raking sand traps at my father’s “country club” on weekend mornings.  I was 15-years-old and, if I can recall with any accuracy, my pay was $1.15 per hour.  My father helped me to get the job and, I’m sure, it was because he wanted me to get out into the work force.  He wished me to begin to function on my own as a (quasi-) adult.  Continue reading →

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My Deadliest Meal

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Bill Kasal

Let me, at the outset, say that I meant no malice towards my family.  My intention was to cook them dinner, not cause nearly convulsive physical duress.  I guess I should first give you the recipe for my Italian Beef Tenderloin. Continue reading →

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Waves of Sadness

Posted on November 17, 2016 by Bill Kasal

All of us, at one time or another, suffer loss.  We lose cell phones, car keys; we even sometimes lose our way.  There are losses from which we more easily recover and there are those which rain down upon us with a devastation that consumes us with fears that we will be unable to continue with our lives.

Statistics confirm that at least half of those Continue reading →

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