Oh, this writing life….

Confession: I’m not really good at timing sequels. Addendum to confession: Maybethat’s a pity, because sometimes, just sometimes, the sequel is better than the first novel. Anotheradmission: Maybe I had to become a better writer before I could write that better book.So why am I admitting this now? It’s all in that little dicho that’s…

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My Texas Gentleman

Reminisce is a hard word for me to spell, and I’m a really good speller. I was doing some reminiscing recently and somehow that took me back to Erwin Massengale of Beeville, Texas.  In 1961, my dad was stationed at NAS Chase Field in Beeville. It was a place to train pilots. My father’s gig…

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My Unlikely Master Dad

You should have known my dad, Casey Baier. The tall, skinny guy from Cody, Wyoming, was no scholar. He made those gentleman Cs through high school but lettered in several sports. Grade-wise, he was a severe trial to his teachers, mainly because his sister Marie, his only sibling, had graduated four years earlier as class…

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Thanks for the Memories

I know, I know. I’ve written way too many books to get excited about this next one out of the chute on October 11. But I am excited and can’t wait to get my hands on that book. When We Meet Again represents the first time I have written about midcentury events, World War II…

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Be My Guest

I have a quilt guest room downstairs. The newest edition is the baby quilt on the far right, made by my late sister-in-law, and given to me at a recent Kelly family reunion by my niece/her daughter Terri, who is special to me for a variety of reasons. The quilt on the far left is…

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The Old Bison: An Appreciation

A lot of us knew Bob Utley as the Old Bison, probably because of his years poking around the West. Without question, he was the dean of Indian Wars history, trading not in myths and legends, but the facts of American history that pitted the U.S. Army, serving as arm of the federal government, against…

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Sometimes I’m an idiot

Sometimes I’m an idiot! Oh yeah, moi, the idiot. Smart person. Two degrees. Old and supposedly wise. Well, not so much, when it comes to certain things. In the annals of medicine, my recent procedure on three hammertoes was minor, indeed. Those little guys on my left foot had curled under and rendered walking painful.…

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Oh, Give Me a Home…

I liked to spend time on my aunt and uncle’s Montana ranch, about 30 miles east of Billings. We cousins dug in dry riverbanks for trilobites and other such fossils, and just generally got dirty every day. My cousin David knew of a great big dinosaur bone some miles distant. Three of us, David and…

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Praise to Thee, O Blarney Stone

I’m 74. It’s been an interesting life so far, and that seems to be continuing. In the course of many decades on this weird planet, I’ve seen interesting sights, and learned more than I want to about some things.  As a confirmed foodie, I’ve eating many delicious things.  Up until right now, my favorite, personally…

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Roses Are Red, Violets Are Rare, This Is Belated, and I Don’t Care

  This is assuredly after the fact, but I’m busy and stuff sneaks up on me. Valentine’s Day has never been particularly memorable, because I don’t recall getting anything that stood out. Except two things, and they’re probably the most memorable of all, when I think about it. The first memorable Valentine’s Day happened in…

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