Author Archives: Thestrugglershandbook

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About Thestrugglershandbook

I'm a middle aged (if I live to be 100) guy, married, father of three, from Tucson, AZ. I'll write about almost anything. Though somewhat bent, what I write is always true(ish). It won't change your life, however. Unless that would preclude you from reading...

The Glass Half Empty

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Thestrugglershandbook

I have to admit that I am not likely to ever be the poster child for optimism. Let’s face it: a glass half empty really is just that. Assuming there’s no free refills and no waitress to top it off, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Children, Christianity, Family, Humor, Living, News, Parenting, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Water in the Desert

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Thestrugglershandbook

We tend to take a geat deal for granted in our lives. We get pretty busy sometimes, and the things around us, though often beautiful, go unnoticed. Usually it’s because we’re used to them; here in Tucson, we take the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Christianity, Family, Living, Photography, Travel, Tucson, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Other Ten Times I Nearly Died

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Thestrugglershandbook

As most of the faithful know, I avoid news, politics or any other subject whose very nature inspires contention amongst people with differing viewpoints. I have found, over the years and in often painful fashion, that it is by contention with the well-informed … Continue reading →

Posted in Accidents, Children, Family, Humor, Living, Religion, Top Ten Lists, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Fishing For Trouble – Part II

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Thestrugglershandbook

I haven’t gone on a fishing trip in a long time. I used to love everything about it: sitting in a boat, fishing from just before dawn until deep into the night, with a cooler full of ice-cold, frosty malt beverages and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Family, Fishing, Humor, Living, Travel, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

He is Risen!

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Thestrugglershandbook

I often find myself, like most people, consumed with everyday life. Issues at work, with family and the constraints of time and of money seemingly engage in an endless fight for opportunity to weigh upon my mind. Stress attacks from all sides and, unfortunately, often from … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Christianity, Family, Living, Marriage, Parenting, Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Ten Gastric Ways of Making Me Talk

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Thestrugglershandbook

One great thing about being an adult is getting to make your own choices. With respect to food, and for me almost everything is, this means being able to eat whatever I want. (As long as the Healthy-Choice-Wife-and-Kids aren’t around, although … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Humor, Living, Top Ten Lists, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 29 Comments

Lady on a Spindle

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Thestrugglershandbook

I got into the fountain and water feature “industry” right after college. The economy was a big, steamy pile of doody back then ( though not as bad as today’s, which is a big, steamy, smashed onto the bottom of your … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Humor, Living, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

No Stones for the ‘Stones

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Thestrugglershandbook

It was July 21, 1978, and my friends and I arrived at the Tucson Community Center Arena around 9 a.m. It was a sunny day (imagine that) and shaping up to be another hot one (ditto). In addition to some monsoonal humidity … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Concerts, Humor, Living, Music, Rock and Roll, The Rolling Stones, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Ten Reasons I May or May Not Belong Among Society’s Elite

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Thestrugglershandbook

I am not the most confident guy in the world, but at the same time I have to admit to being a little full of myself at times. How does this happen? Relative to the general population, what is there about me … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Christianity, Family, Humor, Living, Marriage, Parenting, Top Ten Lists, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

My Top Ten Meal Plans for a Healthy Soul

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Thestrugglershandbook

There’s trouble afoot at my house. My wife, always a careful and healthy eater, has eliminated all meat from her diet. She’s an animal lover, almost to the point of fanaticism, and has decided that you can’t claim to truly love them while continuing … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Christianity, Family, Food, Humor, Living, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments