Some folks think “prepping” means bunkers, freeze-dried food, and enough ammo to survive the zombie apocalypse. Me? I’m more of an urban-style prepper. Old-school Boy Scout rules still apply: Be Prepared. Just… for a picnic under a big shady tree while waiting for the Great AAA Lions Club event to kick off. There I was, […]
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Catfish, Wind, and Good Company on the Potomac
This past month, a few friends and I headed to a stretch of the Potomac shoreline I’d never fished before. No crack-of-dawn alarm clock this time — we rolled out at a civilized hour, which already put the day in the win column. The breeze was a little stronger than ideal and kept the water […]
Parade Day with My Smoking-Hot Wife
This past Independence Day, Sunshine and I rolled with the Filipino American Association of Stafford Virginia in the Dale City parade, helping celebrate America’s big 250th birthday. It was hot enough to fry an egg on the asphalt, but the energy from the great crowd more than made up for it. We had a blast […]
A Sunny Day of Woodworking (With Neighbor Supervision)
This past weekend the weather was too pretty to stay inside, so I fired up the Ryobi tools and turned my driveway into a temporary woodworking shop. The mission: build a table saw stand, a rolling cart for all my tools, and a skinny shelf that somehow still needs to hold way too much stuff. […]
A Family Day at the National Museum of the Marine Corps (With Minimal Marching)
Last month my wife and I took my parents on a day trip to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia. You know, that big, impressive place that looks like it’s ready to launch into orbit. As proud Americans with strong Navy ties — my grandfather, my father, and I all served — […]
Sawdust, Sunshine, and Senior Shenanigans: A Woodworking Adventure
Today, I’m diving back into the world of woodworking — or as I like to call it, a surefire way to avoid the boob tube. Ironically, I spent a solid chunk of time on YouTube just to pull this project off. Let’s rewind a bit. My parents are both retired now, with Dad joining the […]
The Final Stages of a Garden Makeover
DIY Garden Glow-Up: A Fun Red Mulch Adventure! 🌿 Want to give your garden a colorful facelift? Here’s how I turned a weekend into a mulch-tastic adventure! Step 1: The Walmart Hunt 🛒 Head to Walmart’s garden center and embrace the thrill of the mulch aisle. I loaded my truck bed with Hyponex Scotts […]
My Weekend as a Bricklayer
You know those moments when you think, “I’ll just do a little yard work,” and suddenly you’re living a full episode of a DIY survival show? Yeah, that was me this weekend. After the not-so-next-day delivery finally showed up, I enlisted my buddy and we dove in. It all started innocently enough with clearing the […]
From Cold Weather to Brick Wall: Our First Spring Project
Every year, we find ourselves eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring. After enduring a few weeks of biting cold, it seems like spring is finally making its way to Tronster’s neighborhood. The freezing temperatures have packed their bags and left, and it’s time to spruce up the “curb appeal.” Sunshine and I have some exciting […]
The First Quarter Grind: Renewals, Taxes, and That Dreaded Virginia Safety Inspection
The first quarter of the year — January through April — is always a special kind of chaos for those of us who adult the same way. It feels like every subscription, renewal, and inspection on the planet decides to gang up on you at once. This year was no different. Sunshine and I powered […]