You can learn a lot when you teach

Written by David Vogel Tuesday, 05 August 2008 14:16

“Not Your Average Diction­ary” defines the noun “boy” as “a noise with dirt on it.” Yet, somewhere inside that noise and underneath that dirt, there are plenty of lessons to be learned.

I had the opportunity to figure this out last week when I led a group of four going-into-third-grade boys around my church’s vacation Bible school.

Author Franklin P. Jones might have had a better definition for young boys when he said, “You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.”

This point was soon made for me as I tried to corral my four guys into one location during song time, which is decent entertainment for anyone but a third-grade boy who would rather be wrestling with another...

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If I were to be elected to something

Written by David Vogel Tuesday, 29 July 2008 14:22

With the Aug. 5 primary elections approaching quickly, I finally decided it was about time to toss my hat into the ring. I’m not running for anything in particular, but I would appreciate your vote. Just feel free to write my name in under any of the categories.

But I figured that as long as I’m running for something, I should probably explain my views on the issues. I have divided my thoughts into three categories: local, state and international.

Local

n If elected to whatever, I would straighten out this county jail issue. The proposed Marion County Jail is a hot news item right now, and I’m sure that you’ll all agree with me when I say that a 1 percent sales tax increase to fund that dang thing would be a suicidal move for...

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College move looms on the horizon

Written by David Vogel Tuesday, 15 July 2008 14:42

I recently became aware that summer was coming to a close much quicker than I had anticipated. This reality struck when my mom suggested I should start deciding what kind of things I should take along to put in my dorm room when I leave for college this fall.

As far as I was concerned, I still had plenty of time to make this kind of decision. The last time I checked, my college classes didn’t start until September, which is much further away than sometime next week.

I don’t pack for anything in advance. For my trip to Europe last month, I packed my entire suitcase within three hours of leaving for the airport. (Of course, I’m kidding. It was something closer to two hours.)

All right, I admit it: I’m a procrastinator. I even...

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Sneakers, T-shirts a dead giveaway

Written by David Vogel Wednesday, 02 July 2008 11:07

“If you plan to travel to any of these areas (in Europe), for your ownsafety you must create the impression that you’re not from the UnitedStates. Rule 1 is: Do not wear sneakers.”

I was reading these wordsin one of Dave Barry’s latest books, “Dave Barry’s Money Secrets,”several days after I had returned from my nine-day tour of Europe.

Barry continued: “I don’t know why, but the first thing most Americans do, when they’re getting ready for a trip, is go to the mall and purchase new, blindingly white sneakers.”

I’m guilty of this.

I didn’t technically go out and buy a new set of tennis shoes before my trip, but I did happen to have a pair sitting in my room that I had gotten several months earlier when I...

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