The Rogers News

Category: Our Experiences

Tales of my life as told by me.

  • New House

    We bought a two-point-six acre wooded lot with a house and detached garage on it. It’s got everything we want – good school district, room to run, and shared waterfront. We are very thankful that this worked out, and will be working very hard to spruce up the new digs.

    Today, I spent six hours raking the lawn areas and removed some overgrown ivy-like plants from the front corner of the house. The grounds are already looking far better. Just in time for snowfall.

    I was less successful in selecting the correct garage door remote. I chose grey. Should have picked purple. No biggie.

    Yogi Bear the dog has no idea what is going on. He’s like a lawyer on vacation. He stays by my side and can’t seem to relax for fear of being left behind. Once he settles in, he should have a much improved life, as he’s not meant for a condo.

    Our stuff is still in boxes and spread all over, but the house – the feel of being home – is taking shape. It won’t be long and we’ll be in order and have a house warming party for ourselves.

  • We Bought A House!

    We bought a house today, and can now spend Thanksgiving break beginning to move in. I’m very excited to start this new adventure with Lindsey.

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  • Efficiency & Balance

    Balance in life requires a certain efficiency. I strive to mosey through life excelling at what I choose to do while avoiding conflict and leaving a lasting impression on people. Finding ample time for family, friends, self, work, and play is a life-long journey. It is in the pursuit of excellence in each of those endeavors that I find myself constantly refining my inefficiencies. As I make progress, the puzzle pieces, which initially overlap as a stack, separate and lay flat to fill my day. There is a graceful flow from self to family to work to family and play to self. That is the general arc of the below-described routine. The caveat is that to expecting the puzzle pieces to fit perfectly, or to make a perfect fit the goal of my life, evidences two failures: 1) such a pursuit or goal would result in my settling for less than that of which I am capable and 2) such a pursuit or goal would evidence my failure to recognize that the overlap of one area with another can improve both – or another.

  • The Road Not Taken

    Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken” hung on the wall of the house in which I grew up. Here it is, so that I can remember it as one of the influential details of my life.

    Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
    And sorry I could not travel both
    And be one traveler, long I stood
    And looked down one as far as I could
    To where it bent in the undergroth;

    Then took the other, as just as fair,
    And having perhaps the better claim
    Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
    Though as for that the passing there
    Had worn them really about the same,

    And both that morning equally lay
    In leaves no step had trodden black.
    Oh, I kept the first for another day!
    Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
    I doubted if I should ever come back.

    I shall be telling this with a sigh
    Somewhere ages and ages hence:
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and Iā€”
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference.

  • Moroccan Mint Tea

    One of the stops on Lindsey and my honeymoon was Morocco. It was an interesting cultural experience. One of the few highlights of our day trip to Morocco was our meal, and particularly, for me, the mint tea that we were served afterwards. It was strong and sweet. Our guide explained to us that mint tea was a popular and common part of Moroccan culture. It is consumed in large quantities for health benefits such as rejuvenation and clarity.

    Naturally, I’ve been eager to adopt the “Moroccan way” into my own daily routine. Today I purchased one ounce of Marrakesh Mint tea from the spice market down the street from my office. I’m on my second mug (I don’t have a proper Moroccan tea cup). It is a nice change from my standard coffee guzzling, however, the local stuff isn’t quite as good as what we had in Morocco. This is likely because I’m using pre-mixed tea (green and mint) and not green tea with fresh mint leaves. I’ll try that another day.

    Here is a proverb regarding Moroccan mint tea, which is traditionally steeped three times:

    The first glass is as bitter as life,
    The second glass is as strong as love,
    The third glass is as gentle as death.

    Here’s to life, love and even death! (Raises mug of tea carefully above desk as a gesture of toasting the world.)

  • Ten Years Ago

    Ten years ago today, I was standing in a pizza place in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan grabbing a bite to eat before French class. I overheard on the radio that planes had flown into the WTC towers. French class was cancelled and I went home to 1518 Golden Street to watch the events unfold with my college roommates, one of whom had friends and/or family in New York City.

  • I’m 30 Years Old Today

    From my first memories as a small child through high school graduation, life was about exploring the unknown – opening doors to new adventures. I was taught that I could be anything – do anything – discover.

    Then it felt like I was closing doors. I picked a college – eliminated the rest. Majored in economics. Specialized in law. Took the bar exam for one state. All the while I’m thinking, ‘is this what I’ll be? is this my dream? what have I discovered?’

    And I’m beginning to settle into what I’ll be – husband, attorney and amateur golfer. I’m living my dream, set in beautiful Traverse City fully stocked with friends and family. And although I haven’t discovered everything in my first 30 years, I’ve discovered enough about myself, other people and other places to know that, as I sit here in my office with one door closed and one open, I’m in a good place.

    Happy Birthday to me! Here’s to 30 more!