After 40 years as a computer programmer and game developer—and the passing of his wife of 47 years—Rick has retired and is now living in Ye Olde Folks Home, where he still tinkers with tech and likes to write these amusing and/or thoughtful tales about his storied life.

Bringing Coffee for Alice
“Turn Off the Lights!”
What to Say to the Grieving
While Waiting for the School Bus
An Unfortunate Misunderstanding
In Memoriam: Betty Lou Edwards-Vessel
A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing
Who Would Jesus Stab?
The Eggshell Incident
First Chapel Service at Ye Olde Folks Home
A Yearly Ritual at Menards
“Mr. Loftus, the Town Hero”
The FCAL Project
Pepe Le Pew Finds New Lodgings
In Memoriam: Dale Lear
Bingo Bedlam at Ye Olde Folks Home
There’s a Shortage of Perfect Movies…
One Day at the DMV
A Visitor from Microsoft
“He Who Should Not Be Named”
Downton… Abbey?
This Home is a Liver-Free Zone
My 9/11 Rememberances
My Yearly Pumpkin Spice Rant
Done In By Baker’s Square
My Eulogy for Alice
“Dear Rikki…”
A Clean, Well-lighted Place for Books
Memories of my First Computer
A Little Excitement at the Staff Meeting
The Tale of Mrs. Butler
Sun, Sand, and a Margarita
“Thou Shalt Not Steal”
Troubleshooting at Ye Olde Folks Home
Stories of my Mother
I’ve Heard Angels Sing
Elevator Mishap at the Eye Clinic
One Day at Fair, Isaac
Saturday Morning Cartoons
A Sprig of Parsley
Fun With Recruitment Ads
Leave Her to Heaven
“Squirrel!”
Bring me Dave Bringle!
Beware! The Oldsters Are Coming!
Life Among the Progressives
A Family Ritual While Watching Masterpiece
The Unforgettable General Oppy
“Don’t Even THINK About Parking Here”
A Dubious Plan Gone Awry
The Singing Christmas Tree!
One Day in the Hospital Lab
The Legend of the Broken Timer
Nelson’s Fruit Stand
This One Time in Glee Club…
Star Trek References for the Win
Family Psalm, Stuck in Lodi
Vacation in Branson
Clyde and Ruth Revisited
COVID Policies During my Wife’s Fatal Illness
I Guess I’m the Shadow IT Department Now
The Tale of Clyde and Ruth
My Garden of Gethsemane Story
We Might Get a Virus!

This Home is a Liver-Free Zone

There were a few surprises as I read my Mom’s memoirs. She didn’t think she was a very good mom for feeding us kids frozen meals instead of true home cooking. She rectified this in later years as her cooking skills improved.

Frozen meals were introduced in the early ’50s by Swanson as “TV Dinners.”

Since they predated the microwave oven, they were frozen meals in disposable aluminum trays covered with foil that was peeled off after they were heated in the oven.

I understand my Mom’s reasoning, but we thought they were awesome.

My favorite variety was Salisbury steak. The meat patty was in its own little aluminum well, with other compartments containing mashed potatoes with gravy, mixed vegetables, and the best part: dessert! A smaller section contained a little brownie.

She also mentioned our distaste for liver and onions, and she’s right there. My parents both adored liver and onions, but we absolutely detested them.

My mom once tested the theory that we were only feigning our revulsion for the dish by serving me a cooked slice of liver and telling me it was steak.

Steak? I love steak! Gleefully, I dug right in.

This subterfuge was only effective until I took my first bite.

Alice’s stance on liver was the same as mine: yuck! And we never served it to our children.

I’ve told them I have this fear that someday they will be served liver and onions, discover they love it, and bitterly lament that we deprived them of this marvelous dish during their childhood.

They’ve solemnly assured me that no such thing will happen.