I’ll be honest, I kind of thought this would be relatively easy to write. I thought a quick goodbye, sign-off would be fast to check off my to-do list this week. But as Patti knows all too well, I do love to get wordy. This will be my last official column as the Staff Writer here at the Daily World, and my final days here as well...

As promised, here is the second part to my possibly-haunted dorm experience. I know, I know. You’ve just been crossing the days off the calendar until this came out. Well, wait no more because here it is. I should start by telling you after the first incident, we did as goofy people do and we offered a name to the ghost: Earl. Don’t ask why we chose that one, it just felt right at the time. We told it that if it didn’t like the name to knock it off the door. It never fell down...

I’ve always been one that’s more easily scared than not. Seriously, just someone innocently coming up behind me and tapping my shoulder can make me jump. Doesn’t take much at all. I think the men in my family took advantage of this, that or they just think they’re funny. (And as someone who rivals in the comedic category, no way am I giving them the satisfaction of saying they’re the funny ones, especially in a paper.)...

As we get closer and closer to Halloween and with the Shawnee events on Oct. 29 growing nearer and nearer, I thought I’d share a spooky story from my college days. Now, I know everyone has different thoughts on the whole “are ghosts real?” subject, and honestly, I’m not sure either way myself. But I’m willing to bet you can’t tell me this story wasn’t at least a little odd by the end...

I still remember the day, freshman year for me, sitting at my desk in my dorm room. I was probably procrastinating working on a paper, scrolling on the internet and I saw the headlines start appearing. Montgomery Gentry member Troy Gentry died after a helicopter crash...

Y’all know I love crafting. I love new projects and creating things. But the problem with this is I end up with the dreaded “to be finished” pile of crafts. A set of end tables that I never got around to painting both of, a blanket I’ve been working on for years but still haven’t finished. Even another end table I purchased at a flea market with the intention of re-doing that I haven’t gotten around to yet...

I, like many others, suffer from my own impulsivity when it comes to purchases. I also love dogs and follow a fair few shelters. The only, and I mean the only things stopping me from driving to one and finding a fur baby to love and to keep me company are money and that I know I can’t have pets where I live...

Everything. A house emptied where once stood furniture, lamps, rugs, plants. Walls that have seen shades from pink to green to a grey-blue. Others that have seen a different shade of green, to another to a different grey. Memories fill each room. Scents from coffee cakes made religiously in a bundt pan, the clanking of plates and silverware from many a meal...

I’ll admit I’ve fallen captive to the entertainment TikTok provides, and if you’re active on the so-called “clock app”, or maybe even on Reels, you may have seen the Stanley 40oz cup that’s all the rage now...

If you know me, then you know I have taken to photography. I’ve always loved things with buttons, from commandeering old cell phones and TV remotes to car keys and, on one occasion, a shock collar remote (sorry, Cody). On a trip to Disney World, I wasn’t too keen on the idea of having my photo taken with the characters. I liked to admire them from a distance, and stubborn, pushy little me made my parents stand with them so I could take the picture...

Carabiners, lanyards, wristlets, key rings. They hold very little physically. A key or three or five, rewards cards for your favorite coffee shop or gas station, maybe even a souvenir trinket or two. Nowadays little hand sanitized bottles are strapped in, ready to be used...

When I come off of a long day, whether it be from work or working on projects or cleaning up around the house, I tend to be a creature of habit. I take to my chair, maybe pull out my crochet and I find something to watch. I know, I could probably find something better to do with my time instead of sitting and staring at yet another screen, but it helps me escape for awhile and it’s highly effective...

Like so many, I love good food. The food that maybe probably isn’t the best for you, but it tastes dang good and just makes you feel good. The fried stuff, desserts, pasta, the classic home-style meals, all of it. I run on caffeine more often than not, whether it be tea or soda...

I set a goal for myself each year to read 50 books. If it’s more, fantastic! If not, well, at least I read. This started one year when I kept a running total of each book after I finished it. At the end of the year, I had reached 50...

Anyone that knows me knows I love me some dogs. Big ones, small ones, all of ‘em. Can’t get enough of them. I hardly even visit shelters anymore because I’ll get attached or get ideas or look at one who so desperately needs out of there and I know I can’t save them all...

When this comes out, I’ll be wrapping up week-long trip to the beach. And yes, it’s been as wonderful as it sounds. We made the trek over three days, reaching the Outer Banks on Saturday. 10 people, one house on the dunes and hundreds of others hoping for the same relaxing week...

Garage sales are really something, aren’t they? For the buyer, it’s simple enough. Follow the posters and yard signs and look for the yard or driveway filled with stuff. If you’re lucky, you might find what you didn’t know what you were looking for. You might find a hidden treasure, a memory, a great bargain...

I was sitting here, trying to get that spark of inspiration for what I was going to write about this week and I realized it was high time for something. High time I recognized some people that I don’t thank nearly enough. If you didn’t know them, you’d probably think they were good people just by looking at them...

I did something this past weekend that I didn’t even know I wanted to do. Until I had the opportunity to, that is. You might have guessed it, if you read this far. Last Friday after work, a friend and I ventured to the faraway land of Illinois, against rush hour traffic, truckers, persistent rain and asinine gas prices. All so we could go see some critters at the Aikman Wildlife Adventure in Arcola...

This week marks one year. One year of living full time in Greene County, and one year of being on the staff here at the Daily World. I don’t know what I expected it to be like, but it has definitely been quite the ride. I’ll admit I’ve made my mistakes, made blunders upon blunders like any person would in their first big-kid job. And, boy, were they disheartening...