I have a friend who hates running but does a marathon every single year. He tries to tell me why: that it ultimately feels good to prove to himself he can do it. But, all through his training, he’s seems to me to be pretty unhappy. My friend’s feelings are…
There’s no doubt that Old Man Winter has hit Northern California with an extra dose of cold, rainy weather this season. It’s great for filling up our reservoirs and relieving us from the drought we’ve been experiencing, but all that chilly, wet weather is keeping many of us indoors. We’re…
John lives in Gold River, CA, a meticulously planned community where the high-value houses adhere to strict architectural guidelines set by the community associations. John says: “My family and I have lived in Gold River for years, and we love how the community association here protects the value of our…
I ran into an old friend of mine recently who was with his young son. When I asked how old he was, the kid got all shy and slowly held up four fingers. His dad told me, “Yeah, he’s so young this is the first time in his life he’s…
If you’ve ever peeked into your furnace, you probably saw a confusing maze of wires, metal plates, tubes, and other intimidating technology. I’ve been working with HVAC technology most of my adult life, so I often forget how confusing these insides can be to my customers. But last week I…
The town of Lincoln has a long history in California, from what once used to be a Nisenan tribe village to the influx of gold rushers that came through seeking their fortunes. The town officially became established, though, when the railroad chugged in after Charles Lincoln Wilson sold tracts of…
I can almost always guess how old a couple’s kids are. If parents are red-eyed and yawning constantly, chances are they’ve got an infant. If they’re nervous and checking their phones non-stop, they might just have a teenager, one starting to dabble in driving or, even worse, dating. In some…
My New Year’s resolution is to get in shape. I’m not talking about bodybuilding, or doing P90X. I just want to be able to run a few miles and feel healthy when I’m done. My brother-in-law runs marathons and told me the key is dedication and consistency. As a devoted…
It’s a magical time here in the Sierra Nevada foothills as the snow begins to blanket the ground. It reminds me of a storybook, with tree covered hills surrounding a quaint, picturesque town as snow slowly drifts down, trimming the old buildings with white. But summers in Newcastle can be…
Brett in Whitney, CA is stuck in HVAC limbo—his furnace turns on, but it keeps going out before the temperature reaches the number on his thermostat. He says: I keep setting my thermostat to 70, but as soon as the temperature in my house hits 68, the heat stops blowing….
