Author Archives: Stephen J. Gohmann

The Dead Dog in the Pool Story

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Stephen J. Gohmann

The Dead Dog in the Pool Story by Stephen J. Gohmann I grew up in Chicago.  When I was twenty-eight, I traded in the sirens and city bustle for the quieter, slower rhythms of the suburbs. That little biographical bon … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Suburban Living, Young Families | Leave a comment

NARCOS!  LET’S SNORT! – NOT!!!!!

Posted on February 24, 2024 by Stephen J. Gohmann

A PSA today about two companion Netflix Series – ‘Narcos’ and  ‘Narcos – Mexico’. Now, I’m sure most of us have been over exposed to far too many movies and TV Series about drug cartels involving really, really bad guys, … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemporary Political Thoughts | Tagged | 1 Comment

Vietnam Stories: Countin’ Crabs

Posted on February 10, 2024 by Stephen J. Gohmann

Disclaimer: This story is pretty gross but absolutely true. Don’t read it if you’re gonna get all judgy or anything.  Also, don’t read it while eating food or shortly after a meal.  Also, also, I wouldn’t be drinking coffee or … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

Vietnam Stories: The Strongest Man in the World

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Stephen J. Gohmann

His name was Roy Reynolds.  He stood five foot six inches – all two hundred and twenty pounds of him.  He was a former prize fighter from Saint Louis, Mo. and in the Fall of 1968 he was a PFC … Continue reading →

Posted in Vietnam Stories | 1 Comment

Words Should Mean Something

Posted on October 28, 2022 by Stephen J. Gohmann

The English Language is a remarkable thing especially as it has evolved since the dawn of social media and the demise of traditional Journalism – two events that have moved in tandem over the past twenty years or so. Journalism … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemporary Political Thoughts, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Watching the Signs

Posted on October 20, 2019 by Stephen J. Gohmann

Those of us in striking range of the Big Sleep share many commonalities in our physical and spiritual development. (Or is that deterioration? I forget.)  Many of these kind of suck.  In fact, most of them kind of suck.  In … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement Thoughts | Leave a comment

Politics, Cooking Shows, Home Makeovers, Reality TV and Miscellaneous

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Stephen J. Gohmann

I’ve now been successfully retired for over ten years.  The definition of ‘successful retirement’ means two things:  a)  I’m still here – and  – b)  I have become expert at watching television. Those of you facing retirement soon  or perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Humer | Leave a comment

A Christmas Story

Posted on December 19, 2018 by Stephen J. Gohmann

Thank You and A Merry Christmas to You, Dana  The buzz these days is all about the decline of bricks and mortar stores with retail sales rapidly moving to the internet. And it may well come to pass that people … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Stephen Hawking, The Media, Lawsuits, and Junior Mints

Posted on March 31, 2018 by Stephen J. Gohmann

I don’t know what it is, but sometimes the planets come into alignment, the Hand of God reaches out to nudge the Universe one way or another, a Vulcan mind meld is applied irresponsibly, or perhaps humanity reaches an apex … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

It’s Outrageous!!!!….And One Other Thought

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Stephen J. Gohmann

A few days ago something happened that annoyed me. I forget what it was exactly but within minutes I realized my reaction to it was WAY inappropriate for the times. In case you haven’t noticed,  if you bother to watch … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemporary Political Thoughts | 2 Comments

Potty Break

Posted on June 22, 2017 by Stephen J. Gohmann

It was one of those steaming hot summer days in the suburbs.  The pavement shimmered in the heat and the local swimming pools overflowed from the impact of countless cannon balls and belly flops. Looking forward to watching my son’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Humer, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Controversy Over Cursive

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Stephen J. Gohmann

I’ve lived in the Great State of Illinois all my life. I use the modifier ‘Great’ for the purpose of distinguishing Illinois from other States known as ‘Not Great’or worse yet ‘Insignificant’ (e.g., Rhode Island).  I also use it because … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemporary Political Thoughts, Humer, Retirement Thoughts | Leave a comment

Trump & Obamacare Replacement – NADA!

Posted on March 25, 2017 by Stephen J. Gohmann

Just feel like I have to put down my opinion on the premiere issue of today, Friday, March 25, 2017 – namely, the House vote on replacement of Obamacare. To put it bluntly, I hope the bill on the table … Continue reading →

Posted in Presidential Election, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Hey, lets BINGE! … (or not)

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Stephen J. Gohmann

In retirement I frequently have a lot of time on my hands to do whatever I wish.  The rest of the time I do something else but I don’t remember what it was.   I recently and quite accidentally got … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement Thoughts, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Recipe for Disaster

Posted on February 19, 2017 by Stephen J. Gohmann

I’ve found that in retirement one has considerable time to think about many things. Some of these are really important, like whether or not a colonoscopy is affordable in this year’s budget. (Note:  See previous Post referencing this Procedure.  Comment … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Great Time to Be Alive

Posted on February 13, 2017 by Stephen J. Gohmann

We’re now into the second month of the Trump Administration.  And what a month it’s been! I don’t know if my reactions to State (Illinois, Ugh!), National or World events – particularly in the Political arena – are typical of … Continue reading →

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Trump, Bafflement & Other Synonyms

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Stephen J. Gohmann

Donald Trump has been President for six days now and it’s been fascinating to watch the media’s reaction in that brief time. It seems every day there has been a new word or phrase selected by the media and it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Brian Williams, Jackie Robinson West & Life’s Lessons Learned the Hard Way

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Stephen J. Gohmann

It’s been quite a week.  First, Brian Williams gets essentially dumped (six months, oh yeah) for embellishing a war story.  Next, the Jackie Robinson West boy’s baseball team, crowned National Champs last summer are dethroned because their team included players … Continue reading →

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The New Age Discrimination in Employment

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Stephen J. Gohmann

I am in that group of early boomers entering the ‘golden years of retirement’.  So are most of my friends. I’ve been retired for a little over four years now and during that time have watched a number of colleagues … Continue reading →

Posted in Business | Leave a comment

Time Goes By

Posted on June 16, 2009 by Stephen J. Gohmann

It’s been a year since I visited this space so I thought I’d add some thoughts.   Nationally, the last three months have seen improvement in the economic environment in the U.S., but today specfically blew chunks.  I’m still waiting … Continue reading →

Posted in Retirement Thoughts | Leave a comment