Articles written by Albert Aunchman - Page 5

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About me - Albert Aunchman

I retired from teaching elementary school in 1995. I worked for five years in private industry, then took a job teaching at a residential treatment center for troubled, young boys.I decided to retire again at age 62. I have a BA in liberal arts, an M.Ed in

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Hobbies & Games > Antiques & Collecting (Other) Appraising postcard collections: 5 of 6
Post card collecting is an expansive hobby. There are few experts, which puts you in the middle of the runners before you've even started the race. There are millions of cards available on virtually every subject. Many have been priced without knowledge. They may show up at garage sales, flea markets, shops, and auctions. Sin... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Avoiding pitfalls and mistakes in writing short stories: 11 of 13
Be the best! Sounds like a lofty ideal for the fledgling short story author. Orson Scott Card, noted sci-fi writer, noted that it's pointless to strive to be "the best", "because being the best is not up to you." What matters is being good. "Being good' is entirely up to you, regardless how others see you."You can "be good" b... More..
Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Fishing: 40 of 46
The bright orange sun was sitting on the horizon. You could see the "Industrial Trust" building, up the river, ablaze in reflective splendor. The gentle, offshore breeze cooled the air, and with the outgoing tide, established just the right drift. By now I had lost track of how many times we had motored to within 30 feet of s... More..
Home & Garden > Home Repair (Other) Tips and tricks to help you build your deck: 7 of 8
I will not try to tell you how to build a deck. If you have decided to build your deck you probably have the basic carpentry skills and tools required to take on this endeavor.My purpose here is to share with you some tips and advice that will make the process easier and guarantee you a great finished deck. Some of them seem ... More..
Pets & Animals > Birds Bird facts: Osprey: 9 of 10
From a distance, as it circles high over the water, an osprey, with its crooked wings and white under parts, could easily be mistaken for a gull. If you wait awhile, you may witness a spectacular sight. All of a sudden he may dive feet first into the water, coming up with a fish, which he then carries away, while adjusting it... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: The most inspirational military leader I know: 10 of 11
When we think of impressive military leaders, our list might include men like Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Patton, or perhaps, Napoleon Bonaparte. I am going to forego the obvious, and tell you about a man who, in my mind, epitomizes what a leader should be.Within three months of my arrival to serve with the 2192 ... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Living on a military salary: 13 of 14
A Precious LessonThe Air Force was my first full time job. Looking at my Social Security Statement for 1967, the year I got married, it shows that I earned a whopping $3,194 as an airman 3rd classI was stationed at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine. Since there were no quarters available on base, I rented a small-furn... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Boot camp horror and humor stories: 22 of 23
Two days after graduating from college, I was on a plane headed for basic training inSan Antonio ,Texas. It was 1966, and if you were breathing, you could expect a draft notice, which would invariably land you in a grunt unit flogging through some rice patty in South Vietnam.I had, prior to graduation, signed up for the Air f... More..
Pets & Animals > Birds Bird facts: Wigeon: 7 of 7
The American Wigeon was formerly known as the "Baldpate" because of its white forehead and crown that resembled a bald man's head. It is a common species of duck and breeds in the northwestern portions of North America. The Widgeon is the New World counterpart of the Eurasian Wigeon. The Wigeon is a medium-sized duck (17-23 i... More..
Home & Garden > Architecture Geodesic domes: The legacy of Buckminster Fuller: 4 of 4
Buckminster Fuller, born in Milton Massachusetts in 1895, became one of the most fascinating and original thinkers of this century. The first of his family to fail to graduate form Harvard University in a hundred years, he managed to have a profound effect on the world around him. He was an inventor, engineer, mathematician, ... More..