Archives
A work-in-progress repository of various things that I’ve written. For more recent stuff, check out the blog.
HOLIDAY MESSAGES
My life, if we’re being honest, is relatively boring and uninteresting. Nevertheless, wishing to spread holiday cheer and offer some insights to a small group of family and friends, I have composed an annual holiday letter for the past several years. Enjoy.
Christmas 2023 — “Parade of Humanity”
Christmas 2022 — “Lily of Nazareth”
Christmas 2021 — “Hidden Folks”
Christmas 2020 — “A Light in Darkness”
Christmas 2019 — “Keys to the Future”
21 DRINK SALUTE / 12 DRINKS OF CHRISTMAS
Some time ago, your humble scribe noticed that there are 21 days between two patriotic summer holidays: Flag Day (June 14) and Independence Day (July 4). I also observed that a 21-gun salute is considered a high form of military honor. And in my bones I knew that the dog days of summer are perfect for enjoying various cocktails and adult beverages. Seizing upon this remarkable confluence of facts, I resolved to embark upon what would be called the 21 Drink Salute to America — making a different cocktail and drinking a toast to America on each of those 21 days between Flag Day and Independence Day. Naturally, the experience would be chronicled on social media — as things are these days. The 21 Drink Salute has become a roughly annual tradition, and was soon joined by a winter drinking tradition: the 12 Drinks of Christmas (cocktails on the traditional twelve days of Christmas between Christmas Day and Epiphany). Cheers!
21 Drink Salute — 2022
12 Drinks of Christmas — 2021/2022
21 Drink Salute — 2021
12 Drinks of Christmas — 2020/2021
21 Drink Salute — 2020
12 Drinks of Christmas — 2019/2020
21 Drink Salute — 2019
12 Drinks of Christmas — 2018/2019
21 Drink Salute — 2018
21 Drink Salute — 2017
21 Drink Salute — 2016
21 Drink Salute — 2011
21 Drink Salute — 2009
21 Drink Salute — 2007
LEADERSHIP
For about 30 years, I have been actively involved facilitating youth leadership development in various capacities. During that time, I have amassed a fairly extensive collection of activities, articles, presentations, and other resources designed to help young people grow as leaders. Some of these written pieces are included here.
Three Chairs
There is an “I” in Leadership
MISCELLANEOUS STUFF
The junk drawer of the Mister Westra literary corpus. Here you’ll find odds and ends you didn’t even know you were looking for.
Remembrance of a Cat