Genie in a brainstem

Somewhere between your ears and the base of your skull lives one of the most powerful - and most overlooked - forces in human experience.  It’s not a feeling. It’s not a habit. It’s not a Genie in a Bottle. It’s a structure.

"Wharton County treasure hunt yields curiosity for abandoned buildings" by: Jessica Shepard

So, mom and I spent some quality time together Saturday braving the swampy humidity and heat to go treasure hunting in Wharton County.  Now, I have to preface this with the fact that it was also the Wharton Countywide Garage Sale weekend, so, I was hoping to find something awesome.

"Headed into summer, only your wallet can limit adventures" by: John Sample

We had a shock to the system last Friday as the bears rushed in and took their wrath out on tech companies.  That sent the NASDAQ down by over 1,000 points and ended the nine-week streak of gains for the various indexes and averages.

PSA: Help your graduate use credit and debit cards wisely

As your new graduate prepares to step into the next chapter of life - whether that’s more education or starting a career - one of the best things you can do is help them understand how to use credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards wisely.Credit cards build credit history and earn rewards, but...

"Reel Reviews: ‘Masters of the Universe’ the perfect amount of cringe, nostalgia" by: Jessica Shepard

While the original iteration of “Masters of the Universe” cartoon came out in 1982, the re-runs were part of my childhood in the 1990s.  But, I missed the 1987 life-action flick and only had a vague point of reference for it’s existence.

The second act of life

I enjoy using theatric Plays as a metaphor for life to unravel issues in the first half and the second half of our lives.  The First Act of a Play introduces the story or theme of the production.

Resolution #5: Energy, cooling and comfort

June   We know summer is heating up around here in South Texas and so are our energy bills.   In June, focus on strategies that increase comfort while reducing A/C runtime.   Start with small, targeted moves, like shading, fans, energy efficient windows, and a programmable thermostat.

" ‘Hurricane Season’ ushered in by low precipitation percentages" by: Jessica Shepard

The ‘2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season’ officially began Monday, June 1, this week.  Forecasters across the globe – and more importantly in our area – are predicting a “below average” season of activity.  The hardest part for me to reconcile is how they define such a phrase.

"Summer is here it couldn’t be much better no matter what is on your wish list" by: John Sample

We have witnessed nine straight weeks of gains in the market with the S&P 500 climbing nearer to 7600.    When you reflect on the earnings, you have to think that this is not the bubble of 2000.    Of course that comparison is not going away anytime soon.

PSA: Four reasons a 529 plan might make sense for your family

Whether your child is going to college or has other plans, here are four reasons to consider a 529 education savings plan.  First are tax advantages. Earnings grow federally tax-free, and many states offer tax deductions on contributions.  Second is the flexibility beyond college.