She Calls Me Grumpy

  We live in a world governed by cause and effect. Every decision we make and every action we take carries consequences—whether immediate or delayed, seen or unseen. Yet, in modern America, we’ve become masters at deferring, distributing, and disguising consequences , kicking the can down the road and pretending the bill will never come due. But it always does. The Illusion of Escaping Consequences There was a time when consequences were inescapable and immediate. If you didn’t work, you didn’t eat. If you spent beyond your means, you ended up in debtors’ prison. If you broke the law, justice was swift. Actions had tangible and personal consequences, and people understood the direct relationship between effort, responsibility, and outcome. Today, that relationship has been severed. Instead of allowing people to learn from their mistakes, we insulate them from reality —financially, socially, and even legally. We hand out participation trophies, erase personal debt, and create endles...

 

The Camp David Accords are often held up as a shining example of diplomacy—proof that enemies can sit down, talk it out, and walk away with a deal that keeps everyone happy. But here’s the thing: real peace doesn’t come from compromise. It comes from victory. Had the war between Israel and Egypt run its course, had there been a clear winner and loser, the Middle East might look very different today. Instead, we got a “peace” agreement that did little more than hit pause on a fight that was bound to continue. And it has, in many different ways. And let’s be honest—this wasn’t about long-term peace. It was about President Jimmy Carter chasing a legacy. He wanted to be the great peacemaker, the man who ended war in the Middle East. He wanted that Nobel Peace Prize. But in doing so, he ignored the reality of the conflict, and in the end, his prize cost both Israeli and Arab lives. The Accords Didn’t End the Conflict—They Just Changed the Rules On the surface, the Camp David Accords looked ...

  I see them all the time—empty, abandoned homes along the highways. Peeling paint, sagging roofs, windows staring blankly at the road. The storyteller in me can’t help but wonder who once lived there. What were their lives like? The laughter, the arguments, the holidays, the heartbreaks. Families grew up in those houses. Kids ran through the halls, meals were shared at the kitchen table, dreams were built under those roofs. And now, they sit empty. Forgotten. I can’t help but wonder why. Did someone walk away, thinking they’d be back, only to never return? Did an old couple live there until they just couldn’t anymore, leaving it behind like an old photograph tucked in a drawer? Maybe money got tight, and they had no choice but to go. Or maybe time just moved on, the world changing around it until the house no longer fit. Whatever the reason, these homes stand as ghosts of lives once lived. I drive past and find myself thinking about that last moment—the last time someone turned of...

  Welcome back to Grumpy Writes , where I bring you nature’s strangest talents, whether you want to know about them or not. Today’s star? The Lesser Water Boatman , a tiny insect that makes an absurdly loud noise by—brace yourself— rubbing its penis against its abdomen . Yes, this bug plays itself like a one-man band , creating a sound that hits 99 decibels —as loud as a passing motorcycle. And it’s only 2mm long . That’s like a flea picking up a megaphone and screaming into it. Why does it do this? The same reason most creatures embarrass themselves— to impress the ladies . It’s basically an underwater love song, played exclusively on its junk . Imagine if human men tried to seduce women by aggressively zipping their jeans up and down. Most of this racket stays underwater (thankfully), but scientists say if it ever figures out how to perform on land, we might all go deaf. So, next time you feel insecure, just remember: a bug is out there belting out love songs with its genitals, c...

  The Democratic Party has spent the better part of the last decade perfecting the art of outrage. Every election cycle, every Supreme Court ruling, every conservative policy has been met with the same hysteria: democracy is on the verge of collapse, Trump is a dictator, and America is teetering on the edge of fascism. But after years of breathless hyperbole, something is hap pening that Democrats didn’t see coming—people are tuning them out. Worse, their biggest donors are walking away. A recent New York Times article, “Venting at Democrats and Fearing Trump, Liberal Donors Pull Back Cash” (Feb. 16, 2025), lays out in devastating detail how Democratic fearmongering and dysfunction have led to a mass exodus of donor support. The small-dollar donors who poured millions into resisting Trump in 2017? They’ve checked out. The billionaire donors who have propped up progressive institutions for years? They’re either backing off or hedging their bets with Trump. A Party in Financial Fre...

  It’s easy to surround yourself with voices that tell you exactly what you want to hear. Whether you’re watching Fox News and scrolling Truth Social or flipping to MSNBC while scrolling Bluesky , you’re in an echo chamber. And while it feels good to have your beliefs reinforced, it’s also a trap—one that narrows your thinking, deepens divisions, and makes real conversation almost impossible. What’s an Echo Chamber, Anyway? An echo chamber is when you’re only exposed to opinions that match your own. Social media and news networks thrive on this—they keep you engaged by feeding you more of what you already agree with. Over time, you start believing your perspective is the only reasonable one, and anyone who disagrees must be clueless, brainwashed, or just plain wrong. Why That’s a Problem It Locks in Your Biases – If you never challenge your own thinking, you stop growing. It Fuels Division – The less you hear from “the other side,” the easier it is to see them as the enemy. It...

 I’ve always believed that stories find us when we’re ready to tell them. Some come wrapped in nostalgia, some in laughter, and others in heartache. For me, writing has been a late-in-life revelation—a way to share the moments that matter, the lessons learned, and the humor tucked between the cracks of everyday life. Grumpy Writes is where all of that comes together. It’s a place for stories—some funny, some heartfelt, some a little bit of both. Whether it’s a song idea inspired by a long drive, a reflection on the past, or a completely ridiculous take on life’s absurdities, you’ll find it here. Expect everything from music, humor, heartfelt musings, politics, and a touch of Downeast Maine dry wit —all delivered with the perspective of a man who has lived a little, loved a lot, and isn’t afraid to poke fun at himself along the way. I won’t shy away from politics, but I’ll keep it honest, thoughtful, and grounded in real conversations, not just noise. So, grab a cup of coffee (or s...