Jacob Skaggs Graduates from Missouri State University

2025-12-12
Special congrats to Jacob Skaggs, a colleague of The Hive of the Ozarks, where I met him. He just graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor's degree in the Missouri State Bear POWER program. Here's an interesting fact, Jacob is a son of Melissa Skaggs, the founder and...
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Duolingo 2025 Year in Review

2025-12-03
Exciting news from ‪Duolingo‬​! DISCLAIMER! These statistics are from November 30, 2025, and so they are slightly out of date. I recently started to study TWO new languages: Finnish, because I read from the web that Finland has been named the happiest country in the world. They're also culturally...
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Springfield Southside Outing with Haley

2025-11-03
I enjoyed another Monday afternoon with my good friend Haley Kilburn, this time in the Deep Southside of Springfield. We started with a delicious lunch at Mully's Pub & Patio, the pub restaurant that replaced Galloway Station.  We ordered two appetizers: Irish Nachos and Truffle Parmesan Fries.  Both were...
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Halloween Outing with Haley Kilburn

2025-11-01
Haley Kilburn and I had a wonderful Halloween together.  We were both dressed up for the occasion!  She was a Rainbow Unicorn, and I was a Cool Cat just like in previous years.  We really loved each other's outfits and even our own. We started with a nice walk...
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Another Golden Afternoon with Haley Kilburn

2025-10-21
This Monday was another golden afternoon with Haley Kilburn in the Southside of Springfield. We bowled at Andy B's for two hours. We had a wonderful time bowling. Sure, I made multiple gutters, only a few spares, and only one strike. But at least we "Gamed On" nevertheless. We...
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New Friend on Carl the Collector

2025-10-14
Today's rerun of "A New Friend / Lotta the Copycat".  Carl meets Paolo, the panda, also autistic.  The tablet that Paolo uses helps him speak (he is nonspeaking).  That's characteristic of some people on the ASD. Here's a fun fact: Odin Frost, the voice actor who plays Paolo, is...
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Carl the Collector NEW EPISODES

2025-10-13
NEW episodes of Carl The Collector are airing on ‪PBS Kids‬‬ this week!  This is the second segment of one of them, "A New Friend / Lotta the Copycat". Carl the Collector is a great show that premiered last fall.  I highly recommend it for people on the autism...
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Southeast Springfield Outing with Haley Kilburn

2025-10-07
Another warm sunny day off, another fun outing with Haley Kilburn. This time, we walked around Southeast Springfield. We started with lunch at Farmers Gastropub.  We enjoyed their homemade potato chips and Scotch eggs. After lunch, we started our walk down Galloway Creek Greenway Trail, and stopped by Kingdom...
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Battlefield Mall with Haley Kilburn

2025-10-03
This Tuesday afternoon, another quality outing with Haley Kilburn.  This time, we went to Battlefield Mall. We started with coffee and a treat at MOKapé, the new coffee shop at the mall that replaced Starbucks.  We each enjoyed a "croffle" (their portmanteau for a croissant/waffle fusion) with the MOKapé...
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Family Vacation in Orange Beach, Alabama (Volume 3)

2025-09-29
Family Vacation in Orange Beach - Dining Out Sunday, September 21 - Dinner at Carmelo, an upscale Italian restaurant.  I enjoyed a decaf Cappuccino with the Saggittario, a pollotarian dish. Monday, September 22 - Post-dinner ice cream at Del's. I enjoyed a Peanut Butter Lover Banana Split. Tuesday, September...
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Family Vacation in Orange Beach, Alabama (Volume 1)

2025-09-26
I just got back from a nice vacation with my Mom and stepfather Steve in Orange Beach, Alabama.  I truly liked this beach just as good as Indian Rocks Beach, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where I went with my family in the mid and late 2010s. We...
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Downtown Outing with Haley Kilburn

2025-09-16
I enjoyed another wonderfully fun outing with my reviving friend Haley Kilburn this hot day off work.  This time, we enjoyed coffee at Mudhouse Coffee, and then dinner at Dublin's Pass Irish Pub, both in Downtown Springfield. After dinner, it was Haley's idea for us to stay at the...
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Breakfast with Haley Kilburn

2025-09-10
I enjoyed a wonderful breakfast with Haley Kilburn at Early Bird Breakfast Pub before work today.  This was my first time meeting her in four years.  I previously met her at bowling with ‪Champion Athletes of the Ozarks....
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Full Moon over Mercy

2025-09-08
Belated post.  Full Moon over Mercy Hospital Springfield last night.  The moon at its prettiest....
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