Years ago, Steven was in fourth grade and his teacher wished him Happy Birthday. He responded, “It’s not my birthday today. I’m using the Lariviere Flexible Holiday Rule.” His teacher laughed and asked him what that rule was. He explained that in our family, if your...

One of the great lessons my mother taught me was to thank the people who quietly work for you all year long . . . the mail person, the trash collector, the UPS delivery person. Over the years, I have come up with various gifts, but for the past ten years, I have...

I was listening to the 80’s music channel this morning when I heard a Blondie singing Heart of Glass. It took me back to my Amarillo roots and teenage years.  My dad LOVED Blondie – to the point of annoyance. If you knew my dad, you would never expect Punk Rock to...

Day 10 of our Great Montana Adventure (or Day 29 of our road trip): Homeward Bound We drove from Sioux Falls to Home. Nothing happened.  Absolutely nothing. For those of you wondering how Gene has stayed married to me for 37 years when I post stories about our...

Day 9:  Custer to Sioux Falls. (Badlands) If you want to social distance and see stunning scenery, then the badlands is where you need to go.  We left Custer and drove Hwy. 16A through Custer State Park on our way to the Badlands.  Sure, there are faster ways to go,...

I have wanted to visit Mt. Rushmore for many, many years, but the opportunity never presented itself.  I was so excited that I woke up early; I mean really early.  I'm like a kid on Christmas morning.  Gene got up early as well and we walked to the local “Our Place...

Our drives each day have been filled with beautiful landscapes and mostly mountain views. We are now about to head through eastern Wyoming where the population is sparse and there is a quiet beauty to the landscape (as long as you don’t have to cross it in a covered...

 We get ready to leave the hotel for our trip south to Buffalo, WY when I ask Gene what the plan for the day is.  “I want to stop at Little Big Horn Battlefield if you don’t mind,” he says.  Of course I don’t mind.  I know about Custer and Little Big Horn – some.  ...

We followed the Yellowstone River all the way to Billings, MT and appreciated the mountain views to the south and plains to the north.  We made a last minute decision to take a side trip to Bozeman because we had the time and the highway speed was 80 mph, so as Gene...

After our last night at the Dude Ranch and a hearty breakfast, we start our day with a plan.  We will go to Yellowstone when it opens and head straight to the bison herd and waterfalls before the crowds get big.  We know we have to run the “bear dinning gauntlet”...