The Mason Minute

We live in a busy world. Many of us are busier than we've been in our lifetime. Even with all the conveniences we now can access, we can't escape being busy. Thanks to technology, we can do so much. Don't have time to go grocery shopping, you can opt for home delivery. Many stores like Walmart now allow you to shop online, and they'll deliver the items to your home. Numerous app-based companies ca...

I'm a guy that loves to shop. Even after working in the shopping mall throughout my youth, I still love a bargain. But there's one thing I hate when looking for new shirts, pants, or shoes. It's the lack of consistency in clothing sizes. I have to try everything on to ensure it fits before buying. That makes it difficult to shop online. I hate buying things online and then having to return them be...

It's strange to say this, but the Spring Break season is upon us. Nashville schools are off this week, and many other districts across the country will be off over the next six weeks or so. My nephews will be heading out next weekend for their vacation. All of them need a break. At least, that's what they told me. I don't ever remember getting time off back in school. We got a few days around East...

I've heard the old wive's tale most of =my life. Feed a cold, starve a fever. But I'm often confused about whether that's correct. Perhaps it's really starve a cold, feed a fever. But right now, I know the first one is correct. I've been battling a slight cold for four or five days. Fortunately, it's a mild one. But I've been very hungry the last few days. Now, I'm often hungry, but recently, I've...

It's a problem that most of us have throughout our lives. We never seem to get enough sleep. When we're young, we never want to rest. We have the fear of missing out. We have schoolwork to do, or more importantly, a party we can't miss. As we age, we catch up on work or perhaps family obligations. While I don't have obligations per se, I want to spend as much time as possible with the family. Over...

I try to keep up with the latest slang. But, like many Baby Boomers, I’m sometimes out of the loop. And I’m okay with that. Even when I was young, many phrases eluded me. The other day, I was scrolling through my news feed and came across some slang I wasn’t familiar with. But most importantly, if I hadn’t stopped to learn about sweet treats, I wouldn’t have learned about one of the things that co...

I read some sad news last week. Warner Discovery, the owners of HBO and the Max app, announced that they are opting to cease the production of Sesame Street. The long-running children’s show has been a part of our world since 1969 and touched the lives of millions upon millions of children; the show that airs today bears little resemblance to the one that made Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch househo...

Do you start your day with a cup of coffee and some orange juice? Perhaps you enjoy a Screwdriver when you're out with friends. We're hearing about all of the items that will see price increases thanks to the new tariffs. Well, thanks to these tariffs and the fact that Florida orange growers are struggling, the price of that juice may skyrocket. Like many, I thought almost all the oranges we consu...

I've reached that age where AARP reaches out to me regularly. That's the funny thing about getting older. The AARP starts to reach out shortly before you turn 60. But when do you actually become a senior citizen? Is it 60? 65? Some might say somewhere in between. I tend to think you're considered a senior citizen whenever and wherever you can get a senior discount. No one wants to think about gett...

The Lenten season is upon us, and in addition to all the religious activity involved, something else happens, too. Most fast-food restaurants start selling and advertising their fish sandwich. The most famous fast food fish sandwich is the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish. I used to eat them a lot, but their quality hasn't been very consistent in recent years. But there's another part of the Filet-O-Fish s...

There's so much for us to be concerned with in our world today. But sometimes, you just have to shake your head and wonder where some people's priorities lie. A few days ago, the Lieutenant Governor of Texas announced that he is pushing legislation to rename the New York Strip Steak the Texas Strip. Technically, the steak is considered the short loin. It has a variety of names in addition to the N...

Where do you go when you want a sandwich? You can make one at home. Perhaps you can visit your local deli. Or you could get a sub at places like Subway or Jersey Mike's. It feels like everything is a chain these days. My wife and I were out running errands over the weekend, and I wanted something simple for lunch. So a visit to a sandwich shop would be a better alternative to fast food. But the ol...

I was scrolling through my Facebook timeline last night and saw two groups I follow share pictures that opined about their defunct Sky Ride. You probably rode on the Sky Ride if you visited nearly any amusement park in the 1960s through the 1980s. At Nashville's Opryland, the Skyride traveled between Doo Wah Diddy City and the New Orleans section of the park. In my old hometown of Quincy, IL, thei...

In my younger days, I spent a lot of time in stadiums, arenas, and ballparks. I watched a lot of minor league baseball, basketball, hockey, and many semi-pro sports. I did it with my father during his TV years and throughout my radio years. And I have a lot of great memories. One of the most significant challenges for these teams is getting people to pay attention. Teams create all types of promot...

As the calendar prepares to head into March, much of America deals with potholes. Winter weather is never kind to our streets and highways. As much as I loathe potholes, I do my best to avoid them. But here in Nashville, we not only have potholes but ruts in the road caused by construction. As Nashville grows, it's impossible to miss the giant cement trucks that traverse our city streets. The stre...

If you've scrolled through social media this week, you've probably seen an announcement from a group called People's Union. They're calling for an economic blackout from Midnight to Midnight tomorrow. Their goal is for everyone to boycott fast food, gas stations, and big box retailers for 24 hours. The goal is to show everyone that they're unhappy about the rising price of gas, groceries, and ever...

We all know how much our lifestyle and aging are connected. Sure, your diet and exercise can help in the aging process. Plus, if you smoke and/or drink, that can speed up your aging. However, researchers have found that there are other factors that are just as important but perhaps not as obvious. These environmental factors are often thought about regarding your aging. However, this new research...

Yesterday, another major retail chain announced they were liquidating. Earlier this month, JoAnn Fabrics announced they had filed bankruptcy for the second time in less than a year. They hoped to reorganize and close nearly half their locations to survive. But over the weekend, the company's assets were sold, and they announced they were closing all stores over the next few months. I don't underst...

I've been driving for over 45 years. And a lot has changed over that time. Vehicles have changed, and the technology available to us is amazing. Thanks to that technology, there's little reason for us to ever get lost. There's no excuse for making a wrong turn. Yet even with all of the available tools, people still make mistakes and impede the progress of other drivers. Is this arrogance or ignora...

Like many guys my age, I'll never be as rich or skinny as I'd like. But I shouldn't complain. Most of my objections in life are petty. But there are some things that drive me crazy. There's one small thing I've been bothered by for years. When you dine at a restaurant, why do appetizers come in odd, not even numbers? Take toasted ravioli, mozzarella sticks, or chicken wings. Nearly every time I or...

Many years ago, measles was almost commonplace. Millions of people every year caught the virus. It was very common among children, and while not ordinarily deadly, cases were severe enough for worldwide concern. But everything changed in the early 1960s when the measles vaccine was invented. Almost overnight, the virus disappeared, and cases dropped annually to just hundreds. And while it's still...

If you're excited about baseball's spring training season getting underway, you've likely heard about a new development. It's called ABS and has nothing to do with your car's anti-lock braking system. ABS is an acronym for the automated ball-strike challenge system. It's being tested this year during spring training. It could take effect in the 2026 regular season if the owners approve. Umpires wi...

Usually, when archaeologists make a major discovery, they find some new dinosaur fossils. However, researchers found something in Egypt that they've been searching for for over a century. It's the tomb of King Thutmose II. It's the first significant tomb discovery since 1922 when they found the tomb of King Tut. The fascinating thing about this discovery is that they located his mummified body in...

Have you ever wondered why your parents went to bed early and woke up early? I've been a night owl most of my life, but that's changing. Now, I go to bed and wake up earlier than I used to. In recent years, I have no longer been able to escape the early-to-bed, early-to-rise lifestyle. There's a good explanation for these life changes: it's light. The light rules our bodies. But as we get older an...

Everyone loves to be complimented. Sure, some may be uncomfortable for a moment, but having someone say something nice about you is a wonderful feeling. For many, some recognition is more meaningful than other thoughts. One platitude I hear every now and then is that I have a voice that should be on the radio. Even though I don't hear what others do, it's the nicest compliment I can receive. Even...