A cantalou-tini, which includes vodka and strained cantaloupe puree. My invention, very refreshing, and a good way to use up aging melons.

I did not consume any alcoholic beverages from January 1 until March 22 … just about! There was one night when, with visiting relatives, I had a small martini and a bit of white wine, and one other night when, with an out-of-town guest, I had a few sips from a glass of white wine at dinner, to be sociable. Otherwise, dry! Or, I suppose, the King of Cranberry Juice Combos!!!

I have been mulling over a valedictory, and I think I’m ready. A bit of background first, though.

I decided on a 90-day break—from January 1 through

In A Life at Fifty-ish I share the story about how Judge Harry Blackmun became Justice Harry Blackmun. For lovers of stories about unintended consequences, it’s a doozy! (To get an e-copy of A Life at Fifty-ish go to Mark Rubin Writes, click on Free Book, and fill in the blanks.)

Two other unintended consequences stories both involve sitting U.S. Senators. Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III is the star of our first story. He is an Alabama boy, born and raised, and a University of Alabama School of Law graduate.

Jeff Sessions became the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama in 1981. President Ronald Reagan nominated him, he was confirmed by the Senate, and he served for

I thought about the creationism/evolution battle on Friday because I went to the zoo. The San Diego Zoo. The ZOO!

We’re living in what seem like the death throes of a debate over how long we’ve been around, who placed us here on this third rock from the Sun, whether the word of the Lord explains all or nothing, etc. We can’t turn around without hearing about the debate between Bill Nye (The Science Guy) and Ken Ham, founder of the Creation Museum. Or the hollering because Neil deGrasse Tyson did not include creationism—it was creation science for a while, but the science thing seems to be “left behind”—in his Cosmos series. Or about textbooks that must not favor the

Several interesting men who played major roles in our nation died in recent days. Murray Weidenbaum, an economist who worked in the Reagan Administration and played a large role in deregulating our economy died on Thursday.

Howard “Bo” Callaway, a former Secretary of the Army under Presidents Nixon and Ford, died a week ago today. Mr. Calloway also played a large role in turning the South toward the Republican Party. (President Lyndon Johnson said the South was lost for a generation when he signed the Civil Right Act. Right on the loss, wrong by 30 years, so far, on the duration!)

Lawrence Walsh, Thomas Dewey protégé, retired U.S. District Judge, former Deputy Attorney General, and Iran-Contra Special

You’ve seen 35 substantive posts in 38 days, plus some Facebook extras if you follow Mark Rubin Writes on Facebook (and I hope you do). Piece of cake, actually, and I am enjoying the research, the writing, and the sharing. Lots!

I’ve learned three big things over my first 38 days. First, it’s best to get a few pieces “in the can” in advance. No late nights or early mornings yet, but I’ve gotten close.

Second, while Google and FB provide lots of measures—the cool word is analytics—I’m not smart enough to understand the reports I get. For purposes of page views I thought it mattered if I posted at 9:45 p.m. for the next day, versus posting early in

A couple of summers ago I spent a dismal afternoon on Interstates 405 and 5, traveling from Los Angeles to San Diego. For those who are math-challenged, the average speed for the four-hour, 125-mile trek was 31.25 miles per hour. (Rate equals distance divided by time, per my 4th grade teacher.)

My mind wandered often during the trip. I kept wondering when I’d see the accident, the one that never was! Increasingly, I thought about economics. Maybe it was the fear and angst associated with the financial struggles we all face, or maybe it was the fact that my dismal afternoon brought to mind, per Thomas Carlyle, “the dismal science.” I don’t know, but I saw at least a few