Tom Purcell, Vacaville Reporter

Tom Purcell

Vacaville Reporter

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Recent:
  • Unknown
Past:
  • Vacaville Reporter
  • ctnewsjunkie
  • limanews
  • Santa Cruz Sentinel
  • The Jackson Sun
  • The News Herald
  • Post Independent
  • thetimesherald
  • OnlineAthens feed
  • DelmarvaNow!

Past articles by Tom:

Tom Purcell: The mistruths of politics

There are no small number of accusations lately that — shocking as it may be — some of our politicians are lying to us. Some Republicans shouted the “L” word during President Biden’s State of the U… → Read More

Tom Purcell: How to write a romance story

All my father ever wanted as a young man was to marry my mother and start a family — plans that were interrupted when he was drafted into the Army during the Korean conflict. As he served in Texas,… → Read More

Tom Purcell: Grateful for National Freedom Day

It’s one of the best days of the year and we owe our gratitude to the remarkable man who made it possible. Feb. 1 is National Freedom Day and its origin is as wonderful as is freedom itself. The cr… → Read More

Tom Purcell: Punxsutawney fun can’t come soon enough – The

Groundhog Day cannot come soon enough. It’s the thick of winter. Cabin fever is setting in. Incivility is worse than ever. A delightful, silly diversion is what we need about now, and Punxsutawney … → Read More

Tom Purcell: Stove debate is a real gas

I love my gas stove — almost as much as I love my Weber gas grill. So I became curious this past week when I heard that a commissioner in one of our ever-expanding federal-government agencies discu… → Read More

OP-ED | Laughing Your Way To Happiness

Opinion writer Tom Purcell asks a seemingly simple question: What makes us happy and fulfilled? According to the directors of the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted, the answer is: our relationships. → Read More

Tom Purcell: The shameful return of earmarks

Earmarks are back and they’re costing American taxpayers a bundle. In case you’ve forgotten, earmarks, says FactCheck.org, “are government funds that are allocated by a legislator for a particular … → Read More

Tom Purcell: Best New Year’s resolution? Get a pet – The

It was late December 2020. COVID cabin fever was hitting me hard. As a writer and communications consultant, I’ve long worked from an office in my home. I was used to working alone at home, but COV… → Read More

OP-ED | Best 2023 Resolution? Get A Pet

Tom Purcell opines that his sister, Kathy, offered what she thought was the perfect solution to his angst in December 2020: “You need to get a dog,” she said matter-of-factly. It turned out to be one of the very best decisions he'd ever made. He says studies have shown that one of the best things any human being can ever do to benefit their mental and physical well-being is to get a pet. → Read More

Tom Purcell: This Christmas, hope is all we have

I’m filled with a renewed sense of hope all of the sudden. Truthfully, I don’t know why I feel such hopefulness. Last Friday I went to the hospital to have a hernia surgically repaired. They stuffe… → Read More

Tom Purcell: Decking the malls with nostalgia

I read a great piece in the Tribune-Review about the nostalgia many Pittsburghers hold for their favorite old suburban shopping malls — especially around the holidays. Malls around the country are … → Read More

Tom Purcell: The gift of Christmas cheer

I’m not feeling it this year. I’m just not feeling the Christmas spirit of any kind, and I know, for the benefit of others, I need to get out of my slump. Christmas cheer is a real thing. A variety… → Read More

Tom Purcell: Digging the return to vinyl

Vinyl records are making a comeback, and it’s not just nostalgic old fogies who are driving the trend. According to Readers Digest UK, millennial and Gen Z consumers are digging the distinct sound … → Read More

Tom Purcell: Giving Thanks

Is the glass half empty or half full? In my experience, it’s always been half full — and that’s one of many things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. We lost my father this year, and that leaves … → Read More

Tom Purcell: Some laughs to ease your election pain

This week half the country will be upset by the midterm election results and half will be elated. Regardless, politics is causing every one of us more stress than it ought to, but, believe it or no… → Read More

Tom Purcell: A bad case of pre-election stress disorder

I’m already anxious about the outcome. I speak of next week’s elections, and a modern malady the Mayo Clinic refers to as “Election Stress Disorder.” “We notice it in our bodies, the tension in our… → Read More

Tom Purcell: Thurber’s Tail: Halloween safety tips for pets – The

Editor’s Note: Long-time syndicated humor columnist Tom Purcell has just launched a new, second weekly column, called Thurber’s Tail. It features pet advice, humorous pet videos and stories about h… → Read More

Tom Purcell: Rooting for my baseball heroes

It was one of the most awesome experiences of my childhood. It happened 50 years ago on an overcast day in Pittsburgh on Sept. 30, 1972. My Little League team had cheap-seat tickets in right field … → Read More

Tom Purcell: Our wild debt party is over

Gosh, I hate debt. I’ve been in and out of debt from time to time. When I was younger I took out a car loan for a nice set of wheels that I really couldn’t afford. I borrowed money I didn’t have to… → Read More

Tom Purcell: Hung up on rudeness

Changing communications technology is one of life’s never-ending annoyances, and now we have a new agitation: voice messaging. Voice messaging allows smartphone owners to record their voice and sen… → Read More