Riding my bicycle around town this weekend, I noticed an eerie symbol across the trunks of many boulevard trees. A white X marks the end of many once healthy, flourishing trees' lives, now infected with the dreaded Dutch Elm.

I read the oddest story today on MSNBC about the rise in injuries while text messaging. ("Texters hurt as they walk, ride — even cook," www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25934644). The story talks about the rise in number of people injured because their text messaging distracts them from physical activity.

Now, a natural-born klutz, I understand that accidents do happen. I've had my share of trips on the sidewalk and spills off a bicycle while fully concentrating on the physical task at hand. Add to it a cell phone and I can see how this because a dangerous world.

One of my favorite parts of summer is sleeping with the windows open. I’m not sure if it's the cool June breezes or the quietness of the outdoors, but it perfectly relaxes me into a good night sleep.

I was a little surprised at Sunday's Litchfield High School commencement exercises to see the relatively informal attire by quite a few Litchfield graduates.

T-shirts, shorts, guys wearing sandals, girls wearing jeans, even barefoot diploma recipients - it appears there was no dress requirements. Members of the band and choir looked were far more dressed up than some of the actual graduates.

I'm trying to track down photos and memories of the Litchfield High School's first after-prom party in April 1987 for an upcoming story. If you have any pictures from the event, please contact me at (320) 593-4806 or at reporter@independentreview.net.

One nice feature about the Independent Review's online site is it allows community members to post school, church, organization or other community events on our calendar.

To post an event, you must be a member by registering for free on the site. Once a member, you can add event by clicking on "Add an Event" in the left column of any Web site page. Record your event's date, time, location and other information. Click 'submit' when finished. The event will be posted under "Upcoming Events" on the Web site and possibly be included in the Independent Review's print edition.

After this weekend, I'm glad I can breathe again.

Three nights, five overtimes and 262 minutes of hockey as my beloved Minnesota Gophers battled furiously with the hard-fighting Minnesota State Mavericks. I'm surprised I'm not dizzy from holding my breath and feeling my heat skip a beat here and there.

L/D-C hockey fans, check out the video on the Star Tribune's Web site. The video, "Team with heart goes to state hockey tourney," is at www.startribune.com/video/16231632.html.

Excuse me, Mother Nature, but I'm ready for spring.

After a few years of relatively mild winters, this one seems to be stinging like a bee. It seems every time the weather appears to turn more mild - more average - another cold snap blows in from our neighbors to the north.

The other day a friend brought to my attention an interesting observation from the Democratic presidential nomination contest between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. My friend, a male, was talking about the high female support Clinton has garnered across the nation and the excitement among women about the possible election of the nation's first female Commander in Chief. However, that excitement seems to drop off for women under 50.