Category Archives: Autobiography

April 17, 2013

I understand your pain, Beaver College.

Beaver College, in an attempt to eliminate ridicule and boost enrollment, changed its name in 2001 to Arcadia University. At the time of the name change, University President Bette Landman said that the old name “too often elicits ridicule in … Continue reading →

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April 15, 2013

Random thoughts and observations from a weekend spent with authors and readers

Booktopia, the annual weekend retreat in Vermont that brings authors and readers together, has come to a close. Hosted by Ann Kingman and Michael Kindness, producers of the Books of the Nightstand podcast, it has become one of our favorite … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Books, Family, Quandry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments
April 12, 2013

My pants

I have the same pair of jeans in waist sizes of 33, 34 and 35. I wear each one depending upon my mood. Seriously. 

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March 30, 2013

Worst super power ever

It turns out that I write about my super powers quite often. First there was a post about my actual super hero persona: Mr. Indestructible. I cannot be killed (having been brought back from death twice already) nor have I … Continue reading →

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March 18, 2013

I invited Bill Clinton and Oprah to our wedding. Their response was not surprising.

Last week lesbian student Kirsten Bledsoe asked actress Mila Kunis to be her date for her college cotillion via YouTube. She is still waiting for a response. When Elysha and I got married in 2006, I sent a dozen invitations … Continue reading →

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March 18, 2013

The bogeyman goes straight. But he’s still a bogeyman to me.

Two years ago I wrote about the Blackstone Valley sniper on this blog. In a post entitled Childhood Bogeyman Returns, I wrote: When I was a kid, my town and the surrounding communities were terrorized by the Blackstone Valley sniper. … Continue reading →

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March 14, 2013

The Matthew Dicks Pre-Obituary Contest (including fabulous prizes for the winner)

Slate recently named the obituary of Harry Weathersby Stamps as their current leader for obituary of the year. Excerpts from this incredible obituary (though you really should read the obituary in its entirety) include: Harry Weathersby Stamps, ladies’ man, foodie, … Continue reading →

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March 10, 2013

Please settle a bet between my wife and me: Did you ever walked the railroad tracks at least once as a child?

Yesterday, I wondered aloud how the railroad companies keep snow off the tracks. It turns out that they use plows attached to train engines to clear the tracks. Before I was able to check Google for the answer, Elysha suggested … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Quandry | 11 Comments
March 8, 2013

Don’t call yourself old

Yesterday I heard a friend who is about my age say, “Kids today are just so disrespectful.” I laughed. I have yet to meet a student more disrespectful than my friends and I were as children. Earlier in the week … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Idea | 2 Comments
March 3, 2013

I abandoned the Catholic Church at the age of seven. Credit my Catholic mother.

Paul Elie, a senior fellow in the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown, suggests in the New York Times this week that Catholics (of which he is one) give up their faith as a form of … Continue reading →

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