Archive for March 2024

Back in 2023, I wrote letters to six authors whose work I adore. Near the end of 2023, I received a note from Kate DiCamillo, author of many books, including one of my favorites, “The Tale of Despereaux.” Last week, I received a note from David Sedaris, author of many books – all of which…

I learned a new word this week: Coddiwomple: To travel purposefully toward an as-yet-unknown destination. I love this word. In my book “Someday Is Today,” I discuss the importance of horizon goals. Too often, people establish exceedingly specific goals, absent any flexibility or opportunity for insight, adjustment, revision, or a change of mind. Adherence to…

The Lincolnshire Wildlife Park accepted five African grey parrots in early 2020 and intended to merge them with the existing flock, except one of the parrots swore extensively, and then the other newly adopted four parrots learned how to swear and apparently found great joy in it. These five parrots were then separated and kept…

When you complain about a colleague’s behavior to a supervisor with the intention or even suspicion that the boss will then speak to your colleague about the complaint, you’ve done a very stupid thing. Exceptions to this rule exist, of course. Criminal, unethical, and threatening behavior should always be reported, and employees should feel safe…

I told the story of my first backbend at Speak Up last night. If you missed the show, you missed a good one. Here’s what I wrote on May 5, 2018, about the moment, including photographic proof of the moment: _____________________________________ I did the impossible this week. I did a backbend. Maybe you know me…

A fact that astounds me: There are more $100 bills in circulation today than $1 bills. Also: Of the total value of all currency in circulation today, 80 percent are $100 bills. Admittedly, cash is quickly disappearing as we evolve into a cashless society, so this is skewing things a bit, but the $100 note…

I think the Academy Awards are great. Acting is great. The movies are great. Even movie popcorn is great. I love it all. Truly. My life is better because of great filmmaking. Yet I also can’t help but think: The Academy Awards are really just “The Best Person Pretending to be Another Person, Filmed Entirely…

First crocuses of the spring. Every year they emerge from the same spot on our front lawn. I adore these tiny purple flowers. They are lovely. but it’s what they symbolize that I love most: The emerging of spring. A return to long, warm days. Baseball. Golf. The promise of summer. Renewal. A few years…

This is a parking sign in the lot behind TheaterWorks in Hartford, CT, where I performed my solo show this summer and last week in “Matt and Jeni Are Unprepared.” I love this sign. I love it for obvious reasons, but I also love it because when we choose to communicate in any form, we…

Sometimes I encounter a person who claims Star Trek is better than Star Wars. While there are many, many ways to refute this utterly ridiculous claim, I like to point to this video clip. It says it all.