Autobiography
Three strange medical stories
In the spirit of “If something strange is going to happen, it’s probably going to happen to me” comes three medical anomalies that have occurred to me in just the last seven years. I receive the pneumonia vaccine. Did you even know that the pneumonia vaccine existed? I didn’t, and most people don’t. But after…
Read MoreOffense kleptomaniacs
Someone recently introduced me to a term that I like a lot: Offense kleptomaniacs These are people who – no matter what was intended – will take offense, often unjustifiably. You say one thing. They hear another. You do one thing. They see another. In my life, offense kleptomaniac often lift their ugly heads when…
Read MoreParking lot artist
I pulled into the parking lot at my daughter’s middle school last night for their annual Open House. I circled the lot, looking for a parking spot and finding none. I circled again. Still nothing. I was so happy. Once of my favorite things in the world to do is create a parking spot where…
Read MoreFour reasons why I seem to get into so many arguments
I got into another fight at a local McDonald’s. A man was attempting to ascertain the balance on his gift card. The McDonald’s employee – someone I see almost everyday while getting my Egg McMuffin – explained that she didn’t know how to determine the remaining balance on his gift card unless he purchased something.…
Read MoreI don’t see stuff
A couple days ago, one of my colleagues pointed at the #21 on my classroom door and said, “Are you going to remove that number at some point?” For the 18 years that I’ve been in my classroom, the room number has never been #21. This is a number from a bygone day. But here’s…
Read MoreNostalgia in the Pacific Northwest
While visiting friends in Washington two weeks ago, we stopped by Sprinkles, an ice cream shop decorated in nostalgia. Sitting along one wall of the store were the monoliths of my childhood: Video games. I spend many hours and many thousands of dollars playing Defender, Pole Position, Pac Man, and many, many others. There was…
Read MoreA great problem to have. BUT STILL A PROBLEM.
This is one of those moments when I’m going to apologize for complaining about something that really shouldn’t be a complaint. While visiting Pike Market in Seattle a couple weeks ago, we stopped in a great, little bookstore called Lion Heart Books, where we were thoroughly entertained by the owner, David Ghoddousi. His store didn’t…
Read MoreSpeak to strangers
On Wednesday night I’m standing at baggage claim in Bradley International Airport, waiting for the luggage carousel to begin turning,. It’s 10:00 PM. We left our friend’s home on the west coast at 5:30 AM, so it’s been a long day. I’m mentally urging my bags to appear when Clara sees a girl about her…
Read MoreSince returning from the Pacific Northwest, I’ve noticed this.
Elysha, the kids, and I had the absolute pleasure of spending a week on Whidbey Island off the coast of Washington with our friend, Plato. A perfect way to spend a week. We miss it already. Since returning from the Pacific Northwest a couple of days ago, a few things are immediately apparent to me:…
Read MoreI am not experiencing enough stress (at least according to others)
Important (and astounding) information on aging from NumLock: Telomeres are protective caps that prevent damage to DNA. They also shorten each time a cell replicates, and when they get too short cells know it’s time to wrap it up and self-destruct. This plays a role in the aging process, and every year telomeres shrink by…
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