Month: July 2020

One Thing Worse Than Lying

I walked into the bathroom at work this morning and it smelled like delicious breakfast food. I should add that our office shares a wall with a coffee shop/bakery that specializes in waffles and other tasty treats, so that isn't nearly as weird as it sounds. Also, being attached to a coffee shop is a … Continue reading One Thing Worse Than Lying

Whine and Dine

I just dropped my parents off at the airport after a weeklong visit. It's always a bittersweet feeling; on the one hand, it's nice to have our routine back (and I've missed driving my car). But the house feels so quiet and empty afterward for those first 24 hours. Having that freedom you take for … Continue reading Whine and Dine

72 Seasons

I was surprised to learn recently that, while most of the world divides the calendar into 12 months that consist of four seasons, the Japanese take things a step many steps farther. Their calendar splits the year into 24 major divisions (sekki), each of which are then subdivided into three additional micro-seasons (kō), for a … Continue reading 72 Seasons

Existential Meatloaf Crisis

I was chatting with my parents during our usual Sunday phone call yesterday and they asked what we were having for dinner. "Grilled meatloaf," I replied, and launched into this lengthy narrative about how you preheat the grill to 350º, leaving one burner off, and place the meatloaf on a sheet of aluminum foil over … Continue reading Existential Meatloaf Crisis

Uncle Sam’s a (Insert Expletive)

We finally got our taxes done. Three months late, but really, one day early given the extended deadline. It's not that we were procrastinating; we were simply holding off on this dreaded task for as long as possible. OK, fine. We were procrastinating. And by "we" I mean Tara. As with the boat, she is … Continue reading Uncle Sam’s a (Insert Expletive)

Tell, Don’t Show

As a fiction writer, one of the most valuable pieces of advice I ever received came from a literary agent who had read one of my manuscripts. "Show, don't tell," she said. This basic yet crucial writing technique can be attributed to Russian playwright Anton Chekhov and has been championed by legendary writers like Hemingway … Continue reading Tell, Don’t Show

Maiden Voyage of the S.S. Name-Me

Ahoy, landlubbers! OK, in all fairness, 96 percent of my weekend did not involve water, so I'll knock off the nautical talk. But for one exhilarating hour, it was all water, baby. I watched the shoreline race by in a blur of green and brown, the wind in my hair, a shout of adrenaline-fueled elation … Continue reading Maiden Voyage of the S.S. Name-Me

Ventriloquist Cricket

Have you ever seen the Breaking Bad episode titled "Fly"? If so, you have a pretty good idea how my day went at work on Monday. To summarize briefly, "Fly" involves Walt White's failed attempt to catch a fly that is buzzing around the superlab. I should set the record straight and let you know … Continue reading Ventriloquist Cricket

Bachelor Chronicles: Day 7

If yesterday's post appeared to end rather abruptly, that's not your imagination. After several hot hours outside, and several gin and sodas, things kind of got away from me. First, Tara tried to video call me, but I couldn't figure out the screen. Then I decided I should make dinner, so I cooked up a … Continue reading Bachelor Chronicles: Day 7