Years ago, in college, I used to do what I called “binge reads.” One semester, I’d pick an author, and I’d read as much of that author’s work as I possibly could. One semester, it might be Orson Scott Card. Another semester, Larry Niven. I was young, just twenty or so, and I had theContinue reading “On Chinese Divination Methods”
Category Archives: Life
On Allyn Gibson, As an Alcoholic Beverage
What is it about the writing profession that so many people have the mental image of us as drunkards? 🙂 That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy a good drink, because I do. But I think I have a reputation as a hard drinking writer that isn’t truly earned. I haven’t poisoned my liverContinue reading “On Allyn Gibson, As an Alcoholic Beverage”
On the Rare Remembered Dream
I’ve mentioned at times my utter inability to remember dreams. I know that I dream — or, at least, I feel that I’ve dreamed. I’ve been in the dream state while awake, which is a very strange place to be. But, by and large, my dreams are walled away in my consciousness and inaccessible toContinue reading “On the Rare Remembered Dream”
On Psychological Mismatches
There are moments when consciousness jumps a groove, where the world as it is and the world as it seems are two very different things. I went to the grocery story. I needed instant oatmeal, I’d exhausted my supply on Thursday and neglected to buy more. Clearly, a lack of oatmeal would do me noContinue reading “On Psychological Mismatches”
On How I Like My Pancakes
I love pancakes. I also love waffles. But I especially love pancakes. I don’t know why I love pancakes so. I could eat them, easily, every morning for breakfast. I don’t, but I know I could. I don’t like pastries in the morning. I tolerate oatmeal. But pancakes. Yeah, pancakes. 🙂 I’ve mentioned this aContinue reading “On How I Like My Pancakes”
On Late Night Snacks
In my early twenties, I discovered the joys of consuming food late at night. I thought nothing of going to Barnes & Noble at ten o’clock at night, ordering something heavily caffeinated, consuming it, then crashing an hour and a half later. Or of making a run to Taco Bell at 1:30 in the morningContinue reading “On Late Night Snacks”
On Applying for a New Job
I applied for a new job several days ago. Last week, a news organization posted on opening for an editor in their Washington, DC offices. At first, I was intrigued. Then, I thought it would be cool to apply. Then I thought I wasn’t qualified. Then I thought I shouldn’t bother to apply. Why wasContinue reading “On Applying for a New Job”
On Unusual Pizza Toppings
Fifteen years ago I knew a woman named Rachel. She was pretty. She wasn't especially tall. She had very straight and very black hair. Her features were somewhat elfen. I sometimes thought that if you slapped a pair of pointed ear appliances on her, she'd have made a decent Vulcan out of the box. SheContinue reading “On Unusual Pizza Toppings”
On Eulogizing a Man I Didn’t Know
Three years ago, I began taking the Baltimore mass transit system to work. There’s a subway station near my house, there’s a light rail stop two blocks from the office that I can see from my sixth floor office. Why drive the Baltimore Beltway, when I can use public transportation? Not only is it theContinue reading “On Eulogizing a Man I Didn’t Know”
On Purchasing a Smartphone
“I’m an eejit, Ted.” How many times did Father Dougal McGuire exclaim that in Father Ted? No, don’t tell me. It may be something like, “Quick, Watson, the needle!” A line that Sherlock Holmes never ever said, yet everyone thinks he did. Still, I felt a bit like Dougal today. Not without reason, mind you.Continue reading “On Purchasing a Smartphone”