A number of my friends have posted on their blogs their writing goals for the coming year. A sensible thing, that — it lends itself to measurement and accountability. 🙂 Last year, I set a goal — “In 2007 I earned more from writing than I did in 2006. My goal for 2008 is toContinue reading “On 2009’s Goals”
Category Archives: General
On Ghost Towns
The office was a ghost town. Tumbleweeds could be seen rolling through the cubicle maze. Somewhere in the distance, a harmonica twittered. How much of the building was closed today? I couldn’t begin to guess. A good two-thirds of the company seemed to be gone today. The parking lot was deserted. People were getting doneContinue reading “On Ghost Towns”
On Customers and Kindness
I was, last night, sitting on a bench at the local mall. Christmas music played on the PA system. There were decorations strung here and there. It didn’t feel Christmassy. The reason was simple. This mall was deserted. No customers. It’s hard to feel the Christmas spirit without the throngs of customers, the blaring ofContinue reading “On Customers and Kindness”
On Tuesday
A colleague asked me at work today how things were going for me. I sighed. “I can’t believe it’s only Tuesday,” I said in reply. Summed it up, really. The week’s not as bad as that. Really, it’s not. I’ve just had a lot on my plate this week, and I’ll have a lot onContinue reading “On Tuesday”
On the Passing of an Age
There are three quirks that I am known for. First, I have an unhealthy obsession with the use of commas and semi-colons. Commas are not to be trifled with. 🙂 Two, I’m an Internet power-user; I browse with Opera, and see no reason to change. Finally, I use a trackball, not a mouse. My loveContinue reading “On the Passing of an Age”
On Wrapping Christmas Presents
It’s only December 7th. I’ve already wrapped most of the Christmas presents I’m giving. Indeed, ones I need to ship? Already in the shipping boxes. I have some new and interesting wrapping paper this year. Nothing that doesn’t fit my personality. 🙂 I’m absolutely terrible at trying to cut paper off in a straight line.Continue reading “On Wrapping Christmas Presents”
On Ronald Reagan, Doctors, and the Republican Party
Last night in the Vice Presidential debate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin closed her remarks with a quotation of Ronald Reagan: It was Ronald Reagan who said that freedom is always just one generation away from extinction. We dont pass it to our children in the bloodstream; we have to fight for it and protect it,Continue reading “On Ronald Reagan, Doctors, and the Republican Party”
On Thursday’s Quick Hits
Today, a round-up of things on my mind. The Olympics begin in a day or two. That I don’t know exactly when they begin is a sign of how much I care. Which is to say that I care about the Olympics not at all. I’ve no intention to watch them. When I was eleven,Continue reading “On Thursday’s Quick Hits”
On Why I Love Shore Leave
You want to know what makes Shore Leave worth it? You want to know what brings me back, year after year? The Belgian waffles. The made-to-order omelettes. 🙂 Be back soon!
On Questions From the Floor
After musing the other day about the “Eliza” program, and whether or not people where going to their favorite search engine and asking it questions to have a conversation, I decided to take a look at my own search logs and see if I had search questions, rather than search phrases. Here’s some of whatContinue reading “On Questions From the Floor”