The Best Year at the Movies
If you’re born within the same few years, there are certain things you’re likely to have in common. Like the movies that hit you the hardest. Maybe they weren’t films for the ages, or maybe they were....
View ArticleYou Write the Title II
Way back in the day, I did a little experiment: I asked you to send me titles of posts that you wanted to see me write. They included: World’s Greatest Life as a Black Belt If There’s One Thing...
View ArticleFavorite Things: June
The weather. Breezy sunny days and lingering twilights straight from L’Empire Des Lumieres. Trips and talks. Vacations and planned vacations, new and restarted conversations. Bandwagon television. The...
View ArticleHistory of a Laborer
I love Labor Day weekend – not for itself, particularly, but because it kicks off my favorite time of year. I love the fall. I love the way the air seems emptier, cleaner, sharper. I love apples and...
View ArticleElle’s Ten Questions
Source. What is your favorite smell? Gardenias. What do you consider the epitome of happiness? Fresh air, free time, favorite people. How do you define luxury? See above. What is the last dream you...
View ArticleTime to Think
These days, sitting still has become a decadent luxury. Being quiet has become a challenge that’s physically difficult to pull off. Where can you go to be quiet? If you do find a place, can you...
View ArticleChildhood Prejudices
Things I never thought I’d like, but do: Running Public speaking Carrot cake Milk in my cereal Doctor Who Having pale skin Butter pecan ice cream Whole wheat bread DIY Decorative pillows Sprouts...
View ArticleRequired Viewing
There are a few videos that never fail to make me smile. They’re not very fancy or highbrow, but they get it done. Every time. What are yours? Dog wants a kitty Richard Simmons on Whose Line Is It...
View ArticleBrave
“Brave” can be a word people call you when you’re dealing with something rotten. I’ve gotten it a few times when I was facing something I hadn’t asked for. It’s a nice thing to say, but I don’t think...
View ArticleWindsors, PI.
I want to write an adventure series in which Harry, Kate and Will fight crime and rout evildoers. Like Harry Potter or Scooby Doo or Star Wars or the Bloodhound Gang. Except with exceptionally dashing...
View ArticleAn Exercise in Imagination
Let’s play a game. I’m going to describe a situation. Visualize this situation in as much detail as you can. Where you are, what you see, what you hear. There will be two questions at the end. You have...
View ArticleWhat’s Your Secret?
When it comes to certain things, I hear people ask of those more successful – What’s your secret? What’s the trick? Weight loss. Well-behaved children. Long marriages. Things like that. I do...
View ArticleOn the Zimmerman Verdict
Disclaimer one: I didn’t follow the Zimmerman trial so I don’t know if the jury made an accurate decision based on the complex criteria they were set. They may have. But there’s a difference between...
View ArticleGun Class: On Quitting, Learning, and Repeating Mistakes
Lots of people extol the virtues of learning but they forget to mention that often learning experiences suck. Which, paradoxically, can be what makes your realize how worthwhile they are. I was given...
View ArticleIs Poor Self-Control a Trust Thing?
If you are disappointed in how much self-control you have, it may be that your brain was wired to discount its importance when you were very small. A recent study found that children who were...
View ArticleI Will: A Small Epiphany
I struggle because I think certain things are very important, but I don’t think I have anything new to say about them. We need to move and breathe and sleep and fuel and honor these crazy-ass miracles...
View ArticleShut Up and Say Thank You
Oh, I weighed 20 pounds less when that was taken. It’s just the fancy outfit. This? It must be years old. Why do we do that? Someone compliments us and we have to immediately disagree. We have to set...
View ArticleIf I Were a Billionaire
This prompt from You Write the Title III is from SCH. I’ve never really thought about having a billion dollars. It’s too big. I’ve thought about having a few million – usually after I hear about...
View ArticleIf I Had My Very Own Unicorn
This prompt from You Write the Title III is from Heather Gaynor. I would go find a rainbow. I would brush it very carefully because those hairs go for ten galleons apiece. I would get to hang out with...
View ArticleThe Tao of Henry
This prompt from You Write the Title III is from EFS. I read The Tao of Pooh a long time ago so I don’t think I’d be able to do a parody well. I’ll just go literal. The way of Henry. Well, Henry is...
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