This has been a fantastic experience, and I want to thank everyone who has contributed to it.  What began as an experiment over the course of these last few months became a pleasure.  But now it is time to close this chapter and move on for a while ( Read more... )

There are a lot of times in life when you’re stuck in a holding pattern.  This could apply to the circumstances of your life, and how you move yourself forward, naturally, but I’m not making a metaphorical reference, here.  Not intentionally, anyway.  I’m talking about those moments when you just have to cool your heels, and wait.  I’ve found ( Read more... )

Buckhead, Atlanta.  Such an eclectic space.  It’s been said of this little speck of urban utopia that, “You can find everything there from the filthy, to the filthy rich.”  For a while, in the early 90s, I got to be both ( Read more... )

The sky opened up today, dumping a heavenly residue over a significant portion of the central US.  Aaaaand now we have snow days all around, across affected regions.  It’s not exactly blizzard conditions.  Even so, lotsa folks abandon job posts in favor of cabin fever at times like this, causing business shutdowns all over for the duration of this ( Read more... )

THE BOXER

I know how to scrap, but prefer to refrain, whenever possible.  Things don’t always work out that way, though.  When you live like I do - like I have - sometimes you gotta keep your guard up, and know how to protect yourself, if necessary.  Or someone else who needs it, maybe.  Seems that’s been the case more often, actually.  If you’re ( Read more... )

For reasons I won’t go into great detail about just now - mainly because that’s a longer, much more involved story - I moved around a lot when I was a teen.   Remember that shack I grew up in?  For a few years when I was younger, for a while, Shima and I were mostly only there full time for summers, and on winter break.  Fixing it up, keeping it in ( Read more... )

Couldn’t tell you which tribe originated the story - perhaps it’s older than all of us, passed down since the march of progress began in this land, despite us - but there’s an old native allegory about perspective that involves a busy city, a tribesman, his pilgrim companion, a cricket, and a handful of pennies.  In the tale, the native can hear a ( Read more... )

The primary demographic of the American South is Redneck, I imagine.  I’d never consider my Shima to fall into that category, but she does have a certain innovative quality in common with them.  This characteristic comes from having to keep it together, whatever “it” is, with nothing more to put into it than your wits ( Read more... )

I’m not a fan of country music.  You’d think I’d get used to it, growing up in small towns all across the American Southwest.  Never did take to it, though.  Can’t stand the sound.  Just isn’t me.  Sometimes best sums up moments from my life, though.  Couldn’t tell you what a country music album of my overall experience would be called, but I bet “ ( Read more... )

I like telling stories.  I like making friends.

Can I do both?

Let's be Friends AND Rivals.