The Cup and Ball Trick is the oldest in the book. You show a player the ball and place it under a cup. You surround that cup with two empty ones and proceed to move the cups about in some chaotic, obscuring fashion. The objective is to mix them up so much the player has […]
My Father’s Father Part 1 – The Not Knowing
There’s an archetype of sorts in the panoply of southern literature, that of the wandering man, dirty and dark. His thoughts a brooding mixture of childhood atrocity and modern masculine struggle. He thrusts himself into situations with ruthless abandon or withers away in silent anger. He doesn’t have a name, or not one that matters. […]
My Father’s Father – Introduction
I’m going to tell a story, in real-time. You know the kind where it’s long and meandering, filled with insight and intrigue. Maybe someone learns something about themselves along the way. I’m not sure what I learned about myself but damn if it wasn’t one hell of a ride. You’ll stumble with me into dead-end […]
The Generation in Motion
I have no idea what my son is talking about some days, but I comprehend he’s speaking words in a language I understand. What I lack is context on his subject matter. I’ve come to accept he and I live in two totally different worlds, separated by 32 years. It’ll be years before we fully […]
No Doggies in the Bathroom! – The Five Reasons Humans Love Animals
People seem to love blogs where you count things. In a blatant attempt to get more traffic, I’ll bite. Speaking of biting, I noticed our largest dog Cody standing outside my son’s room this morning, tiny whimpers slipping from his snout. I peered from my bedroom into the hallway and he turned my way. “He’s […]
Hey baby, it’s cold outside!
It’s hard to argue with climate change deniers. I suppose they feel the same with believers, but I’ve found it’s hard to argue with folks who use ironic sound bites to make their point. You know the ones I mean; they respond to a particularly cold day with “where’s that global warming?” As if one […]
Hello 2014 – The year of giving selflessly
Goodbye 2013, otherwise known as the Year of Death round here. We lost great pillars from the combined families, something we hope not to repeat this year. We knew it at the time, but looking at the spread shows we were either dealing with the death, or supporting people through terminal illness all but two […]
Shiny Shiny
It’s Christmas time again, bringing joy and anger to humans all over. Let’s be straight about this up front; I’m a None who loves Christmas. But lately I’ve soured on much of the gift side of Christmas, opting for more restrained spending. In fact, the general rule is to skip me on gifts and spend […]
The Future Self
It’s no secret I want to live for as long as I possibly can swing it. I’m not unique in this, I know. But thinking about immortality I find myself at peace, even desiring my options include virtual ones. Let’s get it right out of the way. I don’t know what happens after death. A […]
The Body, The Brain, and the Sucker Punch – Introduction
This series attempted to expose a debilitating disease by detailing its effects on my father. Lewy Body Dementia is a rapidly growing diagnosis as professionals discover that many previous Alzheimer’s designations may have been LBD. In the tradition of George Lucas I may edit and update some posts as we learn more. It only makes […]
The Body, The Brain, and the Sucker Punch – Part IX Counting the Countable
Here are some things I learned. Get in front of your disease ASAP. Don’t waste time in the denial phase. Those wasted weeks might be the good ones when you look back. You may not want to admit you or your loved one has this terrible disease, but keeping track of symptoms might prove life […]
The Body, The Brain, and the Sucker Punch Part X – The Wild Geese Are Calling
Stand with me on Man’s old planet, gazing north when sky has darkened; follow down the Dipper’s handle, half again and veering leftward. Do you see it? Can you sense it? Nothing there but cold and darkness. Try again with both eyes covered, try once more with inner vision, hearken now to wild geese honking, […]