I write fiction. I am often asked (even by myself) where these ideas and characters come from. We are all different – what goes on in our minds, what we decide to let out. Each of us exerts a certain amount of control over our unbidden thoughts. Some people don’t have any (or are totally … Continue reading
We humans are creatures of habit. Habits are patterns we develop that help us navigate our environment (at least the good ones are.) Our brains are taxed by having to make constant decisions, so we establish behaviors that keep us from having to think – we operate on autopilot in regards to what’s stable around … Continue reading
My Significant One tells me that I am easily influenced. When I realized that I had some hearing loss (after experiencing tinnitus for a few months and being tested by an ENT), she says I started acting more like a deaf old man, constantly responding with “What?” and “Say that again?” I don’t agree, but … Continue reading
Do you ever find yourself sighing in annoyance as a friend recounts something that happened to them years ago – something that you’ve heard them recite countless times before? This sort of thing tends to happen even more frequently with spouses (although you would be best advised to only sigh inwardly…) We all have stories … Continue reading
I know – this is such “last week’s news”, but the uncivility is really bothering me. There were two funerals of note last week – Aretha Franklin & John McCain. Notables (or people seeking to be notable) performed in various ways at both. Aretha’s involved a lot of musical tributes; hers was, after all, a … Continue reading
We had the opportunity to stay in a hotel for a couple of days while dealing with an air-conditioning issue, and we had occasion to view a multitude of HBO channels while there (we’re cheap people, who are already amazed at how much we are paying for our cable, and see no reason to pay … Continue reading
How much do we really CONNECT with our co-workers? Our friends, acquaintances, and fellow humans (for those of us who are human; for me it’s just THOSE PEOPLE)? We pass THOSE PEOPLE in the hall or on the street and say “How are you doing?”, without actually waiting or wanting to hear the answer – … Continue reading
Back in February, my employer decided (despite an improving economy) to continue with their plans to reduce payroll, and they let a large number of experienced, knowledgeable, and talented people go. We’d been hearing rumors for months that this was coming, and various scenarios about who would be laid off. I fit into a number … Continue reading
I just discovered Stranger Things on Netflix. First off, I will admit that I’m planning to watch the whole thing – at least unless or until it goes off the rails from seeming to have logic behind it as it does now (Season 1 episode 8 so far), to the strange feeling of disrespecting the … Continue reading
All this brouhaha about United Airlines and Dr. David Dao is illustrative of something outside of the mistreatment of a rebellious passenger by an overly empowered industry. People have been swinging back and forth like a pendulum on social media. First, it seemed to be the popular thing to rag on the airline for what … Continue reading
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