Sweet Inheritance
So just weeks after I wrote about my uncle’s remarkable longevity despite a lifetime of unhealthy habits, he passed away one night in his sleep. It was a surprise in some ways, but also felt timely somehow. He’s on a long wait list now for a service at the Arlington cemetery, which I hope...
Continue readingThe Case for Adventure
I had the great opportunity to go on a difficult (for me) mountain climbing trip over the weekend. A group of 8-10 of us trekked up Mount St. Helens in Washington, which peaks around 9000 feet. I was nervous before we began the trip, not sure what to expect or exactly how to prepare. ...
Continue readingSo Much Fun Last Night
Great Brush with Fame event at Testify last night. All the stories (and the storytellers) were interesting. And I felt that addictive rush of nerves and excitement before and after. I like it. I’ll be back, y’all! (plus it was fun to see people trying to guess who I was talking about in my...
Continue readingUpcoming Story Events (March & April)
Oh hey, I’ve got a couple of storytelling events in the next few weeks. You should come (if you want) (if you read this in time) (if you like stories) (who doesn’t like stories?). On Thursday, March 31st, I’ll be at Testify at the Spider House Ballroom telling a story about the time I...
Continue readingThere are No Words… (Play)
So I tried something new this year at the ScriptWorks Fling, writing a play without any words of dialogue. And I ended up really liking it, though I knew it would take a lot to make it work (characters age 60 years over the course of the play and it requires sound effects representing...
Continue readingA Complete Cleanse (essay)
In advance of my Brush with Fame story at Testify later this month, I’m posting the first piece I ever did there from about two years ago. I couldn’t really come up with a single significant story for their Coming Clean theme, so came up with a big old list of stuff. It ended...
Continue readingThe Internet Really is Forever
My kids and I unearthed this game after a completely unrelated discussion about expectations and contractual versus verbal agreements (it’s a long story which stretched the limits of what I know about the law). Anyway, this is my earliest official publication byline (March, 1985). And it was in the NUMBER ONE ATARI COMPUTER MAGAZINE...
Continue readingReturn to Hollywood
So… I get to go back to Testify next month to tell another story (it’ll be my 4th time). This one I’m particularly excited about. As part of their Brush with Fame theme, I’m going to dredge up a story about the time I spent a week-and-a-half working for the son of a Hollywood legend...
Continue readingMarshmallows, Mustard Gas and Historical Roots
My uncle turned 94 the other day and was given a (mostly) clean bill of health from his doctor. He has a little trouble hearing things now and then, and suffers a bit of wheezing when he breathes, but other than that, he shows no signs of slowing down (well, he’s slowed down some...
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