ITEOTWAWKI: Disappointed
The trickle of information about R.E.M.'s upcoming album Collapse Into Now continues. The first single is out and another "lyric video" for a new song has popped up. But the…
Book Review: Russell Wiley Is Out to Lunch
Even though my years working in public relations and marketing has now surpassed my full-time newspaper days, I still feel like I belong in a newsroom. Despite all the problems…
The King’s Speech
As we prepared to leave the movie theatre, my wife thanks me for coming along to see the film we just finished watching. She told me she appreciated when I…
The Travels of Lucky Charms
When you grow up with a large number of siblings like I did, you have difficulty trusting people. That’s just the nature of a big household, especially when you are the youngest.
Sure, you have a great support system, but while one of them is helping you, another might be lurking around the corner waiting to deliver a wedgie. Then there’s the laundry chute from the main floor of the house to the basement which you had to use with one eye peeled on the hallway lest someone try to push you down it.
I have gotten over many of these problems as the years have passed. I’m still a little flinchy and suffer more jokes than anyone else in the family, but I have long learned how to deal with those things.
At least I did until my sister threw a party this summer to celebrate her son’s engagement.
Just Because
I have to give the producers of Gulliver's Travels credit. They certainly used the perfect formula to success. Take a well-known story, or at least the well-known part of a…
Book Review: A Season on the Mat
As a sportswriter, I always wanted to write one of those books where you spend a whole season with a team and chronicle their ups and downs. When I left…
ITEOTWAWKI: Getting Closer
Three months ago, I expressed my wish that R.E.M. wouldn't wait until spring to release their new album. They indicated that they had finished work so I wondered why they…
The Snuggie Predicament
The way people react to change fascinates me. As a society, we have so many new things at our disposal, but sometimes we simply retreat into a stubborn position and wish everything would just always stay the same.
That’s a tempting proposition, but not always the best course of action. Change can open our eyes to wonderful new things and make our lives much richer in the long run.
I thought of all this as I peeled the wrapping paper off a couple of my presents Christmas morning. Since I don’t like to turn my gift wish list into a ransom note, I don’t ask for many things, preferring to let the people who buy me presents rely on their imagination and understanding of my personality.
This generally works out. I understand why the list makers do what they do – I generally get pretty detailed instructions from my wife to avoid any mishaps – but I don’t want to play their game.
I want to be surprised. If the gift is not what I want, I can either just deal with it or find a way to exchange it for something more aligned with my tastes. I have much more fun buying special gifts than receiving something I specifically asked for, but that’s just me.
As I picked up one box and they both looked at me with great anticipation, I could tell my theories on gift giving would soon undergo a very strong test. I tore into the paper, a little bit excited and a little bit worried.
I had no reason to worry. I knew that within a few seconds when I saw the familiar picture on the outside of the box. We watched too much television.
I got a Snuggie.
A Modest Proposal for Wrestling
This coming weekend, the nation's best college wrestling teams will face important dual meet tests. Well, most of them will. And some of them will be competing against each other.…
Pacing Myself
When I found out last year that I had to travel to Indianapolis for business for a few days, I immediately began to make plans. I knew some sporting event…