As the Democrats begin their debate season, they need to focus on putting forward their positive message and leaving the negativity to Trump and the Russians....
David Gray Live
A few years ago—OK, the date was October 17, 2014*—we saw David Gray in concert at the Touhill Center in St. Louis. He was touring in support of his album Mutineers, which had been released earlier that year. Personally, I hadn’t taken to Mutineers right away. It was a somewhat unusual David Gray album,...
Ocean Waves
… And maybe you prefer your ocean waves unsullied by surfers and surfboards. If so, here’s a video for you:...
Sunday Surfers
Every day, as the morning light began to break over the shore, they were out there. Groups of wetsuit-clad surfers, waiting a few hundred yards or so offshore for just the right waves. For most of the seven days we recently spent in San Diego (Pacific Beach), it seemed like there really weren’t any...
Rock-Star Autobiographies
There’s a micro-genre of books that I’ve come to love: rock-star autobiographies. Many of the musicians I followed when I was younger have probably finished up the most interesting and/or lucrative portions of their music careers, and have turned to the written word as a different outlet. Having told stories through their songs over...
Rereading
I’m rereading Bird By Bird, a book by Anne Lamott. The subtitle is “Some Instructions About Writing and Life.” Lamott is a writer and writing teacher who lives in California, somewhat neurotic, very funny and a good follow on Facebook. This book is about what it means to be a writer—the work and mindset...
The Power Vested In Me
So, yes, I’m a minister. After my nephew and his then-fiancé asked me to officiate their wedding, I went online and got myself ordained. She’s no longer his fiancé; as of last weekend, they are married, and I got to be the one who said, “By the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband...
A Great Honor And An Awesome Responsibility
For a few minutes yesterday, I had the most important job in the world. I had the great honor of officiating at the wedding of my nephew David and his love, Amanda. My role in the wedding was to write, and say, a few words, which will soon be forgotten. My real responsibility was...
500 Words
I’m not a big advice-giver, but if I’ve ever given you advice, it might be this: Keep a journal. By this, I mean make a daily habit of writing something, whatever you feel like writing. Write down your dreams, your plans, your fears, your obsessions, or even just what you’re having for dinner. You...
I’ve Been Pushing For This For Years
Fellow fools, rejoice! Finally, the federal government has declared that today, April Fools’ Day, is a national holiday. That means no school today. Most people don’t have to go to work. Banks are closed, as is the stock market. The U.S. Postal Service won’t deliver mail today. Word has it that hospitals across the...