You know the surest way to knock yourself down a few more pegs is to check out several of your old classmates' profiles on the LinkedIn. Partner. President Principal. And not the high school kind, either. Might I strongly recommend you not do that, embark on said lark whilst ensconced in the middle of a … Continue reading Until He says so
Category: A little extra carrying
Stuff
Dead folder
I nominate me for free drinks all night, every night, this weekend. I nominate me for a nuru massage too. I know I know, Lent. No soda, no first-thing-in -the-morning donuts, no other such ascetic sundries, and and and. . . .no nuru massages. But, God, this last week or so that I've had, geezus; … Continue reading Dead folder
Only sorta fiction
As this is Things Men Carry, of which I carry death, divorce, losing my cushy job well into my 50's to name a few--well, shit, I carry the following too. Even if I don't quite remember any of it. It really is all just a big blur to me now some fifty- something years later. … Continue reading Only sorta fiction
Feeling bl–brown
You can't really forget certain words once they're uttered or screamed in to your ears. No matter if it happened back in the Jurassic 80s, and you bonked your head a few times since then, and thus your memory ain't as sharp--some things just kinda stick to your brain's ribs no matter what. (Word for … Continue reading Feeling bl–brown
In the club
I told young blood periodically during his first semester of college to do good in school and to do even better at rubbing elbows. I don't think it ever dawned on me when I was in college that it was all about the schmoozing and the relationships, the networking, the getting and being in the … Continue reading In the club
In thanksgiving
It was just last year at this very time that I was balls deep in unemployment. It's impossible to forget the embarrassment of filing for weekly unemployment benefits. I fortunately landed a few short-term contracts to make up the difference between what I was pulling in (unemployment-wise) and my expenses. Ask any professional salt, though, … Continue reading In thanksgiving
Initiation
Johnny Lipp was a year older than me in grade school and furthermore this kind-of male counterpart to Ms. Piggy. He was loud and influential and porky in aspect. Johnny Lipp, which of course wasn't his real last name but damn near close, was all that, plus he was the school bully. Nobody tried tackling … Continue reading Initiation
Lie down in darkness
There are the suicides we understand. The terminally ill, the obvious addict, the flagrantly depressed, the murderer or criminal. Even the overdramatic teenager. But there are others that throw our whole perception of reality off axis. The singer Chris Cornell, comedian Robin Williams before him. Both enormously successful and widely adored. Why would Williams, who smiled so much and elicited even more … Continue reading Lie down in darkness
A wish
I remember that one night when my dad was stabbing his new girlfriend with his romance. He was around the same age I am now. I was downstairs watching tv or something. The bed creaked and squeaked. I was an odd mix of cheerleader and grossed-out kid and anxious seeker of an ages-old answer I … Continue reading A wish
Anatomy of a civil war
My boss is chubby and a red neck. Same chubby, same redneck as when I was his boss. Instead of puffing on the cigs these days he's got this flasky-looking vessel he fills with oil or syrup that makes it impossible for him to take his mouth off of it. If that's not enough, he's … Continue reading Anatomy of a civil war
Things Men Carry 