Book Reports, Fairly Odd Parents-Present, Idiosyncratic Celebrations, Worker's Comp / 26.12.2002

Was it visions of sugarplums that made my Christmas Eve day commute to work so sweet? Or was it President Bush's "pardon" for all us Federal workers one half day of freedom for the upcoming holiday? No, as I looked around the subway car I realized everyone was contentedly reading the Health section of the Washington Post. More specifically, they were reading The Happy Heretic, an article about Dr. Martin Seligman's new book, Authentic Happiness. Wellbeing saturated the underground air. With Christmas just past and New Year's up next, the burden of marking time (more specifically, marking this point in my...

Fairly Odd Parents-Present / 09.12.2002

This morning was our first commute of the snow season. Like most mornings, the natural state of affairs is rushed as my youngest and I leave the house. But, given the weather conditions, I am aware of how cautious I must be in order to make it to the car. I decided to wear my normal office shoes to work, rather than my heavier snow boots. I figured I was taking a chance walking down our now icy path to the driveway but if I could make it, it would be clear sailing the rest of the day until my return. I...

Fairly Odd Parents-Present / 08.12.2002

I am a Snow Curmudgeon™. I hate the snow. Well, I actually don't hate hate it. It's very pretty when you are inside looking out a large picture window with a fire blazing in the fireplace. It's so quiet and peaceful. It could be like reliving my childhood when my children wake up to find the outside world completely white. Their excitement is unbridled and even infectious. It could be like reliving my childhood if my childhood included snow. But I grew up in Southern California. Yes, we had snow every so often in the mountains above my house. And, yes, it...

Artistic Tendencies, Fairly Odd Parents-Present, Idiosyncratic Celebrations, News Outta My Control / 23.11.2002

I have always been interested in the social aspects of technology: that is, how new ideas brought on by technological development seep into the everyday lives of regular folk. In the last few months I've been contacted with greater frequency by subjects of my writing or from those who have been alerted to my stories in the process of a doing a web search. Googling is becoming a natural process. And the interactions I'm having because of it add to my sense of the enlarging net community. In September I began my 9/11 story with a quote by Jenna Jacobs, wife...

Fairly Odd Parents-Present / 01.09.2002

As we walked from the black of the theater into the deepening shadows of the late afternoon, we began to discuss the movie. Neither one of us had expected to enjoy it as much as we had. Suspending our disbelief, even for only an hour and a half, was exactly what we needed. Walking down the street I suddenly noticed how quiet it had become: not a car nor a bird was singing. My hearing seemed to extend only as far as my wife's voice. I recounted my surprise, when during a particular scene, I was the only one in...

Fairly Odd Parents-Past, Fairly Odd Parents-Present / 24.08.2002

The overture to our 2002 annual summer vacation conjures up recollections of preparations of years past. As a boy my memories are decidedly child-oriented: the anticipation of getting up before the dawn (what was special then has become a daily occurrence now) and going to unchartered places beyond my normal parent-defined neighborhood boundaries ("Don't go past the Nichol's house!"). Now, it's off to AAA for maps, arrange for someone to feed the cat, and pack, not just for myself but for the girls as well. To say that I was clueless as a child to all the preparations that went...

Fairly Odd Parents-Present / 15.07.2002

Finally! Fret's over. Now what? • • • Today is Jeffrey Lynn's birthday. Jeff and I grew up together in Pacoima, CA. His house was just down the block, in the second keyhole, as we used to call his cul-de-sac. One day he told me he was going to move and that was the last I saw of him. I don't remember any days leading up to his family's leaving, seeing a big van come to take their furniture to their new house, nor Jeff saying goodbye. He just seemed to vanish. Aside from sharing our first name, our birthdays were just...

Fairly Odd Parents-Present / 13.04.2002

Sometimes I've been known to fret. Well, that's not entirely true. I'm actually admitting it for the first time right here. In fact, I just came to this conclusion last week. And, quite honestly, I'm relieved. This is a load off my mind and simplifies my life quite a bit. To fret: to be vexed or troubled; worry. Synonym: brood. A worrier? Hmmm, that's what I thought I was before last week (for years, actually). After all, I was voted most pessimistic in my high school graduating class. This is not to say I don't worry. But worrying is reserved for...

Book Reports, Commuting with Nature, Fairly Odd Parents-Present / 02.03.2002

I am an actor. I act in morality plays. I am a street performer of sorts, displaying my lessons on the DC subway. I captivate some, yet most are captives. My daughter is both my unwitting foil and the object of my ulterior motives. While my focus is on her (just yesterday, we performed a One Act about a nearby little girl whose father was no where to be found), she teaches our captives what they need to know. Her admonishments are clearly enunciated, perfectly timed, and to the point. Recently, in that famous scene from our wildly popular delight...

Fairly Odd Parents-Present, Medicinal Properties / 03.02.2002

We are all sick. All four of us! Fevers, congestion, the whole bit. We have never all been sick at the same time. This is Viral Convergence! I'm emailing Gareth at Jargon Watch immediately about this! It's bad enough when my wife and I are sick. Taking care of two young children when you can barely get out of bed is bad. But dragging yourself out to take temperatures, dole out Motrin, Tylenol, Pediacare, and, finally, Nyquil is really, really bad. There aren't enough different places to lay down and watch TV for all of us! My wife just wants...