A Plague on Words | Manchester Ink Link

Counting Unhatched Chickens

Sunday, August 14, 2016 Gary Trahan 0

I prefer to count my chickens before they are hatched. It’s just a naturally unnatural habit with me that I think positively, I don’t know why. More often than not, when I’ve applied for a job, I think positively about my chances … even if dozens (or hundreds) are in line for the position. This positive outlook has not led to employment in most cases, which is unfortunate, but walking around with a cloud of negativity over my head is also unfortunate and I have not liked that weather pattern in my life. I like to think positively. But I’m also a realist. An optimistic cynic. READ MORE

Popping Wheelies of Seeming Independence from Procrastination

Sunday, July 24, 2016 Gary Trahan 0

I’ve had some difficulty through the years with procrastination, splayed focus and clutter in my life, and I acknowledge this. A Methodist church I worked at during a good portion of the ’90s even gave me the opportunity to deliver a lay sermon I titled Put Off Procrastination. But acknowledging a problem and actually doing something about it has proven difficult. READ MORE

Road Rage, Myopic Vision & Marching With Selma

Saturday, June 11, 2016 Gary Trahan 0

I’m not a fan of being cut off on the road. I’ve yet to meet a person who is a fan. To me, cutting someone off is getting away with being rude. The cutter-offer does not even offer an “excuse me” as he or she passes on the left or the right, squeezing into a driving space or speeding off ahead of you in the blink of an eye and perhaps a flip of the bird. READ MORE

Breaking Someone’s Hyphen: Nights-Of-Slavery-In-A-Row

Saturday, May 21, 2016 Gary Trahan 0

I recently completed the 10th of Ten-Nights-In-A-Row working at my restaurant job in Bedford. Anyone who has any experience in restaurant work will know, stretches of work in the service industry are bound to have READ MORE

Pieces of Peace

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 Gary Trahan 0

As I write this, I’m listening to the Singers & Swing station in my Xfinity TV package. Frank Sinatra just stopped by for a visit. Then Patti Page. Then Harry James & Marion Morgan. Then Billy May and the Swing Era Big Band. I have a slight suspicion that might just be a name invented by the people at Xfinity/Comcast. READ MORE

Delusions of Ganja

Thursday, May 5, 2016 Gary Trahan 0

I might have wanted to fit in. To be included. To be one-of-the-gang … but pot smoking didn’t attract me. As time progressed, however, I mellowed a bit in my distaste for all things Mary Jane, Donna Juana, Donna Juanita, Aunt Mary, roaches, blunts, ashes, etc. READ MORE

Celebrity Mourning Glow

Tuesday, April 26, 2016 Gary Trahan 0

About halfway into the musical “Pippin,” there is a beautiful, inspiring song titled “Morning Glow” where the cast sings of the future with glimmers of hope, change, faith and rebirth. And here I am writing away. About Prince. A man I know very little about. This is my Celebrity Mourning Glow. READ MORE

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I’ll be brief: ‘HBTY, JRR’

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 Gary Trahan 0

I started running again recently. Trying to build up strength and stamina for the Bedford 12K in May. I’ve been doing pretty well so far, increasing my distance or improving on my overall pace, which READ MORE