Not That Profound

What makes this a dirty little secret for me is that my love for Christmas music and decorations runs antithetical to the wise-ass, cynical disposition I try to cultivate for most of the calendar year. It’s as if the moment I rinse my Thanksgiving dinner plate and place it in the dishwasher, I turn into Buddy the Elf.  READ MORE

I’m not sure why I’m here because these photos have nothing to do with me, or my male gaze. They are about my wife, and reminding her that she is truly beautiful. READ MORE

More importantly, the way they interacted on the stage—even when they had differences of opinions on policies or proposals—was civil, respectful and refreshing to see in a political forum. Both men stuck to the issues and never once resorted to the types of rabbit punches and ad hominem attacks that are commonplace in political debates. READ MORE

But I would not be the teacher am I today if it weren’t for one dedicated and passionate English professor who I had in multiple courses at Plymouth State. In fact, if it were not for Meg Petersen, I doubt very much that I would’ve ever stepped foot in a classroom. READ MORE

In the adult world, there are few clear binaries anymore. Nuances abound, and there are always shades of gray. But there’s one thing that remains relatively straightforward: You’re either a person who enjoys dressing up in a costume for Halloween, or you’re not.  I’m not a costume person. READ MORE

For some reason, I mentally imagine myself—a metacognitive ballet that I perform in clogs—as 36 years old. In my imagination, I stopped aging when I was old enough to no longer appear awkward but still spritely enough to feel young. It was a good age, 36, and for all intents and purposes, I stopped aging then. READ MORE

On Saturday, Sept. 23, I attended the Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks concert at Gillette Stadium with my wife and four of my friends.
Here’s a mosaic of the music and experiences from a night where I had the pleasure of watching two septuagenarian musicians remind all of us in attendance what it means to really rock ‘n’ roll. READ MORE

For those who may not be familiar with the premise of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” it is set sometime in the not-so-distant future, following a violent civil war in the United States fought over ideological differences. Birth rates have plummeted due to environmental indifference and increased rates of STDs, and the far-right religious fanatics—many of whom posture as Christians—have established their own country named Gilead. READ MORE

The only money that belongs solely to me exists in a Venmo account where I’ve squirreled away my earnings from various writing projects over the years. The money was intended to be a little scratch with which I could gamble and make frivolous purchases that would incense my wife, such as a reprint of Leroy Neiman’s painting of the final frame of “Rocky III”.  READ MORE