Monthly Archives: February 2024

His life was the fairytale I wanted. Or at least thought I wanted. But it was all an illusion. A piece of fiction. His marriage was a sham. Two people pretending that they loved each other until they could no longer put on a show for the rest of us. Façade gone, it revealed two combatants, locked in mortal combat, each one desperate to prove who was right and frantic to claim every spoil of war they could find. Their battlefield had cratered my friend’s life. It had taken his livelihood, his children, his health and thrust him into the arms of a siren whose song had shipwrecked him and left him to drown Continue reading →

At the gym I make it a practice not to respond to texts, emails, or phone calls. My phone’s only function is to listen to music or perhaps an audiobook. I do not understand why so many people at the gym practiced downward facing Apple (stretching while staring down at their screen) or spend an inordinate amount of time between reps on their screen texting or answering emails. Isn’t this a place where you go to get away from the grind.  Besides, it is rude monopolizing floor space and machine time. You don’t own the equipment and there are better places to take selfie Continue reading →

PiWhole Donuts is a very California bakery on Manhattan Blvd, in Manhattan Beach California. Started by a CalTech mathematician and her husband, it makes donuts that you will not find anywhere else. Which makes it exceedingly difficult for people such as me who have never been there before to decide about what to order. Their maple bacon bar looks amazing as does their “Thank You Very Much,” its tribute to Elvis, which combines bananas, bacon and peanut butter.  Others such as their Black Hole (licorice filled) and Sacre Blue a blue cheese filled confection far less so. Continue reading →

I never take my cell phone to bed. Our electronic companions are the worst type of rabbit hole to fall into before going to sleep. A Facebook post that is so stupid, inane, or hateful you feel the need to respond. An email from a colleague that shits in your cornflakes. None of them help you fall asleep, and sleeping is not something at which I excel. I am the guy who gets up at two in the morning and instead of rolling over and falling back to sleep I try to solve the world’s and my own problems. I Continue reading →

The protagonist stumbles upon a formidable statue in the jungle, and ponders the unpredictable consequences of war. Relaxing at a modest hotel, they reflect on their divorce and advise a friend to handle the situation with wisdom, not vengeance. As the sun sets, they consider their mother’s counsel and the fleeting nature of life. The complex emotions and challenges they face are woven into a narrative that reveals the depths of human relationships and the nuances of personal growth. Continue reading →