I’ve been meditating regularly now for about six weeks. That means I’m an expert, and I’m here to tell you exactly how to change everything that’s wrong in your life with meditation. Just kidding, I still have no idea what I’m doing. As with many things in life, if you have no idea what you’re…
Essays and More
What Warts Taught Me About Meditation
A couple months ago my son sprouted a wart on the ball of his left foot. I’m going somewhere with this, I promise. At first the wart was so small, we opted to just keep an eye on it. But later it started to spread into a chrysanthemum of tiny baby warts blooming up from…
2018 Word List Brainstorming Session
So, 2017 was kinda a weird year, huh? I realized just at the end of December that I’ve been carrying some anger in me. Like, unexpected, wow I-really-didn’t-know-I-was-that-on-edge anger. Some of you made 2017 the year of embracing your anger. Without judgement, as soon as I could name this feeling of being vaguely on edge…
If You Could Outsource It All, Would You?
I’m reading this quick little book on geopolitics and trends in political economy called “The Retreat of Western Liberalism.” Highly recommended, if you’re into that kind of thing and want a clearer view of how a world that seems a little topsy-turvy right now got that way. There’s a discussion in the book about job and income growth…
After The Flip
We all saw the balloon about eight leaps out, squishing along through the haze. It was drifting towards us, undulating slowly down from the roof of the four-story across the border street.
“Slickball!” We could outrun the balloon – they were slow – but not the splatter when it blew above us.
We slammed into the pile of border rubble, too hasty in our clambering. Up and over the urbanite walls, feet slamming down, away from the Slickball, towards the watchcave, always on the lookout for that telltale sheen where previous balloons had blown. One slip, one misplaced hand and we’d lose another fighter. Once you touched the Slick, there wasn’t much the healers could do.
On Mint Patties and Book Launches
When I was in 3rd grade, I was pudgy and had a classic bowl home-haircut and I was in Camp Fire. Camp Fire is like Co-Ed Girl Scouts, except it ends up being all girls anyway, because the boys all join Boy Scouts. In Camp Fire you volunteer and earn badges and sing songs and go…
Failing Vegetarianism
I used to be a vegetarian. The best thing about being a vegetarian is how much you learn about industrialized meat production and animal welfare issues. The best thing about being a former vegetarian is bacon. I originally chose vegetarianism primarily for the purported health benefits. Unlike some vegetarians, I never had an intrinsic problem with the killing of animals…
Don’t Be An Urban Homesteader Asshole
You ripped up your front lawn to plant kale and a heritage quince tree. You adopted as many chickens as your town will allow. You make your own bread, jam, cheese, pickles, yogurt and beer. Worms eat your garbage, beekeeping supplies are on the way and you’re wondering if the neighbors would notice a dwarf…