Four-letter F-word

It’s entirely possible I’ve written about it before, but it’s a realization that’s popping into my head more and more often these days. This nasty little four-letter F-word is one of those silent killers, the written equivalent of carbon monoxide. “Fine.” Fine will take you down if you let it. Why? Because nothing’s so bad that it needs […]

Remember.

I was moving into an apartment in Redondo Beach and was excited about my new digs. It was September 8, 2001. My phone wasn’t yet connected, nor was my TV. I was reachable by cell phone only, but I’m weird about it — I hate hearing it ring, and I’m prone to answering it in […]

On the Loose

I don’t know what it is about something being “on the loose” that cracks me up (with the exception of a crazed lunatic or similar, naturally), but something about the phrase tickles my funny bone. I picture something or someone going rogue, going a little bit off course in the name of either thumbing their nose at convention, or […]

Know Your Out

When I took driver’s ed in high school, our teacher always told us to know where our “outs” were. “What’s your out?” he’d ask as I was driving on a major road. “To my left,” I’d say. “Are you sure?” he’d prod. He wanted to make sure I had confidence in my answer. “Yep, already […]

My Grubby Halo

There’s no sensation to compare with this. Suspended animation, a state of bliss. It’s hard for me to find the right words when it comes to describing how I feel at 36,000 feet — or at most altitudes, really — but Pink Floyd’s “Learning to Fly” is a good start. It has a few lines […]

Pitch.

Hotel bar. Munchies. Wine. Ambience. All prior to an 8:30 dinner reservation at lovely restaurant mere steps from the hotel. Is this the best Tuesday night ever? I’m pretty sure it could be. Or, rather, it’s at least the best Tuesday night of September 2013. Har har. I’m a creature of habit, and a giant […]