Coffee Not That Impressive Anymore

I've decide jolts come in three sizes. There's the Had-the-Third-Venti-After-All Jolt. It's relatively predictable and not troublesome long-term. There's the Noticing-Cop/Radar Gun-Stakeout-Too-Late Jolt. Whether the outcome is good or bad, at least that jolt is short-lived. The third, yet unnamed jolt, comes from glancing toward the neighbor's garage, where, through the open door, you see only the legs of your elderly neighbor and wonder, as you jump the fence, how long she's been lying there on this February morning.

All three jolts in one week, I have just decided, command a day of rest and reflection, and early to bed.

The Serene Life of the Lighthouse Keeper

To Reminds You

Pain reminds you you're alive. To that end, some pain is to be cherished.

New Decor

I don't know why the bamboo blinds would smell like mustard.

Large Gaps

Of all the emotions that can overwhelm when planning a funeral, it was most upsetting to learn that there were entire decades that the deceased went unphotographed.

She's Not There

Let me tell you 'bout the way she looked
The way she acts and the color of her hair
Her voice was soft and cool
Her eyes were clear and bright

But not anymore.

Age of Consent

I always wanted to be the guy in the slate E-Class who surprised the surrounding traffic by having New Order playing from the speakers.

Just Another Sunday

Rough on the esteeem. Anonymous and glanced over all day. There was a record set for conversations interupted by others who didn't care whatsoever that I was there. When there was a task, though; then I was popular.

Not What I Had in Mind

The exam for composition class had a twist. It wasn't about writing, ironically. The professor thought it was a good idea to make a point about the importance of listening. He read a passage about a 19th century ball held in a northern city to celebrate the completion of a common green. The exam, it turns out, was to recreated the type of dancing described in the essay. Not what I had in mind when I paid tuition.


Knowing that the city can clear one's head, I sought out the proverbial nice cup of tea. There was a Starbucks right there so I took a shot. In line, I sorted the unfamiliar lurce in my wallet. Somehow, inexplicably, this was interpreted as an offer to pay for the items being purchased by the person ahead of me. There were terse words and everyone was frowning at me.

This was not how I imagined living as a student in London. Not at all.

The Morning Meeting

The first thing I realized is that I'd been fortunate, so far, to avoid the worst type of person in a corporate environment; the person with the One Job. Different from the multi-taskers and multiple hat-wearers I'm used to, this is the person who's job is the equivalent of planning an annual New Year's Eve party.

The second thing I realized is how insufferable these people can be on January 2nd.