This Seems Apropos

A video using digital tools to retell the nativity story. Very clever, I thought.

A Post That Will Almost Certainly Get Me Into Trouble

Since I can't think of anything useful to say, I figured I should get myself into loads of trouble by updating my Top Five Celebrity Crush list. 

1.Aditi Roy from NBC Philadelphia

2.Christine Woods, most recently of ABC's "Flash Forward"

3.Nataly Dawn from Pomplamoose, aka The Girl On The Hyundai commercial

4. Sela Ward

5. And, of course, Flo from Progressive.

Kevin Smith On Life

Film director Kevin Smith with a mini monologue on the meaning of life, originally posted on Twitter but collected into more coherent form on his blog here. Well worth your time, IMHO.

(Fair warning- Smith is a potty mouth, so I would have to consider this link NSFW. But if that sort of thing really offends you, I'm not sure why you're reading this, frankly.)

100 Words: It's All An Act

The 100 Words Challenge, elegantly hosted, run, and ruled over benevolently by Velvet Verbosity over here, is the leading online 100 word challenge since the battle of Austerlitz. This week's word is "Act" and my entry is called, "It's All An Act".







I did something wrong, and she came to fix it for me. I watched her work, her fingers dancing over the keys in a rehearsed rhythm. It was something simple, but in the intense bureaucracy we worked in, this was something she could do, and I couldn't. She was so beautiful, I had trouble breathing when she was nearby, with her jet black hair, gentle tan skin, and hourglass figure concealed by thick clothes because of the wintry conditions we worked in. I was in love with her, and she had no idea.

"What?", she said.

"Nothing," I lied.

Flash Fishing!

The Friday Flashes are up! This week's theme is "Missed The Bus", and my sports-themed story, "I'd Rather Be Fishing", can be found here

RIP, Bob Feller

Rob Neyer on the passing of one of the true greats, Rapid Robert Feller.

The Vatican doesn't have an Office of Irony, I guess?

Shirtless acrobats performing for the Pope. In case you're wondering, this is not one bit gay at all. Nope.

Five Things That Aren't Taking Place At Hogwarts

Since I can't seem to bring two words together harmoniously lately, here's five things that I've read that aren't Harry Potter novels and don't suck:


1.Becky on writing and not writing, and who's a writer and who isn't.

2.Writing Goddess on the check being in the mail.

3.The Sports Guy on purple, and green, and the difference between.

4.Rob Neyer on the Red Sox' new 100 million dollar man.

5. The always brilliant Phil Nugent on being too smart.

100 Word Challenge: Uno

In a recent survey of people I know personally, 98% of Americans believe Velvet Verbosity's 100 Word Challenge is the most important 100 word challenge available online since the dawn of recorded history. The Word This Week is "Wild", and my entry is called, simply, "Uno".









The cards, worn by years of use, were a sort of family tradition. Games of Uno, after dinner, throwing the Skips and Reverses and Draw Fours around, trying to lay down your last card and win. It was simple enough for kids, but adults joined in too. I looked at her, over my cards-my first serious girlfriend, all eager eyes, gorgeous legs, and a soul full of mischief. She slid a bare foot inside my pants cuff, playing a "Wild-Draw Four". I drew the four cards and mock scowled.

"You are wild," I told her.

"Yes, I am," she agreed.

Time for a 52/250 Story Flash!

It's Friday, the theme is Urban Convert, and my entry is aqui.

5 Little Pieces of Awesome

1. ESPN's interesting piece on John Lennon's assassination and Monday Night Football's role in breaking the news.



2. Joe Posnanski on kids and the disturbing habit they have of growing up.


3. Rob Neyer on the late Ron Santo, who belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame


4. Lexi, making life simple again.

5. And Scott Adams on why we're all doomed.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

A 100 Word Win!

Velvet Verbosity, commissar and dominatrix of the 100 Word Challenge, saw fit to choose my little screed, "It's Not About The Anchovies", as her pick of the week. It was a tough word, anchovies, and, obviously, I solved that by not writing about them at all.

Thanks to VV and all the players at this strange little game.

Nobody Told Me

As we approach the anniversary of John Lennon's senseless death, I was reflecting, listening to the marvelous "Instant Karma" collection of cover versions that came out a few years ago to raise money for Darfur, just why this man who did a healthy portion of his work before I was born, and who died before I really knew he was, has such a hold on me.

Lennon admitted in interviews he wasn't the best guitar player or singer in the world, and a fair minded listener would agree. I think what holds me when a John Lennon song is on is his brutally honest lyrics- he admits to being scared and vulnerable and as confused as everyone else is by the world.

That seems to be a theme of work that I enjoy- the sense that life doesn't make any sense. John Lennon reminds me, across decades, that it didn't make sense to him, either- and if that means I'm crazy, then at least I'm in good company.

Flashing on Friday: An offseason baseball story

The 52/250 Flash is up, and my contribution to this week's theme, "The Palm of your Hand", is here. But you should stay and read the good ones, too.

100 Words: It's Not About The Anchovies

The 100 Word Challenge is here, and has been shown, with a healthy diet and regular exercise, to result in weight loss for most people. The prompt this week is "Anchovies", and my entry is called, "It's Not About The Anchovies"










"Why are you getting so mad about anchovies?," he asked. He was watching a basketball game, tall men in white trying to defend a metal rim against other tall men wearing green.

"It's not about the anchovies, Steven," she said. It was about being ignored. Being slighted. Having your needs come last, if at all. It was about having another baby because you needed a boy. It was about your career ruined so that his could soar, it was about your dreams allowed to die like worms on the sidewalk.

"It's not about the anchovies," she repeated softly.