Nostalgia and New Plans: Birthday Post

Tomorrow is my 27th birthday. It's kind of hard to believe. I feel ridiculously young. I haven't had any shift of self-perceived-maturity or grown-up-ness since I hit about 21 - as many things as have changed, I don't really feel that I'm older than that, but that sure was six years ago. Ancient history. 27…

November 30th

We've quickly come to the end of November. How did that happen? It seems like only yesterday it was Halloween, but then suddenly things like Thanksgiving came and went... that's hardly fair. October and November are my favorite months of the year and now both are gone. December is next. December tends to drag on…

Looking Back: Bailieborough

It was the last week of May, 2012. The plans were made months in advance, but it wasn't until I was packing too much into a too small suitcase that I realized I was really getting to go to Ireland. I'd gotten my passport only just before we were set to leave, and I was…

photograph

a photo is all that remains of the time we were together a photo is all that remains of days we can't revisit a photo, a still, a moment cut in half an image, reflection, people you no longer see faces posed to speak words you will never hear laughter ringing out in a time…

Most Embarrassing Story

Everyone at some point in their life is asked what their most embarrassing story is. If you haven't been asked this yet, it's coming. Many people blush or shudder at the question. Personally, I have trouble thinking of a suitable story. That's not because I've never had something embarrassing happen to me, but more because…

Ulysses

A few years ago I had the pleasure of spending a few months of the summer in Ireland. It was two summers in a row actually, and truth be told it changed my perspective on life. I met some of the most enjoyable people I've ever encountered, from all parts of the world. I've never…

Shocking Stories

Once upon a time I had a little brother. I still have a little brother, but he was a lot littler at the time. Charles was a bit absent minded, something of a daydreamer, and didn't exactly think things through before he did them. We also had a little fish tank that sat in the…

Sam Shovel

Sam Shovel is my father. My father's name is not Sam Shovel. My dad is one of those characters who had a different name in every circle he ran in. I suppose he did this for anonymity's sake, but regardless of the reason, it has always been something I enjoy about him. One of the…

Digging Deeper

So I'm sitting here taking up much more of the couch than I need to, bottle of white zinfandel in hand, and once again I've been thinking too much. This time it's about friendships, and the nature of nostalgia. Recently I've been accidentally thinking about old friends, even to the point where I've been dreaming…

Dog Names…

My father says that if you want a really good name for a dog, you should find something with as few syllables as possible, to make repeated calling of the name less tedious, and that it should be composed of the sort of sounds which carry farthest and loudest when screamed. My father wants to have a…