Life

Patriots

In Life, Powazek on 4 July 2007 with 6 comments

 
Happy July 4, y’all.

Eventually We Become What They Want Us to Be

In Life, Stories on 28 June 2007 with 3 comments

A scene from dinner at the retirement home.
“Are you from around here?”
“No, we’re from California.”
“Oh, it’s expensive there.”
“Yeah, I guess so. It’s lovely, though.”
“But I guess the salaries make up for it.”
“I guess so, sure.”
“Are you from around here?”
“No, California.”
“Oh, it’s expensive there.”
“True.”
“But I guess the salaries make up for it.”
“I guess.”
“Are you from [...]

Happy Birthday to Me

In Life, Photos, Powazek on 16 May 2007 with 35 comments

Today is my 34th birthday. And as is my tradition, I snapped a self-portrait to document the moment.
The last few weeks have been some of the hardest of my life. Still, I feel lucky. I have people around me that give a shit, a loving wife and partner in crime, a world of opportunity ahead, [...]

The Real Story of JPG Magazine

In Business, JPG Magazine, Life on 14 May 2007 with Comments Off

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about community-building, it’s this: Do Not Lie. People are too smart and well-connected to believe a lie anymore. So, with that in mind, the story I’m about to tell is absolutely true as I experienced it.
How JPG Began
In September, 2004, Heather and I went for a walk in Buena [...]

In Praise of the Inappropriate

In Family, Life, Stories on 3 April 2007 with 42 comments

There’s an art to saying the wrong thing at the right time. And the older I get, the more I think there’s a gene that causes it. If there is, I know this: it’s passed on the mother’s side.

My maternal grandmother, Gert, was a master of the art of the inappropriate comment. With me, a cherished grandson, she was a sweetheart. With my mom, she was … less sweet.

Quitting Smoking. Again.

In Life on 10 December 2006 with Comments Off

People are often surprised to find out I am, or was (depending on when you catch me), a smoker. I’ve never been a pack-a-day kinda guy - more like a pack-a-week - but still enough for me to feel it in my lungs when I’m smoking, and feel it in my gut when I’m not.
Right [...]

I can’t complain.

In Life on 11 October 2006 with Comments Off

I talk to my grandma most weekends. She’s an amazing woman. She lived through the horrors of the Holocaust, and yet, every time I call her and ask how she’s doing, her answer is, “I can’t complain.”
She probably said the same thing when she was homeless in Siberia. In winter.
I think, for her, to complain [...]

Come with me to Denmark

In Life on 19 September 2006 with Comments Off

I’m going to be in Denmark for the next few days. I’m speaking at the ubercool Knock Knock conference all about community-powered media and what we’re up to at 8020 Publishing and JPG Magazine.
Wanna follow along? I’m going to try to post updates to Twitter and photos to Flickr in a kind of realtime travelogue [...]

The Kid Always Gets the Last Word

In Life, Stories on 3 September 2006 with Comments Off

My nephew Hugh is two years old. And, as the husband of the sister of his mother, it is my duty to impress him. I am determined to be the Cool Uncle.
Heather and I are in Chicago for a family visit. We’re all gathered at a nice restaurant for dinner - Heather’s sister Claire, [...]

Love and Penguins

In Life, Love, Stories on 25 August 2006 with Comments Off

There’s an old story. I don’t know if it’s true, but it goes like this. Penguins mate for life. And there’s a moment when some boy penguin is looking over that infinite expanse of black and white when one female penguin stands out. And he stands out to her. And then, well, that’s it. Of [...]