Stories

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 [...]

My Dog is So Smart

In Fun, Life, Stories on 18 June 2006 with Comments Off

Yesterday Heather and I were walking the pups through Golden Gate Park when we came upon Stow Lake. Heather noticed that, if you rent a proper rowboat (instead of the little paddle boats), dogs are allowed. Why not? Before I knew it, we were in the mucus-colored lake, Heather rowing Bug, Chieka, and I around. [...]

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

In Life, Music, Stories, iPod on 4 February 2006 with Comments Off

I’m 32 years old. That means I missed reel-to-reel. I never owned an 8-track. But I remember vinyl. In this modern world of MP3s and iPods, there’s something romantic about records.
It’s the ritual that I miss. I remember flipping through my dad’s albums until the immense cover art of one drew me in. I remember [...]

Muni, Red Zones, and Faith in Humanity

In Cole Valley, San Francisco, Stories on 7 November 2005 with Comments Off

Heather and I live in a small apartment building in a lovely little San Francisco neighborhood called Cole Valley. And right outside our front door is the convenient N-Judah Muni line. We can take it just about anywhere in the city at a moment’s notice. That’s the upside.
The downside is that we hear it. All [...]

The Reality of My Surroundings 2

In Cole Valley, San Francisco, Stories on 16 October 2005 with Comments Off

I’m coming back home from walking the pups when I see them. A gaggle of drunk fifty-somethings, grey hair all around, whooping it up in the entryway outside building. As I approach, I see that they’re passing around a pipe, the smell of cheap swag filling the breezeway.
“Uh oh,” says Oldie One, “here comes the [...]

The Reality of My Surroundings

In Cole Valley, San Francisco, Stories on 9 October 2005 with Comments Off

Heather and I, we’re creative types. And, like many creative types, we know what an immaculately designed, pristinely clean house would look like. We just can’t can’t seem to keep one. Our house cleaning happens in fits and starts, usually when someone’s on their way over.
So, lately, I’ve tried to tidy up more. Just [...]

Both Sides Now

In Emotions, Stories, TV on 22 August 2005 with Comments Off

Note: In this entry, I talk about life, death, and the conclusion of Six Feet Under. Don’t read it if you don’t want to know the ending of one or more.
I’ve loved other TV shows. I was sad to see Buffy go. I misted up at the end of Northern Exposure. But the series finale [...]

And I’ll Call it … San Francisco Stories

In Powazek, San Francisco, Stories on 27 February 2005 with Comments Off

The other night I took the dogs out for their midnight walk. As I was crossing the street, I couldn’t help but notice the screaming coming from the park. It was Madison on a binge, having a shout-out with an extremely loud woman.
As I was crossing the street, another of the park denizens was [...]

Things Mom Was Right About

In Life, Stories on 19 August 2004 with Comments Off

As Illustrated by Three Short Stories of Conversations with Professionals
Someone once told me that one of the signs of true intelligence is when you’re able to change your mind about things. To learn from experience and grow as a person. If that’s true, I think I’m becoming a fucking genius. It’s only taken me 31 [...]