Monthly Archives: May 2016

“So He Kills People… So?”

Posted on May 30, 2016 by

At Bouchercon last year, Lawrence Block told me (and a few hundred other close friends) that he let his late mother read one of the Keller stories, and was a bit concerned by how she might react to the main … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Literature, Pixel-stained Wretchery | 1 Comment

The Traditional Memorial Day Post

Posted on May 30, 2016 by

Once again, we remember. For Sgt. James Michial Moore, USA, KIA, Vietnam, and those before and after. Archibald MacLeish was an ambulance driver and artilleryman in World War I, and his brother, a naval aviator, was killed in 1918. This poem … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Family, Literature | Leave a comment

Potpourri: There and Back Edition

Posted on May 28, 2016 by

Just got home about an hour ago from a run to Lost-in-the-Woods County over the past couple of days. The Spawn and I went to represent Clan Mondo at my nephew’s graduation from Wide Spot In The Road High School … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Education, Family, Literature, Music | Leave a comment

A Pint for My Father

Posted on May 23, 2016 by

My dad would have been 73 today. This is a challenging time of year for me — too many anniversaries. Mom’s birthday was 20 April; Dad’s is today. The last time I spoke to them was on their 46th anniversary, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Family, Why I Do What I Do | 3 Comments

The Continuing Adventures of Potpourri

Posted on May 21, 2016 by

So it’s Saturday morning. Mrs. M is off to the sauna, the Hound of the Basketballs is snoozing on the sofa, and the Spawn is claiming her teenager’s right to sleep in. Clearly this calls for some potpourri. *** Alternating … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Family, Music, Pixel-stained Wretchery, Why I Do What I Do | 1 Comment

Alternating Feet

Posted on May 19, 2016 by

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m a fat guy. Of course, that’s obvious to anyone who sees me, but I’ve tried to be honest about it here as well. And now that I’m past the half-century mark, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Why I Do What I Do | 2 Comments

“Snowflakes Wrapped in Cinnamon”

Posted on May 15, 2016 by

She was never my girlfriend, but that wasn’t my fault. It wasn’t anyone’s, of course. She was the girlfriend of my closest friend at that college, and I envied him and moped for a sizable chunk of that year. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Family, Literature, Pixel-stained Wretchery, Why I Do What I Do | 4 Comments

“Thank You for Shopping Sears Florence”

Posted on May 13, 2016 by

The first job I ever held was as a janitor/stockboy at a convenience store in Union, KY. That gig lasted two weeks, and by the end of that time, both the owner and I knew that my talents might be … Continue reading →

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Score One for New Criticism

Posted on May 12, 2016 by

Early in my Ph.D. program, a wonderful professor (That isn’t sarcasm — she treated me well and we are friends) told me that my approach to some medieval texts was very conservative. I asked her what that meant in this instance, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Education, Literature, Medievalia, Politics | 1 Comment

In Which the Berries Receive an Economics Lesson

Posted on May 9, 2016 by

Last night we were the closing act (I’d say “headliner”, but that would be hubris, as you shall see) at the New Brookland Tavern in Real City. Playing a Sunday night is a challenge — and playing on Mother’s Day … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 2 Comments