Necessary but Not Sufficient…

  • Losing (My) Control Over Things…

    I tend to treat my emotions like I play poker: conservatively. I do the same thing with cognitive dissonance. Perhaps it’s part of my “nineness.” I am happiest when everything is in balance and at peace. (Is it ever?) When peace and balance is broken, I have three stages: Ignore it until it goes away. Read more

  • Taking some (camping) time out…

    Heather and I just took some time out to go camping. It’s an activity we both enjoy. It gets us out into nature. It allows us to spend some time with each other without being distracted by technology or chores. Plus we have some really great camping equipment. All this is a recipe for a Read more

  • Why we (should) celebrate Memorial Day

    Yesterday I was shopping in our local grocery store. The shelves were lined with American flags. Signs shouted discounts on hot dog buns and grilling supplies. Cakes were decorated with stars and stripes. Everything shouted, “America, f-yeah!” Now buy all the stuff! This isn’t surprising. However, I can’t remember Memorial Day being so consumerly coopted Read more

  • (Maybe) Not giving into hate…

    Last week our home was broken into. The thief/ves stole all our electronics (laptops, tablet), a watch Heather’s father gave me, and Heather’s grandmother’s pearls. Oh, and my gym bag. (again) Our dog was safe and sound. There was no damage to the house. As far as burglaries go, our robber/s were pretty courteous. Cleanup Read more

  • Violated in the rear…

    Last weekend our car was vandalized. At 6:00pm on January 26th, some friends and I walked into the Jolly Roger Taproom in Ballard. Within 40 minutes the Subaru’s rear window was smashed in. The only thing taken: my gym bag. Items inside the bag: decrepit sneakers, sweaty clothes, 1 pad lock, headphones. Bastard deserves the Read more

  • Learning how to share all over again…

    One of my goals for owning my first home is to keep it free of stuff. This includes the garage. Unfortunately, the garage is already filling up with things. Just as nature abhors a vacuum, living spaces seem to follow the same rules. However, Heather and I found a remedy for our unnecessary accumulation: The Read more