Chris Rodell's Blog, page 108
March 13, 2014
Shiny new homepage for "Eight Days To Amish!"
(1,032 words)
Starting a blog without the benefits of any marketing, promotion or name recognition is like talking aloud on a street corner and hoping busy passersby will stop to listen.
After almost six years, more than 6,000 people each month are stopping by to hear what I have to say; and that’s not counting the nearly equal number who read my stuff at the literary website RedRoom
Starting a blog without the benefits of any marketing, promotion or name recognition is like talking aloud on a street corner and hoping busy passersby will stop to listen.
After almost six years, more than 6,000 people each month are stopping by to hear what I have to say; and that’s not counting the nearly equal number who read my stuff at the literary website RedRoom
March 11, 2014
Hoping for many moneychangers at church book signing tonight
(727 words)
I’ll be talking about my book at 7 p.m. tonight at the Westminster Presbyterian Church on Rt. 19 in Upper Saint Clair in Pittsburgh’s South Hills.
Just because the Presbyterians will outnumber you, doesn’t mean you Jews, Baptists, Catholics, Muslims and others -- I’m looking right at to you, you godless atheists! -- shouldn’t attend. I intend on delivering a lively 30-minute
I’ll be talking about my book at 7 p.m. tonight at the Westminster Presbyterian Church on Rt. 19 in Upper Saint Clair in Pittsburgh’s South Hills.
Just because the Presbyterians will outnumber you, doesn’t mean you Jews, Baptists, Catholics, Muslims and others -- I’m looking right at to you, you godless atheists! -- shouldn’t attend. I intend on delivering a lively 30-minute
March 10, 2014
My new roommate just moved in!
(926 words)
That the long-rumored change we’d for months discussed was finally taking place was evident in that there was now a new toothbrush hanging up in the little bathroom right beside mine.
My new roommate is here!
I haven’t had a real roommate in, gee, 25 years. My wife doesn’t count.
There’s a vast difference between a roommate and a spouse.
Spouses argue about life
That the long-rumored change we’d for months discussed was finally taking place was evident in that there was now a new toothbrush hanging up in the little bathroom right beside mine.
My new roommate is here!
I haven’t had a real roommate in, gee, 25 years. My wife doesn’t count.
There’s a vast difference between a roommate and a spouse.
Spouses argue about life
March 9, 2014
Re-run Sunday: Florida rental car abuse
It was one year ago today we jetted down to Florida for a splendid family vacation. Ah, to really, really turn the clocks back.
This is a story that often bubbles up in popularity. It’s about my history of rental car abuse.
(744 words)
I always feel like I’m being asked to marry a second bride every time I’m at the rental car counter.
“Do you, Chris Rodell, take this Toyota
This is a story that often bubbles up in popularity. It’s about my history of rental car abuse.
(744 words)
I always feel like I’m being asked to marry a second bride every time I’m at the rental car counter.
“Do you, Chris Rodell, take this Toyota
March 7, 2014
Happy Birthday to the telephone! Today it's 138 years old
(688 words)
It was 138 years ago today Alexander Graham Bell was issued the patent for the device that was destined to dominate the planet.
Yes, today is the birthday of the first telephone.
I plan on spending the day asking callers how much different they think the first phones would have sounded if they’d been invented by a man named Alexander Graham Horn.
Honk! Honk!
Of
It was 138 years ago today Alexander Graham Bell was issued the patent for the device that was destined to dominate the planet.
Yes, today is the birthday of the first telephone.
I plan on spending the day asking callers how much different they think the first phones would have sounded if they’d been invented by a man named Alexander Graham Horn.
Honk! Honk!
Of
March 6, 2014
Hereditary traits and my new Uncle Ron
(738 words)
The 13 year old was carefully appraising the 7 year old and predicting her future. She’s learning in school how inherited genetic traits can be determinative in life’s path.
“See, you have the attached ear lobe and your hair’s straight,” she said. “Mine is unattached and I have curly hair. But because Mom and Dad are both writers and I’m not you’re probably going to be a writer
The 13 year old was carefully appraising the 7 year old and predicting her future. She’s learning in school how inherited genetic traits can be determinative in life’s path.
“See, you have the attached ear lobe and your hair’s straight,” she said. “Mine is unattached and I have curly hair. But because Mom and Dad are both writers and I’m not you’re probably going to be a writer
March 4, 2014
Swim meets & my history of hugging
(755 words)
The friendly woman in charge of organizing parent volunteers for the Saturday evening swim meet marathon asked me what I’d like to do that evening.
I told her I’d like to just sit in the stands and read my book.
She laughed and laughed.
She thought I was kidding.
People have been asking me if having my daughter, 13, involved in the swim club has been as bad as I
The friendly woman in charge of organizing parent volunteers for the Saturday evening swim meet marathon asked me what I’d like to do that evening.
I told her I’d like to just sit in the stands and read my book.
She laughed and laughed.
She thought I was kidding.
People have been asking me if having my daughter, 13, involved in the swim club has been as bad as I
March 3, 2014
A beloved -- and legendary -- bartender turns 100
(825 words)
I devote a lot of time anguishing over and writing about how difficult it is for me to earn money. Writing, as I often tell literary aspirants, is not a livelihood that leads many to wealth or solvency even.
But here’s the caveat: It enriches in so many other soulful ways. In those intangibles, I’m practically Thurston Howell the Fourth.
I was reminded yesterday of one of
I devote a lot of time anguishing over and writing about how difficult it is for me to earn money. Writing, as I often tell literary aspirants, is not a livelihood that leads many to wealth or solvency even.
But here’s the caveat: It enriches in so many other soulful ways. In those intangibles, I’m practically Thurston Howell the Fourth.
I was reminded yesterday of one of
