Chris Rodell's Blog, page 53
July 30, 2016
My new Tin Lizzy office! (from '15)
(1096 words)
The critical criteria for selecting a new office space were two: Would it allow opportunities for fun? And would it be a good place to fend off the marauding zombie hordes?
Because you just never know.
So my office search loosely paralleled the plot from the uproarious 2004 zombie Brit flick, “Shaun of the Dead.”
See, I’m not at all like the fancy writers, and by
The critical criteria for selecting a new office space were two: Would it allow opportunities for fun? And would it be a good place to fend off the marauding zombie hordes?
Because you just never know.
So my office search loosely paralleled the plot from the uproarious 2004 zombie Brit flick, “Shaun of the Dead.”
See, I’m not at all like the fancy writers, and by
July 29, 2016
The skinny on bomb implants (from '11)
News that terrorists will be soon be smuggling bombs surgically implanted in their bodies has me again realizing I have commitment issues.
Where do they find these zealots? Where do they find these doctors? Is this sort of procedure covered under the new health care law?
The Republicans will go ballistic if they find out really going ballistic is addressed on page 1,293.
My body is
Where do they find these zealots? Where do they find these doctors? Is this sort of procedure covered under the new health care law?
The Republicans will go ballistic if they find out really going ballistic is addressed on page 1,293.
My body is
July 26, 2016
Too damn busy to blog
My back aches. My knees are sore. I haven’t had a hangover in 10 days. It’s a world gone mad.
What gives?
I’m immersed in rehabbing my mother’s South Hills condo with my buddy Mark. He’s a marvel. He does flooring, masonry, drywall, plumbing, electric. I tell you, he does it all.
Me? I try not to get busted checking Facebook while Mark’s doing all the work.
The progress is
What gives?
I’m immersed in rehabbing my mother’s South Hills condo with my buddy Mark. He’s a marvel. He does flooring, masonry, drywall, plumbing, electric. I tell you, he does it all.
Me? I try not to get busted checking Facebook while Mark’s doing all the work.
The progress is
July 25, 2016
And so this is Christmas (in July)
(572 words)
I was careless with the candy and the dog ate all the chocolates so this Christmas-in-July will be a little less special than ones from the past.
Well, for everyone but the dog.
I’ve been busy moving Mom so C-in-J feels rushed. You can tell, too, because that’s maybe the first time in holiday history anyone’s felt compelled to abbreviate Christmas-in-July.
But I got
I was careless with the candy and the dog ate all the chocolates so this Christmas-in-July will be a little less special than ones from the past.
Well, for everyone but the dog.
I’ve been busy moving Mom so C-in-J feels rushed. You can tell, too, because that’s maybe the first time in holiday history anyone’s felt compelled to abbreviate Christmas-in-July.
But I got
July 24, 2016
Ways Christmas in July beats Christmas (from '12)
The stockings aren’t hung by the chimney with care and St. Nicolas is no where in sight.
You can stand in our doorway and demand figgy pudding until you’re blue in the face. You can go. You won’t get some.
No Black Friday sales stampedes, no wrapping, no in-laws, no Savior-thanking hoo-ha.
Merry Christmas in July! It’s the secular essence of the holy day everyone loves for all the
You can stand in our doorway and demand figgy pudding until you’re blue in the face. You can go. You won’t get some.
No Black Friday sales stampedes, no wrapping, no in-laws, no Savior-thanking hoo-ha.
Merry Christmas in July! It’s the secular essence of the holy day everyone loves for all the
July 23, 2016
Me by the numbers (from '15)
(874 words)
I’ve lived in 13 residences in 5 towns (Pittsburgh/Athens, Ohio/Nashville/Greensburg and Latrobe) over my 52 years.
I was tallying the number of places I’ve lived in the hopes it might lead to a decent post. Then I thought, gee, if I write about the number of places I’ve lived then sticklers are going to want to know the number of cars I’ve owned, the number of songs in my
I’ve lived in 13 residences in 5 towns (Pittsburgh/Athens, Ohio/Nashville/Greensburg and Latrobe) over my 52 years.
I was tallying the number of places I’ve lived in the hopes it might lead to a decent post. Then I thought, gee, if I write about the number of places I’ve lived then sticklers are going to want to know the number of cars I’ve owned, the number of songs in my
July 21, 2016
Seven dirty words & Buddy (No. 6) Guy (from '15)
(926 words)
I don’t know why I feel compelled to defend amplified profanity at the Pittsburgh Blues Festival in a forum that is the blog equivalent of the “Peanuts” comic strip.
It’s innocuous, family-friendly and never resorts to profanity.
The key difference being that “Peanuts” earns millions while this blog earns peanuts.
But you’ll have trouble finding any profanity in either
I don’t know why I feel compelled to defend amplified profanity at the Pittsburgh Blues Festival in a forum that is the blog equivalent of the “Peanuts” comic strip.
It’s innocuous, family-friendly and never resorts to profanity.
The key difference being that “Peanuts” earns millions while this blog earns peanuts.
But you’ll have trouble finding any profanity in either
July 19, 2016
Moving Mom to Latrobe: the big picture
(628 words)
Some of you more astute readers may have discerned that over the last week the entire internet has seemed a bit more relevant, more cerebral, free of mind-deadening vapidity.
A surplus of thoughtful convention coverage?
Nope. I’ve been too busy to blog.
Busy doing what? I’ve been doing my part to increase Latrobe’s population from 8,081 to 8,082.
Note, I said busy,
Some of you more astute readers may have discerned that over the last week the entire internet has seemed a bit more relevant, more cerebral, free of mind-deadening vapidity.
A surplus of thoughtful convention coverage?
Nope. I’ve been too busy to blog.
Busy doing what? I’ve been doing my part to increase Latrobe’s population from 8,081 to 8,082.
Note, I said busy,
July 18, 2016
Go (to) Cleveland! A Pittsburgher reconsiders (from '12)
As a young Pittsburgh Steeler fan, I used to hate Cleveland. As an older Steeler fan, I hate al-Qaeda and white men with grudges and guns.
I was thinking of this Friday afternoon sitting at an East 4th Street sidewalk cafe in the center of Cleveland, surrounded by Clevelanders and having a ball.
Cleveland isn’t a bucket-list destination for most Pittsburghers. In fact, it’s likely not a
I was thinking of this Friday afternoon sitting at an East 4th Street sidewalk cafe in the center of Cleveland, surrounded by Clevelanders and having a ball.
Cleveland isn’t a bucket-list destination for most Pittsburghers. In fact, it’s likely not a
July 17, 2016
Fame & night Bruce Willis & ruled the red carpet (from '14)
(1,022 words)
I guess the idea came to me at about the Bridgeport exit of I-79 South, about 40 miles south of the Pennsylvania/West Virginia border.
I’d been trying to think of a way to conclude my speech to 250 WVU 4-H students so the film clip would make it appear I’d just given the greatest speech ever, something I knew I was incapable of doing on merit.
This was the biggest crowd
I guess the idea came to me at about the Bridgeport exit of I-79 South, about 40 miles south of the Pennsylvania/West Virginia border.
I’d been trying to think of a way to conclude my speech to 250 WVU 4-H students so the film clip would make it appear I’d just given the greatest speech ever, something I knew I was incapable of doing on merit.
This was the biggest crowd
