Chris Rodell's Blog, page 55
July 2, 2016
Happy National Nude Recreation Week! (from '11)
A game of 8 ball played between two naked men is still called 8 ball.
That’s just one of the things I learned during the month it took me to exhaustively research my just-posted msnbc.com story heralding National Nude Recreation Week.
It’s an evergreen kind of story I’m going to relentlessly pitch each and every year until I find a publication that’ll agree to headline it, “Hams Across
That’s just one of the things I learned during the month it took me to exhaustively research my just-posted msnbc.com story heralding National Nude Recreation Week.
It’s an evergreen kind of story I’m going to relentlessly pitch each and every year until I find a publication that’ll agree to headline it, “Hams Across
July 1, 2016
4 days, 3 talks, 3 results
(837 words)
I had three speaking engagements in the last five days and I’m now optimistic I’ll one day soon drive a car with a functioning air conditioner.
That’s been a problem. My vehicle is an heirloom Saturn Vue, 2007, and it’s bit-by-bit falling apart.
I’m like that, too, so I’m still partial to it.
We’re conditioned to think running a car without self-cooling is akin to
I had three speaking engagements in the last five days and I’m now optimistic I’ll one day soon drive a car with a functioning air conditioner.
That’s been a problem. My vehicle is an heirloom Saturn Vue, 2007, and it’s bit-by-bit falling apart.
I’m like that, too, so I’m still partial to it.
We’re conditioned to think running a car without self-cooling is akin to
June 30, 2016
June Tweets of the Month
How many other writers could produce such a heady mix of profound and silly? I wonder if I’d be more successful if I confined my disciplines to just one or the other. Oh, well. I can’t help it. I yam what I yam and that’s all that I yam. I think that’s from Plato …
Enjoy June’s tweets of the month and follow me @8days2Amish!
• Many writers are on shoe-string budgets. Me, I can't
Enjoy June’s tweets of the month and follow me @8days2Amish!
• Many writers are on shoe-string budgets. Me, I can't
June 29, 2016
New River Gorge & the story of the Suicidal Corona Drinker (from '15)
(1,351 words)
It was the kind of unsightly trash a devoted recycler like myself would instinctively take a few steps out of his way to retrieve for proper disposal. I do this especially when, as in this case, it’s in a national park spoiling one of the most spectacular views in America.
But I didn’t budge.
It was a six-pack of 12-ounce Corona glass bottles. Four of the beers had been
It was the kind of unsightly trash a devoted recycler like myself would instinctively take a few steps out of his way to retrieve for proper disposal. I do this especially when, as in this case, it’s in a national park spoiling one of the most spectacular views in America.
But I didn’t budge.
It was a six-pack of 12-ounce Corona glass bottles. Four of the beers had been
June 27, 2016
So who all's invited to tonight's City Books reading?
(604 words)
You are, of course.
Those of you who take the time to read my blog are my core readership. My alpha, my omega. Your support buoys me when I’m down. Your boundless enthusiasm helps generate fresh ideas when imagination depletes.
Having a local reading without offering you luxury box treatment just wouldn’t seem right. So consider this your invitation to hear me read — read
You are, of course.
Those of you who take the time to read my blog are my core readership. My alpha, my omega. Your support buoys me when I’m down. Your boundless enthusiasm helps generate fresh ideas when imagination depletes.
Having a local reading without offering you luxury box treatment just wouldn’t seem right. So consider this your invitation to hear me read — read
June 24, 2016
Does hitting a pink golf ball make me less manly?
(649 words)
So I was standing over the pink golf ball not thinking about keeping my head down, my left arm straight or other routine swing thoughts.
No, I was thinking, “Will hitting this pink golf ball make me less of a man?”
What? You hoped today we’d be talking about Brexit?
Our LBGT community has achieved greater civil rights successes in less time than perhaps any special
So I was standing over the pink golf ball not thinking about keeping my head down, my left arm straight or other routine swing thoughts.
No, I was thinking, “Will hitting this pink golf ball make me less of a man?”
What? You hoped today we’d be talking about Brexit?
Our LBGT community has achieved greater civil rights successes in less time than perhaps any special
June 23, 2016
Blacks in prison and what it has to do with the odd time I saw Johnny Cash
(712 words)
It is in hindsight one of the most surreal moments of my entire life. It was, I think, 1994.
Val and I were in Nashville to visit my brother, Eric. It was downtown at the Wild Horse Saloon on Second Avenue.
The huge place was practically empty ‘cept for me, Val, Eric, his first wife, their two young sons and Johnny Cash.
It was like 4 p.m., an hour in downtown
It is in hindsight one of the most surreal moments of my entire life. It was, I think, 1994.
Val and I were in Nashville to visit my brother, Eric. It was downtown at the Wild Horse Saloon on Second Avenue.
The huge place was practically empty ‘cept for me, Val, Eric, his first wife, their two young sons and Johnny Cash.
It was like 4 p.m., an hour in downtown
June 22, 2016
Come see me read "Last Baby Boomer" at City Books!
(513 words)
I’m expecting a full house for my “Last Baby Boomer” reading Monday, 7 p.m., at City Books on Pittsburgh’s North Side with 20,000 other fans watching on the Jumbotron outside.
And wouldn’t that be cool?
I’m not exaggerating about the full house bit. City Books at 908 Galveston St. is a perfectly cozy little place.
I took that into consideration when I sent out
I’m expecting a full house for my “Last Baby Boomer” reading Monday, 7 p.m., at City Books on Pittsburgh’s North Side with 20,000 other fans watching on the Jumbotron outside.
And wouldn’t that be cool?
I’m not exaggerating about the full house bit. City Books at 908 Galveston St. is a perfectly cozy little place.
I took that into consideration when I sent out
June 20, 2016
On the hottest day of the year, a toast to ice (from '12)
Mark your calendars for November 2015. That’s when ice celebrates its 200th birthday.
The declaration will no doubt startle those who revere the literal word.
How could ice be only 200 years old when earth endured what is known as “The Ice Age” 20,000 years ago?
Let me to explain.
Prior to 1815, ice was a substance that inspired one expression: profanity. It was slippery. It
The declaration will no doubt startle those who revere the literal word.
How could ice be only 200 years old when earth endured what is known as “The Ice Age” 20,000 years ago?
Let me to explain.
Prior to 1815, ice was a substance that inspired one expression: profanity. It was slippery. It
Cleveland Rocks! And other random thoughts
• I wonder if God and Jesus do anything special for Father’s Day. Like does Jesus mind the barbecue so God won’t miss any of the final round action at the U.S. Open?
• “I’m happy Cleveland won the championship,” is for me an historic statement. In my entire life, I’ve never been happy for Cleveland and Cleveland’s made it easy by never winning. The Cavaliers coming back from a 3-1
• “I’m happy Cleveland won the championship,” is for me an historic statement. In my entire life, I’ve never been happy for Cleveland and Cleveland’s made it easy by never winning. The Cavaliers coming back from a 3-1
