Chris Rodell's Blog, page 73
September 11, 2015
The deflating results of my ballyhooed Virginia talk
(712 words)
One week after QB Tom Brady won a court battle to earn the right to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers, I’m the one who’s feeling deflated.
The confession chagrins.
Yes, I’d hoped my talk before prominent Virginia meeting planners would be a smashing success. I’d hoped they’d shower me with proposals about speaking to their clients.
Those hopes, I believe, have been dashed.
I
One week after QB Tom Brady won a court battle to earn the right to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers, I’m the one who’s feeling deflated.
The confession chagrins.
Yes, I’d hoped my talk before prominent Virginia meeting planners would be a smashing success. I’d hoped they’d shower me with proposals about speaking to their clients.
Those hopes, I believe, have been dashed.
I
September 10, 2015
Speaking in Virginia, hoping to hit a Clemente
(692 words)
Today I will attempt to duplicate the most rare play in baseball history. Many astute fans may mistakenly think by that I’m referring to the unassisted triple play.
The unassisted triple play — one defensive player records all three outs on one swing of the bat — is, indeed, rare. It’s happened only 15 times since 1909.
In fact, I witnessed one. I was there at Three Rivers
Today I will attempt to duplicate the most rare play in baseball history. Many astute fans may mistakenly think by that I’m referring to the unassisted triple play.
The unassisted triple play — one defensive player records all three outs on one swing of the bat — is, indeed, rare. It’s happened only 15 times since 1909.
In fact, I witnessed one. I was there at Three Rivers
September 8, 2015
Fall movie previews
(1,147 words)
The temperature outside Sunday felt like I imagine it feels standing barefoot on the surface of the sun. Another day at home seemed confining so Josie suggested she and I go see a movie. I loved the idea, but was ambivalent about the options. Robert Redford’s “A Walk in the Woods” was released to middling reviews and I hate it when my theatrical heroes disappoint me.
I loved
The temperature outside Sunday felt like I imagine it feels standing barefoot on the surface of the sun. Another day at home seemed confining so Josie suggested she and I go see a movie. I loved the idea, but was ambivalent about the options. Robert Redford’s “A Walk in the Woods” was released to middling reviews and I hate it when my theatrical heroes disappoint me.
I loved
September 7, 2015
From '13: Let's change Labor Day to Leisure Day!
I read this and realized I could probably post it without a disclaimer and people would think, gee, he even blogs on Labor Day. Who wouldn’t appreciate the irony of a guy who writes so often about not working doing just that on a day celebrating those who work so much? But I do truly admire the working men and women — and I’m talking to you, Unions! — who fight to ensure fair wages and
September 4, 2015
How to kill your mother (with love)
(740 words)
Val heard an aspiring dog groomer had moved into the neighborhood and was looking for what I guess you’d call canine guinea pigs, a hybrid species that sounds like something straight out of the Island of Dr. Moreau.
Should, she asked the girls, they take Snickers?
The pros and cons were weighed: We’d be helping a neighbor. It would be free. She has new ideas. But what if
Val heard an aspiring dog groomer had moved into the neighborhood and was looking for what I guess you’d call canine guinea pigs, a hybrid species that sounds like something straight out of the Island of Dr. Moreau.
Should, she asked the girls, they take Snickers?
The pros and cons were weighed: We’d be helping a neighbor. It would be free. She has new ideas. But what if
September 3, 2015
Recalling my 1st grade "I-hate-school" tantrums
(694 words)
I don’t think my elderly friend was expecting the kind of mass reaction he got when he made a tender confession about the tears he shed years ago when he was sent off to school.
Monday was the first day back for our area kids and me and the local inebriates were sitting in the bar reminiscing.
It had been a sad, difficult adjustment for old Joe.
“Oh, I cried like a baby,” he
I don’t think my elderly friend was expecting the kind of mass reaction he got when he made a tender confession about the tears he shed years ago when he was sent off to school.
Monday was the first day back for our area kids and me and the local inebriates were sitting in the bar reminiscing.
It had been a sad, difficult adjustment for old Joe.
“Oh, I cried like a baby,” he
September 1, 2015
I want an overnight solution to climate change & and I want it right now!
(694 words)
My great fear is the aliens will land, approach the first yahoo they see, say “Take me to your leader!” and they’ll be marched straight to Trump.
The historic meeting could be calamitous for both species
But let’s, as we should always strive to do, look at the sunny side of things.
Let’s say the random earthling host is apolitical. Let’s say he or she is like the growing
My great fear is the aliens will land, approach the first yahoo they see, say “Take me to your leader!” and they’ll be marched straight to Trump.
The historic meeting could be calamitous for both species
But let’s, as we should always strive to do, look at the sunny side of things.
Let’s say the random earthling host is apolitical. Let’s say he or she is like the growing
August 31, 2015
Trump dominates August tweets. Of course, he does!
I wonder if having wifi in the Tin Lizzy is boosting my 8days2Amish Twitter output. I thought August was a very fruitful month. Perhaps it’s because I can now post them the instant they pop into my head — I rarely post with smartphone.
Of course, it’s dominated by Trump.
First day of school today. Yay! To celebrate, I may spend the whole day strolling around the house in my underwear.
Of course, it’s dominated by Trump.
First day of school today. Yay! To celebrate, I may spend the whole day strolling around the house in my underwear.
August 30, 2015
Re-run Sunday: What's the F. in F. Murray Abraham?
(704 words)
There’s rarely any rhyme or reason why I pick which one out of nearly 1,500 posts for Sunday re-run promotion. Like today's from April '14.
I didn’t see a show starring F. Murray Abraham. I didn’t read about it. F. Murray Abraham. I don’t know if today is the birthdate or other anniversary of F. Murray Abraham.
F. Murray Abraham just popped in my head and I thought it’d
There’s rarely any rhyme or reason why I pick which one out of nearly 1,500 posts for Sunday re-run promotion. Like today's from April '14.
I didn’t see a show starring F. Murray Abraham. I didn’t read about it. F. Murray Abraham. I don’t know if today is the birthdate or other anniversary of F. Murray Abraham.
F. Murray Abraham just popped in my head and I thought it’d
August 28, 2015
Ranting to strangers about misnaming things
(834 words)
We were amidst a tedium so pervasive the only things with even a remote chance of vanquishing it were either a joint or a bottle of Jack Daniels.
But those sensible solutions would have caused more trouble than they were worth.
Even I understand no matter how boring the situation, you can’t just whip out a joint in a public school amidst a bunch of impressionable middle
We were amidst a tedium so pervasive the only things with even a remote chance of vanquishing it were either a joint or a bottle of Jack Daniels.
But those sensible solutions would have caused more trouble than they were worth.
Even I understand no matter how boring the situation, you can’t just whip out a joint in a public school amidst a bunch of impressionable middle
