Chris Rodell's Blog, page 80
May 20, 2015
Brushes with celebs & why I'm #TooCoolToSelfie
(911 words)
I texted five of my NYC buddies with news I was sure would make them envious. I was drinking at Nadine’s on Pittsburgh’s South Side with Earl.
Nadine’s is maybe my favorite bar in my favorite city and Earl’s my favorite bartender. He’s one of those great big guys who can be described with words that seem to conflict.
Earl is gruff. Earl is jolly.
Earl’s like Santa would
I texted five of my NYC buddies with news I was sure would make them envious. I was drinking at Nadine’s on Pittsburgh’s South Side with Earl.
Nadine’s is maybe my favorite bar in my favorite city and Earl’s my favorite bartender. He’s one of those great big guys who can be described with words that seem to conflict.
Earl is gruff. Earl is jolly.
Earl’s like Santa would
May 18, 2015
On "Mad Men," drinkin' & the Swingin' '60s
(675 words)
Anyone who endeavors to conclude a landmark television series with even a splash of panache ought to send a gift basket to David Chase.
It’s because of Chase, creator of “The Sopranos,” that the bar is forever set so low on shows like “Mad Men.”
People knew going in that the show would be satisfying as long as it was better than the ending for “The Sopranos.”
Heck, we
Anyone who endeavors to conclude a landmark television series with even a splash of panache ought to send a gift basket to David Chase.
It’s because of Chase, creator of “The Sopranos,” that the bar is forever set so low on shows like “Mad Men.”
People knew going in that the show would be satisfying as long as it was better than the ending for “The Sopranos.”
Heck, we
May 15, 2015
To hell with Kim Jong-un
(556 words)
News reports say North Korean Defense Minister Hyon Youn Choi was obliterated by .50-caliber anti-aircraft gunfire for the crime of snoozing during one of Kim Jong-un’s meetings.
So a man who was apparently dying of boredom was bequeathed a more emphatic finality.
I don’t know whether the killing dampened any simmering hostilities toward Kim, but I have to believe sales
News reports say North Korean Defense Minister Hyon Youn Choi was obliterated by .50-caliber anti-aircraft gunfire for the crime of snoozing during one of Kim Jong-un’s meetings.
So a man who was apparently dying of boredom was bequeathed a more emphatic finality.
I don’t know whether the killing dampened any simmering hostilities toward Kim, but I have to believe sales
May 14, 2015
Tom Brady & The Boston Corbetts
(736 words)
I thought I’d said all I needed to say about DeflateGate in January when I proposed the NFL change the name of the New England Patriots to the Boston Corbetts.
Civil War buffs will recall Boston Corbett is the name of America’s most famous eunuch.
Corbett was the man who killed the man who killed Abraham Lincoln. He said God told him to kill John Wilkes Booth, which he
I thought I’d said all I needed to say about DeflateGate in January when I proposed the NFL change the name of the New England Patriots to the Boston Corbetts.
Civil War buffs will recall Boston Corbett is the name of America’s most famous eunuch.
Corbett was the man who killed the man who killed Abraham Lincoln. He said God told him to kill John Wilkes Booth, which he
May 13, 2015
My book signing, a pit bull, Mom & big bag of cash
(899 words)
Yesterday was a day of many highs that would have all one way or the other been eclipsed had I stopped in the middle of Interstate 79 to see if the abandoned pit bull needed help.
I was the luncheon speaker at the Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling, West Virginia. They have the best author/speaker program in the tri-state area and I was delighted to have been invited.
Yesterday was a day of many highs that would have all one way or the other been eclipsed had I stopped in the middle of Interstate 79 to see if the abandoned pit bull needed help.
I was the luncheon speaker at the Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling, West Virginia. They have the best author/speaker program in the tri-state area and I was delighted to have been invited.
May 11, 2015
When Jesus returns, will He wear a bow tie?
(684 words)
Devout Christians are serene in their conviction that one day Jesus Christ will fulfill the prophesies and return to save the faithful.
Believers around the world will fall in line.
But will fewer follow Him if he shows up wearing a bow tie?
I was thinking about this in church yesterday when I was sitting in the pew wondering how scandalous it’d be if I showed up for
Devout Christians are serene in their conviction that one day Jesus Christ will fulfill the prophesies and return to save the faithful.
Believers around the world will fall in line.
But will fewer follow Him if he shows up wearing a bow tie?
I was thinking about this in church yesterday when I was sitting in the pew wondering how scandalous it’d be if I showed up for
May 10, 2015
From '13: Missing the Mom that used to be
Wish I had something more cheerful, but Mother’s Day leaves me a little blue lately. I share this from ’13 because I know I’m not alone. Today we’re all either celebrating our Moms or in some way missing them.
(717 words)
The woman sounded alarmed. She called to tell me she thinks Mom, 80, is really slipping.
“She asked me to take her to the dentist the other day,” she said. “I told
(717 words)
The woman sounded alarmed. She called to tell me she thinks Mom, 80, is really slipping.
“She asked me to take her to the dentist the other day,” she said. “I told
May 8, 2015
Lamenting the inaugural mow
(754 words)
I have some disappointing news for those of you who live vicariously through me and my edgy existence.
Yesterday, I betrayed both you and everything for which this blog’s stands.
I gave up. I surrendered to grinding conformities.
Yes, I mowed my lawn.
You didn’t think I was going to say I accepted a full-time job, did you?
In some ways, cutting my grass May 7 is
I have some disappointing news for those of you who live vicariously through me and my edgy existence.
Yesterday, I betrayed both you and everything for which this blog’s stands.
I gave up. I surrendered to grinding conformities.
Yes, I mowed my lawn.
You didn’t think I was going to say I accepted a full-time job, did you?
In some ways, cutting my grass May 7 is
May 6, 2015
Telling Golden (Gate) travel stories to PA industry execs
(686 words)
It was 7 p.m. when I realized all I’d consumed the entire day were two bananas, two Jim Beams and about three-quarters of a Cohiba Robusto cigar.
I’d stumbled upon a very efficient way to secure a really strong buzz.
Monday’d been an unusual day. I left for Harrisburg at 9 a.m. I was due to speak before about 60 executives at the Pennsylvania Association of Travel &
It was 7 p.m. when I realized all I’d consumed the entire day were two bananas, two Jim Beams and about three-quarters of a Cohiba Robusto cigar.
I’d stumbled upon a very efficient way to secure a really strong buzz.
Monday’d been an unusual day. I left for Harrisburg at 9 a.m. I was due to speak before about 60 executives at the Pennsylvania Association of Travel &
May 4, 2015
Dashing my radio dreams
(711 words)
As of this morning, I’ll no longer listen to the radio station I’m still hoping will give me a job.
I’m still eager to launch my proposed “Use All The Crayons TRAVEL!” radio show on 1480-WCNS AM here in Latrobe.
It was in mid-March that I pitched the Latrobe station’s new owners about a lively half-hour radio show based on my new travel website. The timing seemed perfect.
As of this morning, I’ll no longer listen to the radio station I’m still hoping will give me a job.
I’m still eager to launch my proposed “Use All The Crayons TRAVEL!” radio show on 1480-WCNS AM here in Latrobe.
It was in mid-March that I pitched the Latrobe station’s new owners about a lively half-hour radio show based on my new travel website. The timing seemed perfect.
