Chris Rodell's Blog, page 83
April 3, 2015
Growing nostalgic for when TV was stupid
(728 words)
I’ve spent a good deal of the last two months contemplating how I am the same age as Walter White was when he — spoiler alert! — sort of shot himself to death in a remote New Mexican meth lab.
By the time he was 52, the high school chemistry teacher had built a lucrative meth empire, robbed a train, murdered the grumpily resilient Mike Ermantraut, beat cancer, outwitted
I’ve spent a good deal of the last two months contemplating how I am the same age as Walter White was when he — spoiler alert! — sort of shot himself to death in a remote New Mexican meth lab.
By the time he was 52, the high school chemistry teacher had built a lucrative meth empire, robbed a train, murdered the grumpily resilient Mike Ermantraut, beat cancer, outwitted
April 2, 2015
Religious freedom & secular saviors in Hoosierland
(694 words)
I’d like to see the Indiana state legislators pass a bill that orders their most conservative Hoosier constituents to just lighten the hell up.
Serve everybody. Smile. Be nicer. Avoid divisiveness. Tell more jokes.
Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.
You’d think those 10 words would sound familiar at least to Christians so rapturous about their religious
I’d like to see the Indiana state legislators pass a bill that orders their most conservative Hoosier constituents to just lighten the hell up.
Serve everybody. Smile. Be nicer. Avoid divisiveness. Tell more jokes.
Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.
You’d think those 10 words would sound familiar at least to Christians so rapturous about their religious
March 31, 2015
"Use All The Crayons TRAVEL!" radio show?
(682 words)
I have exciting news for anyone who perversely enjoys reading about me failing at five jobs while they’re succeeding at one:
I’ve accepted another that may lead to job number 7.
Yes, I’m selling radio ads for a prospective show that does not yet exist!
That makes “radio ad salesman” my sixth job along with pseudo jobs of author, freelance writer, motivational speaker,
I have exciting news for anyone who perversely enjoys reading about me failing at five jobs while they’re succeeding at one:
I’ve accepted another that may lead to job number 7.
Yes, I’m selling radio ads for a prospective show that does not yet exist!
That makes “radio ad salesman” my sixth job along with pseudo jobs of author, freelance writer, motivational speaker,
March 30, 2015
March tweets of the month
I introduced a new feature on @8days2Amish about two weeks ago: It’s the “Near-Daily 3,” a blast of three blog stories on a related topic such as, “Grooming,” “Dogs,” or “Baseball.” It’d been “The Daily 3” for about three days straight, then I skipped a day and felt obliged to change the title. So far, it’s done nothing to increase the number of followers, a perennial frustration of mine,
March 29, 2015
RRS: This Easter, let's resurrect the name Judas
“Walking Dead” finale tonight and I thought about re-running one of those but, geez, what do zombies and the Easter season have in common? Besides, those zombie stories are just gross. So I opted for this '10 one about why it’d be advantageous for parents to name new males Judas.
Happy Palm Sunday!
Easter is the season when I’m always chagrined we didn’t have a son. By God, I’d
Happy Palm Sunday!
Easter is the season when I’m always chagrined we didn’t have a son. By God, I’d
March 27, 2015
Germanwings & the art of living suddenly
(776 words)
“Anytime we hear of anyone dying suddenly, it should reinforce the need we all ought to be living suddenly.”
Is that the best line I’ve ever written? It’s one of them.
I can’t remember what national tragedy inspired the notion. There have been so many it’s hard to keep track.
I can’t tell which is more surprising: That anyone follows the news or that anyone who
“Anytime we hear of anyone dying suddenly, it should reinforce the need we all ought to be living suddenly.”
Is that the best line I’ve ever written? It’s one of them.
I can’t remember what national tragedy inspired the notion. There have been so many it’s hard to keep track.
I can’t tell which is more surprising: That anyone follows the news or that anyone who
March 25, 2015
In flannel 'til the flowers
(603 words)
I’ve worn the same black, white and grey flannel shirt off and on the past four days and the paparazzi have yet to notice.
My wife, I’m sure, notices but on the long, sorry list of annoying things about being married to me it’s not worth a mention.
Her expressing dissatisfaction about my wardrobe redundancy would be akin to the old Arab proverb about complaint priority:
I’ve worn the same black, white and grey flannel shirt off and on the past four days and the paparazzi have yet to notice.
My wife, I’m sure, notices but on the long, sorry list of annoying things about being married to me it’s not worth a mention.
Her expressing dissatisfaction about my wardrobe redundancy would be akin to the old Arab proverb about complaint priority:
March 24, 2015
Return of the Creepy Homeless Posers (and my homeless history)
(682 words)
The weather is beginning to warm and that means we’re about to see the reemergence of a seasonal creature that first began appearing in these parts last spring.
Red Breasted Robin?
No. I’m talking about the Creepy Homeless Poser.
I saw my first one of the year last month at the Waterworks Mall near Oakmont. He looked like all the others, marooned as he was on the
The weather is beginning to warm and that means we’re about to see the reemergence of a seasonal creature that first began appearing in these parts last spring.
Red Breasted Robin?
No. I’m talking about the Creepy Homeless Poser.
I saw my first one of the year last month at the Waterworks Mall near Oakmont. He looked like all the others, marooned as he was on the
March 23, 2015
Will getting a harp help get me into heaven?
(695 words)
Because I believe it’ll increase my chances of getting into heaven, I’m thinking of acquiring a good used harp.
Being an skillful harp player might convince Pearly Gate keepers to overlook my sloth, my gluttony and all that chronic flatulence to help me make the heavenly cut.
Swanson Harps in Boston has a Lyon & Healy 6161-23 for $16,900, a far better bargain than the $
Because I believe it’ll increase my chances of getting into heaven, I’m thinking of acquiring a good used harp.
Being an skillful harp player might convince Pearly Gate keepers to overlook my sloth, my gluttony and all that chronic flatulence to help me make the heavenly cut.
Swanson Harps in Boston has a Lyon & Healy 6161-23 for $16,900, a far better bargain than the $
March 22, 2015
Sunday encore! "Mirrors! Mirrors! On the walls!"
In March of 2011, I wrote about how much better off we’d all be if we all got rid of all the mirrors. I still believe it.
I dreamed last night of a world where all mankind was free of time’s tyranny, an age when leisure reigned and all were at liberty to engage in endless recreation and cerebral improvement.
And today I’m going to help launch that age by embarking on a
I dreamed last night of a world where all mankind was free of time’s tyranny, an age when leisure reigned and all were at liberty to engage in endless recreation and cerebral improvement.
And today I’m going to help launch that age by embarking on a
