-
Emotional Incontinence
When Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom died in 2022, it was more than a notable death, like that of a celebrity, politician, someone associated with a bestselling book, a certain business or product, or some other position of prominence within society. She was a head of state, yes, but her reign of 70…
-
The Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist
It’s time for another of my “curiosity” posts. I have a confession to make: I really enjoy these. An esoteric question pops into my head, like why are there so many ways to say going to the toilet, or I come across some obscure fact like corn flakes were originally developed by John Harvey Kellogg…
-
Mileage
Awhile back, over a year and a half ago to be precise, I told you about this new hobby of mine – live webcams. I’m still watching them, my favorites being this watering hole in the Namib desert in Namibia (the wildlife is amazing), and this channel that cycles through US cities (and a few…
-
Remember Rome
The people around Donald Trump are dangerous. For them, he is a useful idiot. In him, they have found a vehicle to establish their vision of a grand, civilization redefining project. You’ve got your white nationalists engineering a country purged of those they deem racially inferior. You’ve got your Christian nationalists who imagine a future…
-
The Hot is Back
This December, I will mark nineteen years in Palm Springs. I think that qualifies me as a local. So we’re at the start of my nineteenth summer here. People often ask me, “How hot does it get in Palm Springs?” The answer is simple: if your car’s steering wheel doesn’t qualify as a weapon, it’s…
-
We don’t serve your kind here
It is June, and that means it is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, commemorating the Stonewall Riots that took place on June 28th, 1969. The patrons at the Stonewall Inn that night had endured enough of being harassed for being “different,” so they overcame fear, they banished shame from their minds, and they fought back against the…
-
The curious case of Comme d’habitude
Those of us who practice the ancient Greek philosophy of Stoicism have a saying: “the obstacle is the way.” In life, we encounter hardships, loss, disappointments, and failures, and they seem to block our path. Seeing them as “blessings” is more than just trying to put a positive spin on them. I look at it…
-
Optimism
I have had a resounding bit of good news with which to begin June and my summer. The burden that has weighed heavily on me these last few months (and even years) has been lifted. It is not hyperbole to say it feels like rebirth. “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and…
-
A Cancer Update
Like most things in life, cancer is not black and white. When last we spoke of it, I introduced you to the phenomenon of “scanxiety,” the emotional roller coaster of regularly scheduled CT scans to monitor cancer for spread or a tumor for growth, and I shared that during one such scan, the tumor on…
-
What the f**k do you want?
People love to talk about the time they met [insert_name_of_famous_person_here]. My mom had a story about running into Jerry Lewis at an ice cream parlor she told for years. And given where I worked, I had plenty of “sightings,” if you want to call them that, but for me they were just another day at…
Your mileage may vary.