It’s common knowledge in the literary world that Moby-Dick is a long, arduous read. I have been paddling the murky waters of this novel since the better half of last year. I know of others who had started but never finished the journey. The way I see it, this book is either embraced by long…
Waiting for 1836 Euclid Avenue to open was like staring into an oven and wondering when good times would return to my stomach. In September I made sure to take my family to the old place at Euclid and 21st so we could say goodbye before demolition crews razed it. In early December big machines…
If you like Christmas the way I do, you do not want to miss these holiday movies: The Midnight Mass of Paul Revere, starring Harrison Ford as Paul Revere, originally aired in 1978. The story of a patriot’s ride from church to church to warn parishioners that “Christmas is coming, Christmas is coming,” and they…
Every now and then a book comes along that grants us the privilege of peering into the lives of people and seeing the good in everyone. A Secret Gift: How One Man’s Kindness – And A Trove of Letters – Revealed The Hidden History of the Great Depression is such a book. Written by Ted…
A landscaper in northeast Ohio was relieved of his duties yesterday after management discovered that he had dressed like a clown during business hours. The employee, Earl, was taking part in the Kocic Landscaping Inaugural Halloween Costume Day at the time. Kocic Landscaping, in an effort to boost company morale, allowed employees this year to…
A while back I wrote an essay called Telling Stories About Garfield Heights. It was published in a local newspaper and online. At the time, the outlook of Garfield Heights (a suburb about 4 miles southeast of Cleveland, Ohio) was bleak. The city had not passed a school levy in 20 years, businesses were closing,…
Poetry flows like kayaks down mighty rivers. Songs possess words that are decent and can be heard over the music. Movies inspire you to become leading actors in your own stories. And sports take you back to a time when athletes weren’t bigger than the games they played – yet they changed the games forever.…
His words don’t taste like donuts. They don’t smell like soap. And I wouldn’t brush my teeth with them if I were you. His words don’t hang on walls like photographs or paintings. They are not murals, although I think they paint a picture about life. Whose life – his I guess. Who is he,…
In light of one employee’s recent attempt to lighten the mood around here, Management wishes to remind you that under no circumstances is an employee of ABC, Inc. permitted to: 1. possess an original thought 2. smile 3. cause others to smile Thank you. Now get back to work! Joseph Schmo, Manager ABC, Inc.
Clarifying Shampoo and Concentrated Orange Juice could not be more different. One is always reminding you that she washes hair; the other always looks like he has something on his mind. One day they ended up next to each other in the grocery cart. “Hi, I’m shampoo! HELLOOOO?! I said, I’m shampoo.” “I heard you,”…
Dear Committee, I would like to nominate a friend for your Lifetime Achievement Award. I feel this person exemplifies what it means to be a special human. Lajos Virost, my friend, is 57 years old. A little young for a lifetime achievement award, but old enough if you ask me. If he knew I was…
It’s us against nobody else in the world. We are in a seat that smells like leather because it is leather, cradled inside cherry red steel with chrome bumpers and running boards. On the dashboard sits Saint Anthony and the grass skirt girl. We are in the memory-making business and business is good. We race…
i make words go vroom. 