The Harsh “Realities” of Children Stories
1. One of my favorite books to read Rainer these days is Richard Scarry’s Best Stories Ever. The book’s copyright is 1971, passed down from my grandmother’s library to my mother’s to me to my son. The book wears its age terribly. It’s filthy and appears to have been partially eaten. But for all the grime smeared [...]

H1N1 — A Spooky Poem
The paranoia was getting to me; Mounting like the sound of television until I swallowed it down; And it was mine: This quiet, self-conscious hysteria. Swine flu, flu, vaccinations, immunizations, Germ-X Fighting goblins and ghosts no bigger than air no, smaller than air, with inaudible boos. You were a potential threat. You, my potential enemy. You, the potential carrier of a virus that could kill my [...]

The Adventure Sentimentale (Some Fiction)
I live across the street from the ocean. Well, most of the time. Sometimes, the ocean crosses the street to say hello. Then we get real wet and our cars need a good scrubbing. Below is a story I wrote a little bit ago. The premise was more conceptual than anything: To write a story lacking human beings. [...]

Working Out My Inconvenient Body
1. Sometimes, I forget I have a body. Like after sitting at my desk for hours (which I haven’t done in a while) scribbling stories, essays, poems (etc.) my lower back will suddenly shout, joined in by my clamorous shoulders and spine. “Hello! Hello! Hello there!” I stand up creaking, rubbing, and stretching. Sorry. Forgot you were there. 2. It hasn’t always [...]

Top Ten Reasons Why I am a “Tool”
Lately, I’ve been glum. No particular reason–or too many reasons to list–but for the sake of simplicity: I’m just in a slump. I haven’t wanted to write. I haven’t wanted to do much of anything besides sit on my couch and read sordid novels, eat peanuts and crawl around facebook’s many nostalgically tinged photo albums, summoning [...]