Get Out Of The Way: Door Dynamics
There are many complicated rules governing modern society. Tax laws. Building codes. International treaties. The offside rule. I’d like to propose one more, and I think we can keep this one fairly simple: Don’t stop in the doorway. This shouldn’t require legislation. We probably don’t need signs. I’m hoping we can avoid creating a federal…
Workplace Double Standards
I saw something at the hangout the other day that was just dead wrong and made me angry. There really isn’t another way to describe it. I was sitting at the bar when one of the male cooks came out of the kitchen to grab a fountain drink. As he walked past, a female bartender/server…
The Steps That Never Officially Count
Every day my phone quietly tells me how many steps I take each day. Some days there’s a satisfying green check mark beside my goal. Other days there isn’t. I still like having a daily step goal. It gets me off the couch or away from the computer. It encourages me to take breaks and…
No, Your Cat Doesn’t Need a Night Out
I love cats. Always have. They’re curious, funny, independent, and far less needy than most people I know before they’ve had their first coffee. I’ve owned two indoor cats that lived nice, long, contented lives. But that doesn’t mean I want to see one sitting in the middle of a busy restaurant. During the summer…
Not Everyone Gets Access to the Fuel Tank
I took a long brisk walk today. Maybe a little too brisk because I felt like I was speedwalking – going faster than I should be. I don’t know why I was going so fast but I did and it felt great. It was one of those cool, sunny fall days when walking feels effortless,…
Standing Closer Doesn’t Make the Plane Leave Earlier
Airports are one of the best places to study human behavior. They’re also proof that many of us believe the laws of time and space can somehow be negotiated. The announcement comes over the public address system. “Now boarding Zone 1.” Within seconds, half the gate area is on its feet. The strange part is…
Are You Guys in Season?
A few wild turkeys wandered across my place this morning. Not hurriedly. Not nervously. They weren’t glancing over their shoulders or ducking behind trees. They were strolling. Which, given the occasional shotgun blast I’ve been hearing lately, made me want to open the door and ask, “Are you guys in season?” If so, they may…
What Outdated Technology Do I Miss Most? Absolutely None of It
I came across a writing prompt recently that asked an interesting question: What outdated technology do you miss most? I thought about it. Fax machines? No. Dial-up internet? Definitely not. Rotary phones or even those mobile phones the size of a brick (I never owned one)? Not even a little. VCRs? Typewriters? Television antennas? Busy…
The Standards We Keep for Ourselves
A thought occurred to me recently, and the more I sat with it, the more uncomfortable it became. When I make a mistake, I tend to see it in black and white. I should have known better. I should have done more. I should have seen it coming. There’s very little middle ground in my…
Does Anyone Remember Postcards?
There was a time when every vacation included at least one small ritual. You would walk into a souvenir shop, spin one of those postcard racks around a few times, and look for the perfect picture. Maybe it was a beach, a mountain, a famous building, or some slightly faded photo of the town you…
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