Monthly Archives: February 2003

The oldest son of a local family whom we’ve known since we moved to town shot and killed himself on Friday. He and his brother attended the same small elementary school with my kids. He was 27, a teacher, and … Continue reading →

I’m five days into a new morning routine, parts of which I’m trying to turn into a ritual. I get up at 5 or 5:30 and put some coffee on while I shave and dress, doing the 555 mental exercises/meditation … Continue reading →

A couple weeks ago I came across this piece by Tom Brazaitis, the Washington senior editor for the Cleveland Plain Dealer: A chilling time, yet no one feels a draft. I thought of it again today when discussing the movie … Continue reading →

Colleague Mike Fraase forwarded me an email from the managing editor of Arriviste Press, RA Miller: “This is a brief note to alert you to a forthcoming digital publication, called Arriviste Press. Founded by a handful of young (or almost … Continue reading →

I’ve not been particularly bothered by President Bush’s religious references in his speeches since becoming president. But this AP story titled Bush Increasing Religious Allusions caught my eye. The article notes that in his State of the Union address, Bush … Continue reading →

That’s my Onion-like headline that came to mind when I read this opinion piece in Sunday’s NY Times: The Smart Way to Be Scared. The author makes a good case for ignoring the government’s suggestion to buy plastic sheeting and … Continue reading →

I first heard about the 555 meditation technique in Garrison Keillor’s Thanksgiving monologue on Prairie Home Companion last fall. He described a teenaged girl who used it to relax when she was playing the piano (if you listen to the … Continue reading →

Anne Lamott not only knows how to write, she knows how to pray. “I know that every time I call out for help, the phone rings, or the mail comes, or I get that noodgey Holy Spirit feeling inside, and … Continue reading →

If this face was from a fistfight, then my dad would be proud: Alas, it was only racquetball. I took a ball in the goggles on Monday in the left eye, and one in the right eye yesterday. Doubles can … Continue reading →

Our local paper carried a story this week about local religious leaders organizing prayer and fasting days from now till Good Friday. They’re being careful to not pitch it as an anti-war effort. “Prayer and fasting are spiritual disciplines that … Continue reading →

Yesterday’s Arlo & Janis cartoon hit home. I was recently the perfect gentleman, making lewd comments about my wife while she soaked in a bubblebath whirlpool at the Rosewood B&B (Vermillion room) in Hastings last week. And she appreciated me … Continue reading →

“I see you don’t like to use that soap either.” The guy showering next to me at the athletic club where I play racquetball was making conversation. “Yeah, it’s got formaldehyde in it I think. Something nasty, anyway. If I … Continue reading →

This short AP story titled Husbands and wives rank importance of sex and love differently is a pointer to an article in the Feb. issue of Reader’s Digest titled (but not available online): Why sex only gets better: Our exclusive … Continue reading →

I’m moving the Real Joe web site this week to TigerTech, a different web hosting provider. I’ve had great experience with them the past year with nearly a dozen of my weblog clients. Terrific support responsiveness… and for smaller sites, … Continue reading →

“Across the country, people of various faiths drew on their beliefs of something beyond death to explain the disaster, and to find comfort.” That from this article titled Scientific Failure Leads to Search for Spiritual Comfort in the NY Times. … Continue reading →