Category Archives: Writer’s Block

Written words on everything else.

Baby's First Christmas Ornament 2013

The Greatest Vacation of My Life and I Never Left the House

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Today marks the last day of the greatest vacation I have ever known. I did not travel to a tropical island or ride roller coasters at the world’ s greatest theme park. I did not gamble the night away or meet celebrities in sunny Hollywood. What I did do was stay at home for three weeks with my wife and our beautiful new son. While we only left the house for a few doctor visits and a crazy trip to our local Christmas tree lot, it has truly been the greatest three weeks I have spent on this Earth. No future vacation will ever top it.

Meals served. Hugs exchanged. Laughs had. Joy all around! Needless to say, this vacation had it all.

Activity Gym 2013The holidays came early to our household and we are truly blessed. In the middle of it all was baby boy. He was the rock star of the affair. Every person who held him did not get to hold him long enough. Every person who fed him wished they could do it one more time. From Face-timing with Great Grandparents and Uncles far away to sharing our sweet baby boy with family and friends, the entire experience left us transfixed with joy.  As this vacation’s last week draws to a close, new attractions include little boy now lifting his head during tummy time, looking up in wonder at hanging sea animals and resting comfortably in new holiday themed outfits.

In truth, a once in a lifetime life has begun. Baby boy is happening 24-7. Front row tickets to this ongoing event are free. All you have to do is visit our house and little Sweet Cheeks. If you stopped by over the last three weeks then you helped get this event off to an extraordinary start. You all were a part of a truly special extended holiday.

As I look back on that holiday, the wildest ride of the last three weeks occurred aboard the changing table. This roller coaster included sprays to the face and scrambles for un-stuffed cloth diapers. The most hilarious moment came when a baby boy blowout shot not once, but twice across the table bow mid-change. Fortunately, my wife and I survived and got on the ride again 3 hours later.  We even invited others to take part in the ride if they were game! While the changing table no longer offers the thrills and spills of the first couple of go-rounds, it can still get dicey when we least expect it.

As we prepare to put the finishing touches on our Christmas tree, my heart is heavy because tomorrow marks my return to work. Before my son was born I worried about deadlines, pleasing higher-ups and being left out of the loop once I went on paternity leave. Those life concerns are now taking a back seat. As I head back to work my sole focus is on the well-being of my wife and baby boy. I will soak up these last hours of joy knowing we will share many more moments together. We have plenty more books to read, rattles to rattle and night-time lullabies to sing. I look forward to those moments but nothing will be quite like the uninterrupted bliss of these first three weeks.

I’ve got iTunes radio set to the Rockin’ Holiday station. I’ve got baby boy in my arms. We are reaching for our first ornament to hang together and I’m looking back at my wife in awe. Here’s to family, friends and the best vacation of my life!

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

Mourning Mandela

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“We would like to create a world familiar with the smiles of children rather than their tears” – Nelson Mandela

Last night my wife tasked me with filling out the current events section of my son’s baby book. Adding hit TV shows and songs was a breeze. Popular entertainers were no problem. It was only when I got to adding the top 2013 news headlines that I became stuck. I desperately wanted to add a positive story. Instead, my mind circled around tragedies like the Syrian Civil War, the Boston Bombing and the flooding in the Philippines. Then, just when I thought my heart could hang no lower, my AP Mobile app notified me of the passing of Nelson Mandela. Needless to say, I went to bed last night worrying about the world my son is inheriting.

Luckily, this morning I came across this blog post by Roberto A. Ferdman and Ritchie King:

IN MEMORIAM: The wisdom of Nelson Mandela: quotes from the most inspiring leader of the 20th century 

Nelson Mandela’s life was an inspiration! I still feel an overwhelming sense of loss, but it is no small consolation to be reminded of his many great deeds, his resiliency and, above all else, his words. While the Nelson Mandela’s of the world are in short supply, I know my life, and my son’s life, will continue to populate with positive leaders that shine light on the dark corners of the world. The efforts of these people, and those that follow their light, consistently renew my faith in humanity.

I believe strongly that we can all have a positive impact on the world. Small acts of kindness do not go unnoticed. Tolerance and understanding are teachable traits. Love is in far greater supply than hate. For every conflict or tragedy, there are a thousand helping hands reaching out to those in need. For all of these reasons we are far better off today than we were a half-century ago.

On behalf of my son and a mourning world, thank you Mandela. Rest in peace.

Best Block:  Nelson Mandela, 1918–2013: Remembering an Icon of Freedom (Richard Stengel)

Shop Small Saturday

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The Saturday after Black Friday is reserved for small businesses.  The Shop Small Saturday tradition, amazingly enough, was started by American Express in 2010.  This year the credit card company has even set up a twitter feed where you can share your favorite local stores.  I will be adding three of my favorite businesses to the feed this morning.  With 52% of what you spend staying in your community, the act of purchasing from these type of stores is a no-brainer.  It’s a win for you, the local merchant and the community you love.

I am placing today’s post under Music Lines because two of the businesses I am highlighting are my go-to spots for music off the beaten path.  The third business offers a first class meal to go along with the music I enjoy.  Here are the three small businesses I will be celebrating today:

Ed McKay's Used Books and More     Edward McKay Greensboro NC

I can remember when Ed McKay’s was truly small.  My home town’s used book store was a hole in the wall that stacked books like a teetering Jenga puzzle.  I spent many teenage years finding books teachers did not want me to read and used CDs I could not afford to buy new.  Today, Ed McKay’s commitment to quality trade and customer service has led to a thriving business that now serves multiple locations (Greensboro, Fayetteville, Raleigh, Winston-Salem).   I still drive up to Greensboro on occasion to walk the store aisles looking for books by my favorite authors.   In addition to the best used book selection I have ever come across, Ed McKay trades/ sales used DVDs, music CDs, video games, video game consoles, eReaders and other electronics.

lunchbox records     Lunchbox Records Chralotte NC

It took me some time to find the last truly independent record store in Charlotte.  Growing up in Greensboro, I enjoyed shopping at the now long gone Record Exchange and School Kids Records and Tapes.  I thought that experience was lost forever.  Fortunately I was wrong.  The Lunchbox is the quintessential record store and offers a variety of music that is not available at big box retailers.  Last year, I went to the Lunchbox and bought my wife the new She & Him Christmas album.  To my surprise, the record came with its own wrapping paper, stickers and special Christmas pen.  From that point forward, I have tried to make the drive downtown anytime I was looking for a special CD and the packaging that comes with it.  My last purchase, Bob Dylan’s Another Self-Portrait, did not disappoint.

Fat Ninja Food Truck     Fat Ninja Truck Charleston SC

The last small business I would like to highlight belongs to a life long friend.  His food truck is approaching its first year anniversary and has become a popular destination for Charleston residents and tourists.  The Fat Ninja Food Truck focuses on modern Vietnamese food with a blend of Korean, Thai and Chinese.  Each dish’s presentation represents a modern interpretation of my best friend’s family recipes.   Needless to say, an ever-changing contrast of flavors, temperatures and textures is present in each delicious bite.  If you find yourself in Charleston, I urge you to check them out.  Our crew of Boone Goons (Appalachian State grads) will be doing just that when we travel down to celebrate the wedding of our fellow alum’s brother in December.  You can find the Fat Ninja Food Truck by checking their calendar on the Events page or by referring to a Charleston area map on their Driving Directions page.

Best Lines:  Small Business Saturday fosters mom-and-pop shopping (Jeff Ayers)

The Internet and J.D. Salinger

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This morning I awoke to news that three J.D Salinger stories were leaked online.  Within three minutes I was able to find a torrent link and download a copy for myself.  Surely, Mr. Salinger never anticipated the power of the Internet to undermine his publishing wishes.  I felt strangely at odds with myself over the download.  On one hand I wanted to respect the wishes of the revered author.  Despite myself, I also wanted to read something new from the man whose writing had considerable influence over my teenage years.  With Black Friday being the ultimate impulse shopping day, I relented and secured a copy.

J.D. Salinger's Ocean Full of Bowling Balls Screen shot

I look forward to reading the works once my baby-boy settles down for a nap.  I am a bit weary, however, given the fact that so little is published by Salinger.   For this reason, the reading does risk disappointment.  I had a very similar feeling when Nirvana released “You Know You’re Right.”  Fortunately, the posthumously released single did not disappoint.

Too often the Internet’s commenting class ruin these type of releases because they overly criticize, judge and rehash the past.  Check out the YouTube comments that go with the Nirvana link above for proof of this trend.   In actuality, it’s just a song.   It’s just a story.  I think J.D. Salinger’s Buddhist sensibilities would appreciate this approach.  For this reason I will let you all decide if the works are worth reading.  There is, however, reason for intrigue.  According to the Guardian Newspaper:

The stories include An Ocean Full of Bowling Balls, which has only been available under lock and key to scholars at Princeton library.

The tale is an early version, originally written for Harper’s Bazaar magazine but withdrawn before publication, of The Catcher in the Rye. The narrator is the older brother of Holden Caulfield, the teenage narrator of the later book.

The other stories, entitled Paula, and Birthday Boy, were held by the University of Texas under similar conditions.

Enjoy.

Best Block:  JD Salinger’s unpublished stories leaked online (Maev Kennedy)

John F. Kennedy 11/22/63

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There is a lot being written and posted today about the Kennedy assassination.   The ramifications of the tragic event can still be felt today.

Kennedy’s  famous “Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You” speech has been widely read and debated.  Many interpret the famous quote in that speech as a call to arms to the American citizenry to volunteer and get involved.  Today, however, I find myself reflecting on the quote from a different angle.  So few politicians today are willing to make sacrifices for the nation’s common good.  Kennedy, and many of his peers, would be appalled when viewing today’s political  landscape.   Political posturing and grandstanding has become common practice among the nation’s elites.  It’s as if their win at all cost mentality will make sure that the nation ultimately loses in the end.  Say what you will about the Kennedys, four of their sons volunteered and worked tirelessly for this nation.  Three of them ultimately gave their lives to the cause.  How many politicians would do the same today?

Stephen King 11-22-63 cover

By the way if you have not read Stephen King’s 11/22/63, you should.  It’s a great read and really works as three novels in one.  The interplay of the characters, the Kennedy myth and the Stephen King style is well worth the investment.

Best Block: Stephen King Goes to the Rescue of JFK (Errol Morris)