Writings

Essays, stories, and reflections — philosophy, fiction, and the occasional unhinged thought.

Life Stories June 13, 2026

The One That Got Away (and Didn't and Then Did)

My cousin Don was about eleven years older than me. When I was in my early 20s, we'd go fishing together all the time—backwater lakes, military reservations, random rivers we'd find, sometimes the Gulf of Mexico, sometimes off a bridge, sometimes under one. It was usually normal fishing, but we found ourselves in some very interesting situations. This is one of those stories.

My cousin Don was about eleven years older than me. When I was in my…

Life Stories June 12, 2026

Roadtrippin' To Georgia

My friend Earl.. yes the same one from the Alligator.. He was in his fifties while I was in my mid-twenties. He was Native American, a Vietnam veteran, and almost always stoned. He lived a life that most people wouldn't dare to live, and he didn't ask permission for much of anything.

My friend Earl.. yes the same one from the Alligator.. He was in his fifties…

Life Stories June 11, 2026

More Than a Signature

When my family came down to visit me in Saint Petersburg, I always tried to plan something beyond the theme parks. One Sunday, I took my dad, mom, sister, my niece and nephew to an afternoon game at Tropicana Field—the Tampa Bay Rays against the Texas Rangers.

When my family came down to visit me in Saint Petersburg, I always tried to…

Life Stories June 10, 2026

Fishing for Gator

I had a friend named Earl. He was older than me—in his fifties while I was in my mid-twenties. Earl was Native American, a Vietnam veteran, a lot of PTSD and slightly unhinged - and always medicated - prescription and self. He wasn't the kind of guy who asked permission for much of anything.

I had a friend named Earl. He was older than me—in his fifties while I…

Life Stories October 11, 2016

Marketing Strategies

Me: So your company name is PIPL? PIPL REP: Yes.

Me: So your company name is PIPL? PIPL REP: Yes.

Life Stories March 3, 2003

Stories of a Father'sLove

Sometimes there’s an article or a topic that I just want to talk about, and other times, I feel like telling a story. This is that rare instance where the article is both. I hope you enjoy it. It wasn’t easy to write, as the more I wrote, the more I thought about, and the more I wanted to say. – Enjoy –

Sometimes there’s an article or a topic that I just want to talk about, and…

Life Stories January 15, 2003

Tear Gas & the Test of Determination and Willpower

If you have never been through boot camp, especially one where you get Gassed, you might not understand the significance of this story, and how it affects my life, but hopefully you will. –This will discuss what its like to be gassed, so if you get ill, or grossed out easily, please do not read any further–

If you have never been through boot camp, especially one where you get Gassed, you…