A Walking, Breathing Oxymoron

Hello from my office on a dreary and chilly pre-Apocalyptic Friday, As I write this, I am doing it to clear my mind, to make sense of the nonsensical, to put my trust in something larger than myself, which is always needed, and to create the possibility that I might be able to focus aContinue reading “A Walking, Breathing Oxymoron”

Nationalism is not Patriotism

Hello on an extremely warm first Monday of summer. As you can see from the intro, I began this blog almost three months ago and it was extremely warm and dry summer. The need for rain here in north central Pennsylvania is still real. The summer was abnormal because we are still trying to figureContinue reading “Nationalism is not Patriotism”

“The American Dream”

Hello from my study, I have been relegated to two things over the past 72 hours or so: grading and watering. Teaching technical writing in a four week block this summer has been a new experience, and I think the being remote before that, while it might seem to be good preparation, seemed to beContinue reading ““The American Dream””

“Are We Still of Any Use?”

Hello from my kitchen bar counter on a Thursday afternoon,  When I began writing this, we had just managed freezing weather, wind chills of the lower 20s in May, and then during a week of grading, yesterday felt like summer might actually be on the horizon (and even in my yard). It was a weekContinue reading ““Are We Still of Any Use?””

The Role of Art. Music, and Theatre in Life

Hello from the study, Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with a former student, someone who cared for Lydia after I first left Wisconsin and someone I admire for so many reasons. She was shy and unsure of herself when I first met her in that freshman writing class, but she is now anContinue reading “The Role of Art. Music, and Theatre in Life”

When Silence is Complicity Rather Than Golden

Hello from Wilkes University on a Saturday, Earlier today I found a quote from the German Lutheran pastor, who was the subject of my dissertation. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the martyred German theologian, who had the courage to stand up against the evils of worshiping the idol that Adolf Hitler had become to much of the GermanContinue reading “When Silence is Complicity Rather Than Golden”

When Geography Becomes a Place

Hello from Starbucks, I am in another Starbucks and I know that it is more than merely another trip to the green mermaid branded coffee shop, in spite of that fact I have not been in this individual Starbucks before. As I walk in I see the familiar colors, the familiar layout, the typical boardContinue reading “When Geography Becomes a Place”

Ancestry and Adoption, and Life

Hello from almost four months later since the post below was started. It has been a busy week and one that has been varied beyond my imagination. While I have not been a “jet-lag” suffering sort of person, particularly on the trip to Europe, this time did some serious kicking. The second night we wereContinue reading “Ancestry and Adoption, and Life”

Life Marches By

Hello from my office, It is a bit after 9:00 p.m. and I have spent about 20 hours or more the last two days working on my Winter Term online Technical Writing course. It is amazing what we have available in terms of technology and how we can reach out, from either direction. It isContinue reading “Life Marches By”

In spite of or To Spite

Hello at what is the continuation of a brutal and crazy week. I am trying to understand how we have become a country who has found it possible to no longer care about the less fortunate, unless it is a headlining emergency, who no longer opens ourselves up to protecting those who are placed inContinue reading “In spite of or To Spite”