Now that I've moved out, I can share this story publicly. There I was, on the porch of my new second-story apartment, trying to heave all 8'3" of my green couch through a very narrow entrance. My dad was on the other end, and together we were doing everything we could to defy geometry. It … Continue reading The Green Behemoth
Peace and War: a Tale of Three Mice
It began with a rustling in the walls. Then glimpses out the corner of my eye. Then I saw one. A mouse. In. My. Kitchen. I went on red alert and did...well, pretty much nothing. I considered telling the apartment office that I had mice, but I just figured they would charge me pet rent. … Continue reading Peace and War: a Tale of Three Mice
What Happens When You Go to the Movies Alone
So there I was at the movie theater on a Saturday night...alone. (Yes, I'm one of those people.) Since the theater was lightly occupied, I'd selected a seat smack-dab in the middle of the row. A smattering of couples sat here and there, the nearest being down the row on my right and one three rows down. … Continue reading What Happens When You Go to the Movies Alone
A Starbucks Script: as told by baristas
What would the script look like if Starbucks baristas could make an honest welcome video? Probably something like this... Manager/barista: "Hello, welcome to America's favorite barely-coffee shop. Fall is only nine months away, so that could mean just one thing: you’re wanting to order a pumpkin spice salted caramel chai mocha frappuccino. Let me get … Continue reading A Starbucks Script: as told by baristas
The First/Last Christmas Tree
It was December and I was wearing shorts and sunscreen. There’s something wrong with this picture, I thought. My family and I had just traded hemispheres, and this was our first Christmas Down Under. Only a couple weeks before, my parents, older brother, and I had stepped off the plane from the States onto New … Continue reading The First/Last Christmas Tree
The Martian Nativity
No one knew when it had started. Or why. But everyone suspected who…and that’s why no one attempted to change it. We called it “The Martian Nativity.” In my church—which I dearly loved—we kept a closet of Christmas decorations. Only the Lord and possibly a retired custodian knew how long some of those items had … Continue reading The Martian Nativity