Scientist By Choice, Second-Rate by Chance
I know that many who read this blog either (a) follow the blog and are notified of new content through WordPress, (b) follow a particular WordPress tag which is used herein frequently, (c) follow through an RSS reader of some type, (d) are naturally skeptical of signing up for email updates, which require the voluntary … Continue reading Start of Year Newsletter
In which an excerpt from my “forthcoming” common-sense, “instant-classic” parenting “book” is shared, one which highlights common flawed thinking as it pertains to being a parent AND being on time. Or something.
In which one of the “hardships” of being a popular author is laid bare in pure assumption. Or something.
Note: I dispense, for now, with the "aside" nonsense. Fiction is difficult. Inane observations which spill over from a semi-odd brain are somewhat easier. And if I ever resume posting "fictional" chapters, then the "asides" will cease to be nonsense, and will be once again be high art indeed! (Or something.) I don't necessarily believe … Continue reading Gym-splaining
I listened to a Hemingway book during our drive down to Florida, so tonight's post, which is meant to relate a fairly common parental culinary struggle, is written (in a very poor imitation) in his honor. The waves were tall and dark green. There was much foam. The flag flying above the distant estación de … Continue reading Aside – Road Trip 2018
It's Kentucky Derby time, and here in my hometown of Lousiville, KY, the excitement is palpable! Which, for me, means I am getting ready to put on some old running shoes so I can spend the day pulling weeds in my yard only to use them to cover up bald dirt spots, with the full knowledge … Continue reading Author’s Aside //3 – Horses
Note: After inventing the concept of "Aside" last week (again, I have very few superhuman abilities, but (taking credit for) the invention of literary concepts is one of them), and applying it to my blogging efforts, I offer another today. It's short. In fact, this intro is longer. But, as before, I do this to keep … Continue reading Author’s Aside //2 – Sizes
The meeting request from the sales manager said that The Scientist was "cordially" invited to a work-related dinner later that week. While most would consider it a pleasant thing to be invited to ANY dinner, he supposed, and while the restaurant the company was springing for was fairly upscale (or so he had heard - he … Continue reading 9// Niceties
This is the part of the (blogging) program where I start to wonder if using this format to practice and purvey "fiction" was a wise choice because fiction is so darn difficult. Who knew?! So, while I work up (read: "draft and then cry in despair over while eating a large Peanut Butter Cookie Dough … Continue reading Author’s Aside //1 – “Traveling”
It was one of those stories which The Scientist knew he would never tell, one which he barely wanted to recall to himself, and he was quite certain that no one else had witnessed it; but the fact that it WAS a story which COULD be told - more precisely an actual event that had … Continue reading 8// Survival
I'm still not overly comfortable with the whole "Hey, here's something else to sign up for!" thing, but as the email list for the secondratescientist.com grows, I'm seeing more inherent value in this type of thing. I realize we live in a time of skepticism or even downright, good-old American anger when it comes to giving … Continue reading Author’s Note //2
The Scientist stared at the sign outside of the ballroom which announced, in small plastic lettering, "Conceal Carry Conference. Registration Inside". Guns, he thought. The concept of owning a gun was somewhat strange to him, as it was simply not something he had grown up around, at least not directly; thus he had never really … Continue reading 7// Concealment
Or is it Blogger's note? "Author" sounds too formal. But I like it! The following was posted on my personal FB page. I include it here because it's somewhat of a more detailed description of the direction the blog is going presently. And, it's easier than writing something new-ish. Thanks as always for reading. Sticking … Continue reading Author’s Note //1
He'd been very intrigued and even mildly disturbed, as of late, by the salutatory phrases people chose to throw around, particularly in the workplace. To some of these greetings, he had absolutely no idea how to respond properly. A recent example was the question, "What's the good word?" As in, "Happy Friday! What's the good word?" While he … Continue reading 4// Greetings
The following is part of an ongoing fictional series taken from the life and times of the Second-Rate Scientist. To read earlier installments, see "Previously on . . ." to the right of the page. This is all a work in progress, an attempt to practice and, hopefully, refine something I've long admired in others. … Continue reading 3// Highways
