My Carbon Footprint
I had an interesting conversation with my father-in-law this week about carbon credits. There are organizations out there that are selling credits for carbon dioxide—credits that regular people like …
Geography of My Childhood
Geography of My Childhood (Detail) This is where I grew up in Panorama City, CA. My neighborhood was bordered by Osborne St. on the north, Woodman Ave. on the east, Chase St. on the south, and Van …
The Future of the Human Race
I laughed out loud in the supermarket line the other day. It startled both the checker and the guy in front of me in line. Spontaneous laughter is a public warning of mental illness. In among the …
The Hole in the Middle of Me That Every Happy Thing Falls Into
I went to the Mariners’ opening game yesterday. It was another first without Wendy. We’ve been invited each of the last few years by Maki and Rich, and this time I brought Hendrik with me. …
The Impossibility of It All
I met my wife nine years ago yesterday. I always expect these little anniversaries to hit me like a ton of bricks, but they always come and make me numb. Numb is good. Numb is putting one foot in …
Precognition or Déjà Vu?
I had a conversation yesterday with Hendrik and Elise about those times when you experience something you’re sure you’ve dreamed about in the past. She had a dream scene that she saw, …
It's Like the Sky
I started working back on maggie’s farm this last week. It was weird to be back. I feel like my name has attained a sort of grim celebrity. People kept professing to how glad there were to see …
This Monster Will Find You Even Under the Bed
It’s getting harder and harder to find reputable scientists who dispute the dangers of global warming. It’s coming. It won’t be pretty. I just read an interview in Wired magazine of …
You Will Miss the Shower Most
From Saturday by Ian McEwan: He steps under the shower, a forceful cascade pumped down from the third floor. When this civilisation falls, when the Romans, whoever they are this time round, have …
Rabbit Rabbit
When Wendy and I started living together, she insisted that we should say “rabbit rabbit” to each other as soon as we wake up on the first day of each month. She said doing so would bring …