Backed into a corner by this life I chose to live.Backed into a corner by this life where I’ve not yet learned how to love…Myself.Backed into a corner by the distance between us all… I’m over here measuring the edges of it all.How much further must I walk before I fall.Off the cliff or an… Read More…
Agree To Disagree – For Lyra McKee
We’re going to start right here to set things straight. Make sure we’re all on the same page. That side’s yours. This one’s for me. Agree to disagree. There’s a border in our minds for a reason. To keep us in the times of the season. This side’s yours This one’s for me. Agree to… Read More…
A Year Like George Bailey
Most know that “It’s A Wonderful Life” is my favorite all-time film – not just favorite Christmas film. This piece is themed around George’s story laid back against my own. I wrote this 5 years ago today after almost a year of stress & tension, the fights boiled over into angst & sadness. I found… Read More…
Shadows Fell
Shadows fell silent afraid of daylight’s demeanor The breeze made slim The fear stripped him To the bone in the way of his creator. Feeling hidden Feeling lost Seeing less & less though his vision improves Seeking & searching for signs of life & love Even in this abyss There’s nothing not amiss Little worse… Read More…
Musical Heroes – A Digest
A few weeks back, I wrote six essays about my musical heroes. I’ve been diving into my music more & more of late, so I think it bears repeating here with a digest of those pieces: Kate Bush – A remarkable person who creates the most wondrous musical tableaus & has for over 40 years… Read More…
My Connection To Ireland – Heroes First & Last – U2 & Me, Too.
It’s taken me a long time to figure this out. I am alive 44 years & it took me until recently to discover this. Why Ireland has such a hold on my soul. This story is why you keep searching for answers inside yourself & inside others – for yourself & for others. I was… Read More…
Bob Mould – Number 5 Lyrical Hero
Scott, my brother, went off to college in the autumn of 1986. We’ve never quite talked about what it was like for him to be able to get away from our household, but I don’t doubt that it was a relief & release for him. I know when I left 4 years later – and… Read More…
Mark Eitzel – Numéro Quatre
My junior year at Emerson College in Boston, I lived across the hall from 3 girls who were pretty big music fans. The one young lady directly across from my room shared a pass-through bathroom with 2 others & I would find myself in their rooms late into the night talking music. One night, the… Read More…
Dulli Noted – Number 3
To some degree, this is a continuation of my previous piece. It references the second band that I played that last night at KTSB-FM in Austin. I’ve written versions of this story before, but this has been edited & re-juxtaposed a good bit to appear fresh as a…well, you get it. It starts in the… Read More…
Maynard James Keenan – Number 2 Musical Hero
When I was a little kid, I was put off by the imagery of metal music. I did like some of the music, but I mostly did not & the imagery didn’t help at all. In hindsight, it sounds lame, frankly. But, I guess I chalk it up to my fairly strict catholic upbringing that… Read More…
Kate Bush – Musical Hero, The First
As they say, ladies first…I am also writing this as someone who had been a fan of Kate Bush’s for years, but hadn’t quite realized the import her music had had on me until 2-3 years ago across her entire career, which coincides with nearly my entire lifetime. About a year or two ago, I… Read More…
“My Luck Of The Irish” – For Kenneth Patrick Corrigan
Born of John & Rose in 1941 Part Cavan Part Meath To them, I was their son. My luck of the Irish. That they made it here at all. The loads of things that happened For me to be set here. Some little, but none small. First came Jack So handsome, big & strong. After… Read More…
Trump Dump II — My Interaction With The Trump Organization
This is my second — much more pointed — piece about my interactions with Donald Trump & members of his organization. To be clear, I don’t recall specifically meeting Trump at any point in this process. In the wake of my last piece, I heard from other friends that they or their families had had… Read More…
Trump Dump — The First Installment
I have two overall comments about Donald Trump that I will make. One of them today…one of them later this week or next. The latter will be a story of a very personal nature related to my actual interaction with the Trump Organization. Today’s is just a short op-ed, if you will. I like win/win… Read More…
Mind’s Eye
Petrified by How much my mind’s eye Is prone to a mind’s lies. Seeing things that are not there While missing things that are present. How can I not resent my judgement? Flying through a variety of realities is no way to live a life. What’s real is what’s before you Not behind some other… Read More…
Twenty Five Years Ago Today, I Went Off To College
I am a bit agog at beginning to write this only a few hours shy of the exact mark of 25 years since I left for college. This state of mind is not founded on the fact that I cannot do the math – clearly, just above here, I did just that. No, it’s more… Read More…
Stories of New York – Perspective & Shah
I am forever in search of things that will bring me perspective – whether that’s the beautiful sunrises & sunsets I am so fortunate to catch glimpses of & share so many days, or the perspective music, film & art bring to my mind & life. About 10 days ago in August, I saw something… Read More…
Thin Air
Thin air ain’t got nothing
On the way that you left town.
Breaking faster than a healed heart
Bends around a new sound. Read More…
Look To Lonely
There’s a look to lonely eyes…
Sad & sallow droops ’round the brow
And ’round the mouth.
There’s a blankness that belies…
Mad & hollow loops browned by frowns
And life’s obstacles & clowns. Read More…
Paper To Pain
Sometimes a little laughter goes a long way.
Sometimes…it covers fear.
Need a little time spent elsewhere
Time to disappear…
Scribbled into notebooks
Chipped away at caves
There’s little more that keeps me sane
Putting pen to paper & paper to pain. Read More…
Misery’s A Slow Burn
We’re borne of silence
Built on graves & tombs
Extended & retracted.
Promises past & future.
Until the ebbs they flow no more. Read More…
Ankles (Dangling)
He stepped upon his wooden chair
Its wood stiff & sturdy.
Pondered recent weeks & years
How things got fucked up & dirty.
Considered all the what-if’s, how’s & the wonder whys.
Cascaded through his mind
Counted & recounted the blunders & their size. Read More…
A Farewell To Beat All Farewells – Lou Gehrig Says Goodbye
There are all kinds of heroes in this world. The folks whom you admire for taking a stand against injustice, people who inspire you to create things to inspire others & those who spark some sort of emotion in your heart. Lou Gehrig was the latter for me. Make no mistake about it, Lou was… Read More…
Last Breath – Words In Memory of Maya Angelou
On the tips of tongues Oh, all the things she’d said & done. A life of words so full, 86 years full. Words & music. Not sharps & flats, but rhythmic still. Her pen replete. Her never ending ink. Of Red, blue, black. And black & blue, too. She… Explains the shame, the pain She…… Read More…
Last Breath – Words In Memory of Maya Angelou
On the tips of tongues Oh, all the things she’d said & done. A life of words so full, 86 years full. Words & music. Not sharps & flats, but rhythmic still. Her pen replete. Her never ending ink. Of Red, blue, black. And black & blue, too. She… Explains the shame, the pain She…… Read More…
Death & Dying on 2/24
Rest In Peace Harold Ramis & Bill Hicks Is it possible to erase a date from the calendar? I mean, an actual day? Is it possible for humanity — at my request — to simply jump from February 23rd to February 25th moving forward? I ask this because two men whose work I’ve adored in… Read More…
Death & Dying on 2/24
Is it possible to erase a date from the calendar? I mean, an actual day? Is it possible for humanity — at my request — to simply jump from February 23rd to February 25th moving forward? I ask this because two men whose work I’ve adored in my lifetime died on this date. One of these men you know… Read More…
When I Go…
When I goI don’t want no dressing gownNo parade about town. When I goI want no one to appraiseJust set me all ablaze.When I goOpen up no doorNothing will be sore. Don’t goWhere there’s no recovery.Don’t goDarkening doors whose jams you can’t uphold.Don’t showToo much of the self of you you try so hard to… Read More…
Calendars
With A New Year, New Dreams… It’s as if the situations that should have taken placeAre looking back at me in the form of days & datesWe should be there by now…We should be there by now… I find calendars too time consumingToo hard to mind the prize, the date, the time. Gelid moments lock up my mindReplaced, reduced… Read More…
The Bloom Off The Rose
Kennedy’s Assassination: The Beginning of the End of Innocence. 50 years ago today, America began to lose its innocence. This is not to say that we were some angelic state of 50 states — far from it. It took us 80 or so years to abolish slavery, another 50 years or so until women could… Read More…
The Bloom Off The Rose – Kennedy’s Assassination: The Beginning of the End of Innocence.
50 years ago today, America began to lose its innocence. This is not to say that we were some angelic state of 50 states — far from it. It took us 80 or so years to abolish slavery, another 50 years or so until women could vote. I won’t even address some of the, as I call… Read More…
Living Room Lingerings – Shapeless Love
I’ve pined & mined for shapeless loveLooked all high & low.It’s not the sort of love you seek, though.It is the kind that grows. The way words weep when a world is washed awayNo replacement for that certain time & place.Remorse has no spot at this table it seems.Time’s best spent doing other things…. Read More…
Subway Stories – Me & Me.
I missed my window So, it looks like I must jump. Timing is everything And my time has come. All things come to an end And I guess that’s why this ledge is here. Folded arms turn outstretched bends. As I lift my legs, I salute my fear. I missed my window So I’ll lose… Read More…
Subway Stories – Feign The Pain
Solemn is the breath I drew that time I sought the dawn. Long ago I found you sprawled & splayed in the midst of something wrong. Wondering the ways… Stolen nights & broken waves. Feign the pain around you. Let it roll around you… Let it all resound. You are the product of its shame…. Read More…
Subway Stories – Angel In The Dark
The shadows had grown cold around her willing smile.Hers was the kind of frown that would send you ’round the mile.He did all he could.More than many would.To take more than he should. To love his angel in the dark was so hard upon his soul.Sorting through his feelingsAll the many dealingsWould leave his blood… Read More…
When You Pick On Gays…
I decided to pick Christmas to post this piece about the Pope’s recent tirade about gay people. The quote that jumped out to me was this: Pope says same-sex marriage is destroying the ‘essence of humanity’ If they’re human, how can they destroy any essence of themselves? I’d like to point out that I have… Read More…
Subway Stories – Swept Away
I hold it all inside me. All the things that time has taken from me. I need to push the wetness away. It’s taken more of me than time. Its tide took me and all of it… I had cobbled a life from much of nothing. Slugged, slaved, plugged… Staved off the demons with bruised… Read More…
Subway Stories – Arm
This arm you gave me My reluctant right hand man Is not the arm I choose. The men I’ve ended, the children maimed Had no arm at all. Extended inch over foot over yard over mile. This arm you gave me Reluctant right hand man Need to lay it down. The world I wounded, people… Read More…
Subway Stories – Count The Wreckage
Anger’s an angry place to leave yourself too long. Fear’s a fearful place to live…be strong. Regret’s a beast that wants your soul But teach yourself to let go. Add the days, the weeks, the moments of your ways… Subtract the time you’re afraid or angry or living in regret. What do you get? Count… Read More…
Subway Stories – Gravity’s My God
Sweep the plains of dust & earth And remove the life from the sun. Echoes of yesterday ring in my ears. Leaving what else was meant to be. I can only believe in things I see. Gravity’s my god. Sunshine shines, water wet, earth is dirt. Gravity is god. All other logic’s flawed. Listening to… Read More…
Subway Stories – Rose Colored Rims
I don’t always see it. It’s not for me to see. Harder still to be it, if it’s not there for me. Running ’round & ragged. Running down today. Checking in on all the things that you’ve got to say. Feel so measured about this anymore. Each & every day Another step towards ok. I’ve… Read More…
Subway Stories – Fallen Pieces
The wondering & waiting is the hardest on those whose hell it is to hold their breaths. They worrying & working is enough to kill the mood of you & me. A test. Just let me pick up the fallen pieces and replace them where they went. Let me render you sane again & let… Read More…
Subway Stories – Death Trap Dreams
My mind woke up awash in poison. Thoughts had crept, created a din. A noise so loud, a fear shrouded in pain. With my day underway, how can I begin? Death trap dreams about how & when I’ll die. Bound to bed & gagged by life… Writhing in this pain. Each time I close my… Read More…
Subway Stories – Lost Eyes
She stared into the far off wondering when she’d feel secure. Knowing that the life she’s meant to live is not really meant for her. She’s looking with lost eyes. Hoping, thinking, feeling… That her wishes & desires Are worth more than her lies. She’s looking with lost eyes. She don’t know how the world… Read More…
Subway Stories – Need of Me
What is it that you need from me? With all that we’ve been through… What do you need of me? I’m all yours and yours alone. You’re the one who’s made our house a home. The first such place I’ve ever known. When the ground to which you’re familiar Is slight & feels alone… Becomes… Read More…
Subway Stories – Always Apologize
The utterance of the words belongs beside your mouth. Unless you’ve got something nice to say… Keep it all inside. Always apologize For the things you’ve not done. Always apologize For the words & wars you’ve won. Silence is no answer. It grows like cancer Inside the web of the soul. Bite your tongue &… Read More…
Subway Stories – Last Ones Alive
I hold no ill will towards anyone but the likes of you. You’ve taken all you can & borne no guilt or shame. Thinking the world owes you something for nothing. You & yours are the last ones alive. Those for whom I have any grain of evil. Those for whom my stomach turns at… Read More…
Forty & Amazing
Unlike many, I welcome turning 40 this year. For me, this is something to really celebrate. I see it as a privilege & to some degree a luxury. So many aren’t so lucky… I’ve been very fortunate in my 40 years on this planet. As a kid, I traveled the US pretty extensively. I got… Read More…
Subway Stories – The Giving End
The giving end seems sweet relief You’ve told them how you feel. Told them to pack up their things. Made sure that it feels real. Deeper than a knife cuts skin… Their pain begins. Sinks in. In the end, it’s bitter. It’s the place you reject the life you’ve lived Better you not kid her… Read More…
Subway Stories – Danse Sans Soins
Winds curl around cliffs Whipping up a stirring sound. Mountains move and shake And hope not to lose much ground. The moon cares not what the sun shall show. The skies don’t care what goes on below. Let yourself get up & go. Why should the weight of gravity outweigh fear of right or wrong?… Read More…
Subway Stories – Perpetual Pugatory
Your view of the world is morphed by the way you handle pain. Walking the constant tightrope from insane to the sane. Either way you walk that line, Don’t let your lion’s pride distract from your mane. You won’t let yourself go. You won’t let yourself win. No moving forward & no one can go… Read More…
Subway Stories – Depth to Down
Heaven knows the world And shows the silent sounds Of time passing over all of us. Reckless wounds abound Soulless tombs of time & tides Of slashing around all of us. There’s a quality to happiness That’s flat & all the same. Nice to be there… No difference; when it came. There’s a depth to… Read More…
Subway Stories – Easy Smile (Don’t Be So)
No one holds your heart any better than you can. Or owns your smile better than you do. Given up before for less. You should know by now… Is it worth the moment? Don’t be so easy with that smile Built to last a lifetime. More than just a few nights… Don’t be so… Easy… Read More…
Subway Stories – Verbal Architect (#happybirthdayshakespeare)
Construct the syntax in such a way As to inform the world of what to say. Worlds of words spent on his themes Building all the actor’s dreams. Sussing out the lines & rhymes As to inform the world for all time. Kings, queens, jacks & jesters Father of soliloquies and lectures. If all the… Read More…
Late Night Liturgies – Who Will Hold You As You Go?
Suddenly stripped from gravity. No one left around. Someone stripped the melody. I hear not but a sound. The silence it has grown Since you took leave from this place. I cannot wrap my mind around. No more I’ll see your face. Soul departs so suddenly She was grabbed from behind. It is my own… Read More…
Subway Stories – Same Beautiful Smile
Tragedy is a mountain that’s too high to climb It’s all about the way you fall off the cliff. Will I give it the slip? Will it make me shine? Horizons are the way they will be Long, frozen and meant to be seen Focus on the next phase It’s not meant to be mean…… Read More…
Subway Stories – Otherwise Entwined
She met him on a train or a bus or a plane. No matter the time or place or space. They met. That’s all that matters. Just the same. She couldn’t get him out of her mind. Even though she was otherwise entwined. He couldn’t see what he wanted. He was blind. Otherwise entwined. Connected… Read More…
Subway Stories – Love’s Long Look (Resilience)
Staring into all my tomorrows. Blinded by yesterday’s sorrows… I see so clearly the love that stands in front of us. It stands for nothing if not for trust. Smiles fade… Charades parade… Love’s long look left its gaze On us. Embracing all our chances Girding loins and stances Against the winds that want us… Read More…
Subway Stories – Don’t Go
Kindness glances across every place and space you touch. Little thought crosses your kind. Little do you know just how much You mean. Don’t go. Now, don’t you go & leave. Don’t go. In you, I have always believed. Sweet faced angels walk the earth. Of this, you are evidence. I’ve known you my adult… Read More…
Subway Stories – Sliding
Pushing through the pain that comes in waves. Holding onto it like a life preserver. Hoping, wishing, needing that it save. At the end of the day, there’s no difference between a lie or alibi. Both are inversions of the same. Both are conversions of your frame. No matter how you try, no difference between… Read More…
Subway Story – Silence Has A Sound
She looks at him thru a haze A fog of love and anger. He looks back, amazed Sensing they’re in danger. Not a word is spoken in this exchange of glances. Knowing that they’ve run out of second chances. Neither could know what their hearts did hold. Their silence has a sound. One that’s shaped… Read More…
Airplane Anecdotes – Curse of Memory
The details are so crisp and clear. See so far back into yesteryear. Not to days where you don’t belong But to that first-felt pain And retreat into song. Can’t get away from the things done or said. Know them all too well. Words and actions, too much to lay on that bed. A sliver… Read More…
Subway Stories – Last Nerve, Worked. #OWS
Stand in the corner…I was told. Do unto us…so bold. Face down in the problems you made. All I had, I gave. Last nerve, worked… Left it on the field. Last nerve, worked. Troubles yet to wield. Quiet were my ways. No time left to save. Hidden, caught up in the maze. Work my way… Read More…
Subway Stories – Then.
It’s not about tomorrow, though we all must have a plan. It’s not about yesterday, had your chance to take a stand. It’s about the time and place and space That is today. Then… Is a when and why you cannot begin to explain. Then… Live there and there will drive you insane. Today is… Read More…
Subway Stories – Tindersticks
Strike the match, broken glass. Duck the flash, it’s in the mass. Hearts on fire, hearts in motion. Can’t find enough lotion To fix the wounds that are built to last. Tindersticks stoke the already burning blaze. The fire burns inside. Not just a phase. Live today for today Can’t just burn down the days…. Read More…
9/11 After Effects – Ed Schmall: ‘My Donna.’
When the attacks on September 11th happened, I said in its wake to my friends and family all over the country: “There isn’t a New Yorker, and maybe an American and maybe even a citizen of the world who won’t know someone directly impacted by these attacks.” This is a story about one of these… Read More…
10th Anniversary – 9/11 – Ripples From The Rubble
I post this every year on this day. I’ve updated some details. I will post one more piece about 9/11 and its remnants later today or soon. 9/11 for me really starts the Sunday night of 9/9/01. My wife and I were headed home from the Jersey shore that night after visiting my grandmother… Read More…
Subway Stories – Shit Show
Removed from the chain events The only way to get by Flying far away means flying high. Sudden starts of rage Allow the turn of page No need to be so sage Can’t see through the maze Your love was a shit show. Quiet in the mist Removing you, the cyst Blue skies, the sun… Read More…
Untitled
His lungs stopped filling to full. His eyes fell into a lull. Shoulders slooped, as gravity and life did its job of pulling him down. His crooked smile told the world some lies. The details of which live behind his eyes. Shrouded in doubt, fear and seclusion. His life’s end won’t bring his conclusion. He’s… Read More…
Subway Stories – Passage of Gravity
The air is still and the mind’s grown soft The land is quiet, the sky is black. Will the gravity ever cut some slack? Solemn in its cold, winded in its ways. Time is just time. The definition of nothing. It’s the passage of gravity that ages The passing of earth to sky. The burning… Read More…
Subway Stories – Candleholder (@Fiery_JennyRose)
How can I say thank you To the one who held the flame? How can I say I love you When I never feel the same. The axis that it spins is nothing without you With you, the sky is a deeper, Roman blue. Most Azure of the azure. Solemnity in a skylight. As I… Read More…
Subway Stories – Heaven’s Best Guess
I imagine saints and angels are Placing bets on the the choices we all make. Rolling dice on the dice we roll. Jumping jacks, queens, kings & aces Wonder if we can make more of the places we all go. They all know it’s up to us To play the cards we’re dealt. No matter… Read More…
Subway Stories – Love’s Lost Lustre
From the outside looking in It would appear they were both without sin. She loved he the second they got hit by the same wind. Never to give a second glimpse again… The outside’s not the inside though. Time and tide recede around Fears and tears and lies abound. Holes so torn they cannot be… Read More…
American Anecdotes – Spent Shells
Wide open eyes The only way to get by In a desert world That has no meaning All that’s seen is a sun that’s gleaming All day long. Enemies creep from trees Only to be seen by no one. Mortars fly and rounds they crack But these men they break their back For the blue… Read More…
Subway Stories – Another Day
Today is the day I make room for tomorrow. Heaven can wait another day for me to get between its gates and clouds. I can put more stock in fates and doubts today to get to where I want. Wouldn’t want to miss a thing With eyes open wide. Shouldn’t want to see the skies… Read More…
Subway Stories – William’s Worth of Words #hbws
Before he put the quill to scroll Before the ink went in the well The collection of letters onto which you look Have William’s worth of words. Definitions of life Whole cloth of worlds Much improved For William’s worth of words. Fantasies made of nothing. Words put forth the ability to dream. Shallow life became… Read More…
Subway Stories – Final Cut
I have given you too much dominion over me. Allowed your dreams and wishes to replace my own. Like a sailor out to sea You kept me from my heart’s home. I know I made decisions on my own accord. Some of the words that passed my lips, in hindsight, seem off page. The deal… Read More…
Subway Stories – Web of Lies
Flying high is the kind of flying We all die to do. Seeking higher heights… On eagles’ wings or angels’ It should be your wind that guides me. Your web of lies Woven over time Shouldn’t be my safety net. Your fears are all ties. Around your web of lies. You’ve tied yourself to yourself…. Read More…
Subway Stories – Arms To The Sky (To @ajleon & @melissaleon)
The ride up was always so smooth… Heaven seemed within reach. In a year or two, anything and everything… I could buy each. The elevator always seemed to bump Around the floor I needed off. I wondered, sometimes, if I should jump To a life more rich in mystery No fearing of the loss. Suit… Read More…
Subway Stories – Crusted Rust
When I get the scent of youGeVlose enough to catch a glimpse… I see what I see…nothing but a simp. A closed door with open wounds. Writhing in simplicity. You live implicitly. Open the door, cast out the tombs. Hadn’t seen the likes of you In years of my obscurity. All your crusted rust… Reminding… Read More…
Airline Anecdotes – Impact of Inhalation (Measured Breaths)
She walked away from the cart That held all the things she needed. She walked away, as right as rain… Her surest way to save her pain. She drew a breath of freedom as she turned on her heel… Hoping to never to have to feel That way again. She blew a breath out weakly…gaining… Read More…
Subway Stories – Exactitude
Hadn’t fallen on my face this way Since that time I felt the streets sway Beneath reality that I’d once known. Atop the fear I’d never shown. It’s the exactitude Its the attitude of the manner of mannerisms. The ways in which the heavens fall Around your actions… It’s the way the cookie crumbles… Let… Read More…
Subway Stories – 18 And A Day
You look as you did that morning The morning after our love was born. Just the same… Your smile tilted at the corners Your eyes, stilted in the morning. Glimpsing all the things that we had instantly become. 18 years and a day… Who could have known This could have come our way. Surprised by… Read More…
Subway Stories – What Can I Say?
Cannot believe you… Cannot believe you… Cannot connect the dots. The logic evades you. This dumbfound persuades me… My open mouth My thoughts, my words. The way the I moved My hands, my eyes. All a crumb trail to how I feel. Not that hard, just look a bit. But you don’t care. You don’t… Read More…
Barstool Blues – Untitled
Wondering where to go from here Blundering through all the fears The tears mount and surmount The years of self-imposed jeers. Heaven is the finest place you’ll never find. May just be the place between your eyes. Maybe in the sweet relief of life. The sweet relief of lies. Digging, pulling, needing, weeding. Looking for… Read More…
Barstool Blues – Lady Full of Looks
She stared across the bar Never thought that was so far… But the distance between Your smile and eyes…cut me lean. You’re a lady full of looks. The words you say with your eyes Fill all sorts of books. Darting glances, snarling faces, surprise. The black of your hair. The feel of despair… If you… Read More…
Afternoon Anecdotes – Minus Me
Slipping Removing points of view Gripping To the soul I thought I knew Eyes don’t work the way they used to. My thoughts don’t have me come back to me. Time passes I lose sight of my sights. Lost site of the time. Lost site of the why’s. It all slipped all away. Minus me…… Read More…
Subway Stories – Too Much To Forgive
It would be one thing… It would be another entirely… If I had raised my hand to the sun In hopes of the one. It would be another entirely If I had walked away in anger. I walked away a stranger. I always spoke my mind. Told you what I was feeling. Even in the… Read More…
Subway Stories – Personal Purgatory
When the decisions you make Are the things that break your heart You’re in your personal purgatory. Days pass from seconds to minutes. Don’t matter as long as you live it. Stays pass from years into seconds. Don’t matter as long as you reckon. Stuck. You’re stuck in the ways that you walk. Struck. You’re… Read More…
Subway Stories – Crawl
Ice cold feelings thaw Like a healing broken jaw Time and time again. The guilty feelings gnaw… Gritted teeth pass the breath Knowing what’s not best. To come, to pass, to feel, to lie. Heaving such a heavy sigh. Time moves too slowly in this world that we call home. Shifting winds begin Time has… Read More…
Barstool Blues – Less Lonely
Sitting, as usual, all alone. Around this bar I call my home. Figure the end is near As near and dear As all my fear… I’ve risen from the ashes one last time. Put on the cloak an cinched my dagger Walked along with stone cold heart. And I would kill to be less lonely…. Read More…
Subway Stories – Hello, Beautiful…
Was under the impression that the silence she gave me was caused by more than the gravity between us. Was thinking that the way the world turns could land me back on the doorstep I needed to get away from. Sliding through the time I was around…walking through walls built of figments in my mind…… Read More…
Barstool Blues – Misleading Smile
I never saw it coming. Never saw it so clear. Hoped you’d see me looking at you. Never saw nothing but fear. The silence that built up Between the gaps in our speech. The torrents that filled up Between the lapse of our reach. Sitting silently in the midst of your gaze. Pulling quietly, limits… Read More…
Barstool Blues – A Lot of Everything
Someday Let me be sure to tell you the stories about her Someday Let me tell you about all of what she did for me Someday. The day she left she took a lot of everything. The only things she left were the things she gave away. She gave me all her hope. My ability… Read More…
Subway Stories – Brand of Silence
Love your brand of silence Open lips & mouth so wide Not a sound to come outside. Appreciate the void Between all of the noise. No need to delineate The sorrows, the joys. Brand of silence The way of saying it all But saying nothing at all. No pressure, no lie. Breathe in deep Take… Read More…
Subway Stories – Burned.
Have you seen me stare? Seen my glare? My eyes in middle distance Life without insistence. I thought I’d done more right… Turned out I was so wrong. Turned out I don’t belong So I am left right here to die. Living life like the whore That all the world loves to love Like a… Read More…
Patti Smith’s Letter to 9/11.
Just today I bought Patti Smith’s ‘Land’ record. In many ways, it’s a love letter to her career and to my hometown and hers. She wrote this note on 1/1/2002. “Greetings, We enter a new year facing an emptied sky, for, like the Prince of Aquitaine, our towers have fallen. Yet, in their wake we… Read More…
Barstool Blues – Belief
Never told a fib or a lie. Never made a sin Or paid a goodbye. Not the type to lead you on. Never could play the con…man… I know you don’t believe a word I’ve said. I know you don’t believe… Told you the rules of engagement. That nothing from nothing means nothing. You asked… Read More…
Subway Stories – Sweet Relief
Wondering where to go from here. Blundering through all the fears The tears mount and surmount The years of self-imposed jeers. Heaven is the finest place you’ll never find. Maybe in the sweet relief of life. The sweet relief of lies. Digging, pulling, needing, weeding. Looking for the bottom of my soul. So I can… Read More…
Subway Stories – Invitation for Life
Walking thru the walls of the world Puts a mind and heart in tempest. Selling and settling on your direction. Believe life’s a life-long correction. Come and find me No longer deny me. I want your invitation for life. For which I’d give up my slice. Hidden denials are the trials Of the smiles and… Read More…
Subway Stories – Human Hearts
The human heart can lie No matter how you try Truth slides around on some slippery slope. Trying hard to find it, need some sort of scope. I had not seen the sites of the world. My eyes could not focus My heart could not try To see the whites of her eyes. Time explodes… Read More…
Subway Stories – Bluest Blue
When I look at you I see the bluest blue. The deepest hue Of blue of you. Summer blonde, winter redhead. Longing, yearning, holding. Molding, folding, unfolding. Kindest cheek & dirtiest surprise. I can see the sunlight in your eyes. Things do not go there to die. Your eyes are the light of the sky…. Read More…
Subway Stories – ‘Torture’
Touching is torture to me. Reminds me of what I used to be. Remnants of myself. Staring back at me. Slippery when wet, slippery when everything. Cannot hold on position I once held. What will be the thing that felled me. I use to know that touch. Torture. Surrender all the thoughts. Lose site and… Read More…
Subway Stories – Mint Julep Mouth
Open up… Open it wide. Let the words pour out of your mouth Your tongue is the mint leaf In the sweet creamy drink. The words that spill From your lips Lilt gently in the air Like a soft southern breeze. So sure to please… Mint julep mouth From way down South. Mint julep lips… Read More…
Barstool Blues – On That Day
Spirals spinning No side winning There’s no easy way to recollect How the world will be effected On that day Trees fell down in the way Falling of a mighty oak Times two On that day The hearts sank No one sang Times two Save the prayer For the life of the liars It’s for… Read More…
Subway Stories – As For Me
Platitudes and latitudes Have nothing on my attitudes About the way the world spins And how little I see you grin… Slimmer still are the ways The sliding phase The how the what the why the where. How I know that you don’t care. As for me…I’m staring out to sea. Wondering if the me… Read More…
Subway Stories – ‘Crosses & Crutches’
I’ve never published anything that I didn’t feel was done. This is far from done, but I wanted to share it anyway. Felt good…but, it’s just *this* shy of being right. Mining the field of my disasters Drags the earth of all the things Things that didn’t happen That didn’t work out. I made excuses… Read More…
Subway Stories – ‘Speak The Truth’
It’s only there to warn you… As you edge upon its place. Truth will never harm you Free you from your case. The situations that loose you From the things that truth beholds Begin to pry Begin to slide The harder you try The more it flies. Speak the truth It’s the only way to… Read More…
Bedtime Stories – Similar Smiles (For @nikisnotes & @jakrose)
When we met, we shared a lot. We talked about the things we shared And the things that we did not. When we met, there was distance. We had space and time between us But there was no resistance. Time passes, Clinked glasses Learned about life From all of the masses Of people we brought… Read More…
Subway Stories – Slip and Fall
Broken hearted. Broken boned. Working on it all. Getting it honed. Token child. Token home. Weakness in it all. Feel so alone. Last time I fell in love Was more a slip and fall. Didn’t know what I was in for Couldn’t see the sky Couldn’t see at all. Stoke the fire. Broken, mired. Slip… Read More…
Barstool Blues – ‘Good As Your Last Goodbye’
The day is done Sun goes down. Not a thing left In this town Since you left The place is gone My heart keeps singing This old love song You’re as good as your last goodbye. You couldn’t look me in the eye Couldn’t even tell me why You had to go on and get… Read More…
Subway Stories – Pretty Sure I Know
I’m pretty sure I know Who said the things You said I’m pretty sure I know Who did the things They did…to me. Subtraction from reaction Leaves little else behind. Little doubt As to who or what or why. Floating to the surface… Shows all the world’s awry. All the time that passes Shows that… Read More…
Subway Stories – ‘Lonely’
In a room full of you, I can’t find an ounce full of me. Drives me to drink Drives me to sleep. I would rather be lonely Would rather be lonely Than to be all alone with you. Hidden from view Are the things I do… To keep a smile inside. Hidden from you Are… Read More…
Subway Stories – ‘Some Friend’
How does a friend get rated? How’s a friend become a traitor? Walk the tightrope between me and see… If he’s been banging your door The minute I walked from the floor What kind of friend of mine is that? Some friend, some fiend Same guy, same scene. Wondering what you see in him You… Read More…
Subway Stories – ‘If I Were Gone’
If I were gone… If I’d erased myself From this place I held If I were gone… Would you find the courage you need Would you find a way to exceed This life you’ve lived So far. I know I cannot carry All the things I want for me Sad and barren lands Lie between… Read More…
Subway Stories – ‘On The Tracks’
Whatever falls on the tracks Isn’t as valuable as you are. What if I left myself down there? What if I fell… The demons that posses me Are the same that progress me The horns they wear Are the same that tear… At me. Solemnity dictates direction Proclivity consumes consumption No matter where I run… Read More…
Barstool Blues – ‘Found My Wings Without You’
Always hoped you’d be there… Figured that you cared Enough to be around To see me in the end. Turns out I didn’t need you Like Dorothy’s ruby slippers Or air without a song I found that getting home Was up to me all along. I found my wings without you. Took a jump…and took… Read More…
Subway Stories – Grey Grass
The breeze, it blows Through blades of grass Pushing air from ground to sky Smiles pass from eye to eye. I wonder…like anyone does… I wondered what the grass was like On the other side of this life. All the grass I’ve seen and grown Turned to black. Lord how I want to go back…… Read More…
Barstool Blues – ‘Your Gorgeous Head – The Mind Inside’
This is written for anyone who's afflicted with anything… ??But, it was written with cancer in mind. ??My mother has survived Multiple Myeloma for 6 years. ??It will take her eventually…and too soon. ??Others will survive and to them I raise a glass… ??Other cancers will take someone we all know too soon. Let this… Read More…
Subway Stories – Runaway from Reason
The more you talk The less you seem to say. The sooner you leave The more you’ll want to stray. Refuse to look underneath the hood. No look is all good. Runaway from reason. Turn away from all that’s rational Stroke yourself against illogical. Poke yourself with the dullest stick. Reason to runaway. Runaway from… Read More…
Barstool Blues – Emotional Erosion
There are oceans between us anymore. Time is between us like never before. I used to give my heart to the world. Would give my soul to the core. It all slipped away When I lost grip of the floor. I feel like I lost all emotion. Like I’m lost on the ocean. Paddling with… Read More…
Barstool Blues – Only Man Not Laughing
Nothing like being the only man not laughing At a bar full of smiles. Nothing like being the only man who’s not seen his soul for a while. Caressing the time we used to spend, Wondering if you ever did care. Suppressing the tears and the fears, wondering, too, if you even were there. Nothing… Read More…
Subway Stories – What If…
I rarely post things that I’ve written in the past. I wrote this about 9 years ago, under the heading of hating how many ‘What If…’ statements I was throwing around. I hate them. It’s sorta like Yoda: “Do, or do not. There is no ‘try.’” What if doesn’t matter any more The places your… Read More…
Subway Stories – Next Time
Next time I see you I want to see your heart. Next time I look you in the eyes I want to see a different kind of wise. Time’s passing. World’s shaking. Time’s breaking. Heart’s aching. All life’s lessons fit into a thimble It really is so simple. Breathe in, breathe out See what this… Read More…
Subway Stories – The Good Was Gone
I know I know enough I know enough to know Got to take the good with the bad. The happy with sad The white with the black The tension, the slack But…the good was gone The end of a song End of a time The good was gone. Things that had passed Were in the… Read More…
Subway Stories – Even If But Briefly
Sat across the table Talked about the things That make each of us move Sat across the table Thought about the ways To say the things you can’t prove Even if but briefly We had a walk on the sand Even if but briefly We shared the same land Was it enough that we shared… Read More…
What Dreams May Come
I quite literally just woke up from a dream. It’s been about 30 minutes since I did. After about 20 minutes of slumber – I was in and out of this sleep, in fact – I was just starting to dream about another project that I had started…or I thought I had started. I was… Read More…
Subway Stories – Falling
Falling freely…flailing Can feel that I am ailing Can’t seem to stop the wailing Need to feel I’m sailing… Disconnect and disengage Have to be To turn the page The wreck of things That’ve become of me Cannot stand another day at sea Need to find the shore…before. Falling freely…flailing Can feel that I am… Read More…
Subway Stories – Blood-Soaked Visor
I wrote this in the wake of the recent US commitment of sending more men and women to fight in Iraq. It’s too much to ask To have these men, these women See the world they must All the rest of their days. Taken from the cradle And forced out on the field Before the… Read More…
Subway Stories – You Would Love You Too
The second I saw you I saw how you feel. The smile on my face Was sure to reveal. The lens I use to focus Took you all in Like a swarm of locusts You invade my skin You would love you too. I can see you chase yourself The way that I chase you…. Read More…
Subway Stories – Words Don’t Work
I’ve actually spent a few days in Subways writing this. Rare that I take a few days on anything. I prefer the now. Rarer still that I publish a work in progress, but I felt the need to get this out! I am writing this for @ohdoctah. I don’t know what it’s like to lose… Read More…
Subway Stories – Eyes Blown Wide
She She walks a different walk than any before. Speaks a speak in tones Different than any before. She makes your eyes blown wide. Makes you think that your fears are aside. Eyes blown wide. Eyes blown wide. She makes all reservations divide. She She will love all the things you do. The colors, light… Read More…
Had to Give
I didn’t write this in ths subway, but I wrote mostly in one pass. Just a typo…I feel like I’m gushing with content right now. This may be the last time I cross against this bridge. This should be the last time I walk along this ridge. I never needed any of what you had… Read More…
Subway Stories – Grind One Key (Cockles and Locks)
Grind one key, grind it down Grind it hard until you’re found. Throw open all the doors Let yourself out to play You are here to stay. Moving across the physical plane Pushing back the bounds Exceeding all expectations. Grind one key, grind it down Grind it hard until you’re found. Your only passage is… Read More…
Subway Stories – My Wide Shoulders
John he was a good man. Mary was the same. It was his gentle nature and her impatience that were to blame. Hiding out from themselves Leaving from the world. Having reached a peak Their need to be was piqued. John he turned to Mary And he said ‘My wide shoulders are enough for me…. Read More…
Subway Stories – Caffeine and Vitamins
The world embraces no one. It’s up to one to embrace the world. I don’t know what’s good for me. I don’t know what’s good for me anymore. I can kick and scream and roll on the floor… But, I don’t know what’s good for me anymore Took my handful of pills The seed of… Read More…
Subway Stories – God’s Last Gasp
This was the first ever ‘Subway Story’ for me. I bought Coltrane’s last concert called The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording. Coltrane died within about 2 months of this recording. I bought the album from a shop down on St. Mark’s…and listened to it on the way home on the 6 Train. The album… Read More…
Bathroom Stories – Questions?
I wanted to write a whole piece in questions. There are nights like these that my entire mind is consumed with them. I cannot get them out… I got about 20 out here. Enjoy. How much time do you spend thinking about your life? How much time do you spend thinking about the air? The… Read More…
Ripples from the Rubble
9/11 for me really starts the Sunday night of 9/9/01. My wife and I were headed home from the Jersey shore that night after visiting my grandmother for a few days. As we approached the Lincoln Tunnel – the one closest to midtown – I remarked that I’d never noticed how far it really seemed… Read More…
Subway Stories – Time To Shine
It’s been too long since I’ve said what needed to be said Too long. I’ve walked too far on my two feet that they feel dead. It’s never been your fault And it’s never been mine. We just need to find our time To shine. The sun it rises and sets on our fears. The… Read More…
Subway Stories – Courage Comes In One Size
She gathered up her things Putting her whole life into boxes Taking down the tacks That held all the frames. She had to leave and get out and move on. There was nothing left to do or say No more games to sit and wait and play… Courage comes in one size She drapes it… Read More…
I Will Always Hold You
I know you think you cannot give me what I want But it’s always been your smile that I need I couldn’t hold anyone to more than that But, I will always hold you. Life is too short and the pain runs too long Wishing that all your pain will soon be gone There is… Read More…
Subway Stories – Forgot Your Eyes Could Cry
I only have a few subway stops to go Only a few more clicks on the wheel before I know Before I know that I’ll be talking to you I know what I’ll be saying to you You had always kept me far away from you Thinking closeness would only end with you blue Forgetting… Read More…
Subway Stories – The New Yankee Stadium
I have yet to write about the new Stadium. I have been busy and not writing as often as much as I’d have liked of late. I am writing this on my way up to the new Stadium. I have to admit, I only sorta like the new place. As one of my broadcast heroes… Read More…
Subway Stories – Slowly Extinguishing
The world and all its worries The sun and all its hope Shadows fall farther As the days grow shorter. I was raised up Raised up with all that hope and worry. Straddling that line Straddling the life that was meant for me Against the life I made for me. That flame that ignited in… Read More…
Subway Stories – Rare Evening Post
I so rarely write in the evenings here. As some of you know, I was relieved of my duties at Yahoo! a few weeks ago. I am proud of the work I did there, in spite of the personal and professional challenges I faced while I was there. I am still very proud of having… Read More…
Subway Stories – Promised Land
The earth was laid flat No more round No more shape So little air Even less time. All because I could not make up my mind All cuz I couldn’t climb Out of the hell Out of the hole I am seeking my own promised land I want what’s best for you, but I need… Read More…
Subway Stories – The Last Great Last
Based on what I wrote yesterday, I should have known that someone close to me would die. Late yesterday afternoon, I found out that my Great Uncle Joe died. To my regret, I did not grow up with Uncle Joe around me, though I wish I had. He was my mother’s mother’s brother-in-law. For someone… Read More…
Subway Stories – The New Death
Over the weekend, a Facebook friend – who’d been back and forth to Boston from his new home in LA – reported that his mother had passed away. This gave me great pause – for a few reasons. As some of you know, my own mother has been unwell the last many months, so the… Read More…
Amtrak Anecdotes – Happy to be a Heathen
I am on my way up to Boston for a 2-day business trip. As I make my way, I see on Facebook and Twitter all sorts of holiday greetings over Easter and Passover. All of this makes me happy to be a heathen. Don’t get me wrong, I begrudge no one their beliefs in the… Read More…
Subway Stories – MTA
As I write this, I am plodding along the 4 line…to pick up my car for a lunch meeting in Connecticut. Let me first say that my mother is a nurse, and when she was an active nurse, she was a good one. That being said, the Hippocratic oath – ‘First, do no harm…’ –… Read More…
Subway Stories – The Man Who Would Be King
Soaring and scaling His voice knows no heights His passion knows no ends Cycling around the world Putting us all at ease With his wit and wisdom When he plucks on his strings He puts the world on his back He knows how to cut through all things The things he says could fill all… Read More…
Subway Stories – No One Is Better Than Another
I was really shocked when I read Gawker yesterday about the comments from the head (whose name escapes me – I am writing this 50 feet underground!) of the Anti-Defamation League about Bernie Madoff. Now, yesterday also coincided with me finding out about a close friend and her entire family of mine having been raped… Read More…
Subway Stories – Music
This morning I want to speak about music and the state of things. So, I may have said the other day that I studied to be a music producer in college. I worked with bands and musicians of all stripes and varieties. I really enjoyed this process and when I got out of school, I’d… Read More…
Subway Stories – Back to Normal
The last few weeks have been nearly idyllic here in New York City. The subways have been pretty quiet, the sidewalks (at least in the areas I live and work – I tweeted recently about how Midtown was bedlam the week of New Year’s) have been very quiet. I had started to wonder if the… Read More…
Subway Stories – Resetting the Table
With having had a bunch of new people following me on Twitter and through Posterous in recent weeks, I wanted to be sure to sort of re-introduce myself to you all and give you some idea about me. I am Andre Archimbaud (thus, arshimbo) and I am 36 and live in New York City. I… Read More…
Subway Stories – The Groundwork
So, I laid it all right out for you I built it all right up I said “It’s up to you to to fill your loving cup.” I did it all with care and love I did it all, all on my own. Laid the groundwork for your life Built it all up with my… Read More…
Subway Stories – Smile
Yesterday was the happiest day I’ve had in a very long time. It was long and soft and full of rhymes. I did things I’d never done before. I saw things never seen. There is little better than Waking up with a smile on your face. It’s the residue of yesterday. All the thoughts and… Read More…
Subway Stories – Distance Between
Sorry I have not written in a while. Sorry to not have put pen to paper. I ran out of things to say to the world… And can think of no way to keep it safer. I couldn’t think of all the things that needed to be said in such a tiny space I need… Read More…
Subway Stories – America’s Pastime
I was watching the Sunday Night Football game post-game show (having no baseball on TV this time of year makes me yearn for some sort of competitive showing!) and I saw a defensive end for the Vikings getting interviewed by the talented, yet seriously diminutive Andrea Kremer. As I watched this interview, I noticed that… Read More…
Subway Stories – Friday Morning
When I woke up this morning, I had the best idea of what I was going to write. Trouble is, I forgot what the hell that was. So, once again, like any decent jazz man, I am wingin’ it. I do think that I forgot my topic today because frankly, there is a ton to… Read More…
Subway Stories – The Little Things
Good morning, all. I want to spend a few short lines on what I call the little things. The little things are those things in your life that cannot be replicated in someone else’s. I am a stickler for a few good, little things. I am a stickler for saying ‘good morning’ and ‘good night.’… Read More…
Subway Stories – Obama Interview
I watched last night’s ’60 Minutes’ interview of Barack Obama. As I have gotten to see more of this man, I see less of what I thought I disliked. I know that’s a queer thing to say, but…a year ago, I was unsure of who this guy was. Trust me, it had little to nothing… Read More…
Subway Stories – Rainy Days and Fridays
I do not know if I’ve seen gloomier Fall weather than what we’ve seen the last few weeks in New York. It has rained so much, been so dark, overcast and – as stated – gloomy. I like the seasons a lot. Having grown up in Texas, where any real seasonality is 6 weeks of… Read More…
Subway Stories – Sarah Palin
In the run-up to the actual presidential election, I wrote a little bit about Sarah Palin. I said what I said in an effort to shed light on the fact that I preferred to see someone in the White House who was happy to admit what he or she didn’t know – but was smart… Read More…
Subway Stories – Missed Moments
I really missed writing in this space yesterday. I know I didn’t write for 2 weeks while my mom was ill, but I have made a habit of this. They do say that you need to do anything for 3 weeks before it becomes a habit. Let’s put it this way, and I think it… Read More…
Subway Stories – I Do Like Mondays
As I said last week, I hate people who hate Mondays. I am tired of people who have this preconceived idea of what a certain day of the week is like (or should be like). Talk about putting yourself behind the 8-Ball. A week later, I still feel that way. I also hate it when… Read More…
Subway Stories – Quiet Fridays
I have started taking the train a little later in the morning. I really enjoy getting a seat or having a little breathing room – if I don’t get a seat. Thankfully, I work for a group that is not overly hardcore about being in at 8:30 or earlier. I don’t have much to say… Read More…
Subway Stories – Creative Process
I think one of the most potentially scary things about the new technology is that we will eat our young. I was at The Hatchery last night. This is one of the leading edge tech-collaborators in New York. One of the most concerning aspects of some of their presenters is that most of these companies… Read More…
Subway Stories – Obama
I don’t have too much time to write this morning. My train was made an express and so I have to write fast. In short, last night was memorable. I cannot wait to see what changes do come. I am confident that many shall. I cannot get over the fact that we’ve all suffered through… Read More…
Subway Stories – Election Night
As ypu know, I normally write in the mornings on the way to my job with a major internet company. Today, I worked from home in the morning so I could be certain to vote after the morning rush and the evening crush. I have to admit, I got a little bit of a catch… Read More…
Subway Stories – Monday Mornings
Good morning, world! I want to be very clear in my message this morning. I hate people who hate Mondays. I am an ‘up’ and positive person. I often times call myself a 24-hour person. One of my favorite singer/songwriters, John Gorka, wrote a song called ‘Night Is A Woman.’ The chorus of which goes… Read More…
Subway Stories – Adult Halloween
When I was a kid, I cannot remember – for the life of me – ever seeing an adult dressed for Halloween. My mother was a cashier and service desk clerk at Kmart…and even there they didn’t dress-up. So, it eludes me that adults continue to do this today. Trust me, it’s not as if… Read More…
Subway Stories – Obama
I had to use the DVR last night to record the Obama infomercial. I really liked it. I was mostly glad that it was nothing like the Ross Perot infomercial from 1992. I have said this to a number of people, but this year’s cycle (and yes, I know that 20 months is more than… Read More…
Subway Stories – Express Trains
One of the things I truly love about New York is the subway system. Yes, I know it’s busy, crowded, occasionally stinky (I just left 59th Street and some people I know call that the stinkiest station ever.) But what I love about the MTA is not their budget guffaws but the fact that when… Read More…
Subway Stories – My Return
Good morning fine people. I am pleased to be back in NYC today and coming to you from the subway again. The last 16 days have been pretty horrendous. The first part was finding out that my mother had a cancerous tumor in her brain. No matter how operable it is, it still sounds bad… Read More…
Bus Stories – Illness
So, today, I come to you from the infamous Carey bus that takes one from New York City to the local airports. I am headed to JFK to go to Houston (ironic, given the tone of my Dallas piece, yesterday) to see my mother in the hospital. We don’t see eachother very often, but she… Read More…
Subway Stories – The Kennedy Legacy
This is probably going to be a multi-day piece, just a hunch. I had the good and bad fortune of having been raised in Dallas, Texas. In 1979, my father’s company – like many of the time – were moving from the cooler climes of the northeast to places like Dallas, Houston or Atlanta. We… Read More…
Subway Stories – Fast Writing
I want you all to know that I’ve tried to be as true to the process of writing this blog as I possibly could be. I have written everything I’ve written in the time it takes me to travel from 86th Street to 14th Street on the subway in Manhattan. If ever I were to… Read More…
Subway Stories – Potpourri
The front page of one of NYC’s free-dailies (one of the few markets that can sustain 2 of them, let alone all the paid for daily newspapers), it says ‘Evil Twin: Fey’s Palin impression has some wondering if SNL will sway the election.’ I would hope it does…and no one should be shocked if and… Read More…
Subway Stories – Authenticity
One of the most galling things I see on a semi-regular basis is inauthentic behavior. The same experts I referred to yesterday who spoke about bloggers blogging (not to be confused with ‘lords-a-leaping’) talked about ‘authentic’ behavior on the part of advertisers, marketers and brands. What they said was, in effect, inauthentic brands do and… Read More…
Subway Stories – Nonesuch
Sadly, I have little to say today. I like to be a positive guy and there is not a lot to be positive about today. I mean, yes, it’s a gorgeous day here in New York City. It’s our first day of near cold temperatures. However, other than basking in the day, there’s little else… Read More…
Subway Stories – Haircuts
I saw a story in the most recent ‘Gotham’ Magazine (with John Malkovich on the cover) about a new barber shop in The Village/SoHo area in Manhattan. I cannot recall the name off-hand, but the goal was to replicate a 1940s (or earlier) barber shop – with vintage, but refinished or new chairs – and… Read More…
Subway Stories – Palin and People
In March of 1985, I ran for 8th Grade Class President. I was well-known, (I thought) well -liked and understood the issues. I went into the contest feeling that I had every chance of winning. I did not. I did not because two people did not vote for me – and one of them was… Read More…
Subway Stories – Tight Spaces
As a preface, I am working on a major piece on the assassination of John F. Kennedy. I hope to have that up in the next week. I look forward to sharing it. So, as I write this, I am jammed into a downtown express train heading from 86th Street to Union Square. The train… Read More…
Subway Stories – Electronics
So, this morning as I am getting ready to head down the stairs to start my day, I reach to my hip to pull out my BlackBerry (the device I use to send all of these blogs), and it flies out of my hands and down a flight of stairs. The plastic, protective case around… Read More…
Subway Stories – Financial Picture
For those of you who KNOW me, I am no financial wizard. I, like many of you, spend a good amount of my hard-earned money. However, I’ve never spent more than I had – which the US government does with some regularity. So, with yesterday’s bailout backout, I was confused as to what and why…. Read More…
Subway Stories – Newman’s Own
One quick note, before I get into the body of this piece. What a bust of a weekend. I barely left my apartment on account of the rain. So gross, humid and wet…today, however, seems to be much better – sun already. As most of you know Paul Newman died over the weekend. I will… Read More…
Rock and Roll
This is going to be one of many postings on music. I studied to be a music producer in college and but for the gigantic loans I had to pay back, I probably would have been. Music and baseball are my two primary passions – as I said in my posting earlier this week –… Read More…
Subway Stories – Number 4
Sorry to have missed posting yesterday. I was home sick and therefore was not on the train and therefore did not write. As I start this, I am uncertain what to say about anything. I could touch on this being the last weekend of the baseball season and while I do not have the rooting… Read More…
Subway Stories – Arshimbo Explique
What a gorgeous morning in New York City. Fall is in the air, and I am wearing a tweed coat. That is one of the things I love about living in the Northeast – changing of the seasons. I’ve gotten a few messages from people asking me where ‘arshimbo.com’ comes from and what it means…. Read More…
Subway Stories – Raison d’Etre
I want to give you a little background on me…reasons to keep you coming back and reasons for you to understand what I do. To me, this series (Subway Stories) is simply an extension of me and what I do. I ride the train at least 2 times per day and observe some of the… Read More…
Subway Stories – The Beginning
Starting today, I am going to file a week’s worth of pieces from the time I leave my home train station of 86th and Lexington Avenue to Union Square in Manhattan. Sometimes I take the express train, but most mornings, I take the local. The express can be really crowded and the local affords me… Read More…
My Last Game at Yankee Stadium
So, I went to my last game at Yankee Stadium last night. What a time and what a gorgeous night. My wife and I have had tickets in pretty nice seats for the last 10 years. As much as these games have ever meant to her and us, they’ve always been restorative for me. Baseball… Read More…