Clinton, South Carolina, Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 1:05 p.m. The coronavirus blurs the lines between major and minor accomplishments. On Monday night, I finished the 22nd chapter of a novel. I’m closing in on the completion of the rough draft, but it’s not quite as rough because I’ve done a lot of retracing my steps …
Tag: change
What in the Name of the Constitution Is Going On?
Clinton, South Carolina, Thursday, July 30, 2020, 3:28 p.m. If there’s no sports this fall, it’s devastating. It’s devastating to me because I am running a sports website without the benefit of sports, but it’s devastating for millions because sports is a vital part of their lives. It’s mild in comparison to losing basic social …
Continue reading What in the Name of the Constitution Is Going On?
Life at a Safe Distance
Clinton, South Carolina, Friday, July 3, 2020, 11:19 a.m. This morning brought a bit of a break from the desolation of the Self-Quarantine Age. I had breakfast at the cafe on the square, and it didn’t seem like I was risking life and limb. I try to keep my trusty bandana handy, along with a …
You Just Can’t Beat Technology
Clinton, South Carolina, Thursday, June 25, 2020, 1:14 p.m. Technology. Can’t live with it. Can’t live without it. It is supposed to be our friend. In many cases, it isn’t. In the newspaper business, nearly 30 years ago I worked for a large metropolitan newspaper. When I was there, toiling on the desk, that paper …
At Least The World Is Turning Laps Again
Clinton, South Carolina, Thursday, May 21, 2020, 10:42 a.m. Mainly I have been writing about stock car racing. Mainly stock car racing is what is going on, whether at the dirt track in Laurens or the paved superspeedway in Darlington. The gates aren’t open, but the cars are going around and around. I’m sure there’s …
Dreeeaaaam, Dream, Dream, Dreeeaaaam …
Clinton, South Carolina, Tuesday, April 28, 2020, 8:48 a.m. She was a level-headed dancer / On the road to alcohol / And I was just a soldier / On my way to Montreal … That I think a lot about John Prine songs is in part because he recently died, but it’s also because I …
Satire at Sunset
Clinton, South Carolina, Saturday, April 18, 2020, 8:37 a.m. Back when I traveled most of the country, writing about race cars that went ’round and ’round and the mostly white men who drove them, my favorite device was not a shock absorber but its literary equivalent, satire. Once -- it was in Dover, Delaware, I …
What Comes to Mind Today
Clinton, South Carolina, Thursday, April 9, 2020, 11:28 a.m. If the country is pulling together, you can’t prove it by Facebook. I’ll stop blaming President Twitter when he stops blaming everyone else. The best reason to watch replays of old sporting events is that at least it’s sports. The worst thing is that everyone knows …
Old Times Come to Me Once More
Clinton, South Carolina, Friday, February 21, 2020, 11:20 a.m. Everything I’ve done this morning leads me in the direction of a song. I posted some thoughts on Facebook, and two people noted that it sounded like a song could be written from it. I am thus presently thinking about one. As soon as I finished …
As I Get Weaker, the Weather Gets Stronger
Clinton, South Carolina, Sunday, January 12, 2020, 10:07 a.m. The weather’s clear. The power has been back on since about 2 a.m. Wi-fi is in and out. DirecTV came right on when I walked into the living room, but then the power blipped, and it wouldn’t reset properly until I reset the receiver. I’m afraid …
Nightrider's Lament 