Talking About Dominion, Reluctantly On the public pages and in the private salons of our culture, we casually discuss celebrity infidelity, weight loss diets, corporate malfeasance and the treasonous acts and petty peccadillos of elected officials. We’ve no reluctance to ponder the doping habits of baseball heroes or debate the degradation of the environment and … [read more]
Humor
Date Night
Date Night Geoff O’Keeffe For the parents, with thanks to David S. We arranged a casual dinner out, on a Thursday night, a luxury reserved for empty nesters and the childless, or the impotent, at our friend James’ local bistro. When you say “bistro” it implies some level of “no sweat shirt” sophistication, or … [read more]
Off Our Rockers
Off Our Rockers -Geoff O’Keeffe In 1977, Paul Barrere penned “Old Folks Boogie” for his band, Little Feat, included in their classic Times Loves A Hero. Apart from the deeply funky and satisfying groove, the lyrics were clever and funny, and clearly about someone else other than me and my baby boom contemporaries: “Off our … [read more]
Wine Masters of Tianjin
Wine Masters of Tianjin The guy is so earnest, so innocent, so charming. And really young. (Everyone in China is young.) Trying so hard. I ordered a mixed salad and steak sandwich, and a glass of Banfi, 2011 Cabernet-Sangiovese. Fifty-eight RMB. About nine-fifty, US. I figure I can eek three of these into my … [read more]
Drinking With Strangers
Drinking With Strangers March 2011 I walked up to the shitty little neighborhood Gunbarrel Mexican place for dinner, a place that offers many menu items ending with “ito”, usually a combination of one Mexican and one decidedly non-Mexican dish. I sat at the bar and ordered a double Big Boy Lemonade and a bean … [read more]
Settling For A Less Risky Mid-Life Fantasy
Settling For A Less Risky Mid-Life Fantasy (From Front Range news, 2006) Oh says Red Molly to James “That’s a fine motorbike. A girl could feel special on any such like” Says James to Red Molly “My hat’s off to you It’s a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952. And I’ve seen you at the corners and … [read more]